Tour Mont Blanc (anti-clockwise)

The classic anti-clockwise TMB route as it is described in Cicerone guide following mostly the alternative (more difficult) routes. A small variation at the end to include Chamonix in the tour and visit Glacier des Bossons before returning to Les Houches

Day 1: Les Houches - Miage - Les Contamines
http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=10276698
Day 2: Les Contamines - Tete Nord de Fours - Ref des Mottets
http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=10279491
Day 3: Ref des Mottets - Courmayer
http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=10281714
Day 4: Rest day, cable car (skyway) from Courmayer to Aiguille du Midi
Day 5: Courmayer - Col Sapin - Bonatti
http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=10284691
Day 6: Bonnati - La Fouly
http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=10295904
Day 7: La Fouly - Champex
http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=10297379
Day 8: Champex - Alp Bovine - Col De La Forclaz
http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=10298827
Day 9: Col de La Forclaz - Ref Les Grands - Tre Le Champ
http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=10304006
Day 10: Tre Le Champ - Flegere - Plan Praz - Chamonix
http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=10305146
Day 11: Chamonix - Glacier des Bossons - Les Houches
http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=10306002

Tour du Mont Blanc: Things we wish we'd known

Tips:
- Although the paths are obvious and there are signs everywhere, get the guide to help you start up. Don't bother reading in detail each track, just get a general feeling to start scheduling your journey. Other than that you might not even need to use it during the trip.
- Schedule your program based on track length and total ascent rather than the guide's proposals. We found that the proposed tracks are either too short so we arrived very early while we could hike more or lead to places that are not worth staying.
- In case you select a refuge proposed by the official guide you should probably book beforehand since most of them were full.
- The guide is not a replacement for a map. You should better have one with you and know how to use it. A GPS is also something nice to have.
- Monitor the weather a couple days/weeks before to avoid bringing too many warm clothes.
- Local weather forecasts were not too accurate in case of rain (at least in our case).
- It really worth taking the cable car to get to Heilbroner and Aiguille du midi, you will not regret it. You can include this as a rest day in Courmayeur or Chamonix
- If you can and the weather is good, follow the alternative routes.
- Expect to share your routes with many people and in case you choose to do it anti-clockwise it will be the same faces every day.
- Your backpack should be 8-10 kg max, no need to curry too much water, you can find in most refuges and villages.
- Except Mottets, there is cell phone reception almost everywhere. Also except Mottets and Bonnati you can find free WiFi (although the quality is terrible when many people arrive).
- Trekking poles is a must have for this route, get a pair even some cheap ones

Tour du Mont Blanc: Things we wish we'd known