Where to Hike After the Tour du Mont Blanc

So… you’ve completed the TMB. What’s next?

You’ve circled Mont Blanc. Climbed the cols. Earned your café stops.

And somewhere along the way, the question likely crept in: what next?

Because finishing the Tour du Mont Blanc isn’t the end-it’s usually the beginning. Once you’ve experienced that rhythm of hut-to-hut walking, big mountain passes, and ever-changing landscapes, it’s hard not to want more.

The good news? Europe is full of trails that build on that same magic, whether you’re looking for something tougher, quieter, or simply different.

Here’s where to go next...

Cable cars in the Dolomites

For Big Mountain Drama & Iconic Scenery

Dolomites Hiking Tours

Famous for their jagged limestone peaks, sunlit valleys, and welcoming rifugios, the Dolomites offer some of the most visually striking hiking in Europe.

Compared to the TMB:

Difficulty: Similar or slightly easier, depending on the route
Terrain: More rocky and dramatic, with less grassy pastureland
Scenery: More “wow-factor” peaks; less glacier dominance than Mont Blanc
Best time to hike: June-September (similar season, but snow can linger longer)
Popularity: Busy in peak months, but trails often feel less crowded than the TMB

If you loved the views on the TMB, this is your natural next step-with better food along the way.

Check out our Dolomites hiking tours >

Cortina

Alta Via 1 Routes

For hikers craving a more rugged, high-alpine feel, Italy’s Alta Via trails deliver remote scenery and a true mountain immersion.

Compared to the TMB:

Difficulty: More challenging
Terrain: Narrower trails, exposed sections, and higher routes
Scenery: Wild, vertical landscapes with dramatic rock formations
Best time to hike: July-September
Popularity: Much quieter and more remote

Read our Alta Via 1 vs. TMB comparison guide for a deeper dive.

Check out our Alta Via 1 hiking trips >

Walker on the Matterhorn

High Trails to the Matterhorn

A dramatic route linking Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn, combining Alpine villages, lofty viewpoints, and two of Europe’s most famous mountains.

Compared to the TMB:

Difficulty: Slightly more challenging overall
Terrain: Similar high mountain passes, but often longer days
Scenery: Even more iconic peaks, with constant Matterhorn views
Best time to hike: July-September
Popularity: Less crowded than the TMB but still well-known

Think of this as the TMB’s more ambitious sibling.

Check out our Matterhorn hiking trips >

Walker's Haute Route - Europaweg - Ladders

For a More Rugged, High-Alpine Challenge

Walker’s Haute Route

A legendary high-alpine trek from Chamonix to Zermatt, crossing dramatic mountain passes with constant glacier views.

Compared to the TMB:

Difficulty: Significantly more challenging
Terrain: Higher, more remote, with tougher ascents and descents
Scenery: More glaciers, fewer green valleys
Best time to hike: Mid-July to September
Popularity: Popular, but less crowded due to the difficulty

If the TMB felt like a challenge, this is the next level.

Check out our Walker's Haute Route hiking trips >

E5 Alpine crossing

E5 Alpine Crossing

A classic north-to-south crossing of the Alps, starting in Germany and finishing in Italy.

Compared to the TMB:

Difficulty: Similar, with a few more demanding stages
Terrain: Huge variety, from forest trails to high alpine passes
Scenery: Constantly changing landscapes rather than one massif
Best time to hike: June-September
Popularity: Well-known but generally quieter

A great choice if you want that same sense of achievement, with more variety.

Check out our E5 Alpine Crossing hiking trips >

Two people on the Via Alpina

For Long-Distance Adventure & Variety

Via Alpina

A transnational Alpine route weaving through multiple countries.

Compared to the TMB:

Difficulty: Varies widely depending on the section

- Via Alpina East: Generally more moderate, with well-paced stages through Austria’s Tyrol region-ideal if you want a multi-day Alpine experience without the sustained intensity of the TMB.
- Via Alpina West: More challenging overall, with higher passes and longer days through Switzerland, closer in feel to the TMB, but typically quieter and more remote.
Terrain: Extremely varied, high alpine, valleys, and villages
Scenery: Less concentrated “drama,” more diversity
Best time to hike: June-September
Popularity: Much quieter and less commercial

Perfect if you loved the journey of the TMB more than the destination.

Check out our Via Alpina hiking trips >

GR5 Chamonix

GR5 (French Alps)

One of Europe’s great long-distance trails through the French Alps.

Compared to the TMB:

Difficulty: Similar, but more flexible in sections
Terrain: Well-marked paths with steady ascents
Scenery: Classic Alpine views, less concentrated than Mont Blanc
Best time to hike: June-September
Popularity: Less crowded, more spread out

It offers the same rhythm as the TMB, just with fewer people.

Check out our GR5 hiking itinerary >

For Classic Alpine Walking (With a Twist)

river in the French Alps

French Alps Walking Tours

From iconic passes to quieter valleys, these routes deliver classic Alpine walking.

Compared to the TMB:

Difficulty: Generally easier and more flexible
Terrain: Mix of mountain paths and valley trails
Scenery: Similar landscapes, but less intense
Best time to hike: June-September
Popularity: Much quieter

Ideal if you want to relive the TMB feeling at a gentler pace.

Check out our French Alps hiking itineraries >

Tyrolean Alps

A blend of dramatic mountains, green valleys, and traditional Alpine culture.

Compared to the TMB:

Difficulty: Similar or slightly easier
Terrain: Well-maintained trails with fewer extreme ascents
Scenery: More pastoral-alpine meadows and villages
Best time to hike: June-September
Popularity: Less international, more local feel

A great balance of scenery and culture.

Check out our Tyrolean Alps hiking itineraries >

Bavarian Alps

Gentler in feel but no less scenic, with lakes and forested trails.

Compared to the TMB:

Difficulty: Easier
Terrain: Lower altitude, less exposure
Scenery: Lakes, forests, and rolling mountains rather than high peaks
Best time to hike: May-October (longer season than TMB)
Popularity: Popular locally, but not busy like the TMB

Perfect for a more relaxed follow-up adventure.

Check out our Bavarian Alps hiking itineraries >

Kitzbühel Alps

Kitzbühel Alpine Trail

A rolling, panoramic trail through the Austrian Alps.

Compared to the TMB:

Difficulty: Easier
Terrain: Gentle ridgelines rather than steep passes
Scenery: Wide, open views rather than dramatic peaks
Best time to hike: June-September
Popularity: Quiet and uncrowded

Ideal if you want big views without the intensity.

Check out our Kitzbühel Alpine hiking itinerary >

Julian Alps

A quieter corner of the Alps, where emerald lakes, limestone peaks, and traditional mountain culture come together. The Julian Alps offer a balance of high trails and gentler valley walking, with a distinctly off-the-radar feel.

Compared to the TMB:

Difficulty: Similar or slightly easier (depending on route choice)
Terrain: A mix of rocky alpine paths and softer valley trails, with fewer sustained high passes
Scenery: Less glacial drama, more lakes, rivers, and forested valleys-think Lake Bled and turquoise alpine waters
Best time to hike: June–September
Popularity: Much quieter and less international than the TMB

A great choice if you want Alpine scenery with fewer crowds-and a slightly more relaxed, undiscovered feel.

Check out our High Trails of Julian Alps hiking itinerary >