The mountain huts and accommodation of the Tour du Mont-Blanc, stage by stage (and how to book them)

On the Tour du Mont-Blanc, the mountain hut is far more than a room to drop your pack. It is the moment the day's walking finally makes sense: the terrace facing the Grandes Jorasses, the polenta shared across ten tables and half a dozen nationalities, the quiet at 2,400 metres once the day walkers have gone back down. Choosing where you stay is how you shape your own TMB.

The circuit crosses three countries, and each has its own way of doing things: the staffed French refuge, the Italian rifugio with its kitchen, and the more comfortable Swiss inn. At Altimood, we have guided groups along this route for years, and sorting out accommodation is the question that comes up most often before departure. This guide gathers the places to stay along the tour, stage by stage, each one listed with its altitude, capacity and how to book.

We list more than fifty refuges, gîtes and inns here, spread across the eleven stages of the anticlockwise direction (the most common one), on both sides of the border passes. Years of guiding groups around the tour have built ties with a handful of trusted hosts, the ones we know by first name and where our guided Tour du Mont-Blanc treks spend the night. Knowing the rest of these places well also lets us improvise when a last-minute request comes in. Even so, we share them all freely here, for the pleasure of passing it on: these details shift from one season to the next, so if you spot anything that needs correcting, let us know.

Map of the Tour du Mont-Blanc mountain huts

To see how these huts string together, our complete Tour du Mont-Blanc guide lays out the eleven stages, the passes and the variants. And if you're still weighing up what kind of nights you want, our gîte or refuge comparison sets out the basics.

Stage 1: from Les Houches to Les Contamines-Montjoie

The tour starts at 1,000 metres. Most walkers spend the night before in Les Houches, then reach Les Contamines at the end of the first day, over the Col de Voza or the higher Col du Tricot variant. The accommodation on this stage is mainly valley gîtes, easy to reach, ideal for sorting out your arrival and departure. The full route is in our Stage 1 guide.

Chalet Les Méandres (Les Houches) - 1,120 m

Formerly the Tupilak, this trekkers' chalet at the Pont des Méandres often serves as the first or last night of the tour, a stone's throw from the official start in Les Houches. Private rooms and small dormitories, a sociable table, and easy access by train or bus from Chamonix.

Altitude 1,120 m. Valley gîte. Website

Gîte Michel Fagot (Les Houches) - 1,000 m

An institution in Les Houches, right in the heart of the village and family-run. Dormitories and private rooms, Savoyard meals, ideal for the first night at the foot of the tour with no transport worries.

Altitude 1,000 m. Valley gîte. Website

Refuge du Fioux (Bellevue) - 1,505 m

On the Saint-Gervais side, above Le Champel, this small refuge helps out anyone who wants to break the climb towards Bellevue and the Col de Voza. A quiet, lightly visited stop with a family feel.

Altitude 1,505 m. Small refuge, staffed in season.

Refuge de Miage (Col du Tricot variant) - 1,560 m

An old mountain farm set in the Miage valley at the foot of the Dômes, on the Col du Tricot variant (the one with the Himalayan-style suspension bridge). You drop down to it after the pass, into a bowl of pastures where time seems to have stopped. No Wi-Fi, and proudly so.

Altitude 1,560 m. ~47 beds, staffed May to late September. Website

Auberge du Truc (Miage / Truc variant) - 1,750 m

A small mountain-pasture chalet on the Truc plateau, just above Miage. A handful of beds and a terrace looking out over the Val Montjoie and the Mont-Joly. A simple, beautiful high night on the variant that avoids the valley floor.

Altitude 1,750 m. Mountain-pasture inn, limited beds.

Refuge de Tré-la-Tête (variant) - 1,970 m

Perched on a spur above Les Contamines, this refuge-hotel looks out over the whole Val Montjoie, from the Col du Bonhomme to the Mont-Joly. It sits on an out-and-back from Notre-Dame-de-la-Gorge (about 2 hours), off the main route, but it is a superb base for anyone who wants a balcony view or plans to reach the Refuge des Conscrits. Indoor bathrooms and hot showers, a rare comfort at this altitude.

Altitude 1,970 m. ~60 beds, staffed mid-March to mid-October. Website

La Ferme à Piron (Les Contamines) - 1,164 m

A characterful gîte at the entrance to Les Contamines-Montjoie, in a former farmhouse. A good place to land at the end of a stage, with the village and its shops close by.

Altitude 1,164 m. Valley gîte. Website

Gîte Les Mélèzes (Les Contamines) - 1,170 m

Village lodging in the heart of Les Contamines, handy for restocking and sleeping before the big Col du Bonhomme stage. Private rooms and dormitories.

Altitude 1,170 m. Valley gîte.

Gîte le Pontet (Les Contamines) - 1,170 m

At the hamlet of Le Pontet, on the edge of the leisure park, this gîte-campsite marks the real start towards Notre-Dame-de-la-Gorge. Simple lodging, tent pitches available, the last water and supply point before the climb.

Altitude 1,170 m. Gîte and campsite. Website

Stage 2: from Les Contamines to Les Chapieux over the Col du Bonhomme

This is one of the most demanding stages of the tour, with a long climb up to the Col de la Croix du Bonhomme at 2,479 metres. The refuges are spread out along the ascent, from the baroque chapel of Notre-Dame-de-la-Gorge to the isolated hamlet of Les Chapieux. Breaking the climb at Nant Borrant or La Balme takes a lot of the sting out of the day. See the Stage 2 guide.

Refuge de Nant Borrant - 1,459 m

The first true mountain refuge of the tour, just past the paved Roman road that climbs up from Notre-Dame-de-la-Gorge. A 19th-century stone building, a flower-filled terrace, and home cooking that made its name. Many walkers choose to sleep here to split the long Bonhomme stage in two.

Altitude 1,459 m. ~37 beds, staffed June to September. Website

Refuge de la Balme - 1,706 m

Higher up the climb, among the pastures before the push to the Plan des Dames and the pass. A strategic spot for anyone who wants to sleep as close as possible to the Col du Bonhomme and cross it early the next morning, before the heat and the crowds.

Altitude 1,706 m. Refuge, staffed in season. Website

Refuge des Prés - 1,935 m

A small, out-of-the-way pasture refuge on the heights of Tré-la-Tête on the Val Montjoie side. A well-kept secret, loved by those after quiet away from the busy stages.

Altitude 1,935 m. Small pasture refuge. Website

Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme - 2,443 m

The big high-altitude refuge of the stage, run by the FFCAM (the French Alpine Club), at a crossroads between the Beaufortain, the Val Montjoie and the Vallée des Glaciers. Around a hundred beds, solar power, dry toilets, supplies carried up on people's backs: this is a true high-mountain refuge, with a panorama from the Vanoise to the Chartreuse. It is also where the Col des Fours variant begins.

Altitude 2,443 m. ~100 beds, staffed June to September. Website

Worth noting for 2026 and beyond: the refuge is due to close for renovation work from mid-August 2026, with an extended closure until spring 2029. Check its status before building your itinerary around this night, and have a fallback in mind at Les Chapieux or La Balme.

Refuge Robert Blanc (high variant) - 2,750 m

The most alpine refuge in this area, tucked at the foot of the Aiguille des Glaciers. It is not on the classic GR trail: you reach it by a high variant (the Thomas Roques path, with cabled sections) linking the Croix du Bonhomme to the Col de la Seigne, for seasoned walkers confident in the weather. A stark rocky viewpoint, a crystal collection in the dining room, and a mountaineering base camp.

Altitude 2,750 m. 40 beds, staffed 15 May to 15 September. Technical variant. Website

Auberge-Refuge de la Nova (Les Chapieux) - 1,554 m

In the heart of the hamlet of Les Chapieux, a classic place to land at the end of Stage 2. Country cooking and a simple, warm atmosphere at the bottom of the Vallée des Glaciers. A shuttle links Les Chapieux to Bourg-Saint-Maurice for anyone who needs to restock.

Altitude 1,554 m. Inn-refuge. Website

Les Chambres du Soleil (Les Chapieux) - 1,550 m

The second option in Les Chapieux, with private rooms, for those who prefer a bit more privacy than the dormitory before tackling the Col de la Seigne.

Altitude 1,550 m. Guesthouse rooms. Website

Stage 3: from Les Chapieux to Rifugio Elisabetta over the Col de la Seigne

The first border stage. You leave France at the Col de la Seigne (2,516 m) and the scenery swings abruptly onto the south face of Mont-Blanc. Two refuges frame the crossing: Les Mottets just before the pass on the French side, Elisabetta just after on the Italian side. The full account is in the Stage 3 guide.

Refuge des Mottets - 1,864 m

A former mountain farm turned into a large refuge, in a bowl at the foot of the Col de la Seigne. The last French roof before Italy, known for its lively evenings and generous table. A logical stop for anyone wanting to cross the pass early the next day.

Altitude 1,864 m. Refuge, staffed in season. Website

Rifugio Elisabetta Soldini - 2,195 m

The first Italian rifugio, at the head of the Val Veny, beneath the Lée Blanche glacier. Run by the Milan section of the CAI and built in 1953, it sits in a wild cirque facing the south side of Mont-Blanc. A highlight of the tour: the view at wake-up and the evening light here are among the finest on the whole circuit. Mobile coverage is patchy, so bring cash.

Altitude 2,195 m. ~80 beds, staffed early June to early October. Website

Stage 4: from Rifugio Elisabetta to Courmayeur through the Val Veny

A long descent down the Val Veny towards the dolce vita of Courmayeur, with the Col Chécrouit balcony as an option. This is the big resupply stage of the tour: Courmayeur has every kind of shop. The places to stay cluster up high, around Chécrouit and the Val Veny, and down below in the town. Details in the Stage 4 guide.

Rifugio Monte Bianco - Cai Uget (Val Veny) - 1,700 m

At the head of the Val Veny, right on the route, handy for breaking the descent or avoiding the climb back up to Chécrouit. Run by the Uget section of the Turin CAI, with generous Italian cooking.

Altitude 1,700 m. Rifugio, staffed in season. Website

Rifugio Maison Vieille (Col Chécrouit) - 1,956 m

On the Col Chécrouit balcony, facing the Grandes Jorasses, this warm rifugio run by its much-loved keeper is one of the favourite spots on the Italian side. A festive mood, polenta and grilled meats, sunset over the massif. You can ride the chairlift down if you want to spare your knees.

Altitude 1,956 m. Rifugio, staffed in season. Website

Gîte Le Randonneur du Mont Blanc (Chécrouit) - 1,890 m

Next door to Maison Vieille on the Pra Neyron plateau, at Chécrouit. A handy mountain lodging for staying up high rather than dropping down to Courmayeur, with the same plunging view over the Val Veny.

Altitude 1,890 m. High-mountain gîte. Website

Rifugio Chapy Mont Blanc (Courmayeur) - 1,425 m

Above Courmayeur on the Dolonne side, a family rifugio that is easy to reach and quiet, for a night away from the bustle of the resort.

Altitude 1,425 m. Rifugio. Website

Hôtel Funivia (Courmayeur) - 1,400 m

A resort address in Courmayeur, for anyone wanting hotel comfort, a proper shower and shops and restaurants close at hand halfway round. Many walkers treat themselves to a recovery night here.

Altitude 1,400 m. Hotel. Website

Stage 5: from Courmayeur to Rifugio Bonatti through the Italian Val Ferret

One of the finest climbs of the tour, balcony-style above the Italian Val Ferret, facing the wall of the Grandes Jorasses. Bertone first, then Bonatti: two terraced refuges, two of the most striking views on the circuit. The Stage 5 guide covers the climb and the Mont de la Saxe variant.

Rifugio Giorgio Bertone - 2,000 m

The first viewpoint on the climb from Courmayeur, with an orientation table facing the entire southern chain of Mont-Blanc. A good place to restock, and a possible night for anyone wanting a short stage before Bonatti.

Altitude 2,000 m. Rifugio, staffed in season. Website

Rifugio Walter Bonatti - 2,025 m

Probably the most spectacular refuge on the tour. Its north-facing terrace looks straight out at the Pointe Walker, the Pointe Whymper and the Dent du Géant, less than four kilometres away. Built in 1998 and dedicated to the great mountaineer Walter Bonatti, whose story is tied to this slope, it is a night you book a long way ahead, so sought-after is it.

Altitude 2,025 m. ~78 beds, staffed late May to late September. Website

Hôtel Lavachey (Val Ferret) - 1,642 m

At the head of the Italian Val Ferret, in the hamlet of Lavachey, a valley address for those following the low route rather than the balcony. Handy too as a fallback if Bonatti is full.

Altitude 1,642 m. Valley hotel. Website

Hôtel Chalet Val Ferret - 1,780 m

Higher up the Val Ferret, towards Tronchey, a family chalet-hotel with a view of the Jorasses slope. A quiet stop, away from the crowds on the balconies.

Altitude 1,780 m. Valley hotel. Website

Stage 6: from Rifugio Bonatti to La Fouly over the Grand Col Ferret

The second border. You cross the Grand Col Ferret (2,537 m), the highest point on the classic route, and tip over into Switzerland, into a greener, more pastoral Val Ferret. Elena is the last Italian roof before the pass; La Peule, the first Swiss mountain pasture. See the Stage 6 guide.

Rifugio Elena - 2,062 m

The last Italian refuge before the climb to the Grand Col Ferret, beneath the Pré de Bar glacier and the Mont Dolent. Destroyed by an avalanche in 1960 and rebuilt in 1995, it is a large modern rifugio, the final resupply point before the border. A head-on view of the glaciers at the head of the valley.

Altitude 2,062 m. Large capacity, staffed mid-June to late September. Website

Gîte Alpage de La Peule - 2,100 m

The first Swiss accommodation, a working mountain farm just below the pass, on the Swiss Val Ferret side. You sleep among the cows, drink warm milk fresh from the milking, and discover the gentler far side of the range. One of our favourite stops for its sheer authenticity.

Altitude 2,100 m. Mountain-pasture gîte, staffed in season.

Hôtel du Col de Fenêtre (Ferret) - 1,700 m

In the village of Ferret, downhill from La Peule, an old-style Swiss mountain inn. A quiet stop for anyone wanting to drop a little lower than the high pastures.

Altitude 1,700 m. Inn-hotel. Website

Gîte La Léchère (La Fouly) - 1,710 m

At the entrance to La Fouly, a simple and welcoming trekkers' gîte, well placed to finish Stage 6 and set off again towards Champex.

Altitude 1,710 m. Trekkers' gîte. Website

Chalet Le Dolent (La Fouly) - 1,634 m

In the village of La Fouly, facing the Mont Dolent (the point where France, Italy and Switzerland meet), a family chalet for a restful night at the foot of the glaciers.

Altitude 1,634 m. Guest chalet. Website

Auberge Maya-Joie (La Fouly) - 1,600 m

A guesthouse and group centre in La Fouly that also welcomes walkers on the tour. Handy for groups, with shared meals.

Altitude 1,600 m. Group inn. Website

Auberge des Glaciers (La Fouly) - 1,600 m

An institution in La Fouly, in the middle of the village, with a renowned table and a Valais atmosphere. Often the favourite address for walkers at the end of Stage 6.

Altitude 1,600 m. Inn-hotel. Website

Gîte de la Fouly - 1,590 m

The village's official trekkers' gîte, with dormitories and a half-board option, ideal for tight budgets and the refuge spirit.

Altitude 1,590 m. Trekkers' gîte. Website

Hôtel Edelweiss (La Fouly) - 1,600 m

A village hotel in La Fouly for those after a comfortable room following two borders and a lot of climbing. A view of the Dolent massif.

Altitude 1,600 m. Hotel. Website

Stage 7: from La Fouly to Champex-Lac

The gentlest stage of the tour, with no major pass, dropping along the Drance through the villages of Praz-de-Fort and Les Arlaches before the surprise of the final climb up to Champex-Lac, nicknamed little Swiss Canada. Many ten-day itineraries merge Stages 6 and 7. See the Stage 7 guide.

Pension en Plein Air (Champex-Lac) - 1,467 m

On the shore of Lake Champex, a charming family guesthouse with a garden and a view over the water. A favourite spot to catch your breath before the hard choice of Stage 8 (Bovine or the Fenêtre d'Arpette).

Altitude 1,467 m. Guesthouse. Website

Auberge Gîte Bon Abri (Champex-Lac) - 1,444 m

The go-to trekkers' gîte in Champex, with plenty of space, a sociable dormitory feel and a generous half-board. Often full in high season, so book early.

Altitude 1,444 m. Trekkers' gîte. Website

Chalet La Grange (Champex) - 1,443 m

In Champex-d'en-Haut, a warm guest chalet for a more intimate night than the big dormitory. Attentive hosts and good food.

Altitude 1,443 m. Guest chalet. Website

Stage 8: from Champex to Trient, Bovine or the Fenêtre d'Arpette

The decision stage. The Bovine route is pastoral, running balcony-style above the Rhône valley; the Fenêtre d'Arpette (2,665 m) is the most committing variant of the tour, with scree and late snowfields, but the Trient glacier as a reward. On the Bovine route, the Bovine alp (1,987 m) is a high-altitude refreshment stop where you pause for a homemade tart facing Martigny, with no option to sleep there. The Stage 8 guide compares the two routes.

Relais d'Arpette (Val d'Arpette) - 1,631 m

At the foot of the Fenêtre d'Arpette, in the valley of the same name, this relais is the ideal launch point for tackling the variant early in the morning, while the scree is still in shade. A mountain atmosphere, with a terrace under the larches. A key stop for anyone aiming for the Fenêtre.

Altitude 1,631 m. Relais-gîte, staffed in season. Website

Hôtel du Col de la Forclaz - 1,527 m

At the Col de la Forclaz, on the Martigny-Chamonix road, a historic staging hotel where the two variants (Bovine and Arpette) converge. Convenient, well served by transport, with the Trient glacier within easy walking distance.

Altitude 1,527 m. Staging hotel. Website

Auberge Mont-Blanc (Trient) - 1,300 m

In the village of Trient, recognisable by its pink church, a welcoming inn at the bottom of this Valais valley. A quiet stop before the climb back up to the Col de Balme.

Altitude 1,300 m. Inn-hotel. Website

Auberge la Grande Ourse (Trient) - 1,300 m

A friendly address in Trient, with careful cooking and a warm welcome for walkers. Good value for a night before the last border.

Altitude 1,300 m. Inn. Website

Refuge Le Peuty (Trient) - 1,328 m

A small, no-frills refuge in the hamlet of Le Peuty, just before the climb to the Col de Balme. A rough-and-ready spirit, camping possible, the last cheap night on the Swiss side. Popular with self-sufficient walkers.

Altitude 1,328 m. Refuge and campsite. Website

Stage 9: from Trient to Tré-le-Champ over the Col de Balme

The final border. At the Col de Balme (2,204 m), Mont-Blanc reappears head-on after days spent on the Italian and Swiss sides. You drop back into France via Vallorcine or via Le Tour and the Chamonix valley. The places to stay are spread between Vallorcine, Le Tour and Tré-le-Champ. See the Stage 9 guide.

Gîte Mermoud (Vallorcine) - 1,300 m

A mountain gîte in Vallorcine, on the variant that descends via the Catogne and the Le Châtelard border. A family welcome and handy train access.

Altitude 1,300 m. Gîte. Website

Gîte Saint Louis (Vallorcine) - 1,300 m

Another Vallorcine address, a simple trekkers' gîte well connected by the Mont-Blanc Express train, useful for fine-tuning your end-of-tour logistics.

Altitude 1,300 m. Trekkers' gîte. Website

Gîte d'Alpage Les Écuries de Charamillon (Le Tour) - 1,950 m

Right on the descent from the Col de Balme, above the village of Le Tour, a mountain-pasture gîte balanced on a balcony over the Chamonix valley. A renowned spot for a good meal, and a possible high night facing the Aiguilles.

Altitude 1,950 m. Mountain-pasture gîte. Website

Chalet Alpin du Tour, FFCAM (Le Tour) - 1,466 m

The Alpine Club refuge in the village of Le Tour, at the foot of the glacier of the same name. A large historic chalet with a real mountain spirit, a classic base both for the end of the tour and for climbs in the area.

Altitude 1,466 m. FFCAM chalet. Website

Gîte Le Moulin (Montroc) - 1,350 m

A charming gîte between Le Tour and Montroc, right on the line of the route that follows the valley towards Tré-le-Champ. A garden, attentive hosts and a quiet stop.

Altitude 1,350 m. Gîte. Website

Auberge la Boërne (Tré-le-Champ) - 1,395 m

In Tré-le-Champ, right at the foot of the metal ladders of Stage 10, a characterful inn full of charm. A perfect position to finish Stage 9 and tackle the Grand Balcon Sud first thing in the morning.

Altitude 1,395 m. Inn-gîte. Website

Stage 10: from Tré-le-Champ to La Flégère along the Grand Balcon Sud

Short but stunning, the stage follows the Grand Balcon Sud facing the Aiguille Verte, the Drus and the Mer de Glace, with its metal ladders at the start. The higher Lac Blanc variant is worth the detour in good weather. See the Stage 10 guide.

Refuge de la Flégère - 1,877 m

On the main route, next to the top station of the Flégère cable car, this refuge offers a due-south balcony over the Mont-Blanc massif and the Mer de Glace. Dormitories only, but an unbeatable location and direct access from the valley for anyone wanting to join or leave the tour here.

Altitude 1,877 m. ~75 beds, staffed mid-June to mid-September. Website

Refuge du Lac Blanc (variant) - 2,352 m

The most photographed refuge in the Aiguilles Rouges, on the shore of Lac Blanc, facing the reflection of Mont-Blanc. It sits on the high variant of Stage 10, in the heart of the nature reserve, reached by the ladders of the Aiguillette d'Argentière. Strict rules (no bivouac, no fire, no dogs), non-drinkable water, cash only. A night here, with sunrise over the massif, remains a highlight of the tour.

Altitude 2,352 m. ~40 beds, staffed in summer. Website

To plan this variant as a day walk, our dedicated Lac Blanc guide lays out the routes and conditions.

Stage 11: from La Flégère to Les Houches over Le Brévent

The grand finale. You carry on along the balcony to Le Brévent (2,525 m), often rated the finest viewpoint of the tour, before the long descent to Les Houches where the loop closes. A single refuge marks this last day. See the Stage 11 guide.

Refuge de Bellachat - 2,152 m

The last refuge of the tour, below Le Brévent, owned by the commune of Chamonix. Small and basic (no hot shower), but with an exceptional balcony facing Mont-Blanc, ideal for treating yourself to one last high night before closing the loop at Les Houches. A few bivouac pitches now exist nearby.

Altitude 2,152 m. ~18 beds, staffed late June to late September. Website

Booking the TMB huts: how it works

The golden rule of the Tour du Mont-Blanc comes down to two words: book early. On the most sought-after stages (Bonatti, Elisabetta, Lac Blanc, Croix du Bonhomme, the gîtes in Champex and La Fouly), the July and August beds go from March, sometimes as early as January for weekends. Leaving your nights to chance on the classic route in high season means risking a night down in the valley and a thoroughly broken rhythm.

There are three ways to go about it:

• The official booking platform. A good share of the accommodation in the Mont-Blanc region can be booked online through montourdumontblanc.com and autourdumontblanc.com, which bring together the refuges of all three countries and let you lock in several nights at once.
• Direct with the hut. The Italian rifugios, the FFCAM refuges and some Swiss addresses are booked through their own website or by phone (the links appear under each hut above). This is often the surest route for specific questions (dietary needs, actual opening dates).
• Have it all done for you. An agency or a mountain leader books the whole chain for you, handles the deposits and the luggage transfers. That is what we offer on our TMB in 7 days.

Remember to confirm your deposit, to note the cancellation terms (often 30 days ahead) and to warn the hut if you are running late on a stage. As for what to slip into your pack, our checklist of what you need for a night in a refuge covers the essentials (a sleeping bag liner is required everywhere, cash, earplugs).

France, Italy, Switzerland: three hut cultures

What makes the TMB so singular is that it has you sleeping in three countries in a single week, and the hut wears a different face on either side of the passes.

On the French side, you find the classic staffed refuge: dormitories, half board, an alpine-club feel, with rates of around 50 to 65 euros for half board. The FFCAM huts (Croix du Bonhomme, Chalet du Tour) give a discount to Alpine Club members.

On the Italian side, the rifugio stands out for its table. You often eat better here than anywhere else on the tour: polenta, fresh pasta, Aosta Valley charcuterie, wine by the jug. Reckon on 50 to 75 euros for half board, more for a private room. Mobile coverage is patchy up high, so keep cash on you.

On the Swiss side, the accommodation moves up in standard and in price. The inns of La Fouly, Champex and Trient feel more like small mountain hotels, with greater comfort and bills in Swiss francs (budget generously). Trekkers' gîtes and bunkhouses remain the budget option, but bivouacking is banned almost everywhere here, as our guide to bivouacking on the TMB explains.

Which huts to prioritise?

If we had to keep only a few exceptional nights, it would be for the setting and the atmosphere rather than for the comfort. The Rifugio Bonatti facing the Grandes Jorasses, the Rifugio Elisabetta at the head of the Val Veny, the Refuge du Lac Blanc with its reflection of Mont-Blanc, the Gîte de La Peule among the Swiss cows, the Croix du Bonhomme as a true high-altitude refuge: these are the nights that define a tour.

The hotels in Courmayeur, La Fouly or Trient play another, equally useful role: the hot shower, the real room, the recovery night halfway round. A good TMB often alternates the two, altitude for the emotion, the valley to catch your breath.

Splitting the route into seven days, in the comfort version, is exactly what lets you aim for the finest addresses without enduring the hardest stages. That is the spirit of our trip.

Frequently asked questions about the TMB huts

The Tour du Mont-Blanc with Altimood

We run the Tour du Mont-Blanc in 7 days, in a comfort version, with hand-picked accommodation, luggage transfers and a dedicated mountain leader. No booking logistics to handle, no heavy loads to carry: you walk, we take care of the rest. One or two departures a year, in a small group, the centrepiece of a proper walking holiday.

For a tailor-made format (with friends, as a family, as a team), we also build private TMBs to suit your pace and the kind of nights you are after.

On the ground, we only book directly with a handful of trusted hosts, the ones who welcome our guided groups on the tour. Knowing all the other addresses well lets us improvise when a last-minute request comes in. Even so, we have put together the most complete list we could and share it freely here: this information (altitudes, capacities, opening dates) is updated regularly, but the terrain and the seasons keep changing. If you notice anything that needs correcting, let us know .

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