Tour du Mont Blanc East - White Marmotte

A 4-day hike through three countries with great views of Mont Blanc

Description: 4 days hiking across the eastern half of the TMB, from Courmayeur to Le Tour.
Dates:
2027 dates will be released in mid-October
Trip Length: 4 days walking, 4 nights
Group Size: 4-8 people
Cost
4-days: €850 per person
Trip Grading:
Physical Technical

Following the success of our TMB West over the last four years, here is the four day trek over the opposite half of the TMB. Our Tour du Mont Blanc East shares all the elements that make the Western version so good. There are amazing views, hut-to-hut trekking, small-group camaraderie, challenging alpine hikes, and multiple countries. There are some differences though. The views on the eastern half are less remote wilderness, more chocolate box Switzerland. Think of pristine peaks towering above alpine meadows, dark green forests and charming wooden chalets. You’ll see more touches of civilisation in the refuges too. There will be wifi, better showers, and optional baggage transfers. Overall, you’ll find the trekking is a little more accessible on this side of the TMB. However, the high mountains are still close and this is still a tough trek.

Since this is a highlights trek, we use a taxi on the second day to transfer from La Fouly to Champex Lac. This lets us skip a valley section and focus on the most scenic parts of the route.

Quick links:

Overview
Detailed Itinerary
What to bring
Booking

Practical Information
Gallery
Reviews
Terms and conditions

Grand Col Ferret, the first border crossing on the Tour du Mont Blanc East — The Swiss Italian border at Grand Col Ferret

What is included:

Transfers to and from Geneva airport (meeting in Chamonix is possible too)
Four nights accommodation in shared dormitories
Three evening meals, four breakfasts, and one picnic lunch on the first hiking day
Four days guiding by a qualified International Mountain Leader with a UIMLA certified diploma

What is not included:

Lunches apart from day 1
Evening meal on arrival day
Drinks and snacks
Flights or travel to the meeting point
Accommodation after the trip
Insurance

As this trip is sold as a package, specific terms and conditions apply in addition to the general White Marmotte terms and conditions. You also have extra rights under EU and French Package Travel rules.

Four-day itinerary
Arrival Day: Shared transfer from Geneva airport to Chamonix, bed and breakfast accommodation in Chamonix
Day 1: Taxi transfer to Lavachey, near Courmayeur in Italy. Hike to Rifugio Elena
Day 2: Hike from Rifugio Elena to La Fouly. Taxi transfer to accommodation in Champex Lac
Day 3: Hike from Champex Lac to Trient
Day 4: Hike from Trient to Le Tour. Public bus to Chamonix. Shared transfer to Geneva Airport

Pricing and upgrades

The four-day trek costs 850€ per person to join a group trip. The following add-ons are available to extend the standard package.

Extra night(s): if you would like to stay in Chamonix after the trip, we can arrange one or more extra nights in the lodge we use for the first night.
Accommodation upgrade: you can upgrade to a private room for the night in Chamonix before the trip. It may be possible to upgrade other nights, but availability is very limited.
Luggage transfers: it is possible to transport a 15kg bag to the end of each day’s trek so that you only need to carry the equipment you need each day.

Suitability: The TMB is a moderately challenging hike, suitable for regular hill walkers. We’ll be walking up to 9 hours a day, with up to 1100m height gain. Altitude is not generally a problem, but we will hike above 2500m where most people feel some shortness of breath. The trip is not suitable for children under 16, and we ask that 16- and 17-year-olds are accompanied by an adult.
Accommodation: We stay in mountain refuges, auberges, or lodges with dormitory accommodation.
Meals: All breakfasts and dinners are included, apart from the evening of arrival day. We also provide a packed lunch on the first day. The remaining lunches are not included. We can either stop at a refuge or mountain restaurant at lunchtime, or buy packed lunches from the overnight accommodation.
Transport: There will be a transfer from Geneva Airport on day one. Individual shared return transfers will be provided for your return flight.
Group Size: 4-8

Hikers in the forest approaching Bovine Alpage — The Bovine Alpage Route

Have a look at the photo gallery for more pictures of the trip.

Review text over image - Wonderful trip with a great guide!Ian was knowledgable, considerate and friendly and picked a route that worked so well for us

What our customers are saying…

This is a new trip, so we don’t have reviews yet. Here is some customer feedback from the TMB West

“Wonderful trip with a great guide! Ian was knowledgable, considerate and friendly and picked a route that worked so well for us and made sure that everything ran incredibly smoothly. Will definitely use again.” – Kenneth Roberts

“… We had an amazing 5 nights doing the TMB and will definitely be going back next summer” – Sharon Power

“It was challenging & fantastic all mixed together with sun, snow, thunderstorms and epic scenery! Ian’s 4 day itinerary is perfectly planned …” – Mel M

Read more reviews on Google and Tripadvisor

Tour du Mont Blanc East – Detailed Itinerary

Arrival day

From Geneva airport you’ll take a shared transfer to your accommodation near Chamonix. We don’t include an evening meal, as you may prefer to get food on the flight or at the airport. You can buy dinner at the bar/restaurant in the lodge, or take a fifteen minute stroll into Chamonix town centre.
Accommodation: Lodge (dormitory, private room upgrade available)

Day 1: Lavachey to Rifugio Elena

Right after breakfast, we’ll take a taxi through the Mont Blanc Tunnel to Italy. We’ll be dropped off at Lavachey in the Italian Val Ferret, just a few kilometres from Courmayeur. From here we’ll hike up to the famous Rifugio Bonatti, a great place for an Italian espresso. From here, we follow the Val Ferret balcony path with stunning views of the south side of the Mont Blanc Massif. The granite walls of the Grandes Jorasses are awe inspiring, and we’ll soon see Mont Dolent, the trip-point of Italy, Switzerland and France. Reaching the old farm at Arp Neuva, we’ll drop down to the valley floor before the final climb towards the well appointed Rifugio Elena.
Accommodation: Mountain refuge
Distance: 10km
Altitude Gain/Loss: 770m/340m
Maximum Altitude: 2070m

Hikers in the Italian Val Ferret, start of the TMB East — The Italian Val Ferret

Day 2: Rifugio Elena to La Fouly

We start the day by continuing the climb to the Grand Col Ferret, at the head of the Italian Val Ferret valley. Here we’ll cross the border into Switzerland and see the scenery change almost instantaneously. We’ll leave the jagged granite peaks for alpine pastures dominated by the icy dome of the Grand Combin high above. You’ll often spot ibex and marmots on this section. The trail becomes easier as we descend to the refuge and dairy farm at La Peule – a great place to stop and sample some fresh raclette cheese. The trail then winds down into the valley and the delightful little town of La Fouly. From here, a taxi takes us down the valley to our accommodation above Champex Lac.
Accommodation: Mountain refuge
Distance: 12km
Altitude Gain/Loss: 480m/940m
Maximum Altitude: 2536m

Trient village, with the pink church in the centre — The charming Swiss village of Trient

Day 3: Champex Lac to Trient

Today there are two choices, depending on conditions and the ability of the group. Typically we take the Bovine Alpage route, descending through woodland and chalets to a café at Plan d’Au, before climbing steep pine forests to reach the green, pastoral plateau where the Bovine farm and restaurant sits. We are rewarded by great views of the Swiss Rhone valley, and distant high alpine peaks. A long wooded traverse brings us to a historic crossing point at the Col de la Forclaz, before the descent to Trient. A dramatic alternative route takes us over the high and difficult Fentre d’Arpette – this rocky mountain pass is a shorter and more direct route, but with more elevation gain. It’s a lot more challenging.
Accommodation: Auberge
Distance: 16km or 13km
Altitude Gain/Loss: 730m/1080m or 1040m/1390m
Maximum Altitude: 2050m or 2665m

The refuge at the Col de Balme near the end of the Tour du Mont Blanc East — Setting off from Bonhomme Refuge

Day 4: Trient to Le Tour

Today begins with the long, steady climb to the Col de Balme, and the French border. Here we’ll be rewarded with a sudden view of Mont Blanc and the Chamonix Aiguilles, weather permitting. The refuge straddling the border is a good spot for refreshments before the descent into France. We can either descend directly, or take a longer route over the scenic Posettes ridge if time allows. A cable car descent is also possible for tired legs.
Accommodation: None – shared transfers to Geneva airport are provided. Extra nights are available as an upgrade.
Distance: 11km
Altitude Gain/Loss: 930m/720m
Maximum Altitude: 2204m

What to bring on the Tour du Mont Blanc East

As we’ll be staying in refuges overnight, we can travel light on this trip. You’ll be able to fill up your water bottles and buy packed lunches along the way. However, you’ll still have to carry enough kit for four days hiking. If you want to carry less, ask us about optional baggage transfers.

You should be able to keep the weight down to seven or eight kilos, plus water. You’ll need the following items:-

Rucksack big enough to carry everything – about 30 litres
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof trousers
Warm jacket
T-shirts or base layers
Jumpers or long-sleeve tops
Long trousers (you can wear shorts, but please bring long trousers too)
Spare underwear and socks
Cotton or silk sleeping bag liner (available from Decathlon)
Travel towel
Water bottles (1-2 litres – please fill up before we leave Geneva)
Sunscreen
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Soap/shampoo/shower gel – Top tip: try a solid shampoo bar to save weight
Any personal medication
Sunglasses
Hat
Sun hat or cap
Trekking poles (optional but recommended – you can hire them from us if you need to)

If you have any questions or concerns about equipment, just ask and we’ll be happy to advise you.

Booking the Tour du Mont Blanc East

Send Enquiry Instant Booking

Click the buttons above to book, or send us an email to bookings@whitemarmotte.com to request more information.

Please note that specific terms and conditions apply to this trip, so make sure you read these before booking.

Practical information

Yes, either or both transfers can be arranged for diferent dates if you want to stay a few days extra in Chamonix. We can organise extra nights in the Vert Lodge where you’ll stay on the night before the trek. However, there are plenty of accommodation options in the town if you’d prefer something different, from campsites to five star hotels. There is an extensive bus and train network, so it is easy to get around the valley without a car.

Yes, if you don’t need one or both of the transfers we can offer a small discount. The same applies if you don’t need accommodation the night before the trek. Get in touch for details.

Our transfer service can meet flights landing in Geneva up until 7.30pm. For the return journey, we recommend booking any flight from 7.30pm onwards on day 4. If you would like the return transfer on a later date, we can get you to the airport for any flight taking off at 9.30am or later.

If you are not sure whether your flights are suitable, feel free to contact us for advice before booking.

While you don’t need to be a marathon runner, you do need to be able to hike on hilly terrain for up to eight hours per day. The Tour du Mont Blanc is a mountainous route around some of the highest points in Europe. In general, we cover 10-15 kilometres and 500-1000 metres of ascent each day. The Tour du Mont Blanc East is easier than our 4-day TMB West, but it’s still challenging. If you are not used to walking in the mountains we recommend that you get some practice beforehand – it is very different from walking on the flat.

If you have a medical condition which may affect your ability to complete this trip, please contact us to discuss suitability. We want you to be able to take part if possible, but if you have a condition that could lead to a life threatening emergency, you need to carefully consider whether you can safely complete the trek. The route crosses inaccessible mountain terrain, sometimes with no mobile network signal, however the overnight accommodation is always accessible by road, or by 4-wheel-drive track. This trip is less remote than the TMB West, but we can still be several hours walk from the nearest road or shelter.

While we do not want to bar anyone from participating in the trip, we reserve the right to ask for a letter from a physician before accepting your booking, or to refuse your booking if we are not satisfied that you can complete the trip safely.

We also would not recommend this trip if you have any condition which impacts your ability to perform moderately strenuous exercise for long period or to walk safely on uneven terrain.

We find Decathlon is great for picking up these items at a reasonable cost. If you have any difficulty finding something, let us know and we’ll see what we can organise for you.

This trip uses a mixture of refuges and auberges, including one high mountain refuge at over 2000m altitude on the Italian section. The first night in Chamonix is in a hotel/lodge, while the nights in Switzerland are in a refuge near the valley, and an auberge (basic hotel). All accommodation is in dormitories, but you may be able to upgrade to a private room subject to availability. All the accommodation has private rooms, but apart from the first night these are very limited in number. Facilities are basic, but you can expect a friendly atmosphere, plenty of food at dinner, a pleasant bar and a terrace with a view. On this trip, all the accommodation has wifi and hot showers.

Please note that the Rifugio Elena is quite remote – there may be no phone signal and the wifi can be temperamental. You may not be able to use credit cards here if the phone/internet signal is not working.

We aim to have between four and eight people in a group, and we will not book more than eight places. However, we will commit to running a trip from the first booking, so even if only one or two people book we will guarantee to run the trip. In the unlikely event that you are the only person to book, we’ll give you the option of coming on your own (with private guiding), transferring the booking to another White Marmotte product, or cancelling for a full refund.

If you arrive late on the first day, please get in touch with us as soon as possible. We will do our best to organise for you to join the group as early as we can, however it is likely that there will be additional transport and/or accommodation costs which you would have to cover. It may be possible for you to meet us in Italy, or you may need to travel to Champex to meet the group on night two.

Insurance is not included in the cost of this trip, so you’ll need to have your own insurance which covers search and rescue, including by helicopter, and emergency medical care in France, Italy and Switzerland. This is a mandatory requirement in order to protect both you and us in the event of an emergency. Mountain rescue is free in France, but can be extremely expensive in Italy and Switzerland.

If you’re a French resident, you can purchase a suitable policy at www.sport.lycea.fr.

Send Enquiry Instant Book ing

Please read the specific terms and conditions that apply to this trip before booking.

    
 
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Jason C 
 18 September 2026
 
 
 Verified Awesome experience
Ian, Is an experienced and steady guide who made for a memorable trip. His expertise and steady hand were much appreciated as we navigated our 5-day hike of the French Alps. If you're looking to embark on a similar hike, I highly recommend. Ian, because I am confident you'll be thrilled with your choice.
  
 
     Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Stephanie G 
 15 September 2026
 
 
 Verified Tour des Aiguilles Rouge
We booked a 5 day hiking trek of the Tour des Aiguilles Rouge with Ian for august 2026.” There were 12 of us on the trek . Ian was knowledgeable and experienced in this area of the French Alps . He pointed out important points and knew the history of the area. It was an incredible 5 days , filled with fun and adventure !!! He did a great job arranging our lodging and food at the refuges too. Thank you Ian ! ! !
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Hannah Mendonca 
 24 August 2026
 
 
  Ian was an absolutely fantastic guide from start to finish! He organised everything so seamlessly and made the whole experience feel effortless honestly! I genuinely couldn’t have asked for a more perfect guide.

From picking us up at the airport to arranging our transport, drop-offs, shuttles and overnight stays at the mountain refuges, he took care of every little detail- kept us on track and made sure we were where we needed to be and on time throughout the whole trip, which made everything feel so smooth and stress-free.

Beyond being incredibly organised, he was the kindest and most patient guide you could ask for. He even put up with my inconsistent pace without ever making me feel rushed, and always made sure everyone was comfortable and able to enjoy every part of the experience.

The TMB itself was absolutely spectacular!!!unreal views, an amazing experience for sure and so many unforgettable memories that I’ll take away with me. A big thanks to Ian for organising it allll. I’d highly recommend him to anyone looking for an amazing guide and an unforgettable TMB experience!!
  
 
     Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   SharonB186338 
 5 July 2026
 
 
 Verified Excellent hiking skills course
We’d done plenty of mountain hikes over the years, but after spending several years behind a desk, we were a bit unsure about our fitness and whether our mountain skills were up to scratch for another multi-day adventure. From the moment Ian met us at our hotel and talked us through the week’s plan, we felt completely at ease. Everything was well organised, and every day built upon the last, which gave us the opportunity to build confidence while learning and refreshing essential skills such as navigation, rope work, orienteering, and dealing with unexpected situations in the mountains. Ian is incredibly knowledgeable, calm and patient, which made the whole experience both enjoyable and rewarding. We came away feeling far more confident and had a brilliant week in some stunning scenery. We’d highly recommend Ian to anyone looking to develop their mountain skills or simply enjoy a fantastic guided experience.
  
 
     Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   LISA L 
 30 June 2026
 
 
 Verified Chamonix Shakers TMB2026
We just completed a six day Tour du Mont Blanc , and honestly having Ian as our guide made the whole experience unforgettable. No matter the weather, terrain , or how we were feeling , we always felt safe, well informed, and completely looked after. Ian had this great ability to read the group and set the perfect pace when needed. I remember on particular hard climb, I found myself stepping exactly where he stepped, and somehow it felt like I was being carried up the mountain by a white marmotte! That’s the kind of quiet confidence he brings. Add to that his genuine kindness, gentleness and steady encouragement, and you’ve got someone who elevates the whole journey. Feel very blessed to have completed this trip and would highly recommend.