Chamonix is not on the main route, but there are two ways to start the tour there. The first is to get to Les Houches on the Mont-Blanc Express train or on valley bus line 1, then follow the classic itinerary. The second, used here, takes the La Flégère cable car from Les Praz: it drops hikers at La Flégère, right on the route.
The loop then begins with the last classic stage: the Grand Balcon Sud, the Brévent (2,525 m) and the long descent via Bellachat to Les Houches. It ends with the climb from Tré-le-Champ to La Flégère, from where the cable car takes you back down to Les Praz.
Day-by-day plan
| Day | Leg | Distance | Ascent | Descent | Walking time | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Flégère → Les Houches Cable car up from Les Praz de Chamonix to La Flégère. | 17.4 km | 710 m | 1,590 m | 6h30 – 7h45 | Les Houches | |
| Les Houches → Les Contamines-Montjoie | 17.1 km | 970 m | 830 m | 6h – 7h | Les Contamines-Montjoie | |
| Les Contamines-Montjoie → Les Chapieux | 18.9 km | 1,330 m | 920 m | 7h15 – 8h45 | Les Chapieux | |
| Les Chapieux → Rifugio Elisabetta | 13.9 km | 970 m | 380 m | 4h45 – 5h45 | Val Veny | |
| Rifugio Elisabetta → Courmayeur | 16.8 km | 520 m | 1,400 m | 5h45 – 6h45 | Courmayeur | |
| Courmayeur → Rifugio Bonatti | 11.1 km | 1,000 m | 240 m | 4h30 – 5h15 | Italian Val Ferret | |
| Rifugio Bonatti → La Fouly | 19.7 km | 860 m | 1,290 m | 6h45 – 8h | La Fouly | |
| La Fouly → Champex-Lac | 15.4 km | 530 m | 630 m | 4h30 – 5h15 | Champex-Lac | |
| Champex-Lac → Trient | 15.4 km | 770 m | 960 m | 5h30 – 6h30 | Trient and Col de la Forclaz | |
| Trient → Tré-le-Champ | 13.8 km | 1,060 m | 940 m | 6h – 7h15 | Le Tour, Tré-le-Champ and Argentière | |
| Tré-le-Champ → La Flégère Back down to Les Praz de Chamonix on the La Flégère cable car. | 6.6 km | 720 m | 270 m | 3h15 – 3h45 | Lac Blanc and La Flégère | |
| Total | 166 km | 9,440 m | 9,450 m | |||
Distances and ascent calculated on the OpenStreetMap track of the main route and the variants; “≈” marks an estimated value. Walking times according to the DIN 33466 standard, without breaks.
The itinerary on the map
one colour per dayD1overnight stopvariants
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Customise this itineraryTips for this itinerary
- The La Flégère cable car only runs in season (in 2026, 20 June – 20 September): check that year's dates before booking.
- Demanding first day: more than 1,500 m of descent between the Brévent and Les Houches. Bring trekking poles.
- With the Carte d’hôte (guest card) issued by your accommodation, the Mont-Blanc Express is free between Servoz and Vallorcine; the bus no longer is.
The stages in detail
1
Les Houches Les Contamines-Montjoie
750 m1,000 m1,250 m1,500 m1,750 m0 km5 km10 km15 km
2
Les Contamines-Montjoie Les Chapieux
1,000 m1,250 m1,500 m1,750 m2,000 m2,250 m2,500 m2,750 m0 km5 km10 km15 km
3
Les Chapieux Rifugio Elisabetta
1,500 m1,750 m2,000 m2,250 m2,500 m2,750 m0 km5 km10 km
4
Rifugio Elisabetta Courmayeur
1,000 m1,250 m1,500 m1,750 m2,000 m2,250 m2,500 m0 km5 km10 km15 km
5
Courmayeur Rifugio Bonatti
1,000 m1,250 m1,500 m1,750 m2,000 m2,250 m0 km5 km10 km
6
Rifugio Bonatti La Fouly
1,500 m1,750 m2,000 m2,250 m2,500 m2,750 m0 km5 km10 km15 km
7
La Fouly Champex-Lac
1,000 m1,250 m1,500 m1,750 m0 km5 km10 km15 km
8
Champex-Lac Trient
1,250 m1,500 m1,750 m2,000 m2,250 m0 km5 km10 km15 km
9
Trient Tré-le-Champ
1,250 m1,500 m1,750 m2,000 m2,250 m0 km5 km10 km
10
Tré-le-Champ La Flégère
1,250 m1,500 m1,750 m2,000 m2,250 m0 km2 km4 km6 km
11
La Flégère Les Houches
500 m1,000 m1,500 m2,000 m2,500 m3,000 m0 km5 km10 km15 km
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