GR® Tour du Mont-Blanc
The place
The GR® Tour du Mont-Blanc is a 215-kilometre hike spread over ten days, passing through France, Switzerland and Italy. The hike starts in the village of Les Houches, near Chamonix, and is accessible to any hiker used to walking on varied terrain with a loaded backpack. The hike begins with the ascent of the Col du Bonhomme and the Col de la Croix-du-Bonhomme, the first challenges to overcome. After crossing Les Chapieux and Ville-des-Glaciers, hikers reach the Col de La Seigne, a historic spot where smugglers, crystal hunters and pedlars once exchanged goods. The border between France and Italy is marked here by a large mound of stones.
Why go
Iconic passes: Col du Bonhomme, Col de la Seigne, Grand Col Ferret, Col de Balme. Highlight stages: Rifugio Elisabetta (view of the Miage glacier), Rifugio Bonatti, Refuge du Plan de l'Aiguille. Must-see villages: Courmayeur (IT), La Fouly and Champex (CH). The view from the Balcon Sud over the north face of Mont-Blanc remains one of the most striking in the Alps.
A bit of history
The tour of the massif has been documented since the 18th century by naturalists and mountaineers such as Horace-Bénédict de Saussure. Official GR® waymarking was established in the 1960s by the FFRP, and the cross-border route was approved in partnership with the Swiss and Italian alpine clubs. Since then, the TMB has become the most popular walking route in the Alps, hosting more than 600 lodgers per night at the height of summer.
Getting there
Departure from Les Houches, accessible by train (Mont-Blanc Express line, Chamonix station then bus) or by direct shuttle from Geneva (1h30). Return from Les Houches via the same network. By car: paid parking in Les Houches or Chamonix.
Recommended gear
High waterproof hiking boots (rigid sole). Trekking poles. 40–45 L backpack. Lightweight sleeping bag (huts provide sheets or blankets depending on the establishment). Waterproof clothing and a warm layer. SPF 50+ sunscreen. IGN map 3630OT + 3531ET or offline TMB app.
Best season
July to mid-September. Huts generally open from late June to mid-September. Residual snow on some passes in June and after mid-September. Best period: mid-July to end of August, but with maximum crowds.