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Get to know the heart of the Alps and hit the high-altitude hiking trails around Mont Blanc. Starting and ending in Chamonix, you will learn why finishing the iconic Tour du Mont Blanc is more than 10 days of top-notch hiking with a backdrop of magnificent Alpine scenery. Enjoy the cultural, historical, and gastronomical aspects of the area located at the juncture of 3 countries and avoid the crowds (your guide knows the paths walked by few). Find out for yourself what makes this one of the world’s best treks!
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Our trip begins in the mountain town of Chamonix, famous for being the adventure capital of the Alps. Located at the foot of Mont Blanc, its cobblestone streets breathe adventure while also exhibiting Alpine small-town charm combined with French sophistication. You will meet the rest of the group at 6pm at your hotel for a short trip briefing and gear check, followed by dinner. Get some rest for tomorrow, as that’s when our TMB adventure officially begins!
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Chamonix -
*After a hearty breakfast, we will take a cable car connecting Les Houches with the Bellevue Plateau, during which we will get to enjoy the panoramic views of the Mont Blanc Massif. After crossing the suspension bridge at the foot of the Bionnassay glacier, your guide will choose the best route taking your group to Les Contamines. This usually includes passing the Col de Tricot (2,120 m / 6,955 ft), with a coffee stop at the Chalet de Miages at the foot of the mighty peak Dome de Miages (3,675 m / 12,055 ft), but a lower level route may be utilized. We will spend the night in a charming local 3* hotel in the French village of Les Contamines.
*Daily departures for hiking will be between 7 and 9am, depending on what time breakfast is served and on the length of the day.
Distance: 15 km / 9.3 miles
Ascent: 837 m / 2,746 ft
Descent: 1,520 m / 4,985 ft
Walking time: 6-7 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: 3* hotel in Les Contamines -
Day 3 begins with trekking up the old Roman road to the picture-perfect 17th-century church of Notre Dame de la Gorge. From here, our path goes uphill, past the Chalet de Barme (a perfect coffee stop!) and all the way to the Col de Bonhomme (2,328 m / 7,635 ft), where we will take our lunch break. Another climb—this time gentler—will take us to Col de la Croix de Bonhomme (2,478 m / 8,130ft), offering a great view towards the Vanoise National Park. After an additional 2 hours, we will have reached Les Chapieux, the location of our lovely chambre d’hôte (bed and breakfast).
Distance: 19 km / 11.9 miles
Ascent: 1,348 m / 4,450 ft
Descent: 960 m / 3,150 ft
Walking time: 8 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Bed and breakfast in Les Chapieux -
We will take a newly-cut path up to Ville des Glaciers (in previous years the TMB took the tarmac road). There is usually the option to have a minibus transfer from Les Chapieux if you prefer (included), the leader will let you know about this. (If you have stayed at Bourg St Maurice or Courmet de Roselend, you will transfer directly to Ville des Glaciers). At Ville des Glaciers, we might have the opportunity to see how the Beaufort cheese is made. After passing Refuge des Mottets, we’ll start to climb more steeply up to our goal, the Col de La Seigne, at 2,516 m (8,255 ft), the 2nd highest pass on the Tour du Mont Blanc. We’ve reached the border with Italy! From here, we descend past the Elisabetta hut (we may divert here for lunch or coffee, depending on how we’re doing for time) and the Lac de Combal to La Visaille, where we take a bus to the vibrant mountain town of Courmayeur.
Distance: 21 km / 13 miles
Ascent: 1,004 m / 3,300 ft
Descent: 850 m / 2,800 ft
Walking time: 6 hours
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Courmayeur -
We start the steep walk up to the Bertone hut and the Mont de la Saxe ridge. If the weather is good and there is not too much snow, we can take the lesser-travelled variant to the Mont de la Saxe ridge, up the Tête de la Tronche, and then down steeply to the Col Sapin. We then have a descent, followed by another climb to the Col Entre Deux Sauts—it’s a fairly long, but really stunning day, there are usually not many people, and the scenery is breathtaking! If the weather isn’t so good, or if you want a more relaxing day, you can take a fabulous balcony path from the Bertone hut to the Bonatti, high above the Val Ferret. It is a shorter day, but by no means a “second choice”, as the scenery is stunning.
Mont de la Saxe Route
Distance: 17 km / 10.5 miles
Ascent: 1,584 m / 5,200 ft
Descent: 940 m / 3,080 ft
Walking time: 7-8 hoursBalcony Route
Distance: 12 km / 7.5 miles
Ascent: 860 m / 2820 ft
Descent: 700 m / 2296 ft
Walking time: 4-5 hoursMeals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Courmayeur
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Included:
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- An experienced, local hiking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
- 4-day Tuolumne hiking adventure
- Yosemite National Park entry reservations and trailhead permits
- All meals as indicated in the itinerary as well as snacks
- Hot coffee and tea each morning
- Gear including stoves, water filters, first aid, etc. (everyone helps carry some of this gear)
- Transportation pre and post trip (if needed)
- A tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpack, and trekking poles (if needed) — let us know upon checkout
Add-ons:
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- Single supplement
Not included:
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- Transportation to Fresno
- Accommodations before and after the trip
- Travel and medical insurance — optional
- Evacuations
- Guide gratuities — optional
- Personal clothing
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While this Tuolumne hiking adventure is Yosemite requires no backpacking experience, great fitness and training prior to the trip is still a must. And the best training for hiking is—hiking. The route involves significant elevation gain and loss, reaching altitudes of up to 11,000 ft / 3,352 m. Each day, we’ll hike between 4 and 6 miles (6.4 to 9.6 km), with elevation gains up to 2,500 ft (760 m) per day!
Additionally, since everyone in the group will help carry gear to basecamp on the first day, expect your backpack to weigh around 30 – 40 lbs (13 – 18 kg) for the ~4-mile / 6.4 km hike. Keep in mind that mountain weather can be unpredictable, so be sure to pack the appropriate clothing.
For more hiking adventures in Yosemite, click here!
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Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Backpacking gear — your guides can provide this free of charge, let us know upon checkout if you’ll need the following gear
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- Backpack large enough to carry all the items listed
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
- Tent
- Trekking poles
Personal items:
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- Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed
- Water bottle or hydration bladder (2L capacity)
- Sunhat
- Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Sunglasses
- Camera — optional (but recommended)
- Blister kit & plasters
- Mobile phone and battery charging bank
Clothing:
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- Lightweight hiking boots or shoes
- Comfortable hiking clothes
- Spare clothes for layering
- Waterproof rain jacket
- Socks, wool, at least 2 pairs
- Leggings, wool or polypropylene
- Extra socks and thermal layers are always handy
Optional items:
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- Waterproof over-trousers
- Facecloth or small towel for washing
- Motion sickness tablets if you are prone to car sickness
- Face mask
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All meals are included in this adventure—breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as snacks.
Fresh meals will be prepared daily in the backcountry, focusing on local ingredients and avoiding dehydrated or packaged foods. A sample menu for a day includes: Bagels with cream cheese and lox or fresh berries, paired with coffee or tea for breakfast; a charcuterie board for lunch; and pine nut pesto pasta with sun-dried tomatoes and sausage for dinner. Each day features a new menu!
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Group sizes and pricing
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- For the Tuolumne hiking tour, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 6:1.
- It takes a minimum of 2 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 12 participants.
Tuolumne hiking adventures can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
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- If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
- Minors as young as 10 may be allowed to join the hike on a case-by-case basis, but they must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and have prior backpacking experience with their family.
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
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The starting point of your Tuolumne hiking trip is the Yosemite area, near Fresno. If you’re flying from out of state, most people fly into Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT).
You can book a stay at one of the nearby hotels. Your guide will coordinate transportation from your accommodation and in the Fresno area to Yosemite and reach out to you before your trip to confirm all travel and meeting point details. Make sure to reach the Fresno area at least a day prior to the trip, as you’ll be meeting up with the guides early in the morning of Day 1.
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We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!
Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!
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