Tour du Mont Blanc, Stage 8: From Col de la Forclaz to Argentière

The eighth stage of the Tour du Mont Blanc marks the grand return. After trekking through Italy and Switzerland, the trail crosses its final border to return to France, in the legendary Chamonix valley. Leaving behind the pastoral landscapes of Valais, hikers find themselves back in the high mountains, the realm of granite and ice. Crossing the Col de Balme, the gateway to Haute-Savoie, is a highlight and a visual shock. Suddenly, the entire northern side of the Mont Blanc massif unfolds, from the Drus to the Aiguille Verte. It’s a return to the origins, the feeling that the loop is almost complete. At Grand Angle, we see this stage as a form of accomplishment, a reward for all the effort invested.

• The route: returning to France via the Col de Balme
• The Aiguillette des Posettes variant: panoramic balcony
• Geology and landscapes: facing the Aiguilles of Chamonix
• Arrival in Argentière: at the foot of the glacier
• Preparing your return to the Chamonix valley

The route: returning to France via the Col de Balme

This stage of approximately 16 kilometers makes for a beautiful day of hiking, with around 1100 meters of ascent and 1150 meters of descent. Expect about 5 to 6 hours of walking, taking time to enjoy the scenery.

The climb from Trient

Starting from the Col de la Forclaz or the village of Trient, the trail climbs through the forest. The switchback path offers views downward over the Trient Glacier, which gradually disappears from view. The ascent continues through alpine pastures up to the Balme chalets, before a final push to reach the col. This route is a classic on our guided TMB tours, as it offers a progressive visual spectacle.

Crossing the Col de Balme

Reaching the Col de Balme (2191 m) is one of the most memorable moments of the trek. The border marker signifies the passage from Switzerland to France. But it is above all the panorama that captivates the hiker. The view suddenly opens over the entire Chamonix valley, with the jagged peaks of the Aiguilles Rouges on one side, and on the other, the imposing Glacier du Tour, the Aiguille Verte, the Drus, and Mont Blanc itself, now visible from its northern face.

The Aiguillette des Posettes variant: panoramic balcony

For those seeking even more, a variant is available from the Col de Balme. Instead of descending directly to the village of Le Tour, you can follow the ridge leading to the Aiguillette des Posettes (2201 m). This slightly longer route offers a continuous and absolutely spectacular 360-degree panorama. The trail, technically easy, follows the grassy ridge and provides breathtaking views of the glaciers of Tour and Argentière on one side, and the Giffre massif on the other. This option is often recommended to our clients in the self-guided formula who wish to maximize the visual experience.

Geology and landscapes: facing the Aiguilles of Chamonix

Returning to Haute-Savoie brings you back to the heart of the crystalline massif. Granite dominates the landscape, sculpted into "needles" by glacial erosion. The glaciers of Tour and Argentière, clearly visible, bear witness to the colossal forces that shaped this terrain. The flora is typical of alpine meadows on acidic soil, with carpets of rhododendrons, bilberries, and heathers. It is an ecosystem of great richness, revealed to the attentive hiker.

Arrival in Argentière: at the foot of the glacier

The long descent from the Col de Balme or the Aiguillette des Posettes leads to the village of Le Tour, then to Argentière (1252 m) following the course of the Arve. This large town in the Chamonix valley is a renowned center for mountaineering. The atmosphere is fully focused on the mountains, with the impressive north face of the Aiguille Verte and the Argentière Glacier as a backdrop. It is a great stage to reacclimate to valley life before completing the tour.

Continue exploring the TMB stage by stage

• TMB - Stage 1: Les Houches to Les Contamines-Montjoie
• TMB - Stage 2: Les Contamines-Montjoie to Les Chapieux
• TMB - Stage 3: Les Chapieux to Elisabetta Refuge
• TMB - Stage 4: Elisabetta Refuge to Courmayeur
• TMB - Stage 5: Courmayeur to La Fouly
• TMB - Stage 6: La Fouly to Champex
• TMB - Stage 7: Champex to Col de la Forclaz
• TMB - Stage 8: Col de la Forclaz to Argentière
• TMB - Stage 9: Argentière to Chamonix
• TMB - Stage 10: Chamonix to Les Houches

See all TMB stages ➜

Preparing your return to the Chamonix valley

This penultimate stage has a taste of victory. Arriving in the Chamonix valley is a great satisfaction for all hikers. Whether you have chosen a group tour or a self-guided stay, we ensure that this day is a highlight of your adventure. Argentière is the ideal starting point for the final stage to Chamonix, the endpoint of this magnificent trek in France around its highest summit. For any questions about the different ways to complete the Tour du Mont Blanc, contact our experts, who will share their passion and knowledge of the terrain with you.