Basic trip preparations such as airfare, lodging and activities are a given when planning a trip to Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) unless you hire a professional tour company. However, there are a few other often neglected keyways to prepare for this popular excursion across the most striking areas of Italy, France and Switzerland.
Boost Fitness Levels for Strength and Endurance
This is a very long journey of 103 miles (166 kilometers) that boasts a challenging 6 miles (10 kilometers) of areas that ascend and descend. Depending on your fitness level it’s best to plan a daily hiking itinerary that you can reasonably handle.
Most hikers tackle the TMB in about 11 or 12 days. However, seasoned trekkers can often make it round-trip in seven days while novices or less physically fit people might take 14 days.
Essentially, the more conditioning and training done before the journey, the more enjoyment you’ll get out of this incredible experience.
Break in Boots and Backpacks
Okay, in this situation, the backpack would actually be breaking you in. Wearing your backpack while training for the Tour du Mont Blanc allows you to know what to expect weigh-wise.
It can help you identify the proper strapping setup for comfort in addition to helping you determine just how much weight you’ll be carrying for hours at a time.
Of course, heading out with brand-new boots that haven’t been broken in can create misery on day one. Start breaking in the boots and backpacks weeks before the trip.
Consider the Season at Tour du Mont Blanc
The most popular hiking months at Tour du Mont Blanc are between June and September. However, June is the most peaceful time of year, but there may be some residual snow patches that require crampon use. J
uly is absolutely pristine, but those who require a chair lift on certain parts of the trail should plan for August when they are running regularly. Those who wait until September will enjoy less rainfall than in the middle of peak season.
