Three countries on foot — what it actually involves

The Tour crosses from France into Italy at the Col de la Seigne, into Switzerland at the Grand Col Ferret, and back into France at the Col de Balme. No barriers, no queues — but three currencies' worth of practical detail.

Borders and ID

All three crossings are unstaffed cols with a sign and often a stone marker. Nobody will ask for your passport at 2,537 m. Carry identification anyway: Switzerland is outside the EU, accommodation may ask, and if something goes wrong medically you will want it. Note also that the mountain rescue services are separate in each country, and so are the numbers — 112 works everywhere, which is the one to remember.

Money

France and Italy use the euro; Switzerland uses the franc. Cards work in the towns without difficulty, but several of the smaller Swiss places prefer cash, and mountain huts everywhere are more cash-friendly than the valleys. Practical approach: carry a modest amount of euros throughout and draw francs when you reach La Fouly or Champex. Paying euros in Switzerland usually works at a rate designed to discourage it.

Phones and data

Your phone will hop between French, Italian and Swiss networks, sometimes several times a day on the ridges. EU roaming covers France and Italy; Switzerland is frequently excluded and can be expensive. Check your plan before you leave, and assume you will be offline for the two days between the Grand Col Ferret and the Col de Balme. This is the main reason the planner stores everything on the device — the map, the plan, the elevation profile and the briefings all work with the radio off.

Getting there and back

• Geneva — nearest airport, roughly an hour to Chamonix by shuttle bus. Easiest by a distance.
• Rail — the Mont-Blanc Express serves Les Houches, Chamonix, Argentière and Vallorcine, and connects at Martigny for the Swiss network and at Saint-Gervais for France.
• Courmayeur — the Mont Blanc tunnel bus from Chamonix takes under an hour, which is what makes walking half the loop practical. From Italy, Turin and Milan.

Escape routes

Worth knowing before you need them. From west to east: Les Contamines has buses to Saint-Gervais; Les Chapieux has a shuttle to Bourg-Saint-Maurice; the Val Veny and Val Ferret roads on the Italian side have buses to Courmayeur; La Fouly and Champex have post buses to Orsières and the Martigny railway; the Col de la Forclaz has a bus to Martigny; and the whole Chamonix valley is on the railway. There is no point on the Tour more than a few hours from a bus stop, which is a comfort worth carrying.

Frequently asked questions