The third edition of this popular guidebook to the 105-mile Tour of Mont Blanc. One of the best of the world's classic walks, which circumnavigates the Mont Blanc massif in about eleven days. The walk has all the excitement of the high mountains yet none of the worry of altitude sickness. It crosses numerous cols with stunning views of spectacular snow and rock peaks and accommodation along the route is plentiful. The 'official' Tour du Mont Blanc follows an established route around the main block of mountains containing not only Mont Blanc but its principal allied summits such as Verte, Chardonnet, Gouter, Geant, Jorasses, d'Argentiere, Dolent and numerous others. The author describes the tour both in the traditional 'anti-clockwise' direction and the 'clockwise' direction. There are several alternative routes that subsequently link, and these are also described. The routes have been created to give the very best perspective and appreciation of the whole region. At every opportunity recommendations are made that will bring the walker into closer contact with the area. This guide is in full colour, with points of interest, accommodation details and natural history of the region covered. This edition includes new routes around Courmayeur and Arnuva and to Lac Blanc.

Table of Contents

Introduction; The Tour of Mont Blanc; The Route; Clockwise or Anti-Clockwise? Suggested Itineraries; How to Get There; When to Go; Accommodation; Languages; Maps and Waymarks; Notes for Walkers; Safety in the Mountains; Using the Guide; Information at a Glance; The Tour of Mont Blanc - Anti-Clockwise; Stage 1 Les Houches - Bionnassay - Les Contamines; Alt Stage 1 Les Houches - Refuge de Miage - Les Contamines; Stage 2 Les Contamines - Croix du Bonhomme - Les Chapieux; Stage 3 Les Chapieux - Col de la Seigne - Rifugio Elisabetta; Stage 4 Rifugio Elisabetta - Courmayeur; Stage 5 Courmayeur - Rifugio Bonatti; Stage 6 Rifugio Bonatti - Grand Col Ferret - La Fouly; Stage 7 La Fouly - Champex; Stage 8 Champex - Alp Bovine - Col de la Forclaz; Alt Stage 8 Champex - Fenetre d'Arpette - Col de la Forclaz; Stage 9 Col de la Forclaz - Col de Balme - Tre-le-Champ; Alt Stage 9 Col de la Forclaz - Refuge Les Grands - Tre-le-Champ; Stage 10 Tre-le-Champ - La Flegere; Stage 11 La Flegere - Le Brevent - Les Houches; Places and Items of Interest on the TMB; The Story of Mont Blanc; The Tour of Mont Blanc - Clockwise; Stage 1 Champex - Ferret; Stage 2 Ferret - Grand Col Ferret - Rifugio Bonatti; Stage 3 Rifugio Bonatti - Courmayeur; Stage 4 Courmayeur - Rifugio Elisabetta; Stage 5 Rifugio Elisabetta - Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme; Stage 6 Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme - Les Contamines; Stage 7 Les Contamines - Bionnassay - Les Houches; Alt Stage 7 Les Contamines - Refuge de Miage - Les Houches; Stage 8 Les Houches - Le Brevent - La Flegere; Stage 9 La Flegere - Col de Balme - Trient; Stage 10 Trient - Alp Bovine - Champex; Alt Stage 10 Refuge Les Grands - Fenetre d'Arpette - Champex; Appendix A Accommodation; Appendix B Useful contacts; Appendix C Further reading; Appendix D French-English glossary

About the Author

Kev Reynolds is a freelance writer, photojournalist and lecturer. A prolific compiler of guidebooks, his first title for Cicerone appeared in 1978 and he has since produced over 30 others. Kev's passion for mountains and countryside remains undiminished after a lifetime of activity.