Fastpacking the Tour du Mont-Blanc with Willie McBride

Meet in Chamonix, the world-famous resort and trail-running epicenter in France, easily accessible by train, bus or shuttle transfer from Geneva airport. After settling in, you’ll meet your guide, Willie and the rest of your group in the evening for a drink and tour briefing. Dinner is on your own — we’ll share our favorite local recommendations.

Today kicks off our fast-packing around Mont Blanc! After leaving Chamonix, we follow an undulating trail to Les Houches, then climb over the Tricot pass to the quiet and quaint Miage valley – on one of the prettiest corners of the “TMB.” Passing through a tiny hamlet of stone houses where cows and horses graze peacefully surrounded by hanging glaciers, we’ll run to the small village of Les Contamines, where we stay overnight.

Following an old Roman trail, we continue the tour with a long, steady ascent across two lofty passes, Col de la Croix du Bonhomme and Col du Bonhomme. After a pause near the pass, we’ll descend to the hamlet of Les Chapieux in the historic Vallée de Glaciers.

Leaving France, an ascent through quiet alp pastures leads to the Col de la Seigne and into Italy. Here you’re greeted by an amazing view into the Veny valley and the Mont-Blanc range. The Aiguille Noire de Peuterey is particularly impressive from this vantage point, and Mont Blanc itself dominates the view ahead. We’ll continue down the valley and into the medieval village of Courmayeur, with narrow, cobblestoned alleyways and a lively, pedestrian-only core. Tonight, you’ll have access to your baggage and we’ll provide recommendations for the best restaurants in town for a delicious dinner.

We’ll leave Courmayeur, and head up to Rifugio Bertone, overlooking the beautiful Val Ferret. From there, we’ll run some of the best singletrack on the tour, stopping at the stunning Rifugio Bonatti for a break. Next, it’s time to tackle the ascent of Grand Col Ferret, our highest point on the trip, on the Italian-Swiss border. Then we’ll run a beautiful, rolling single track next to some very contented cows. We descend to the small village of La Fouly, where we’ll settle in for a quiet night at the end of the Swiss Val Ferret.

Today’s run leads us along the Ferret river and through quiet Alp hamlets, before climbing to the pretty lakeside village of Champex-Lac, where we’ll enjoy a break. Next, it’s through woods and meadows and past farms, climbing high with views of Switzerland’s Rhône valley and the historic city of Martigny, far below. We’ll pass the Bovine high mountain café before descending to the small village of Trient.

An optional Swiss PostBus to Champex-Lac will shorten the day if preferred.

Our last day running around Mont Blanc is a classic, as we climb to Col de Balme on the border with France. Enjoy gorgeous views of Mont Blanc and the entire Chamonix valley as we cross the pass and descend to Le Tour. Finish with a run through the Chamonix valley, or hop on a bus or train for the ride back to Chamonix, where we enjoy a delicious celebratory dinner at a favorite local restaurant.

Your tour ends after breakfast at the hotel. We wish you smooth and safe onward travels!