Trek the Tour du Mont Blanc: The Full Circuit

Amazing trip, challenging but highly recommend to anyone who loves hiking and a challenge!

Given my and my partner’s general experience on this trip, I cannot recommend this particular trip.

I had misgivings early on when I realized that we had a single guide for 13 clients. Guide-to-client ratios aren’t universal, but in my experience (I’ve been on several guided treks and far more unguided/self-guided trips at significantly higher elevation than the TMB), companies tend to try to maintain 1 guide per 6–8 clients, and for a group this size would universally have two guides to ensure that the group remains compact and that all clients benefit from guiding regardless of their relative pace. Everyone in the group had sufficient fitness levels, but there was a clear variation in natural pace, and unfortunately my misgivings were pretty quickly realized. Our guide was either unable to or unwilling to maintain a compact group and tended to let the ‘average’ pace be determined by the fastest group members, and the situation quickly devolved into a scenario where pressure was placed, both explicitly and implicitly, on the slower-paced individuals to move faster and keep up with the group.

I want to be clear; I’m talking about pacing, not fitness; there is a difference. My partner has completed similar-length trips at higher altitudes. One of these trips she powered through walking pneumonia for a week in the Himalayas. This isn’t her first rodeo, and she is tough as nails. Another individual who was “slower” completed Kilimanjaro the year before. Despite this, multiple comments were made about the'slow pace,’ despite the fact the group was moving at a pace that was consistently within the published hike times on the itinerary. The point of the itinerary is to give you a sense of the pace you should measure yourself against, and my expectation is always that one of the things you’re paying for in a guide is the crowd control component of ensuring that the group functions as a group and that the group dynamics are conducive to a collective and supportive environment. This was not the case.

Keeping the group compact isn’t just about inclusion, though; it’s also about safety. Early on, I was especially uncomfortable moving too far ahead of my partner and found myself effectively functioning as a rear guide, trying to maintain visual contact with the front end of the group, which was difficult. The group was spread very thin. This was particularly challenging on the first day in which we had an unseasonably early snowstorm with low visibility. The trail conditions were viable, but bad, part of the adventure, but it is difficult to enjoy that adventure when you are already feeling a sense of pressure to maintain a faster pace than your natural pace (again, despite your natural pace being within the guidelines stated in the itinerary). I am comfortable in those conditions, and I wasn’t worried about my ability to help people in the rear of the group, but our guide or group really would have had no way to know that. This came to a head on the second day when my partner became ill with a stomach bug, vomiting multiple times on the trail. Fortunately, I was with her, and I was able to help her to the place where the group had paused, talk to our guide, and explain that I was going to take her back down to get some medical attention. I’m grateful that I was there to help her down, because I’m really not sure what that scenario would have looked like had she been on the trip solo. The entire experience was bizarre to me because, despite the fact I felt comfortable doing this (the TMB is a well-maintained and clearly marked trail), it’s not physically easy, but it is navigationally easy. No one in this group other than my partner would have any reason to know this or assume I’d be ok managing this myself. Fortunately, we were able to get my partner back to our previous campsite, and I was able to navigate the taxi situation and find a local hotel for her to rest in. She insisted I rejoin the group, and when she had recovered enough, she was able to rejoin the group a couple of days later. But by this point the general dynamic as well as the erroneous assumption that her illness was fitness-related (she was sick. I was genuinely concerned for her on that trail. No one else would have known how sick she was though, because they were a solid 20 minutes ahead). We had a guiding change late in the trip due to an unexpected emergency our original guide needed to leave to deal with, and the new guide immediately recognized the difficult group dynamic, established clear expectations that all members of the group stay within visual or audible distance of the group, and maintained a pace that was viable for all group members (again, to repeat myself, everyone in this group was able to maintain the pace that is listed in the itinerary). This was pretty validating for those who had felt an unreasonable pressure to be faster, but unfortunately I think it was too late in the trip to really fully rescue the experience.

The entire point of paying for a guided group experience is a) to receive guidance, including group pacing and logistics, as well as sharing local knowledge and explaining what you are seeing, and b) to enjoy, well, a group. I cannot speak for everyone, but for me and my partner, I can’t say we received either of those, and I wish we had just planned our own itinerary and completed the trail just the two of us. The TMB is a stunning trail, and I do highly recommend it, but I’d recommend that you consider our experience with booking and weigh whether or not you are comfortable with a 1:13 guide ratio and a potentially scattered and unevenly paced guiding experience.

Hiking the Tour Du Mont Blanc was an experience i'll always remember. Taking in France, Italy and Switzerland in one full sweep - the views were incredible throughout.

As someone in my mid 20s, I was pleased the group skewed younger than expected. We all got on, looked after each and had lots of laughs over a well earned beer or hot chocolate at the end of a long day. The guide, Rob, was easy going and managed the different fitness levels of the group well - meaning everyone could enjoy the route, the dramatic and stunning scenery and feel challenged.

The food was tasty and alway filling. The accommodation - while rustic - really added to the sense of adventure and camaraderie.

I'd thoroughly recommend it!

Highlights of the trip include our great guide Astrid, a fun group to hike with, and great food at every stop. While the accommodations each night varied in comfort and privacy, I think that's part of the fun of the trip. Highly recommend hiking the TMB!

This was an incredible experience and absolutely worth the hard work. The views were stunning and finishing it was a real sense of achievement. We were so lucky with the weather. The fist two days we experienced a lot of snow, ice and a blizzard. The rest of the time I was wearing shorts and t-shirt. Pack for all conditions!

We had a big difference in abilities in our group which did make the tour challenging at times. It's really important to have a good basic level of fitness and hiking experience for this trip as there is a lot of ascent and descent throughout. It is a group tour and your guide will adapt the pace and route according to everyone's abilities so please bear this in mind. If you are a fast walker and find slowing down difficult you may want to consider a different tour. Equally if you are slower as long as you have trained, communicate with the guide and (super important!) have a positive attitude the group will support you. Remember the route is variable too.

We had to change guides midway through our trip due to unforeseen circumstances but both we excellent. Astrid was really encouraging, communicated well with us and made sure we all stayed safe across the more challenging passes. She got involved with all the silly games we played to keep us going too! Val was super knowledgeable, explained the routes in detail during briefings and helped to lift the group spirit towards the end of the trip. I really enjoyed the cheese selections they brought for the picnics too!

The accommodation is basic and mostly in shared dorms. Definitely bring earplugs and eye mask as you will be sharing dorms with most of the group at points. We did have a hotel stay for one night which felt like a real treat. Food was mostly very good, homecooked and hearty.

I absolutely recommend this trip to anyone who enjoys a challenge BUT please only book if you are prepared to train, be flexible with the route and keep a positive attitude when things are challenging. It was truly a beautiful and unforgettable experience!

The trip was fantastic - challenging and rewarding in equal measures. I feel a true sense of achievement in having completed it.

We had a diverse group, with a range of fitness levels and ages - the group dynamic was fabulous and everyone was included and welcomed. Rob, our guide, was fun but sensible, and allowed all of us to experience the TMB in our own way. He supported all of us in different ways, and catered to the various skill and fitness levels.

The accomodation was often basic but provided you are prepared for that, it added to the experience and the group dynamic. The food was great - I was never hungry and we had some wonderful lunches overlooking the most breath-taking landscapes.

The walk itself was probably more challenging than expected, but achievable and enjoyable with a reasonable level of fitness and the right mindset. It was truly an amazing hike - highly recommended.

At 74 years old, I knew the TMB would be a challenge, despite being fit and prepared. It was tough, tougher than I anticipated, but with the support of tour guide Rob, my daughter, and a wonderful bunch of considerably younger people in the group I enjoyed (nearly) every minute of the tour. The weather was kind- just one wet day which gave us a different experience, and the scenery was wonderful. We climbed, rested, descended, ate, socialised, slept and repeated it all the next day to another magnificent set of backdrops. The Refuges varied from very rustic dorms and bunks to a twin hotel room. Food was good quality and plentiful- I heard no complaints about being hungry. Rob’s special fresh picnic lunches were great on several days. Rob, the guide was exceptionall. Sociable without being overly extroverted , knowledgeable without being a ‘know-all’ , Rob handled the varied pace of the group well with some of the more energetic ones bounding off like mountain goats, with me plodding along mostly at the tail end. Never did I feel pressure to go beyond my comfort level, nor did I feel left out of the group. The group had a wealth of world experiences and many an interesting conversation was had on varied topics. Five stars for group cohesion. A bonus on the first night was cheering the UTMB runners through our valley- fantastic, what gutsy competitors. Am I glad I committed to this walk- absolutely. It was very rewarding, due to the many factors mentioned. The scenery was magnificent, the challenge enough to satisfy this old mountain biker.

This trip was magic. Great group of people, so diverse and all SO lovely and supportive. The perfect level of challenge. Wonderful food, very good accommodations, (keep in mind, your option for the majority of the stops is a tent). Great pace held by our guide, Dave, whom is an absolute pleasure to be around, as well as a wealth of experience, and information. He somehow managed to hold space for the diverse group to challenge themselves, mentally and physically-while at the same time maintaining safety at all times, and keeping spirits and morale in tip-top shape! Would absolutely recommend to anyone looking for comraderie, gorgeous scenery, a challenging hike, and memories to last a lifetime.

The scenery and trail are stunning. There’s really no ugly part of the TDMB! That said, after having been on many other guided, challenging hiking trips with MBA and other companies, this one fell short for me.

Firstly, I feel strongly that MBA and Happy Tracks are phoning it in with just one guide. You really need two. I got sick with a stomach bug on Day 2, had vomited on the trail four times, and had my partner not been a very competent hiker and navigator who could lead me 5 miles down the mountain and back to the nearest town, I would’ve been screwed. Happy Tracks just gave us the number to a cab…and even bungled the communication there. And that is all the support we received. A second guide would’ve been helpful in that scenario and many others. After one night of recuperation, I took a 4-hour taxi to meet the group at the next refuge because I was determined to not miss out on the experience.

My main issue with this trip was the pacing and prioritization of our original guide (who’s a nice person and I’m sure she’s an excellent guide for folks who want to go fast/be competitive). I am a competent hiker with lots of experience on demanding treks, but I’m not a trail runner. We had some very impressive and fast athletes in our group (no shade to them; it’s the guide’s job to pace), and I think our original guide prioritized their needs and paces, even though even the slowest among us were well within the daily timelines forecasted by MBA. This led to me and another woman being very far back, often with no line of sight to the guide or the group, sometimes 30 minutes+ apart, and in other instances, we actually got lost and/or had to tackle some pretty steep and challenging passes entirely alone. This happened pretty much every day, and when you’re hiking for many hours a day, these infractions add up and chip away at morale. When we would arrive at a stopping point if the group was waiting for us, we often weren’t given a break to grab water or everyone was already eating lunch/swimming/etc when we arrived. Then we’d be asked kinda demeaning stuff like, ‘do you think you make it?’ or suffer polarizing statements from the guide like, ‘oh, we are going verrrrry slow today.’ This built up over a matter of days and it created a fragmented group dynamic that really made me and the other gal feel like not only were we not part of the group, but that we were a problem. So yeah, we never had much of a chance to gel with the group. And few people in the group seemed to circumnavigate the dynamic to foster connection. This made for a pretty lonely trip, the likes of which I’d not experienced on any of my other long guided treks (Annapurna, Kilimanjaro, EBC), and frankly, felt unsafe and uncool. I book a guided group trek because I want guidance and a group dynamic, not because I want to be pitted against other hikers or ditched in a trail race.

I knew this dynamic was messed up from Day 1. It wasn’t until we had another guide sub in from Day 7 on (shout out to Valentin!), who of his own volition, noticed the group dynamic and called it out. He said the priority of the guide should be to ensure the group is together, not to leave slightly slower people in the dust. Things got a bit better under his guidance, but at that point we only had a few days left of the hike, and the damage had been done. I spent most of this trip feeling ditched and that’s not how this should go.

For these reasons, I cannot recommend this trek to others. It’s an astonishingly beautiful route, and I’m sure with the right group and guidance, it can be the trip of a lifetime.

Hiking the TMB is just as rewarding as it is challenging. Much Better Adventures provided the organizational support that allowed us to focus all our energy on the hike. Our guide, Dave, did so much more than keep us on trail and is excellent at his job. He knew when and how to provide emotional support during tough times, chose routes based on weather and the group’s skills, guided us thru local rest stops and quietly helped us all meet our goal of finishing. Would highly recommend this trip. The more hills you can climb while training, the better you’ll feel!

Grateful for the great service and communication for our TMB with Much Better Adventures. Our guide, Cecilia, was super and provided professional care for our group, including encouraging some members of our group who struggled with the vigor of the trip.

A really amazing, beautiful hiking route. I really enjoyed the actual walk - different variations of scenery each day. It is challenging with mostly all uphill or downhill but fine if you have good fitness. We had a mix of abilities in the group so I would recommend being prepared for that, if you're wanting to power up the mountain maybe I'd recommend a different tour. The accommodation is quite basic so do be prepared to not sleep well! Overall a great trip with some stunning views.

This was one of the best tours I've been on - the guide was knowledgable, friendly, and kind. The tour was well planned and accommodations were great. Our tour group was fantastic.

This trip was truly amazing. This region of the alps has truly captured my heart and I'm sure I will be back.

The tour aligned in difficulty with what I was expecting from the description and previous reviews. The guide was very knowledgeable and handled the varied skills and experience in the group with ease. The group bonded quickly and I truly feel like I made some like minded and long term friends (in our group the majority of people were solo travellers).

Superb from start to finish. Excellent organisation, everything was taken care of so I could focus on the hike.

Truly a once in a lifetime experience! Unbelievable views, unforgettable memories.

This 10 Day trip was everything I was hoping for (and more). The heat in August made some of the climbing quite challenging, but the views were so spectacular it made it all worthwhile 😄. Rich was our guide and did a brilliant job of getting us round in one piece, keeping us informed of what, where and when, and helping us to have 10 of the best days of my life. The group was brilliant Ranging from 19 to 49 (I was the eldest ) ; but we all shared a love of outdoors, of being active and up for a challenge. The laughs, the tears and the joy that we shared on this trip will be remembered for a long time.

Excellent Mont Blanc full circuit tour, varied in means of accommodation, views and sceneries, as well as food.

I think this has to be one of my favourite trips. I didn't think I would be able to complete this at one point as I got blisters early on. But our guide, Sarah was great - she helped me find a solution (when Compeed didn't work!) and was very motivating.

If you are considering doing this challenge, make sure you train hard for it and consider using their luggage service. It was well worth it to not carry my stuff with me.

I would definitely travel with MBA and Happy Tracks again! The group I travelled with were fantastic company too. Thank you for an awesome trip and challenge.

It was such a great trip! Amazing guide, Rich, very nice and fun group, beautiful Alps. I couldn’t have asked for a better trek trip

What an incredible trip this was. No words can ever describe how amazing the experience was with the group, refuges and surroundings. This was a challenging circuit, and not for the faint hearted- but was so rewarding with the scenery that each day and each hike brings.

Each and every member of the group was included, even the likes of me where I was still recovering from an illness. Fernando was a huge support and not once made me feel like I had been left behind- I made it clear I wanted to take my own pace and this was supported throughout the trek. Despite being one of those that were behind on the ascents, I was very much still included in the group and was excited to meet them for breaks and lunches on the mountains.

I personally really used the group dynamic to fuel me each day, the laughter, stories, everything else that comes alongside this. Really allowed me to finish this 10 day trek, and although a personal achievement, I felt that the group made the experience even better than expected- I am usually a solo traveller & so really enjoyed sharing experience with others.

Each refuge was an experience in itself (you never knew what each night was going to bring) which was welcomed with breakfast, dinner and a shower at the end of each day.

Overall this is a trip I will never forget, I have been speechless trying to describe to each family member and friend I have, and you honestly will not regret signing up if you are an experienced hiker.

The best hiking experience! Incredible views. Amazing group and the best guide.

It was my first solo hiking adventure and I’d only done a 3 day hut to hut hike before this so was a little nervous about how I would manage a 10 day adventure. The guide Fernando instantly made us feel like a family from day 1! The group was amazing and I would 100% recommend you throw yourself into the group and make the most of all the experiences together as this is what made the trip even more special.

Our guide was great at ensuring the group stayed together which can be hard when theres up to 12 people of different abilities and speeds. He would wait for the slowest and make sure we all got to experience the best parts of the trip together while ensuring we kept a steady safe pace and took plenty of rests and water breaks. There were one or two in our group that struggled to keep pace but our guide supported them and waited to keep us all together, and he honoured their wishes to do parts of the trek near the end themselves ensuring they were safe by keeping regular contact with them. His energy passion and knowledge for the mountains was contagious to us all!

The refuges were cosy. Each day ended with a warm shower and hot meal and the days started with a varied breakfast. Packed lunches were provided each day too.

It’s not for the inexperienced hiker. It’s a hard trip that involves a good level of fitness and experience hiking. If that sounds like you then get signed up!

The TMB was the most unforgettable 10 day trip! The trip was so well organised and the team at MBA were super helpful in the lead up with any questions I had. Fernando was our guide and he was INCREDIBLE! He was so knowledgeable, funny, down to earth and managed to connect with each and every one of us in the group. He made us all feel like a big family by the end of day 1. The walk itself was challenging, but the amazing views we were blessed with every day made every climb more than worth it. I would recommend this trip to anyone considering a hike around the Chamonix area :)

This is an extremely hard but rewarding trek with amazing views. Majority of the food was great, every dinner meal was different and cultural. I got to try some food I would never have got to try. Breakfast is very standard - lots of bread and meats, a good way to start each day. The lunch provided was good, lots of food provided. Accomodation was up and done, pretty much what is expected of refuges. I would highly suggest that the team reconsider their day 8 refuge in La Peuty, I found this place horrible and all round gross. But other than this, the rest of them were pretty decent and as I said, as expected. Be prepared for long days in the sun (we went in August time), sometimes the weather was unbearably hot. That made the trek even harder. Our host Fernando was incredible. You can tell he absolutely loves his job and loves leading groups through this trek.

Overall this will be a great experience for anyone who enjoys a hike, however, there is an expectation that ‘everyone can go at their own pace’ which is exactly how trekking should be. But I felt like in my particular experience it wasn’t so much as ‘letting people go at their own pace’ but more ‘leaving people behind’. I am quite a slow hiker as I like to feel safe and enjoy what is around me. I was very lucky that I came and did this trek with my partner who downloaded the TMB app to help us navigate our way because if I had of been there on my own I would have been left behind, probably have gotten lost and overall not had a good experience. One day a girl who was slower and lost the group ended up walking over an extra mile as she wasn’t sure where to go, it was my partner who managed to get in contact to her and advise her on where to go.

In conclusion, I think your experience depends entirely on the group of people you get put into.

The guide was considerate with each tour participant’s ability. Appreciate him for that.

Had an amazing time on the 10-day TMB tour, the most beautiful escape to paradise. Our guide Sarah was the best - incredibly knowledgeable, super fun and went above and beyond to look after the group. Oh and the best picnics! There were optional variants to the trail with extra summits which were a bonus especially with the beautiful weather. The accommodations were rustic and charming with great views. A highlight was all the dips along the way, and spotting wildlife including marmots and mountain goats. Physically challenging so recommend training for this in advance and packing light. It was so much fun I would definitely book again with Much Better Adventures!

The trip if a lifetime. Amazing challenge, beautiful countryside, amazing people and great guide. Definitely recommend.

Had an amazing time doing the TMB. MBA made everything easy before the trek. All I had to do was pack my bag and show up. Our guide Sarah was the best guide you could ask for. She went above and beyond and made the most amazing picnic lunches. 10/10 would recommend.

The Tour du Mont Blanc has been a fantastic experience! With breathtaking views, amazing food, and great company, it was truly unforgettable. I'm so grateful to have done this hike with our guide, Dave, who ensured a safe trip, maintained the right hiking pace, and made sure we took breaks at the most beautiful spots. A ten-day hike is challenging, and while some of the days were difficult, they were still manageable. Each day offered something unique, with the hike ranging from majestic mountain landscapes to enchanting forests.

This trip is a must-do for anyone who enjoys hiking!

This trek is a challenge, but the beauty makes the effort worth every step. At first I was skeptical of the value-add of a guided trip vs self-guided, but immediately after day one knew I made the right choice to be led in a group with a guide. We got to see so much more varied landscapes, experience so much more adventure, eat so much more variety, and laugh so much more in the shared fun of being together as a group.