Blog home / Walking in the Alps: The Alpine Pass Route vs the Tour du Mont Blanc
Travellers who are looking to go walking in the Alps often ask us, 'Which is better, the Tour de Mont Blanc (TMB) or The Alpine Pass Route?' We believe that’s a pretty tricky question: both are 2-week, long challenging walks threading their way through some of the finest alpine scenery to be found in Europe.
A number of travellers who have walked both routes judge The Alpine Pass to be top of the list, however the Tour du Mont Blanc is one of the world’s most popular mountain walks. This spurred us on to compare the two walks in the Alps.
Scenic Variety of Europe’s Alps
The Alpine Pass Route is said to have more scenic variety and is claimed to be more spectacular with more sheer-sided peaks flanking the route.
The Tour de Mont Blanc concentrates quite naturally on the majestic domed top of the highest mountain in Western Europe that seems to draw walkers like a magnet to the Mont Blanc Massif. Here, the impressive sideshows along the way include the Dent Blanche and Aiguille Vert.
In contrast, the Alpine Pass Route has a whole procession of beautifully different mountains including the Eiger, Monch, Jungfrau, Titlus, Wellhorn, Wetterhorn, Schreckhorn, Breithorn, Gspaltenhorn, Blumlisalpernhorn, Doldenhorn and Wildstrubel.
Both tours stay at mountain inns in beautifully quiet locations. Both routes involve walking up a multitude of alpine valleys and over high passes. The Fenetre d’Arpette (2665m) is the highest one on the TMB but this is trounced by the Hohturli (2778m) on the Alpine Pass, an amazing gateway into the glacial scenery suspended above Kandersteg and the magnificent Oeschinensee glacial lake. The other two big passes on the Alpine Pass Route, Sefinenfurke (2,612m) and the Bundechrinde (2380m), have very different outlooks.
Circuit vs Linear Walks
The TMB is a circuit, the Alpine Pass a linear route – is there a preference? Is closing the loop preferable to completing A to B? The efficiency of the Swiss rail system certainly makes starting and ending in different places insignificant.
The route that you follow on the Alpine Pass walk with us is the most spectacular half of a 4-week walk that crosses Alpine Switzerland. It’s holistic in its own right passing between the high Bernese Oberland peaks into the Valais and towards the Rhone Valley.
On the other hand, the TMB is a complete long distance walk. The Tour du Mont Blanc route certainly has more walkers, is best-known and has many articles on it appearing in magazines and books. Perhaps you can ‘dine out’ for longer with a Mont Blanc tour under your belt. The Alpine Pass Route has less press; perhaps this is one of the main reasons for the difference in popularity.
Alpine Highlights & 'Free' Days
There are highlights for mountain lovers on both alps walking holidays: particularly Grindelwald and Klein Scheidegg on the Alpine Pass Route, and Chamonix, Champex and Courmayeur on the Tour de Mont Blanc.
Walking in the Alps on both tours include 'free' days. Although most people would use these for doing extra walks or variations, they are handy if you want to rest weary limbs or go sightseeing. On the 14-day Tour du Mont Blanc you have free days in La Palud, Champex and Chamonix. On the Alpine Pass Route, you’ll have time at leisure in Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and Kandersteg. From Grindelwald you can join other visitors and take the train up the Eiger, while from Chamonix you take the cable cars up the Aiguille du Midi for equally spectacular views.
Crossing Borders in the Alps
Perhaps the TMB is popular because you get the chance to walk into three countries: France, Italy and Switzerland. This does mean that you have to remember changing your money into Swiss Francs and Euros. The Alpine Pass Route passes from the German speaking Oberland to the French speaking Valais, two areas with distinct cultures and traditions (and that have the Swiss Franc as their currency).
Individually or In The Company of Others
If you are undecided about walking in the company of others or going individually, our 14-day hotel-based trek following the Tour du Mont Blanc may be the perfect option to find a happy medium. You can choose from set travel dates between June and September when other Walkers' Britain travellers follow the same itinerary, staying in the same accommodation. You might meet each other during breakfast and have the choice to spend the day walking (or dining) together or hike with your own company.
This set-up is unique to our Tour du Mont Blanc trek.
While there may or may not be other Walkers' Britain travellers walking the Alpine Pass Route with you, it is a famous hiking trail in Switzerland and you will certainly come across other walkers on the trails and in your accommodation.
Getting Out of the Mountains
One concern when walking the Tour du Mont Blanc is what to do if you are unlucky and experience really bad weather or sprain an ankle or knee. Some of the sections do not have public transport to the next place, or if they do, it may take a lot of time. On the Alpine Pass Route, there are no such worries as all accommodation can be reached by rail and postbus combinations.
Rest Your Head
On both our
Tour du Mont Blanc trek and
The Alpine Pass Route hiking holiday you'll be staying in pleasant mountain hotels. Our team have carefully selected a range of quality, independent properties that will really add to your alpine hiking experience. Think wooden trimmings and traditional beams, red/white chequered table runners, and typical Swiss hospitality. A hotel-based trek means that you will enjoy extra comfort and space, a private bathroom, and often a swimming pool or sauna to relax after your day of hiking.
When walking around Mont Blanc, your accommodation includes 2-4* hotels, a guesthouse and an auberge while on our Alpine Pass Route you'll be staying at a selection of friendly 2-3* hotels with often the possibility to upgrade your overnight stay.
So, which is best?
We have to say it is hard to find a clear difference on these walking holidays in the Alps. Perhaps the Alpine Pass Route has the edge on scenery but the Tour De Mont Blanc has the recognition. Certainly, if you have already enjoyed a walking holiday on the TMB, we believe you should definitely consider the Alpine Pass Route for your next trip, and vice versa! Afterwards, do let us know which you preferred.
With Walkers' Britain, you can begin a self-guided Alpine Pass holiday on any day from mid July through to the end of September.
Walk the Tour du Mont Blanc in 14-days with free days included and simultaneously with other Walkers' Britain guests.
If you are toying with the idea of walking in the Alps around France and Switzerland, besides considering the TMB don’t overlook the Alpine Pass Route as a great alternative. To discuss your options with one of our travel experts, please contact us by email or phone.