Best Self-Guided Tour du Mont Blanc Planners: Your Go-To Guide for Booking the TMB Hiking Adventure
Say goodbye to the stress of planning and hello to the Tour du Mont Blanc Self-Guided adventure of a lifetime!
Despite being arguably the best trekking trail in Europe, planning the TMB is a real hassle. This is the purpose of a “self-guided planner”.
It’s for people that don’t need or want a human guide walking with them, but get overwhelmed (or don’t have time) to piece together the route, in-sequence individual hut and hotel reservations that are extremely limited during the hiking season.
Author’s TL;DR: No time to read the whole article? Here’s my top recommendation based upon personal experience. But keep scrolling for the entire list if you want to learn more 👎
Overall Best TMB Self Guided Tour Planner 👉 Communication
👉 There are even guided tours for those of you that want more local insights (or if the planners are fully booked).
But…
For self-guided planning I love Alpenventures because of the professionalism, communication and never feeling ghosted.
- Relaxed pacing
- Private rooms available except 1 day
- Rest day in Courmayeur possible
- Max distance per day 11.7 miles
- No RUSH!
- Super relaxed pacing
- Experience the FULL range of the TMB accomodations
- Rest day in Courmayeur
- Max distance per day 11.1 miles, some as short as 3.9
- Only 5 days, good for shorter vacations
- Hike through more remote sections
- Stay in mountain huts and hotels
- Gondolas available to skip long ascents/descents
Morgan’s Half TMB Hike Video
However, there are multiple great companies doing this service and it’s a fantastic way to contribute to the “responsible tourism” movement by hiring experts in the hut to hut hiking industry.
The costs of the TMB vary depending on the type of experience you want to have (private rooms, number of days, etc). You’ll have to contact each self-guided planner for a bespoke quote based on your needs, but they are generally in a similar price range.
Do some of you have some recommendations? Head over to our facebook group “Plan Hiking Adventures in Europe” and share your thoughts so we can keep this list up to date.
🪂 Also, do the paragliding in Chamonix before or after, it’s worth it!
Read until the end where I share a free printable TMB Packing list and a detailed guide to the refuges on the trail.
And final protip: You’ve got to get started early.
7 Best TMB Self Guided Tour Planners
Overall Best Company for Self-Guided Tour du Mont Blanc
The Tour du Mont Blanc hike is the most popular multi-day hiking route in Europe. Think about getting in touch a year in advance of your planned travel.
1. Alpenventures Unguided: Overall Best for English Speakers
Founded by a native-English speaker, Alpenventures Unguided makes the experience fun and seamless with great customer service. Brittany offers trekking, hiking, via ferrata and various bike tours centered in the Alps. I found it really helpful to get on the phone to learn more about the logistics and ended up happily taking my family on a “hiking vacation”.
This firm is great for finding secluded variants (like the one by the La Gorge gondola), private rooms, and providing maps. They have multiple ways to hike the TMB from a short 4 day to 11 days and everything in between. You can also arrange higher levels of “comfort”, i.e. private rooms.
Listen to the founder’s story here.
Book a Self Guided Tour du Mont Blanc Hike Today 👎🏻
Reviews:
“Brittany and her team enabled us to experience a wonderful trip that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. After substantial online research, I realized that reserving refugios and identifying routes in the Dolomites was too complicated on my own, especially on a tight time frame. I’m so glad I came across Alpenventures and felt confident in the offering after a brief call with Brittany. The service she provided from up front assessing route options, to creating the itinerary, to securing all reservations, and then providing super helpful tools (eguidebook and very user-friendly navigation app with detailed turn by turn directions and tips) was top notch. I highly recommend Alpenventures for anyone interested in a trek of a lifetime ;)”
2: Cloud 9 Adventure: Overall Runner Up Tour du Mont Blanc Tour Companies
3: Mont Blanc Treks : Best Chamonix Based
4: Alpine Exploratory: Best Scotland Based
5: Macs Adventure : Best German Based
6: The Hiking Club : Best Price & Most Modern TMB Planner
A newcomer on the TMB planning scene, the Hiking Club actually offers a very reasonable price to get you the details you need to do your own tour du mont blanc self guided tour.
They offer free online classes about the whole process, have a stunning website, a noteworthy newsletter with all kinds of hiking and trail tips.
My local German hiking facebook group highly recommended their “Haute Route” self guided tour, but their TMB tour is equally as impressive. They really break down the trails for you so there is no guesswork.
The hiking club does not call to book your huts for you though. So if you’re looking for more high touch, you may consider more comprehensive services like Alpenventures.
They do offer 1-on-1 consultations via phone for those who have more specific or bespoke hikes they are considering.
“The value for the price was outstanding. I am so grateful for the information and resources that were shared. The planning portal was informative and easy to use, and the GPS map was very helpful in planning and pacing my days on the trail. The hiking club is the perfect option for hikers who want to hike the Alps on their own, but take a lot of the guess work out of planning.”
7: Salamander : Most Experienced but Least Choice
With 30 years of booking the TMB for English speaking clients, Salamander has a great reputation as shown by their almost 200 reviews. They rank lower on the list however as they only have one version of the TMB hike – – 11 days. For a self guided tour du mont blanc that is traditional, you’ll love it.
“Tour du Mont Blanc This is a great trek which I would recommend to anyone. The hotels varied in quality but the most welcoming and helpful was the Hotel Astoria in La Palud. We even elected to stay there a further night!”a
Guide to TMB Self Guided Planners
The Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) is a popular hiking trail that takes you through three countries, offering stunning views of the Alps.
Planning a self-guided tour of the TMB can be challenging, but with the right tools and knowledge, you can make your trip a success.
Is it more expensive than camping or individually booking your own trip? Yes. Is it worth it? Depends on how much you love spreadsheets and conversing via email in multiple languages.
I’ve planned and friend’s and family 5 day TMB hike. And I can confidently say that next time I’ll pay a service to avoid the headache.
In fact:
My list of recommended self-guided tour planners can help you with:
- accommodating groups from 1 -20 people
- taking care of all your planning needs
- arranging higher levels of comfort (i.e. private rooms)
- luggage transfer
- luggage storage
- maps
- gps
- route management
- recommending tour du mont blanc hike shortcuts
- hire taxis
You just go and hike your hike and leave the logistics up to the agency.
TMB Refuges
There are limited spaces at high elevation mountain huts so planning is essential. Generally plan 1 year in advance.
There are some serious chokepoints in planning. Meaning the bed book up quicky and there’s not many options. If you cannot get the particular hut you’ve got a really long hike around or you’ll need to dip down into a valley village hotel.
Chokepoints:
- Rifugio Bonatti
- Croix du Bonhomme
- Refuge Mottets
- Col de la Forclaz
- Auberge la Boerne
- Refuge la Flegere
- Refuge du Lac Blanc
Learn About ➡️ Tour du Mont Blanc Accommodation
More TMB Resources
- The Tour du Mont Blanc Hike vs the Alta Via 1
- Camping Guide to the Tour Du Mont Blanc Hike
- Can you bring trekking poles on the plane? Watch video here.
FAQ: Self-Guided TMB Adventure
Here are some essential tips and considerations for TMB self-guided tour planners:
1. Choose the Right Time of Year:
The TMB is open from June to September, but the best time to hike the trail is from mid-July to mid-September. During this time, the weather is generally good, and the trails are well-maintained. Often you will have to select from a pre-planned period of time where slots are available.
2. They Will Plan Your Route and Send You GPS Routes:
The TMB is a circular trail that spans 170 km and takes around 10-12 days to complete. Study your route carefully, taking into account the distance, elevation gain, and terrain of each day’s hike. Some services use hiking apps like Komoot or AllTrails to plan your route and track your progress. Some companies will send you paper maps as well.
3. They Will Book Your Accommodation:
Accommodation along the TMB can fill up quickly, especially during peak season. You’ll stay at a combination of mountain huts, hotels or airbnb in the valleys or camping.
4. They Should Send you a Packing List:
👉 Read my Full TMB Packing List Post
When hiking the TMB, it’s essential to pack light and bring only the essentials. Consider the weather conditions and pack accordingly. Don’t forget to pack a map, a compass, and a first-aid kit.
You can download my free TMB packing list below.
5. Luggage Transfer:
If you’re bringing extra luggage besides your hiking backpack, a tour company can plan to arrange for your luggage to be stored during the duration of your hike, or they can have a mule transport it. Some refuges are not possible to have luggage transport due to their location.
I recommend to ditch the extra luggage and just wash out your clothes each night. Save the mules! Or give the mules business it’s up to you.
6. Tour du Mont Blanc Costs:
| Days on Trail | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| 5 Days | 670 euros |
| 6 Days | 830 euros |
| 10 Days | 1660 euros |
Each company will have varying levels of service, types and durations of trips, and customer experience.
Read my guide to the typical costs of the TMB broken down by expense and how hard is the Tour du Mont Blanc hike.
While I wouldn’t recommend hikers actually climb Mont Blanc, hiking around it is pretty amazing.
Final Verdict
What we liked:Tour du Mont Blanc Hike
This firm is great for finding secluded variants (like the one by the La Gorge gondola), private rooms, and providing maps.
- Book 4-11 day trips
- Get GPS routes, written directions
- Arrange higher "comfort" levels (i.e. private rooms)
- Luggage transportation
Note: It's a good idea to book in September of year previous to hike.
More Resources
Discover gear that elevates your outdoor adventures. As a physical therapist, I’ve curated product comparisons to enhance safety and enjoyment, perfect for beginners or those with weary knees.
Physical Therapist Curated Gear Guides for Hikers & Skiers
- 🧎 Make your knees feel better while hiking and walking: Best Knee Braces for Hiking
- 🌳Make the downhills stop hurting and hike with more confidence Best Trekking Poles Review
- ⌚ Never get lost on the trail and navigate the wilderness safely with My Review of the Best GPS Watches for Hiking
- ❄️ Go hiking on uneven terrain safely: The Best Hiking Boots with Ankle Support
- Don’t get lost in the backcountry with : My Review of the Best 2 Way Radios for the Mountains
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Author profile: Morgan Fielder is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and passionate hiker who believes in exploring the world on foot with good food. Follow her journey as she shares science-based hiking tips and advocates for sustainable tourism.