OUR BLOG
Compare 4, 5 and 6-day Tour du Mont Blanc trail-running itineraries. Explore daily distance, ascent, accommodation and possible luggage transfers.
Plan your Alta Via 1 trail-running adventure. Compare 4, 5 and 6-day itinerary examples, daily distance and ascent, rifugio stays and baggage-transfer options.
Amy’s 8-day Alta Via 2 itinerary from Passo Gardena to San Martino di Castrozza, with via ferratas, rifugios, cable cars and lessons from the trail.
Amy shares her four-day Brenta Dolomites hut-to-hut hike, including exposed via ferratas, glacier crossings and lessons for planning the route.
It costs €826 to plan your own 10-day hike of the Tour du Mont Blanc. This amount comes from our new cost calculator for the Tour du Mont Blanc, which uses over 300 actual customer itineraries and 2023 costs from nearly 100 accommodation and service providers along the trail.
the calculator is for self-guided hikers to estimate how much it will cost them to organise their own hike of the Tour du Mont Blanc based on their preferences. Give it a try!
Could self-guided hiking include more local expertise? We explore independent Alpine trips with accommodation organised and daily mountain leader briefings.
Regulation is coming to one of Europe’s most-popular mountain hikes. Here's how to plan your Tour du Mont Blanc in line with the proposed new rules — and the spirit the mountains are asking for.
Get personalised email alerts when a verified trail closure, warning, detour or transport disruption affects your planned multi-day hiking itinerary on popular trails such Tour du Mont Blanc, Alta Via 1, Alta Via 2, West Highland Way, Walker’s Haute Route, Tour des Combins, Tour of Monte Rosa, Bernese Oberland.
Essential gear for Via Ferrata: your complete gear list. Via Ferrata is an exhilarating way to experience the mountains, combining hiking with the thrill of climbing. To make sure you're well-prepared, having the right gear is crucial for safety and enjoyment. Here’s a short list of essentials you’ll need for a successful Via Ferrata adventure:
Wondering how difficult Alta Via 4 is? Learn about the hardest sections, via ferrata requirements, exposure, fitness level and how to choose easier non-ferrata variants on this challenging Dolomites hut-to-hut trek.
Share your hiking itinerary using The Hiking Club planning app. Let hiking buddies (and those following along at home) view your route, daily stats, accommodation and GPS map files — all with secure view-only access.
Due to the Alta Via 1 Dolomites trail passing through three natural parks, it is forbidden to wild camp / bivouac (as clearly stated in their laws and regulations). However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t still camp along the trail. Learn more in this blog.
So you’re interested in hiking the Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt but want to camp, instead of staying huts, hotels or B&Bs each night? Great choice! Although the idea of spending each night under the stars is an idyllic option, you need to be aware of where you can actually camp along the Haute Route, as there are very strict rules put in place by the National Parks and local governments.
Over the past few years, we’ve gathered the latest information on where you can wild camp, campgrounds with facilities and mountain huts that allow you to camp nearby. About 20% of our customers use our platform to plan and navigate their camping adventure along the Haute Route. Read on to learn about the various camping options, the cost estimates for camping and other useful tips to help you prepare for camping the Walker’s Haute Route.
The most popular locations to start and end your AV1 Dolomites hike is Lago di Braies and La Pissa. However, if you need to shorten your hike there are many options along the trail.
Planning to hike the Tour du Mont Blanc without carrying a heavy pack? Discover luggage transfer options along the TMB, including trusted providers, typical costs, and practical tips for booking baggage delivery between hotels and refuges.
Read about luggage transfer options in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland so you can enjoy the spectacular views without a heavy backpack.
The best time to hike the Tour des Combins is typically from late June to early September, when the weather is most favorable, the trail is clear of snow, and mountain huts are open. The choice between early or late summer depends on your preferences for weather and crowds, but both options offer stunning alpine landscapes and a challenging yet rewarding experience. Read our detailed blog to learn more about when is the best time to hike the Tour des Combins.
Via Ferrata delle Trincee is a medium-difficulty (4B) via ferrata in the Dolomites, following the rocky Padon Ridge with spectacular views, historic WWI tunnels, a suspension bridge, and an optional summit. A rewarding alpine adventure for experienced via ferrata climbers.
Here is a run down on how to get to/from these popular start/end locations on the Tour des Combins, including Bourg-Saint-Pierre, Le Chable and Mauvoisin in Switzerland, and Saint-Oyen in Italy.
The best time to hike the Alta Via 2 in the Dolomites is generally from late June to early September, when the weather is most favorable, and the mountain huts (rifugi) are open. Read our detail blog about the seasonal considerations.
Want to see wild flowers? Do crowds give you comfort or the chills? Are snow covered trails a show stopper? Read our blog post for more details on when is the best time to hike the Tour of Monte Rosa.
There are 4 popular locations to start/end your hike on the Tour du Mont Blanc - Les Houches (France), Chamonix (France), Courmayeur (Italy), and Champex-Lac (Switzerland). Learn about the pros and cons for each location.
How much it costs to hike the Walker’s Haute Route is one of the most common questions I’m asked. Armed with my accounting background and mission to make every hikers self-guided dreams come true, I’ve dug deep into the numbers across all the different accommodation types, food and services available to provide firm guidance on what it costs to hike the Walker’s Haute Route.