GR5 TOUR DU MONT-BLANC PRACTICAL INFORMATION

The Tour du Mont Blanc or TMB is one of the most popular long distance walks in Europe. It circles the Mont Blanc Massif covering a distance of roughly 170Km with 10Km of ascent and passes through parts of Switzerland, Italy and France.
The village of les Contamines-Montjoie is one of the main entrance door for this Tour.
You have many possibilities to make the Tour du Mont-Blanc :
Tour du Mont-Blanc by feet,
Tour du Mont-Blanc alone or with a group,
Tour du Mont-Blanc with a guide or a mountain leader (Contact: Guides and leaders office),
Tour du Mont-Blanc with donkeys (Contact: Anes et Mômes),
Tour du Mont-Blanc with mountain bike (Contact: UCPA).

MAPS

Topographical Guide to the Tour du Mont-Blanc Ref. 028 (on sale at approx. 13.70 € in bookshops).
IGN Top 25 Map, 1:25 000 no. 3530 AND, 3531 AND and 3630 OT.
Carta Monte-Bianco, Courmayeur, Chamonix, 1:25 000 no. 107 (Istituto geografico centrale Torino).

USEFUL ADRESSES

Les Contamines-Montjoie Tourist Office
Tel.:+ 33 (0)4 50 47 01 58 – Fax:+ 33 (0)4 50 47 09 54
Email : info@lescontamines.com
Web:www.lescontamines.com

Emergency Rescue
PGHM (Peloton de Gendarmerie de Haute Montagne)
Tel.:+ 33 (0)4 50 09 68 68
Fire Brigade France. Tel.:18
Switzerland. Tel.:027 118
Italy. Tel.:0165 844235

Weather in France.Tel.: 08 36 68 02 74
Switzerland. Tel.:022 162 (from abroad: 00 41 22 162)
Italy. Tel.: 0165 89 964 ( from abroad: 00 39 0165 89 961)

MOUNTAIN GUIDES' OFFICE

The Guides’ Office offers two options for the Tour du Mont-Blanc: the classic Tour du Mont-Blanc or the Tour with a difference. They will choose the best gites and refuges for you, variations well away from the heavily used trails and relieve you of any worries about organisation.
Tel.:+ 33 (0)4 50 47 10 08 - Fax:+ 33 (0)4 50 47 19 49
Email: contact@guides-contamines.com
Web: www.guides-contamines.com

USEFUL INFORMATION

Waymarking and routes
In France: GR marking = 1 horizontal white stripe and 1 horizontal red stripe, one above the other.
In Italy: you may come across yellow stripes and spots.
In Switzerland: you may come across horizontal white-red-white stripes.
On mountain routes: yellow diamonds.

Difficulty
- The GR always follows an existing path.
- The Tour du Mont-Blanc is within the capabilities of any experienced walker used to walking in varied terrain and carrying a heavy rucksack.
- Take care near mountain streams, water levels may rise suddenly at any time.
- Dogs are not allowed in certain nature reserves and are not advised in gites and refuges.

Time of year
- Late June-early July is the best time.
- Between 10 July and 15 August: this is when the crowds arrive and you must book your place in the refuges before.


Equipment
- Always carry warm, waterproof clothing, a compass and an altimeter.
- Formalities: for Switzerland, a valid national identity card.
- Walking times: on mountain paths, you should reckon on 300m change in height per hour on the way and 400-500m on the way down.