Paid
Les Houches
Les Houches
Les Houches, a village resort at the entrance to the Chamonix valley (Haute-Savoie): the Prarion and Bellevue sectors, forest skiing, the Kandahar and views of Mont-Blanc.
Free · Open access
Tour du Mont-Blanc
A world-famous trek around the Mont-Blanc massif in 11 anti-clockwise stages, crossing France, Italy and Switzerland over 170 classic kilometres (215 km with GR® TMB variants).
Catteridge · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
At a glance
Type
International long-distance trail (GR® TMB)
Access
Free access · Free (refuges paid)
Price
Free trail · Refuges €60-90/night half-board
Duration
10-12 days full route · shorter stages possible
Best season
Mid-June to mid-September only
Parking
Les Houches centre car park + Prarion cable car
Animals
Allowed on a leash (discouraged at passes)
Stroller / Reduced mobility
NOT suitable (alpine trail)
Town
Les Houches (départ classique 74)
Wheelchair access
Not accessible Source: FFRandonnée
What is Tour du Mont-Blanc
The Tour du Mont-Blanc (TMB) is one of the world's most iconic multi-day treks: a loop around the Mont Blanc range crossing three countries (France, Italy, Switzerland), with free passage between Schengen-area borders. The classic itinerary covers 170 km in 11 anti-clockwise stages; the full GR® TMB loop with all variants reaches 215 km, with around 10,000 m of cumulative elevation gain - a serious challenge for experienced hikers.
The TMB is traditionally walked anti-clockwise from Les Houches (74310). Mountain stages cross the Col du Bonhomme, the Col de la Seigne (into Italy), the Grand Col Ferret (into Switzerland) and the Col de Balme (back into France). Stage lengths vary from 12 to 22 km, with refuges and gîtes spread along the route - booking from January onwards is essential in high season.
Free access to the trail, no permit required. Difficulty: difficult (sustained gradient and altitude). Best season: mid-June to mid-September. Accommodation in refuges priced 55-90 EUR half-board. Carry a hut booklet and check border-pass conditions. Not suitable for reduced-mobility visitors; dogs are heavily restricted in Italian and Swiss reserves.
Activities
What you can do here
Practical
Practical information
Address
Classic anti-clockwise start: Les Houches centre, place du téléphérique du Prarion, 74310 · Full loop returns to Les Houches after 10-12 days View on map
Coordinates
45.8908° N · 6.7956° E (Les Houches centre)
Altitude
1,008 m (Les Houches start) · Passes up to 2,600 m · cumulative ascent ~10,000 m over 170 km
Opening hours
Tour du Mont-Blanc WALKABLE MID-JUNE TO MID-SEPTEMBER ONLY. Off-season: passes snow-covered, refuges closed, only one winter emergency shelter stage equipped. Check refuge opening and pass conditions at ffrandonnee.fr, chamonix.com, autourdumontblanc.com. Verified on 24 May 2026 — subject to seasonal changes.
Prices
TOUR DU MONT-BLANC TRAIL FREE all year. Refuges and gîtes are paid: €60-90/night half-board (dorm bed, dinner, breakfast). Booking compulsory from January-February for the summer season. Verified on 24 May 2026.
Booking
The Tour du Mont-Blanc trail has free access with no booking needed. BOOKING REFUGES IS COMPULSORY for overnight stages: refuges are full by late July/August, book from January-February via individual refuge websites or Espace Mont-Blanc platforms. Verified on 24 May 2026.
Parking
Free long-stay parking in Les Houches centre (start of the Tour du Mont-Blanc) or at the Prarion cable car car park. Paid parking possible at Chamonix station with shuttle service.
Dogs
Dogs allowed on a leash on the Tour du Mont-Blanc. DISCOURAGED on passes above 2,500 m and on technical Aiguilles Rouges sections (ladders, chains). Check dog policy refuge by refuge before booking.
Accessibility
Tour du Mont-Blanc NOT ACCESSIBLE to wheelchairs or pushchairs: a mountain trail with technical sections (ladders, chains at the Aiguilles Rouges), altitude exposure of 2,000-2,600 m, rocky terrain. For experienced hikers. Verified on 24 May 2026.
Visit duration
Full Tour du Mont-Blanc, 170 km: 10-12 days depending on profile and variants chosen. Average stage 15-20 km / 5-8h walking / 600-1,200 m of ascent. Shorter 5-7 day variants possible.
Contact
Les Houches Tourist Office +33 (0)4 50 55 50 62. Chamonix Tourist Office +33 (0)4 50 53 00 24. FFRandonnée Haute-Savoie. Espace Mont-Blanc autourdumontblanc.com. Verified on 24 May 2026.
Access
How to get there
By car
Les Houches is accessible from Chamonix (10 minutes, 8 km) or Sallanches (25 minutes, 20 km) via the D1506. A40 Le Fayet/Saint-Gervais exit 15 minutes away. Free long-stay parking in Les Houches centre (start of the anti-clockwise Tour du Mont-Blanc).
Open in MapsPublic transport
The Mont-Blanc Express (SNCF regional train + Tramway du Mont-Blanc), Les Houches station, is a 5-minute walk from the start of the Tour du Mont-Blanc. Chamonix Bus services run to Les Houches from Chamonix every 20 minutes in season.
Open in MapsBy bike
Cycling is not recommended to reach the Tour du Mont-Blanc (the D1506 Chamonix-Les Houches road is busy). Mountain biking possible Sallanches-Les Houches via the Vallée de l'Arve V61 cycle route.
Open in MapsNearest stops
- LES HOUCHES - ECOLE · Chamonix Bus · B · 206 m
- LES HOUCHES - MAIRIE · Chamonix Bus · 01, 06, 07, N1, N4, V1 · 215 m
- LES HOUCHES - LES ESSERTS · Chamonix Bus · 01, 06, 07, N1, V1 · 215 m
- Chamonix Bus · Fare : 2 € (à bord) · 1,50 € (appli) · gratuit avec la carte d'hôte ou un forfait ski · Official fares & timetables →
Transport data verified on 2026-06-15 · source transport.data.gouv.fr (Licence Etalab 2.0)
When to visit
When to visit
The Tour du Mont-Blanc can ONLY be walked from MID-JUNE TO MID-SEPTEMBER because of snow on the passes at 2,000-2,600 m (Col du Bonhomme, Col des Fours, Col de la Seigne, Col Ferret). Off-season: refuges closed except unequipped winter emergency shelters with no catering. Late June-early July: gradual opening depending on snow cover, check pass conditions with refuges and chamonix.com. July-August: absolute high season, refuges FULLY BOOKED by March-April for weekend nights, BOOKING IN JANUARY-FEBRUARY COMPULSORY. First half of September: an excellent period - early autumn colours, less crowded refuges, often stable weather, cool temperatures at altitude. THE MOST ICONIC TREK IN EUROPE - featured in global top rankings (National Geographic, Lonely Planet, FFR). 170 KM IN 11 ANTI-CLOCKWISE STAGES according to mongr.fr/FFR. 215 KM on the full GR® TMB loop with all variants. CROSSING 3 COUNTRIES - France, Italy, Switzerland - borders crossable with no formalities (Schengen Area). 10,000 M CUMULATIVE ASCENT on the classic route. HAUTE-SAVOIE STAGES: Les Houches → Les Contamines (Col de Voza), Les Contamines → Les Chapieux (Col du Bonhomme, 2,329 m, crossing point with GR®5), Tré-le-Champ → La Flégère (spectacular Aiguilles Rouges variant), La Flégère → back to Les Houches. AROUND 40 REFUGES AND GÎTES along the route (€60-90/night half-board) - BOOKING COMPULSORY FROM JANUARY-FEBRUARY. FOR EXPERIENCED HIKERS only (stages of 5-8h, 600-1,200 m of ascent per day, technical Aiguilles Rouges sections).
Events : The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) in late August/early September - a world-famous ultra-trail race of 171 km following the route of the Tour du Mont-Blanc clockwise (the reverse of the hiker's direction). Refuge get-togethers and solidarity events in July-August. Trekking trade shows in Annecy and Chamonix in spring.
Winter
Winter season
Winter access window
Not specified
Winter infrastructure
Not specified
Snow panorama
Not specified
Equipment mandated
Loi Montagne II — winter tyres or chains required (1 Nov – 31 Mar)
Nearby
Where to eat, drink, stay
Photos
Gallery
Been there? Share your photos — we'll add them to this page with credit. Tag #loisirs74 or email photos@loisirs74.fr
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Tour du Mont-Blanc?
According to FFRandonnée and mongr.fr, the classic route of the Tour du Mont-Blanc is 170 km in 11 anti-clockwise stages. The full GR® TMB loop with all variants (Aiguilles Rouges, Col de Tricot, Val Ferret) reaches 215 km.
Is access to the Tour du Mont-Blanc paid?
No. The Tour du Mont-Blanc trail is free and open all year. Only the refuges and gîtes (around 40 along the route) are paid: €60-90/night half-board. Booking compulsory from January-February.
What are the Haute-Savoie stages of the Tour du Mont-Blanc?
The Tour du Mont-Blanc has 4 stages in Haute-Savoie: Les Houches → Les Contamines (Col de Voza), Les Contamines → Les Chapieux, Tré-le-Champ → La Flégère (Aiguilles Rouges), La Flégère → back to Les Houches.
How many days does it take to do the Tour du Mont-Blanc?
The Tour du Mont-Blanc takes 10 to 12 days for the full 170 km route. Stages of 15-20 km / 5-8h walking / 600-1,200 m of ascent per day. Shorter 5-7 day variants are possible for fit hikers.
When can you do the Tour du Mont-Blanc?
The Tour du Mont-Blanc can only be walked from mid-June to mid-September. Off-season: passes at 2,000-2,600 m are snow-covered, refuges are closed. Optimal season: early July to early September depending on annual snow cover.
Is the Tour du Mont-Blanc accessible to people with reduced mobility?
No. The Tour du Mont-Blanc is not accessible to wheelchairs or pushchairs: a mountain trail with technical sections (ladders and chains at the Aiguilles Rouges), altitude exposure, rocky terrain. For experienced hikers only.
Do you need to book refuges on the Tour du Mont-Blanc?
Yes, ESSENTIALLY. The around 40 refuges on the Tour du Mont-Blanc are fully booked by March-April for weekend nights in July-August. BOOKING IN JANUARY-FEBRUARY IS COMPULSORY, via the individual refuge websites or Espace Mont-Blanc platforms.
What is the classic direction of the Tour du Mont-Blanc?
The classic direction of the Tour du Mont-Blanc is ANTI-CLOCKWISE, starting from Les Houches (Haute-Savoie). Route: Les Houches → Les Contamines → Les Chapieux → Courmayeur (Italy) → Champex (Switzerland) → Tré-le-Champ → La Flégère → back to Les Houches.
Sources
Sources & verification
Multi-source verification at publication. Information may change — confirm with the official operator before travelling.
Nearby
Nearby
Other places to explore in the area and in the same category
Paid
Paid
Musée Montagnard des Houches
Les Houches
Folk arts and traditions museum of Les Houches in a 1750 house. Albert Laprade collection. Adult 5 EUR, free under 18. CCVCMB pass 25 EUR/year.
Paid
Parc de Merlet
Les Houches
Alpine animal park at 1,500 m altitude facing Mont-Blanc. Ibex, chamois, marmots roaming freely over 21 hectares. Adults €9, children €6. Reservation required.
Free
Au Fil du Rail Treasure Hunt at Servoz
Servoz
Free family treasure hunt at Servoz (Chamonix valley): ~2 h walk from the SNCF station, question booklet picked up at the Chamonix Valley Tourist Offices.
Free
Désert de Platé Trail
Passy
Désert de Platé Trail at Passy: 6.5 km return and 870 m elevation gain from Praz-Coutant to the Platé refuge, across Europe's largest karst pavement (1,980 ha, listed since 1998).
Paid