Tour du Mont Blanc – A Bucket‑List Hike with Great Food, Wine & Spa Breaks

Tour du Mont Blanc – A Bucket‑List Hike with Great Food, Wine & Spa Breaks

Step by step, we close the gap. Ooh yeah. A heartbeat sink. No turning back. Yeah. Whispers loud, the world fades out. Now we’re here. No room for doubt. Two random people I met on Facebook. Two teenage girls, my best friend, and me. What was a group trip hiking on Europe’s most iconic hot hut trail turned into something so much more. Let’s see how this trail unfolds. Heat. Heat. [Music] strangers to some group trips on the Tortomont Blanc begin on the trail, but I think it’s better to begin in the sky. After launching ourselves off Breant in order to get to know each other and also it was frankly like a bribery so I could get my teenagers to come along with us. We did a day hike to Lock Blanc because I know as a physical therapist that blisters totally ruin a track before it even starts. Mega props to Brett for joining this girls gone wild trip. This is not another uh ultra light backpacking TMB video. It’s about normal people tackling the western half, which is the best part and totally doable for most people. So come along on our TMB tales. We’re going around M Blanc is more about connection than kilometers. Let’s meet the crew. Are you nervous? Really? No. No. I’m nervous. I’m so nervous. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Every heartbeat goes louder through the air. I’m climbing higher. Gravity can hold me tight. [Music] [Music] Yeah. Heat. [Music] [Music] Heat. Heat. survive. [Music] [Music] To be fair, now I know how freaking hot it is. It is hot. It’s legitimately hot. And I’m going to have to repack. Make some changes. Reduce the waist. Yeah, reduce the weight. [Music] Never take what you think. She’s over. [Music] [Applause] [Music] All right. Are you ready, Amanda? [Music] Okay. So, definitely definitely definitely unbelievably happy to actually be on the trail finally. So much packing. Unpacking. We had the key fiasco last night, so couldn’t find the keys. Showed up at 9:00 at the TMB parking lot. It was completely full. Went to a hotel, begged them, “No, they won’t take my money.” Like, “Where are we going to park? Where are we going to park?” I was like, “I have to go to the next town, take a train in. I don’t know.” Then Terra, the goddess, she finds a parking spot literally next to the Belleview Gondola. And I awesome powered our way in there. And we’re on our way. And now everything is better. Hello. Hello. Get ready for the bridge. Yay. [Music] Brutal uphill. [Music] Okay. What do you think of that view? [Music] It looks hu It looks crazy, huh? Yeah, we did that. [Music] Look at this. Oh my god. Salad. That looks really good. So you take them on the real science to truck. [Music] 25 minutes wait for the sign. I’m going to try and see if we can get there this time. Hi. How’s this dope campground? What do you think? Oh, it’s great. Camping lont lon. It has a lot going on. Pizza smells really good. There was a lot going on. They don’t have any room left in the dining hall, but that’s good because it’s so loud in the room. Yeah. Ooh, the menu tonight. Melon shooled fil cocoa curry rice. Yes. Like that. I am so tired, but I’m so happy to finally be back with my girls and food and an Alatian beer. It’s very [Music] It wasn’t the girls sprinting ahead and taking a nap at every mountain pass that moved me the most. It was Amanda carrying on and learning how to pace herself even though she was one of the newer hikers. And her grit and resolve really showed this day where we basically just went off all day long. Welcome to day two on the tour vlog. What is your toe? What are you talking about? Yeah. What the hell is a toe condom? We are in something something gorgeous. Camping pontet. Camping pontet in the middle of the Alps in Florence. This is our chalet. What did we think of the chalet here? It was awesome. Was it? I liked it. I loved it. Anyways, I slept like a baby. Did you? I always sleep like a baby, please. Which is nice on the mountain. Yeah, it makes a difference. Today we are going to be ascending into the mountain. Up up up up up. No downhill. What to I don’t know banan [Music] ban. Uh yeah. So we all had a good night’s sleep and we ate coconut curry last night. So we’re all happy. # Let’s go. That was good. Yeah, the dinner was good. That chocolate cake with raspberries. That was What’s your impression? This is your first time on this candy. That’s so fun. Yeah, she’s a little bit of a a a goodie in the morning. You know what I’m saying? But stop. So 11k today. 11 easy in like 30 minutes of We’re going to hike this trail in 30 minutes. Watch us 11k. It’s only It’s only 12 max hour. 1200 km up though. It was 1200 m up. Who cares? It’s not that big of a deal. You just have to run up. Don’t let your mental defeat you. Your body can do more than your mental. And don’t listen to your head. Listen to your body. Your body. That’s what I said. Your body can do more than your mental. Your body can do more than your mental. That’s not true. Physically. Yes. Because your me because your brain stops you from your brain if you lift anything. It’s like your brain can prevent you from doing brain doesn’t have arms. There’s a governor. You know what I’m saying? Your brain puts a governor on your body. Your brain tells your body to stop when your body can keep going. So just don’t listen to your brain. Keep going. Keep your rhythm. As a physical therapist, I would disagree. I would say you should definitely listen. As an expert hiker, I would definitely disagree with what you just said as a physical therapist. And Amanda with her cute bag. We are best. She’s the clean organized. So organized. Oh my gosh. We need to take a lesson from organization. Yeah. Yeah. I’m thirsty. All right. Well, we have water. We can refuel at drink your electrolytes. Let’s go. Refugeio lab. Lab. Would you recommend this camping? Leent pontent. Hell yeah. Yeah. And if you stay here for 2 days, you can go to the adventure park in the pool area over there. There’s a trampoline. So automatically it’s a little bit crowded on this section of the trail. A little different than the cold variant. A really old Roman bridge and a deep forge. Very deep. Very deep for gorge. It’s like uh that one in whatchamacallit like a miniature of the one in Garnish. Partn more narrow. Yeah. Here we have a private private hut. That’s nice. Me feel like, okay, maybe it was worth it to have a second. Cute. Oh my god. Refuge not bron. I want to come here. Okay, here we are. The refuge prices. What do we have? Ice cream. Formage plate 18. Slanch ofage 14. Lentil salad 14. What do we got? Sodas are four. Water is 350 for a liter and a half. We got beers for 450 for a small one. 580 for big or 1050 for a big one. Oh yeah. And we got a pretty good wine menu here. making the sausage. How do you make the sausage? Yeah, there you go. Hey, Amanda. Hey. There a minute. So good. The work makes it taste better. Yes. And then Oh, that giant cookie. Tomine’s fried bread. Fried breast. The contain garlic sauce is incredible salad. The view from inside the bar. [Music] Nice. [Music] Kind of feels like poo poo though. [Music] And we made it. I was eating captive in the sign. You spoken riddles. I answered in rhyme. [Music] The clock stood still. We lost all time. It’s 8:00 a.m. and we are on trail for the first time. Everyone’s a little concerned. That’s 18 km. 950 up, 1,400 down. I mean, I hate downhill, too. [Applause] The weight of the climb. It pulls at your back. I carry my questions. They rattle, they scream. Each steps a confession. Each breath splits the sea. The clouds curl like fists. They block out the sun. I’m chasing the summit. But what have I won? Climbing through the summit. It’s never enough. The air gets thinner. The heart gets rough. Higher and higher till the world feels fake. I’m just a speck on the snow covering. [Music] The rocks cut my hands. They don’t care. I bleed. The wind whispers warnings I don’t even hear. Yes. And then I had a cabbage salad. Yum. This is looking the best though. Sarah, you might have won. It looks like the egg is over. It laughs at my pace. It’s a cruel little promise wrapped up in grave. Okay. Hi. We’re leaving. Thank God. And now we’re going to the Higher and higher. The world feels fake. Are you so much happier to be in Italy? I’m in France. Now I’m in Italy. [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Oh my gosh. We’re on the final 5K of day three, stage three, going to Cabar Kumbal. And we just came down off this cold ele and it was so magic. This area is like it feels isolated. I maybe we’re a little late on the the day for hikers, but like we hardly see anyone. There’s all these leftover glaciers and you have these views of M Blanc like the whole time and it’s up close and personal. It’s not like super far away or whatever. Few cows, lots of wild flowers, and the trail’s pretty gentle for now. It’s wide and flat. A little bit rocky, but not like crazy. That doesn’t mean my feet aren’t killing me. We made it. Like a restaurant inside. I can see lights. Yeah. After dinner, a delicious meal. Some roasted vegetables. It looks like maybe a slice of pork mashed potato. Now it’s time for a post dinner swim in a hidden lake. And the owner sent the dog after me because they were worried I was going to drown after eating. From strangers to friends never end. It was our shortest day and there was an Italian spa waiting at the end. But this new group of friends had some feelings. The trail gets steep. My legs grow tight. Sweat drips like secrets in the night. I see no end. I feel no right. [Music] The wind it hows. My mind’s a mess. No map, no compass, no GPS. Never make the decision on the uphill. Wait till the valley till the world stands still. When the air feels clean, when the sun gets spilled. Never make the decision on the uphill. [Music] Rocks beneath they cut my shoes. Each step forward feels like I lose a gamble. I didn’t mean to choose [Music] the weight of the climate. Definitely my favorite section. I mean, I say every section is my favorite section, but this balcony just incredible. And it’s a rambler. Easy. And we’re going to drop mison vier have some lunch and take the gondola down to first party. Never make your decision on the uphill. [Applause] [Music] W is sinking on the egg. We do too many. You spoken riddles. I answered in rhyme. [Music] The clock stood still. We lost all time. Your laugh was a river. Your words were a flame. Ooh yeah. The moment it ignited, it wasn’t the same. [Music] I never knew what one glance could do. [Applause] From strangers to friends, we build a spark in the dark. One day I [Music] want to do it’s down to you and it’s down to me and everyone else is taking the smart route. But not us. Not us. We’re We’re the dumb ascension day. and actually good coffee to start. Start of the trail. She’s like us when we get to the hill. Yep. Baby, I don’t want to have you one day. One day what I [Music] want you will see the light is me. I can bring you my I don’t care. [Music] I don’t want to hear anyone me. [Music] I need what I need. I can make you mine without [Music] our last ascent. [Music] I don’t want to last you what I need. I made it. I’m filming you. Oh, who’s there? Look at that girl. Huda. Huda. Find it. A Everyone’s loving the palenta. That’s day six. Our last hike. And we’re going an hour down to the lava shade area to catch our bus to catch another bus to catch another bus to get back to the car. That’s bittersweet. It’s so sad. I mean, I’m happy to go home, but it’s very hard to leave this place. Super cool. Last night in Bennady, we had the best room in the house. Lots of cool people, met guides, climbers, hikers from everywhere. South Africa, America, France, of course, Italy, and I watched climbers on ML approaching M Blanc at like 10 with the headlamp going up the mountain. It’s very crazy. This is definitely based on experience. Bringing extra crap makes you miserable. So, watch this next video where we share what we’ve learned over the last 5 years. Doing hot hikes every summer.

🥾Discover amazing self-guided hut to hut tours in the Alps and Dolomites ⛰️ https://www.cravetheplanet.com/go/self-guided-hut-to-hut-hiking/.

We are 6 people – 2 strangers, 2 kids and my best friend meeting on the Tour du Mont blanc, what could happen sleeping in hostels on the top of Europe?

The Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) is one of the most famous long‑distance hikes in the world, crossing France, Italy, and Switzerland around Europe’s highest peak.

In this video, we share the introduction to our 6‑day section— the struggles, the beauty, and the people we met along the way.

0:00 Introduction
1:02 Prologue Paragliding & Lac Blanc Pre Hike
5:20 Stage 1 Les Houches to La Gorge
9:04 Stage 2 La Gorge to Bonhomme Refuge
13:35 Nant Borrant Refuge Food Prices
16:05 Stage 3 Bonhomme to Combal
21:30 Combal to Courmayeur
24:55 Courmayeur to Bonnatti

From Chamonix paragliding to hiking over the Col du Tricot, meeting hikers from Israel, France, and the USA, and pushing through blisters and heavy backpacks, this is the real story of hiking Mont Blanc.

Some of these links are affiliate links which means I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks!