This guidebook contains in-depth route description and mapping for both the classic 11 day anti-clockwise circuit and an alternative 10 day clockwise TMB circuit. This well-signed but demanding 170km route, starting from Les Houches or Champex, is suitable for fit walkers. The guidebook comes with a map booklet containing official 1:25,000 IGN mapping for the TMB route, and urban maps for the major centres of Chamonix, Courmayeur, Les Contamines, Les Houches and Champex. Complete with a French-English glossary, comprehensive notes about accommodation, facilities and transport, this guide provides all the information needed for planning and completing your trek. The Tour of Mont Blanc is one of the world's classic treks. Visiting France, Italy and Switzerland, the TMB passes through some of Europe's most spectacular mountain scenery, with views of the peaks and glaciers of the magnificent Mont Blanc massif.
This book is a collaborative effort between Kev Reynolds and Jonathan and Lesley Williams who - following Kev's death in December 2021 - updated and refreshed the route details, planning resources and maps, based on research trips in 2022 and 2023. Jonathan and Lesley are retiring from being Cicerone's publisher and marketing director (respectively), so have few excuses for not spending days in the hills.
Contents Overview map Overview profile Map key Mountain safety Route summary table Introduction The Tour of Mont Blanc The route Clockwise or anti-clockwise? Suggested itineraries How to get there When to go Accommodation Languages Maps and waymarks Preparation and equipment Safety in the mountains Using this guide The Tour of Mont Blanc - anti-clockwise Stage 1 Les Houches - Bionnassay - Les Contamines Stage 1A Les Houches - Refuge de Miage - Les Contamines Stage 2 Les Contamines - Croix du Bonhomme - Les Chapieux Stage 3 Les Chapieux - Col de la Seigne - Rifugio Elisabetta Stage 4 Rifugio Elisabetta - Courmayeur Stage 5 Courmayeur - Rifugio Bonatti Stage 6 Rifugio Bonatti - Grand Col Ferret - La Fouly Stage 7 La Fouly - Champex Stage 8 Champex - Alp Bovine - Trient Stage 8A Champex - Fen&##xea;tre d'Arpette - Trient Stage 9 Trient - Col de Balme - Tr&##xe9;-le-Champ Stage 10 Tr&##xe9;-le-Champ - Refuge La Fl&##xe9;g&##xe8;re Stage 11 Refuge La Fl&##xe9;g&##xe8;re - Le Br&##xe9;vent - Les Houches Places and items of interest on the TMB The story of Mont Blanc The Tour of Mont Blanc - clockwise Stage 1 Champex - Ferret Stage 2 Ferret - Grand Col Ferret - Rifugio Bonatti Stage 3 Rifugio Bonatti - Courmayeur Stage 4 Courmayeur - Rifugio Elisabetta Stage 5 Rifugio Elisabetta - Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme Stage 6 Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme - Les Contamines Stage 7 Les Contamines - Bionnassay - Les Houches Stage 7A Les Contamines - Refuge de Miage - Les Houches Stage 8 Les Houches - Le Br&##xe9;vent - La Fl&##xe9;g&##xe8;re Stage 9 La Fl&##xe9;g&##xe8;re - Col de Balme - Trient Stage 10 Trient - Alp Bovine - Champex Stage 10A Trient - Fen&##xea;tre d'Arpette - Champex Appendix A Route facilities table (anti-clockwise) Appendix B Accommodation Appendix C Campsites on the TMB Appendix D Useful contacts Appendix E Further reading Appendix F French-English glossary
