Tour du Mont Blanc Itinerary

 

People think backpacking in Europe means hike hut to hut.

Actually you can hike by camping. I did Tour du Mont Blanc by camping. 

 

Actually for 9 nights 10 day Tour du Mont Blanc, I camped 8 nights, and 1 night stayed at a hut. The reason I had to stay one night at the hut is two campgrounds in that area were too far apart. Tour du Mont Blanc area is not allowed to do wild camping like in the U.S., you need to camp in the designated area. There are many campgrounds and not expensive at all. A lot of huts let hikers camp in their yard and let them use showers. It is much more fun, inexpensive, peaceful, and quiet experience doing TMB by camping. I live in the U.S. and usually backpacking by camping in the middle of nowhere in the mountain. So camping at designated area is still "glamping" for me. Highly recommended doing TMB by camping!

Here is the itinerary for your information. 

	destination	Distance (km)	Climb (m)	Descent (m)
Day1 from Les Houches	Camping Le Pontet	18	1478	1318
Day2	Free camping near tourist office	18	1316	929
Day3	Monte Bianco Campground	15	1004	258
Day4	Rifugio Bertone	22	1260	1560
Day5	Camping des Glaciares	28.5	1200	1500
Day6	Camping Relais d'Arpette	17	600	565
Day7	La Puety Camping	14	1199	1139
Day8	Camping at Chalet Pierre Semard	18	869	978
Day9	Camping next to Refuge Le Flegere	9	1000	300
Day10	Les Houches	17	772	1546