Last minute Tour du Mont Blanc on a budget - camping TMB in 11 nights, 200KM, 3 countries

I completed the Tour du Mont Blanc on July 28th and only thought about doing it two months before. As soon as I started researching, everything suggested it would cost thousands of pounds and need planning 9-12 months before, but I wasn't interested in luggage transfer and busy refuges; I wanted to do it on the cheap, camping and wild camping as much as possible, and I spent the next two months getting my backpack down to under 10kg so I could enjoy the trail as much as possible (I have another video about my gear and packing). In this video, follow me and my friend Diana on our TMB adventure over 12 days (following a 10 day itinerary with a day spend in Courmayeur and the final day split in two to enjoy an additional wild camp and short final day). When I get time, I will do a more in-depth video with narration and share as much detail as possible to help others plan their TMB adventure.

[@hoellenhund1000]

Amazing documentary of your amazing journey, thank you for taking us with you a bit. Very nice indeed 😂

[@ivanshannon]

Thank you for your video. I walked a similar route this year, June/July. I'm surprised to see that there is still so much snow. I wish that I was returning next September not September 25.

[@TheBananaine]

Great video. Myself and my bf are going to hike / camp the TMB end of August, so all camping tips and advice welcome! Thank you

[@ja.ssch.]

@@TheBananaine thanks ☺️ I would recommend the Aires de Bivouac (free camping spots) at Refuge de Miage and Refuge de la Balme, and you can definitely wild camp through the Italian and Swiss parts as long as you set up late out of sight of roads etc and pack away early :) You can get screw on gas in Decathlon in Chamonix too which was a worry of mine as I couldn’t bring gas on the plane. And there are good camping shops in Courmayeur and at La Fouly where you can get high energy snacks and dehydrated meals, so no need to carry a lot of food, just a few days’ worth if you don’t want to spend any money at refuges in between. Best of luck! It’s an amazing experience 🤩

[@user-jr5kq3mj9p]

Great video! i would love to know where exactly you camped after Courmayeur (near Nonatti) i saw that you said it was above 2500 but im not sure i will find a good place like you did and still follow the italian rule, Thanks!

[@ja.ssch.]

@@user-jr5kq3mj9p Thanks 😌 So we were actually under 2500m…🤫 But there were lots of spots if you continue after Bonatti and so many people were wild camping around there. Just be sure to set up late and pack away early 🙂 The first great spot is by an abandoned farmhouse which is visible from Bonatti, and if you continue for a km or two after that, there is some flat ground right by the path where we saw about 10 people camping - unfortunately we stopped before seeing this and ended up sliding down the tent all night! 🤣 If you really want to stick to the rules, Pas entre deux sauts is a great spot which is above 2500m and we were really tempted to camp there, but it was still early and we were hoping to get some dinner at Bonatti so we kept going. I’ve just finished editing another TMB video where I share my tips and narrate all this footage, so keep an eye out for that one 🙂

[@RicardoGastelú]

beautiful video! What date did you do the tour?

[@ja.ssch.]

@@RicardoGastelú thanks 😌 I flew to Geneva on the 15th July, got to Chamonix on the 16th, and started the TMB on the 17th. Just been back in the Chamonix valley for a week to do some other hikes and the conditions are very similar, though the weather is a lot more changeable now with colder evenings and more rainfall.

[@M0esmac]

Wait where did you camp in Courmayeur?

[@ja.ssch.]

@@M0esmac Courmayeur is a tricky place for camping as all the campsites are outside of the town. We camped at a place called ‘Hobo Camping’ which is super popular with TMB hikers and a really nice campsite - especially to pass a storm as it has a cosy hut with board games etc. and Italian coffee of course 😌 You have to take a bus, taxi or shuttle to get there, or to the other campsite nearby. If you continue a bit further, there is a campsite called Camping Grandes Jorasses - this one is right by the contour variant route so it’s a lot of zig zagging to get back up onto the main whaleback ridge, but that was one of my favourite parts of the TMB and is very quiet since so many people opt for the easier, lower, more direct but less scenic variant to Rifugio Bonatti 😊