This week was absolutely perfect. You get to see the best parts of the TMB, and each hike itself was different with a different perspective/landscape! Our hosts, Tom and Sol, did an amazing job making us delicious food and hosting us all week. It was so wonderful staying in the same spot all week!
If you are a seasoned walker not afraid of some big hills, and enjoy seeing spectacular views, then this is the trip for you. Each of the 10 days of walking brought with them different challenges, offset by the amazing views of Mont Blanc and the surrounding peaks. Ably led by our Exodus leader, Maria, the group were encouraged to walk at a sensible pace each day, enabling us to reach our campsite mid-afternoon to enjoy some down time, before doing it all again the next day! Maria was incredibly supportive, checking in on everyone, yet took a sensible and safety-first approach when due to various reasons, people couldn't walk for a day or so, advising them not to try and to re-join the tour in a day or so. His knowledge of the trails and the area was excellent. The tents and sleeping mats (we hired) were fine for the trip. The tents were roomy enough for 2 and the mats comfortable enough for our weary bodies to get some decent sleep! 2 nights of heavy rain and not a single leak in the tent was also a bonus! The campsites are fine - 2 are very basic with no showers (be prepared for a cold wash!) and only a couple of basic toilets (lots of flies!), but the remainder have showers and often laundry facilities too. The two basic campsites are next to very refreshing rivers so this was also very welcome to cool off! Maris was assisted in camp by Albert, cooking us some delicious meals and taking into account dietary requirements. Vegetarians were catered for well but as a big meat eater, I did struggle having vegetarian meals for several of the nights. Be warned, Albert loves adding mushrooms to everything!! In Albert's van he had a fridge with an honesty bar (beer, wine, coke, chocolate) and also an extension lead to charge phones and devices. In the morning, we had to help load our bags and tents plus cooking bits into Albert's van. If everyone helps it is a 10 minute job. Walking days were challenging. Some days long and moderate, other days shorter but tough. The hardest day comes near the end of the trip, in my opinion, with 1500m plus of altitude gained! For those of you familiar with Snowdon, this is up the Pyg track twice consecutively, with similar gradients to match the top section! Lots of breaks make the walking and ascents achievable.
The Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) is a legendary trekking route that circumnavigates the Mont Blanc massif, crossing through France, Italy, and Switzerland. It’s one of the most popular long-distance hikes in Europe, and after completing it, it’s easy to see why.
