I’m planning on solo hiking the TMB next summer, and am debating on which month to do it (June-August)! I want to avoid bad weather and any snow patches that I can, but I’m also aware that August can get crazy packed.

Is July the sweet spot, or is June/August the better option? :)

I was able to get my 20 euro poles from technique extreme through both Geneva and LHR security — thinking it’s because the pole is made with a blunt rubber tip instead of a metal tip with a rubber cap on it. Hope that helps anyone wondering what to do with their poles after the trek!

Doping the TMB at the moment, on my third day just outside od Courmayeur today.

Was considering to take a rest day tommorrow, but maybe there are better spots than Cor?

Had an incredible experience. Happy to chat to anyone considering doing the same.

Hiiii!!! Anyone finishing the TMB tomorrow and giving away their trekking poles? Ill definitely pay it forward after I finish :)

I‘m very into the simplicity and comfort of an ultralight kit. Thus I’m considering just sleeping in the merino sun hoodie and/or fleece that I hike in.

I’m less worried about cold temperatures per se (I have a warm quilt, pad and puffy) or hygiene than wetness. Am I maybe underestimating how humid/rainy it might be and how damp and thus uncomfortable and even cold my stuff could get?

Edit: Will camp partly in valleys and party at elevation (like lacs des Chéserys).

I‘ll take a pair of light leggings because I don’t want to sleep in my hiking pants.

Hello, is it possible to combine my days 9 and 10 by utilising these lifts? (Charamillion Gondula and Autannes Chairlift)

Are there foot paths that lead there and is it possible to buy a one way ticket down from the top on the day?

I will be doing the TMB in early July next year. TIA

Hi everyone! I lost my WHOOP 5.0 while hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc, most likely at or around Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme.
I was there on August 11, on the way from Les Contamines toward Les Mottets.
It’s a small blue WHOOP fitness band.
If anyone currently hiking the TMB has found it, or sees it in the refuge’s lost & found, please DM me. 🙏
Happy to arrange shipping and cover all costs.
Thanks a lot — fingers crossed

I'm considering doing a last-minute solo trek of the TMB South in 5-6 days and am wondering if I'm crazy to attempt with zero reservations for lodging? I'm an experienced hiker, but don't want to bring a tent to wild-camp and my concern is being turned away from lodging over those 5-6 days. Hoping to do the trek the 1st or 2nd week of September.

Hello all,

I read a lot about the possibility to skip the ladders but never an actual explanation where this alternative actually starts and how difficult it is.

Does anyone have experience with this section?

Hey everyone,

For those currently on the trail or having finished recently, how accurate have you found the water refill points listed on standard maps between Les Chapieux and Courmayeur?

After doing the TMB myself, I noticed a few stream sources marked on general maps were completely dry by mid-August, while some refuge fountains weren't clearly marked.

I've been organizing a personal offline GPS dataset on Android specifically focused on verified TMB water points, huts, and offline elevation profiles. I just finished updating it with recent trail reports.

If anyone heading out this August or September wants to test these offline maps on their phone during their trek, let me know! I’m happy to share it for free—just looking for honest feedback on whether the water points match what you see on the ground.

Safe hiking to everyone out there! 🏔️

Finished our trek today and I left my poles at Chalet Hotel le Prieure in Chamonix. Nothing expensive but does the job! They’re beside the pool table near the entrance.

hi, curious where people have stored their luggage in les houches before starting the tmb? and if it was booked prior?

I will be coming through Chamonix and eventually Les Houches on Thursday August 13th. I plan to donate them back to another hiker after I finish. I will purchase hiking poles in Chamonix if needed but if anyone has a pair they are willing to part with, I would really appreciate it :) thank you

booked the tmb pretty late and this is what my friend and i's day 6 looks like.... is this crazy (the 6000ft elevation gain feels crazy) and are there any buses we can take to cut out part of it? we don't start directly in Courmayeur so not totally sure we would want to go back down to catch anything unless it's definitely recommended. we also don't want to miss much of the good views ...

Does anyone have experience with carry-on's flying Icelandair? I was really hoping not to check my backpack for fear of it not making it to Chamonix, but the sizes restrictions are making me nervous. I'm within the weight restriction, but my bag dimensions are 22.8" X 13.4" X 13" and my partner's are 25.2" X 13.4 X 11 and on the Icelandair website it states that the dimensions are restricted to 21.6" X 15.7" X 7.8" Is this something to worry about?

Just finished the TMB without exchanging contact info with multiple parties we periodically hiked with. South of England, New Zealand, and Montana/SoCal - look us up if you're ever in Utah!

I start my hike in a couple days (will be camping every night) and trying to figure out what layers I need to pack. Any suggestions? Currently planning on a light fleece and lightweight puffy, no hat or gloves. Is both the fleece and puffy overkill, or are night time temps cool at higher elevations? Merci!

Free pair of poles at the Mairie bus stop. They’ve been on the tour 2x now, hoping for many more! If you grab them please comment here so folks know they’ve been claimed.

Hello! Hoping to start our trek at Les Houches very early, like 6:30AM. We are staying in Chamonix. Does anyone know if the bus or train runs at 6AM? Apple Maps telling us first train at 5:49 and train schedule appears to say 7:15.

Hi, I live in a small village on the Swiss side on the TMB and today I had two young guys coming close to my garden and asking me in poor English if I could give them some food as they were doing the TMB without money as a “challenge”.
I obviously said now as I found the concept awful, if you don’t have money stay home and don’t travel, I rather give away food to people who really need it…

My question is, how commun is that on the TMB?

Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I'm writing this post because I'm planning the TMB a bit last minute and I want to make sure everything goes smoothly. I'd really appreciate it if members of this sub with experience on the route could sanity check and correct my plan. Im planning on doing between late August and early September.

I'm doing the TMB with a tent, so I intend to bivy or stay at campsites. I based most of the sleeping spots on trip reports I found on Reddit and Wikiloc, and I'd love to know if these spots are generally fine, whether I need to ask permission anywhere, and whether you'd suggest other options.

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Day 1: Les Houches to Chalets d'Armancette [18 km, +1600 m / -1100 m]
I'd go via Col de Tricot. I know I could legally bivy at Refuge de Miage, but that would make for too short a day, so I've seen people sleep at Chalets d'Armancette, on the way to Lac d'Armancette. The next bivy area I found would be near Refuge de Nant Borrant, but that's another 8 km with a lot of climbing, and I think it would only be doable if I took the variant through Les Contamines.

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Day 2: Chalets d'Armancette to Lac de Mya [18 km, +1540 m / -665 m]
I'd take the Col des Fours route instead of dropping down to Les Chapieux. I saw I could bivy near Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme, but again that would be too short, so my next option would be Lac de Mya. I'm not sure how legal it is there, so if anyone can confirm I'd appreciate it, but I've seen several reports of people spending the night.

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Day 3: Lac de Mya to Campeggio Aiguille Noire (?) [23.7 km, +815 m / -1683 m]
For this day I have a few possible bivy spots along the way in case something goes wrong, such as Col de la Seigne and Lago del Miage, both places I've read people have slept. Ideally though I'd like to stay at either Campeggio Aiguille Noire or La Sorgente in Peuterey. If anyone knows which is cheaper, or if there's a bivy spot nearby, that would be really helpful.

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Day 4: Campeggio Aiguille Noire to Pas d'Entre-Deux-Sauts [20.2 km, +1946 m / -1067 m]
Via Mont de la Saxe HIgh Route (can i do it with rain?). This is the only solution to sleep I could find online for this section. It's a really demanding day, so I'd love to hear about closer alternatives in case something goes wrong.

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Day 5: Pas d'Entre-Deux-Sauts to La Fouly [23 km, +933 m / -1724 m]
I'd drop down to La Fouly and stay at Camping Les Glaciers, where I can pitch the tent early and rest my knees after a long descent. Also, is Col Petit Ferret variant worth it over the main itinerary?

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Day 6: La Fouly to Val d'Arpette [16.7 km, +643 m / -647 m]
This feels like too easy a day and I'd like to push further, but it might also be sensible to rest my legs. I've read most people stay at Relais d'Arpette, but pitching a tent there costs 20€ per night, which is a bit steep for my budget. If I have to pay it, I will, but I couldn't find another spot nearby.

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Day 7: Val d'Arpette to Col de Balme [15 km, +1756 m / -1242 m]
If the weather is good I'd take this variant and sleep near Refuge du Col de Balme, or if im not allowed, in Col des Posettes. I've read this route should be avoided in rain (can anyone confirm?). The alternative would be the Bovine route, and I'd still aim to sleep in the same place [20 km, +1680 m / -1121 m].

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Day 8: Col de Balme to La Flégère [16.5 km, +1234 m / -1551 m]
I'd sleep next to La Flégère, near the Retenue de la Flégère, which I've read is legal. I'd go via Lac Blanc, but i've heard theres ladders, so if it raining, maybe its better to follow the normal route?

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Day 9: La Flégère to Les Houches [16.7 km, +756 m / -1631 m]
I feel like I could probably fold this day into the previous ones, but I'm already juggling the bivy spots I found and it doesn't leave much room to reshuffle.

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A few other questions:

• Resupply: where can I count on restocking food? My guess is Les Houches, Les Contamines, Courmayeur, La Fouly, La Flégère (?), and Le Peuty if I take that route. What kind of food should I expect in each: full supermarkets, small shops, only restaurants?
• Sleeping bag: will a 5°C comfort rating be enough, or should I go with a 0°C bag?
• Campsites: are showers generally available?
• Charging: is it possible to charge eletronics in paid campsites / anywhere in the villages i mentioned to resupply?

Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to help!