How many days for the Tour du Mont Blanc?
The full tour is about 165 km with 9,451 m of ascent. Depending on your fitness, that spreads over 4 to 12 days. Here is what each duration means, day after day.
Updated
What each duration means
| Duration | km / day | Gain / day | Longest stage | Who for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 days | 41.2 | 2,363 m | 46.3 km · 18h34 | Trained trail runners | See the plan |
| 5 days | 32.9 | 1,890 m | 36.0 km · 15h23 | Very fit hikers | See the plan |
| 6 days | 27.4 | 1,575 m | 33.9 km · 12h42 | Fit hikers | See the plan |
| 7 days | 23.5 | 1,350 m | 28.7 km · 11h28 | Strong walkers | See the plan |
| 8 days | 20.6 | 1,181 m | 23.4 km · 10h38 | Strong walkers | See the plan |
| 9 days | 18.3 | 1,050 m | 22.1 km · 9h03 | Regular hikers | See the plan |
| 10 days | 16.5 | 945 m | 19.5 km · 9h03 | Regular hikers | See the plan |
| 11 days | 15.0 | 859 m | 19.2 km · 8h10 | The classic pace | See the plan |
| 12 days | 13.7 | 788 m | 17.4 km · 7h51 | Relaxed pace | See the plan |
How to choose your duration
10 to 12 days
The guidebook format: 14 to 17 km and 800 to 950 m of ascent a day on average, so 5 to 7 hours of walking, with time for breaks, photos and variants. Ideal for a first long-distance trek.
7 to 9 days
On average 18 to 24 km and 1,050 to 1,350 m of ascent a day, with stages of 9 to 11 hours: you need mountain experience and the legs to keep going day after day.
4 to 6 days
From 27 to over 40 km and 1,600 to 2,400 m of ascent a day on average: only for very well-trained hikers with light packs, or trail runners. Little margin if the weather turns.
Shortening or extending
- Keep a spare day if you can: it absorbs a stormy day or a badly placed blister.
- Lifts (Bellevue, Brévent, Flégère, Dolonne) and Val Ferret buses can cut a stage short, at the cost of a “not quite complete” tour.
- Not enough time for it all? Walk half the tour (for example Courmayeur → Chamonix through Switzerland) and save the rest for another year.