Last Updated on January 7, 2025 by Mags Nixon
One of the most important factors in preparing for the TMB is considering in detail your Tour du Mont Blanc packing list. With a recommended pack weight of no more than 10kg, trust me every ounce matters. Lightweight has never been so literal. Packing the essentials is crucial – anything else could well be the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Of course many Tour du Mont Blanc hikers choose to ferry bigger bags along the route with luggage transfer companies, of which there are many. So for those of you where minimal packing is just not feasible, luggage transfers will be your knight in shining armour and in this case your Tour du Mont Blanc packing list might be a little more luxurious than the norm. Note though that not all refuges, understandably on this high altitude terrain, are accessible to vehicles – so there will always be days when your day pack is all you will have access to for a couple of days. Another factor is cost. Luggage transfers ain’t cheap.
Our Tour du Mont Blanc packing list includes trekking kit, refuge essentials, safety inclusions and first aid requirements. Many of the items on are our packing list, most serious hiker will already own. However, we’d serious urge you to consider upgrading any existing kit to more lightweight versions to lighten your load on your TMB – don’t underestimate the elevation gain on the Tour du Mont Blanc. It’s serious. When you’re hiking your second 1000m col in one day, you’ll be wishing you hadn’t brought along that newly released novel from your favourite author!
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Tour du Mont Blanc Packing List
Weight restriction
I’ll say this again, just in case you didn’t get it the first time. Your packing list for the Tour du Mont Blanc needs to be restricted to the absolute minimum. Just essentials. Unless you’re intending to arrange luggage transfers, you’ll be carrying all your kit on your back.
Every single step.
NO DAY PACK SHOULD BE OVER 10KG WHEN TREKKING THE TOUR DU MONT BLANC
With an average of 7-9 hours on the trail each day combined with serious daily elevation gain (the whole TMB trail is 1km higher than Everest!) anything superfluous is going to become dead weight.
You need to be strict.
Don’t underestimate how much even 1kg will add to your pack weight. I packed three times, pairing down repeatedly until the barebones of the essentials lay before me. It’s not easy! And I still definitely took more than I wished I had once I was on the trail.
The photo above is all of our gear and equipment for three of us (2 adults, 1 child) for hiking half the Tour du Mont Blanc in July.
Below I’ve detailed what essential items you’ll absolutely need to take with you on your Tour du Mont Blanc hike, as well as a complete packing list below. There are a few items that you may not have thought of.
The right gear
There’s no such thing as bad weather right. Only bad gear.
My first advice is to get the right gear. The Tour du Mont Blanc is challenging enough without being ill equipped and poor quality outerwear and kit will be enough to break you. Invest wisely in the main piece of kit. Numbers 1 and 2 being footwear and backpack.
Backpack
You will require a 25-30 litre backpack with chest straps and hip straps if you aim to stay in refuges. Hikers camping the TMB will need a 50-60 litre pack.
Children will need to carry their own (smaller) backpacks. Make sure kids have proper backpacks with comfortable straps, not the plastic ones which don’t have the all important chest and hip straps.
If you’re buying a new backpack specifically for your TMB adventure, make sure you test it out beforehand. It’s a good idea to train with all the kit you’ll be using on the trek, so my advice is to buy your backpack at least 3 months before so you can wear it during your training hikes. It will soften and become more comfortable over time and you’ll know your way round it well before you embark on the TMB.
If you are buying a new backpack, look for one with an in-built rain cover. It will save you having to buy a separate one or having to take thick black bin liners to cover your pack in the event of rain on the trail. We can’t recommend Osprey backpacks enough.
Clothing
Layering is vital to staying comfortable on the Tour du Mont Blanc. Layering brings versatility so you can easily adapt your clothing to changing weather conditions on the route. You need to be insulated, ventilated and have wet weather protection – all with minimum weight!
Choose synthetic quick drying fabrics over cotton. These will wick away sweat and will dry faster should you get wet, plus they’re much lighter.
RELAXING IN THE REFUGES
Make sure you take a change of clothes dedicated to refuge only use. You won’t want to put back on a sweaty, damp top or use one of your fresh technical hiking tees. Once you’ve reached the refuge, you’ll want to shower and change pronto. A great tip is to use a pair of thermals to relax and sleep in. That way they’ll be in your bag should you hit cold, wet weather and need to quickly layer up.
You’ll need a good waterproof jacket and trousers, as well as a fleece that packs down well. Pack 1-2 pairs of hiking shorts (I’d recommend 1 pair of shorts & 1 pair of zip off hiking trousers) and 2-3 technical hiking t-shirts.
Waterproof jacket
A good quality waterproof, breathable, windproof jacket is worth it’s weight in gold …. if it’s lightweight. I favour Arcteryx but yes they cost the earth! Anything gortex is going to keep you dry.
Make sure it’s lightweight – the temperatures on the Tour du Mont Blanc can hit 30 degrees even in the high mountains so it might well just be buried in your backpack the entire time, unless your summiting one of the cols and then you might need it as it tends to get chilly. However, bad weather can sweep through the mountains quickly. In the summer the weather system change in the afternoons with storms quickly brewing. It’s best to always set off early and try to get to your refuge early to mid afternoon to avoid the storms.
Other seasoned TMB hikers swear by packing a lightweight collapsible umbrella or a hiking poncho also works well if the weather forecast is looking dubious for some of your hike. Decathlon do cheap ones that work well.
Did you know I offer zoom consultations to help you plan your TMB trek? Let me troubleshoot if you run into problems booking your refuges ..
Socks
Never scrimp on socks. Your feet are key to the TMB.
Prepare them. Protect them.
Buy good quality wool blend socks and pack enough to enable you to have a clean, dry pair everyday. Obviously if you’re doing the whole trek, you’ll need to wash some along the way, but make sure you have at least 4-5 pairs of socks. Keeping feet dry and warm is pivotal in preventing blisters. Something you want to avoid at all costs!
We’ve also recently discovered the amazing 1000 mile sock range. This brand are big into anti-blister technology and their ingenious double sock system is perfect for long distance treks. Double-layer socks can prevent blisters by reducing friction and wicking away moisture. The inner sock stays with the foot whilst the outer foot moves with the shoe to eliminate friction with the skin.
Tour du Mont Blanc footwear
(i) Hiking Boots
You will need good quality hiking boots to trek the Tour du Mont Blanc. Don’t even think about doing it in trainers, although some on the trail swear by trail running shoes which are built for impact, however still run the risk of ankle injury.
Boots should have good ankle support, a sturdy vibram like sole and be waterproof.
I’ve trekked this trail in my trusty Danner hiking boots (read my review here) which are good for warm weather hiking, although not massively waterproof. I was lucky and the weather was kind to us during our TMB trek, however I could have been slopping around with wet feet if the weather hadn’t played ball.
I’ve also worn a pair Salomon hiking boots which were super lightweight and waterproof which I can highly recommend. Read my review here.
Invest in a good pair of hiking boots for your children too. I know it’s costly. Kids are costly full stop right. And boy those small feet just keep growing. But seriously for the Tour du Mont Blanc your kids will need comfortable, well supported and broken in boots. Make sure they are well worn in before setting off – your dream of trekking through the Alps with your family will certainly become a nightmare if not. Comfortable footwear is a must. Try picking up kids hiking boots in the sales at the end of summer or after Christmas six months before doing the trek. Remember to size up one size.
(ii) Flip flops or refuge slippers
One of the rules in the refuges is that hiking boots are kept in the boot room or allocated area. This is regardless of whether they are muddy or not. The refuge provides indoor shoes for hikers to where inside the refuge. These are normally crocs and they provide a variety of sizes.
If you don’t wish to use the inside shoes the refuge will provide then bring with you something suitable which will be lightweight & comfortable, for example flip flops or light shoes. I’m never too fussed about wearing the crocs, even if they have been used by lots of people (I’d rather save weight in my back) but my 65 year old mother baulked at the idea & brought along a pair of soft shoes.
Trekking Poles
Trekking poles are essential for the Tour du Mont Blanc. Don’t even think about setting off without any. The extreme elevation gain and loss along the route is severe. Hiking poles will be your friend trust me.
The extra weight trekking poles offset from your knees and leg muscles is significant. Studies suggest that you can save up to 25% of energy using hiking poles. Who knows if that’s true. What is true is that people generally love or hate them.
When you have a heavy back pack on, trekking poles definitely help you keep your balance on uneven terrain, and having two extra anchor points is extremely helpful crossing streams or to keep your balance on a slippery patch of remaining snow (called névé) on the trail.
It’s also proven that using hiking poles prevents hand swelling. The position of poles (keeping your hands above the heart) and the action of using the poles keep your arms moving constantly thus reducing swelling.
Collapsible hiking poles are the best for long distance trekking. They pack up nice and small & can be strapped onto your backpack when not in use. Using poles constantly can be annoying when you want to take a photo or eat a snack whilst walking for instance.
Which hiking poles would we recommend? Black Diamond Distance Z Trekking Poles are excellent quality, super durable and really lightweight. The Black Diamond Distance Z poles are made from aluminium so are a bit more hardy (& less expensive) than their carbon equivalent the Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z. I used Black Diamond Pro Trail trekking poles You can read my review here.
I would definitely recommend the Black Diamond First Strike trekking poles for children. Don’t buy them the expensive ones above. I bought a pair for my daughter locally in Chamonix (but you can buy them at a fraction of the cost on Amazon, see link above). These are brilliant value (compared to the price of adult poles!) and she loved them. They are lightweight (431g) aluminium poles with comfortable hand grips, very durable (very important with kids who thwack anything) and available in lengths 66-100cm. My daughter really felt the part on our TMB adventure with her new poles and I’m confident that it’s partly due to them that she managed to make it around the trail!
Hiking Crampons
Better to be safe than sorry, particularly if you’re hiking the TMB trail in June or early July. Hiking crampons were a must for us trekking the Tour du Mont Blanc mid July. It might seem slightly over the top but trust me, it’s not.
Crampons are lightweight, so won’t add too much weight to your pack and will give you confidence, along with your trekking poles, to cross slippery patches of snow left from winter on the high mountain cols which can be fatal from a simple slip.
We bought Grivel Ran Crampons which worked a treat. They were easy to pop on over your hiking boot with wide rubber and velcro straps that secure the crampons nicely to your boot. We would highly recommend them. Buy the small pair for kids (my daughter was a UK size 4 & the small was an okay fit for her).
Sleeping Bag Liner
In all the mountain huts on the Tour du Mont Blanc trail, sleeping bag liners are mandatory. Either take your own or you can normally rent one for around €3 a night (check when you book).
Each refuge bed comes with a mattress (& sheet), a duvet and a pillow case with cover, however the linen will not have been washed since the last trekker so a sleeping bag liner is essential and warning, you will not be allowed to stay without one.
I always prefer to take my own and have a RAB silk sleeping bag liner (expensive but worth it – it’s so light you don’t even know you’re carrying it, plus silk is so comfortable to sleep in).
Read my review of RAB’s silk sleeping bag liner here.
It’s worth noting that cotton sleeping bag liners, whilst cheaper, are considerably heavier and so, particularly for the Tour du Mont Blanc, I would HIGHLY advise you to buy a silk liner. Anything to streamline your trek as much as possible. Trust me, you’ll thank me for it later!
Tent
If you are camping along the Tour du Mont Blanc trail, you’re going to be needing obviously some extra kit. Choose your tent with care. It needs to be as lightweight as you can afford. Remember you’ll be carrying it for 8-10 hours a day! Choose a good quality tent that will be robust enough to withstand any bad weather.
ELECTRONICS
Most of the refuges have electricity sockets to charge phones etc, however they are highly in demand! We suggest you bring a USB multi socket charger which will enable to you still charge your phone even if all the sockets are being used!
I would also advise bringing a power bank with you. Admittedly they do add to your weight but these handy, pocket sized gadgets will guarantee a fully charged phone which is a safety must on the Tour du Mont Blanc, to be able to track the trail on an off-line app such as Gaia to prevent getting lost, or in the event of an emergency to call mountain rescue.
Read more: why the Gaia GPS app is a godsend to hikers navigating the TMB
Read more: 10 safety tips to know before embarking on the Tour du Mont Blanc
PAPERWORK
(i) Passport
Don’t forget as you’re trekking into three different countries you’ll need to pack your passport in your backpack. Whilst the borders aren’t controlled officially with border guards on the high mountain cols, you still need to keep it on you.
(ii) Insurance
Make sure your travel insurance covers you for high altitude trekking. For many standard policies hiking is only covered up to 2,000 metres. The highest point on the TMB is on the Col des Fours and Fenêtre d’Arpette alternative routes which both reach an altitude of 2665m. The highest point on the traditional route is 2532m on the Grand Col Ferret.
When seeking insurance you will need to state what elevation you will be hiking up to. In most policies hiking to this kind of altitude will require an additional premium and maybe labelled ‘adventure sports’. If you have an annual travel insurance, call them to find out what you’re covered for – it’s important. Don’t even consider embarking on the TMB without travel insurance!
The Tour du Mont Blanc is not without it’s risks. Some of the trail is precipitous and if snow is on the trail, some areas can be difficult to negotiate with steep falls below. Note: if the thought of this scares you, make sure you hike the TMB in late Summer (end of July and August) when the snow patches (névé) have mostly melted.
Remember, something as simple as a sprained ankle may require you to be lifted out by helicopter. It’s at this point you don’t want to be worrying that your insurance might not cover you! Helicopter rescue is not cheap in the Alps!
For cheap multi-risk sport insurance which includes trekking take a look at Vieux Camper. It’s €30 per person or €85 for a family (2024). Vieux Camper tell me that you don’t have to be a French resident to be able to take out this insurance, however you need to think about how comfortable you will be making a claim through a French company. You can read the coverage in English here.
For US trekkers I have teamed up with Global Rescue who have specific insurance for trekking at high altitude which includes the required helicopter rescue coverage. Find out more about Global Rescue and get a quote here.
OUR COMPLETE TOUR DU MONT BLANC PACKING LIST
HIKING THE TRAIL
FOR THE REFUGES
SAFETY
FIRST AID KIT
TOILETRIES
MISCELLANEOUS
TIP: Packing cubes whilst not essential do make life super easy, particularly when you’re tired arriving at your refuge. Keep one cube just for your refuge stuff (relaxing/sleeping clothes, sleeping bag liner, head torch, eye mask, ear plugs, toiletries) and another for hiking clothes. Packing cubes make organisation in your backpack simple.
30 Comments
Doug
July 15, 2021 at 2:06 amWell organised list of requirements. Thank you for sharing. Your experience shown through!
tourdumontblanchike
July 17, 2021 at 3:30 pmThanks Doug. Enjoy the trek!
Chris
April 29, 2022 at 12:37 amThanks so much! Very helpful.
amauri
May 18, 2022 at 1:32 pmMaterial excelente.
Muito obrigado
Michael
January 31, 2023 at 3:48 pmMy dad and I plan to do the TMB next year. However, we are planning on wild camping for the duration. We aim to complete within 5-6 days, approx 15miles or so per day. What’s the approx. distance between each village to restock with food until the next one? I wouldn’t want to be carrying a weeks worth of food, so plan to restock along the trial. I tend to just have stuff that I can just add boiled water too. Water-wise, I’ll be relying mainly on streams etc using my water filter. Will flavor it when required using the SIS electrolyte tablets.
tourdumontblanchike
February 8, 2023 at 5:44 pmHi Michael you’re actually not allowed to wild camp unless you are above 2500m in Italy and in Switzerland it is prohibited so in these countries you would need to stay in a proper campsite. France allows you to ‘bivouac’ from dusk to dawn so you can wild camp throughout the French sections. There is a bivvy spot next to Refuge Miage on variant stage 1, another one just after Refuge Nant Borrant on stage 2 as well as outside Refuge Le Balme on stage 2 and then a lovely wild spot just before the top of the Col de la Seigne on stage 3. Mid way through stage 9 you can camp at the top of Col de Balme and then just under Lac Blanc at Lac Cheserys (you cannot wild camp at Lac Blanc). I am not sure of the approximate mileage between each village. You can work that out from using one of the guidebooks. There is plenty of water on the trail however take extra water for stages 10 and 11.Best wishes. Mags
scott
February 27, 2023 at 4:52 pmCan you please recommend a store in Chamonix who rents collapsible hiking poles?
tourdumontblanchike
March 3, 2023 at 10:25 pmHi Scott, SNELL SPORTS on the main pedestrian road Rue Dr Paccard rents poles (downstairs), or RAVENEL SPORTS near the Alpina Centre (downstairs). TECHNIQUE EXTREME is a cheap sports shop near the Aiguille du Midi (on Avenue Aiguille du Midi) – I’m sure they also rent poles.
Alan
June 22, 2023 at 12:16 amA great article and a thorough list to walk MB. I have already added a couple of items to my list when I will finally get to walk MB in July 2023 after being cancelled in 2020 because of Covid.
One other item; Your comment that studies have shown that using hiking poles “suggest that you can save up to 25% of energy using hiking pole” is an incorrect statement. One doesn’t “save” energy when using trekking pole; they simply allow a hiker to use their shoulder and upper body muscles to push off while reducing the leg muscles.
The TMB is a physical challenge so using trekking poles to spread the work load is vital to success. Don’t leave home without them!
tourdumontblanchike
June 25, 2023 at 4:34 amAbsolutely Alan. Thanks for your input – you are absolutely correct, thanks for adding this. Have a fantastic trek in July – it will be worth the wait!
Ninja25
August 12, 2024 at 2:38 pmActually, it’s not an incorrect statement at all, as the comment states what others suggest, not what the originator here claims to be true! Some studies do indeed use ‘save energy’ like terms, which I am sure many a scientist would dispute given energy is a constant?
Poles also help a hiker be more correctly aligned vertically so comfort increases, with corresponding perception of energy saved?
Marie
March 9, 2025 at 3:34 amI really don’t know about all this saving energy argument regarding trekking poles. All I know from hiking thousands of kms over the years is that trekking poles are an absolute essential item enabling me to drag my carcass up and down mountains faster and with a wee bit less effort while helping me to not fall on my face or destroy my knees. Trekking poles 4evar.
Norberto
July 6, 2023 at 2:52 pmThanks for this great article that really helps figuring out how feasible the TMB is.
Most of the articles I’ve been reading refer to the month of July as the month when the hike happened. Any idea of how is it in September when compared to July?
tourdumontblanchike
July 8, 2023 at 5:52 amHi Norberto. The trail opens on 14 June each year until September. Mid June to the first week of July normally has snow on the trail so extra precautions are necessary. I would say now July, August and the beginning of September are now peak season. Many of the refuges close mid September but I’ve noticed many are staying open longer. September is a great time to trek – I often trek solo in September as the weather is more settled (none of those broody afternoon thunderstorms of the summer) and there are less people on the trail.
Cathy
July 24, 2023 at 6:35 pmDo you need protection from rodents etc for your food ans scented items while backpacking and tent camping along TMB
tourdumontblanchike
August 9, 2023 at 8:16 amHi Cathy. Not particularly no I’ve never used anything and its never been a problem. Have a great trek!
Yehuda
October 4, 2023 at 8:43 amHi,
Thank you for the details and very well written article!
My son & me are traveling to do partial TMB from Les Houches to Courmayeur in 6 days. starting at Jun 11 until Jun 16.
My son will be 13 year old, what is the recommend weight for him to carry? when will be the time to book for refuge?
Thanks in advance!
Yehuda
tourdumontblanchike
October 6, 2023 at 7:26 amHi Yehuda
June 11- 16th is VERY EARLY to trek. The trail hasn’t officially opened at this point. Have you read my latest post on trekking early? https://tourdumontblanchike.com/trekking-the-tour-du-mont-blanc-in-june/
Many people don’t realise there is still snow on the trail in June. I would not be trekking with my 13 year old so early.
My daughter had an 18l backpack when she hiked at ages 10 and 11. He could probably carry one a bit bigger say a 24l. We say no more than 10kg for an adult so you can use your judgement here.
There refuges are beginning to open now for 2024 reservations.
If you would like more advice and help on planning I offer zoom consultations. As I said I would not be trekking during June 11-16th.
Best wishes. Mags
Diana Toney
January 20, 2025 at 4:03 pmUnderwear!
Mags Nixon
February 23, 2025 at 2:06 pmOf course! Can’t believe I missed that out Diana! :)
Have a great hike. Best wishes. Mags
Susan
January 25, 2025 at 8:33 pmAre we allowed to travel with CBD product?
Mags Nixon
February 23, 2025 at 1:56 pmHi Susan. Presumably you will be flying into Geneva? CBD products are entirely legal in Switzerland so you will not have any issue travelling with them. In France CBD products containing under 0.3% THC are legal so you may want to check your products for the THC strength however I think you will be fine :)
Ryan
April 9, 2025 at 10:04 pmHi Mags,
I’ve never booked travel insurance for previous long walks (Dingle Way, West Highland Way, Chemin de St. Jacques, etc). But due to the remote nature of TMB and your advice, I’ve been looking into travel insurance options. I was pretty shocked at the wild difference between the Vieux Camper (80 euro) and Global Rescue ($1,500+ !) quotes I saw. You may wish to add Allianz Travel to the options. For just $250-$350 they offer emergency medical assistance, trip protection, etc. And their definition of high-altitude starts at 15,000 feet (5,000 meters), so TMB is included in their standard coverage area.
Mags Nixon
April 10, 2025 at 5:44 pmHi Ryan thanks for the heads up on Allianz Travel. Sounds a good option. Not sure why the Global Rescue quote was so high??
Ryan
April 16, 2025 at 10:11 pmMy mistake! All the references to “high altitude” travel led me to select that option in determining my Global Rescue quote. Just like Allianz, Global Rescue defines “high altitude” travel as over 15,000ft/5,000 meters. So my actual quote from Global Rescue is more like $350, very comparable to Allianz. And since you recommend them, I’m inclined to go with GR. Thanks for your wonderfully informative site. My wife and I were able to book our own self-guided trip for this September, though I will report that a few lodges got fully booked up within hours of their opening day of reservations (this was back on October 15, 2024 for a trip in September 2025!).
Mags Nixon
April 20, 2025 at 6:54 amOh good, thanks for letting us know. Have a great trek. Mags
Dee
October 9, 2025 at 7:47 pmThanks for all this wonderfully detailed information on the trek. I have a fear of falling from heights, and we are planning on doing the traditional itinerary next year. Besides the ladders which I plan to avoid, are there other stages where the trail is really narrow with a steep dropoff on the side? This is even more frightening to me if its a steep downhill section.
We are thinking of the self guided option but wondering about this is giving me pause.
Thank you in advance for any insight!
Mags Nixon
October 13, 2025 at 4:24 amHi Dee good to hear from you. Yes there is an alternative route to the ladders that you can take that adds around an extra hour on. To be honest Dee its hard for me to advise as I don’t know your levels of comfortable exposure. The Tour du Mont Blanc is in its very nature a high mountain walk that involves high ascents and descents. Often the path is narrow traversing along the mountain so naturally the mountain drops off to one side. It could be an idea for you to consider booking a guided tour so that you have a professional with you to help you if you need it. At no point is the traditional route on the TMB a sheer drop off however there are some very steep descents. There are a couple more ladders on stage 11 on the Col du Brevent but you can avoid these by taking the cable car from Plan Praz up to Le Brevent summit. I would avoid all variants even the easy variant 1 via the Col du Tricot as this has a suspension bridge and a steep descent from the Col du Tricot. I would suggest you look at some YouTube videos of the tour to make sure you are comfortable with the typical TMB terrain. Best. Mags
Dee
October 14, 2025 at 9:03 pmhi Mags,
Thank you so much for your thoughtful response. I understand the challenge of advising without knowing my experience/exposure comfort. I have done a reasonable amount of hiking, most of it in the Cascades in the pacific northwest in the US with a good number of alpine hikes. That said, steep descents where there is a risk of falling far off the side of the mountain make me quite nervous. If the side of the mountain the trail is on is a gentler slope (not a steep dropoff) I feel better about those. Also if the trail is steep but not exposed I am normally better with those.
Thank you for telling me about more ladders on stage 11 on Col du Brevent. I did not know about these. Are these at a great height with steep drops? I have seen videos of the ones before Lac Blanc and I will definitely be skipping those.
I just had one more question – is there a lot of scree / small loose gravel like rock on the steep descents? Those are particularly scary because it makes for less stable footing.
And yes thank you, like you advised I might consider a guided trip as an option.
Thanks again for your help!
Mags Nixon
October 27, 2025 at 8:00 amHi Dee no the TMB trail is very well maintained. I would avoid the Col des Fours variant and the Fenetre d’Arpette variant as both have loose scree. There are not many steep drop-offs on the TMB generally it’s up, down and then balcony walks where the mountain drops to one side but none of them are sheer. I would make sure you are not trekking in June or early July when there is snow on the trail as this make you more nervous. The TMB is not the Alta Via 1 (Dolomites) which would be very difficult for you to negotiate given your fears as it is rocky and steep. In general the TMB is not to exposed. I would avoid the ladders on stage 11 by taking the cable car. Feel free to contact me directly if you decide you would like to organise a guided trek. Before making that decision I would try to watch as many videos as you can first to see the terrain. Best. Mags