Climb Mont Blanc in 3 days

The Tête Rousse refuge is at an altitude of 3,167 metres. If its location seems out of reach, don't panic, the Mont Blanc tramway will be a great help at the start.

So, once you've packed your hiking bag and taken care not to forget anything, your adventure can begin. Go to the Mont-Blanc tramway station. To get there, take the P52 from Chamonix.

The tram takes around forty minutes. By car, the journey is much shorter (around twenty minutes).

The Mont-Blanc tramway is a cogwheel train that travels through this beautiful mountain landscape. During the summer months, its terminus is the Nid d'Aigle, the starting point for your walk. Note, therefore, that you cannot reach this stop by tram in winter. You'll need to allow an hour or so for the tram journey, during which time you can admire the scenery close to Mont Blanc.

Once you've got your feet on the ground, you'll need to get to the Tête Rousse refuge. Take the signposted path, which winds its way up to what we call the "Pierre Ronde desert". Then go over the Rognes ridge, which offers a remarkable viewpoint, before reaching the Aiguille du Goûter. Soon, the Tête Rousse refuge stands before you, where you can not only eat, but also rest.

For this first day's walk, the altitude difference is 800 metres, while this short hike should take between 2 and 4 hours.

You'll need to get up at the crack of dawn, as you're in for an average 10-hour walk, with a 1500-metre ascent. But it's also on this second day that you'll reach the summit of Mont Blanc, first heading for the Aiguille du Goûter, which is well signposted. After two or three hours, you'll reach the Goûter refuge at 3,817 metres, where you can take a breather, recharge your batteries and enjoy a delicious meal. After this much-appreciated break, you'll have to resume the walk to the Dôme du Goûter, at an altitude of 4,304 metres.

Around two hours later, you'll reach the Vallot refuge, this time at an altitude of 4,362 metres, where you can also take a break because, remember, the hardest part is yet to come. So hydrate, grab a bite to eat, do a few stretches and get back to walking.

The Bosses ridge stretches out before you, steep and tapering. This is the most difficult and technical climb. If you're a beginner, don't hesitate to pause for a few seconds to catch your breath. Don't forget that you're not used to climbing at altitude, and your body may need a little time to get used to it.

Once you've crossed the Bosses ridge, you'll then reach the Tournette rocks, at an altitude of around 4,677 metres. From here, you'll start to see the long-awaited summit of Mont-Blanc. Come on, a little more effort, you're almost there!

You'll then take a less steep route to the summit of Mont-Blanc, at 4,810 metres. And there you are! Take a breather, admire the scenery and take one or more photos. But above all, take a look at those heights and tell yourself that yes, you've done it. The ascent of Mont Blanc is now almost behind you.

Now that you've reached the summit, it's time to head back down for the night. Take the same path in the opposite direction back to the Goûter refuge, where you can warm up and get a good night's sleep.

Once again, you'll have to get up at the crack of dawn, as a short 4-hour hike awaits you. This time, the ascent is a negative 1,400 m, which will make you quite tired. But I promise, once your descent is complete, you'll be able to return to your accommodation and enjoy a restful night's sleep.

Take a leisurely descent to the Tête Rousse refuge, following the same path as the day before. If you wish, you can settle in for a meal or a drink.