Trek the Tour Du Mont Blanc in a Week: The Hotels Edition

Quintin had to think about everybody, I was fine but to slow and he had to keep waiting for me plus he was always worried about transportation. I would make sure I went with people my own age next time. I was really upset Cause two of my kids were with me

I found very annoying the wrong information about distances and ascends/descends. We were using several public/private buses that makes the timetable more rigid: rushing or waiting several times. The environment is awesome and the group was great.

We had an absolutely amazing week in the Alps. First of all, the views! At every turn my breath was taken away with beautiful vistas! Next, our guide Quentin was like a swan, effortlessly gliding on the surface but clearly working really hard under the water to make sure we didn't need to worry about a thing. He was super friendly and knowledgeable sharing all sorts of fascinating information about flora, fauna and history. We just had to wake up and go. I also really appreciated the efforts he went to to pull together a lovely lunch for each day I cludong local cheeses, etc. The group was full of lovely and interesting people and I enjoyed their company, too. Some of the hotels were more basic than others but all were in great locations. I especially enjoyed the pool and saunas after a hard day's walking. Highly recommend!

Our guide was Quintin and he went above and beyond in trying to make our trip memorable. He was very knowledgeable about the food, plants, and animals.

Our biggest issue was the pace of the group. We had very slow people and very fast people within the same group. While the group would wait for the slow people to catch up it made the trip more disjointed than it could have been. There were multiple days where the slowest of the group could not participate which allowed the faster hikers to set the pace.

The comradery inside the group was great and all the people were fantastic.

It was an amazing trip and tour of the Alps. The group we were with was great and made for an even better experience. The routes we took were phenomenal and it was all so awe inspiring and breath taking. Our guide, Quentin, did an amazing job and was great as sorting everything out so we did not have to worry at all. Just needed to know when to wake up, eat and walk! Great holiday and break to be able to relax detach and also still nice and active (some of the terrain is challenging so it is not just a walk through the park for sure!)

I had such a fantastic week with JC and Much Better Adventures. The itinerary was so well thought out, capturing the best views, least crowds, and setting us up to succeed physically across the seven days.

The group dynamic was so special, full of great chats, laughter, and words of support. Leaving TMB with some lifelong friends.

Accommodations were comfortable and much appreciated after some long days. Food ranged from fantastic to ok, depending on each accommodation. Bringing your own snacks along would be recommended.

This is my second MBA trek and I would highly recommend their trips!

I very much enjoyed this trip – it was hard work but very rewarding in terms of the amazing scenery, the group dynamic and the sense of achievement. Travelling in Peak season (August) meant that the itinerary and accommodation varied slightly from the trip notes but this wasn’t a problem and added a little ‘mystery’ when we arrived at the end of each day. I would say the ‘Challenging’ rating is correct but there are no technical aspects requiring specific skills or equipment. Mainly just a decent level of fitness and a willingness to push your comfort zone a little. Our guide Jean-Claude (aka JC, Papa Bear) was friendly, very knowledgeable and helpful along the way. Having assessed the group during the first day, he was able to vary the route a little to enable us to go via some more interesting paths. It was all perfectly safe throughout. He was very keen for us to experience ‘in the moment’ and made time to pause and take in our surroundings. JC always made sure we were adequately fed, watered and applying suncream. Lunches were typically picnics at the top of a mountain pass, usually involving fresh baguettes and local cheeses & meats. Evening meals were generally taken in the hotel/refuge and very filling in preparation for the next day. As with most trips of this type the group dynamic makes a huge difference, and our team worked very well. We all got along together and there was plenty of time to chat with everyone whilst walking or at the end of the day. Things worth knowing before booking this trip: As other reviews suggest, ‘Hotels’ is probably stretching the description. Yes, for some nights we were in hotels, but others consisted of a separate room within the mountain refuges. A step up from shared dorms and perfectly comfortable, but it may not be quite as expected. When staying in the refuges, the evening meals were limited to one option for all guests. Again, perfectly fine but if you have specific requirements it’s worth clarifying at the start of the tour. Daily distances vary from the itinerary. This may be partially due to differences in GPS (up to 10km over the whole week), but also if the guide feels the group is able to go a little ‘off-piste’ to more interesting terrain. I found it best not to get hung up about the specifics but to enjoy the surroundings. This trip is actually the reverse direction of most guidebooks, but some do it this way round. Trekking poles are a must – helping both uphill and downhill. Water is very important but it is plentiful – tap water is safe, as are the public fountains and even the mountain streams (check upstream first). Assume the weather will turn bad and be happy when it doesn’t! (take rainclothes, sweatshirt and spare socks each day) Most places take card but take a little cash for snacks/coffees in the refuges Bags of Haribo are great for making instant friends on the trail! If you're keen on hiking and wanting to take on a bit of a challenge, this trip is a great option.

Very poor communication before the trip . The itinerary was not followed as we stayed in Chamonix for three nights and did day hikes from there missing out on seeing two of the towns we were suppose to stay in. Our guide seemed clueless to the changes and because of confusion with bus schedules and transportation the one town in Italy that we were all looking forward to spending time in we did not arrive until late pm! The accommodations were not what was stated. Our guide told one of us that he was contacted at the last minute to take this trip. I would not recommend booking thru your company.

This trip was absolutely incredible - brilliant walking that wasn't too challenging, unbelievable scenery & a real immersion into the TMB with a bit of comfort. Our guide Mario was brilliant - he enhanced the experience with all his knowledge of the mountains, surroundings, and flora/fauna, was lovely to chat with, and kept the trip running smoothly. The group was a lovely mix of people from all over the world, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know everyone over the week and sharing the experience with them. The walking itself was amazing, with scenery that changed every single day & views that I'll never forget! It really was the trip of a lifetime & I was gutted when it ended.

However, as others have pointed out, there were a few issues with the MBA's organisation of the trip. The descriptions of each day's hiking didn't match up with what we did, and the accommodation we were in for the first 2 nights was unfortunately back in Chamonix itself - whilst a very nice hotel, it was not quite the direct hike to the accommodation that was described on the site & meant a few long transfers. Our group was also split up for our final night across different accommodations, which did put a bit of a dampener on our last night together. Unfortunately, our last day of hiking was cancelled due to the weather - which was understandable & unavoidable - however, there was no alternative group activity or plan in place for this, so do be wary if you're booking this trip during more changeable weather months. That said, I would still highly recommend this trip & hope these issues can be ironed out with it being the first year it's been run.

I had a wonderful time. One in a group of ten and there were two who became the point person. There was a definite miscommunication or lack of communication between the two businesses and the hikers. It was frustrating to constantly have to correct or redirect to previous communication to make sure things went according to plans. There may have been some of this with the guide as well. Whatever it was, the guide always kept us in the loop - professionally- never complaining just saying he’s checking on things and getting us on our way. The tour itself was wonderful. The places we stayed were great as well. The food was a little less than desirable. Mostly because we were starved for vegetables. This was something we experienced throughout the week at each meal. Staff at every location were helpful and kind. The tour itself was absolutely wonderful. Transportation between trails was pleasant and on time. Our luggage was where it needed to be every night. Great experience.

I picked this trip as I was looking for a hiking adventure I could do together with my Dad. We thought this was a great alternative to the classic TMB - we felt like we hiked the best sections of the trail (you skip some bits on transport, which brings it from 10 days to 7 days) and stayed in comfortable private rooms throughout, some more fancy (eg 4* hotel in Chamonix on nights 1&2) and some more basic (eg mountain huts with shared facilities on some other nights). Views from the trail were phenomenal throughout and we loved trying different local produce in our picnics each day. With this being a new MBA tour, I think there are some details to be ironed out between MBA & local operators re: the itinerary, to help set expectations before the tour, and I also thought that the trip might have been improved with a second guide or a smaller group size. Overall, a brilliant adventure, and well pitched for those wanting to tackle the TMB with comfortable accomm & a shorter overall distance.

Trip was not what was stated on itinerary! Confusing and difficult to get information regarding baggage meeting areas and transportation from airport booked thru your company. We should have been able to meet the guide prior to start as always with other companies we traveled. Our Guide Danny appeared to have little knowledge about what was stated in the itinerary, dietary issues were not addressed.

Let me start by saying we had a wonderful (really!!) guide - Mario, who was knowledgeable, empathetic, smart, humble, and charming. Thank you again, Mario! Generally saying - the tour was organized well part of the "hotels part" (that is why i gave 3 stars) so not all accommodations were actually hotels. Most were motels at best, some had joined showers and toilets. The ones that were actually hotels were 2 stars max. FYI. Also, calling to the agency and leaving a msg is no use as they don't call back or txt. Part from that - amazing trails, great hiking, come prepared for 800m assents and 1000m decents .... and enjoy!

I had an absolutely amazing time and thoroughly enjoyed the trip! The mix of people on my tour was fantastic and really added to the whole experience. As a solo traveler, you never know what to expect, but there was a perfect blend of couples and other solo hikers. From the start, there was a wonderful feeling of friendship. We shared many backgrounds, stories, and laughs, and there was always someone to talk to along the trails. Our guide was incredible. He was knowledgeable, helpful, and great to chat with. He brought the group together while also allowing everyone to go at their own pace as much as possible, all while ensuring our safety. A few fixes need to be made to the itinerary, as the distances and elevations didn't match up to what we did day to day. However, this did not detract from the enjoyment of the hike at all. The scenery was incredible every step of the way, and I'm not sure how I am expected to return to normal life without having mountaintop picnics for lunch each day. This trip exceeded my expectations, and I can't wait for the next adventure!