Planning to hike the Tour du Mont Blanc in 2027? Here’s what might change, and why

The Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) has always provided a few different ways to tackle the iconic 170km loop through France, Italy, and Switzerland. You could make reservations for every refuge months out, book with a tour operator that handles all the logistics for you, or carry a tent and sort it out on the trail, camping along the way. Starting next summer, on the French side at least, that last option might be going away.

What’s changing

This week the seven French communes along the TMB agreed on a new management plan for the trail. Nothing is official yet, but the main changes could have big impacts on how the trail is hiked next summer.

From spring 2027, anyone hiking the French section will need a reservation for every night, whether that be in a refuge, hotel, campground, or approved bivouac area. Pitching a tent anywhere else will be banned. New bivouac sites with toilets and water are planned to replace the informal ones, with a fee per night. A “green brigade” will patrol the route and check bookings, and there will be fines for hikers without bookings.

There are also updates to how luggage transfers are handled. New rules will limit transfers to trekking packs only, and only a specific schedule. The communes want the TMB to stay a route you hike and treat like a trek, not one where your massive suitcase is taxied from village to village.

These new rules apply to the French section, from Vallorcine to Les Contamines. Italy and Switzerland already heavily restrict camping on their sections, and France wants them to co-sign the new plan, but nothing is confirmed yet.

Why now?

Well, there’s a lot more people on the trail than there used to be. Local officials put this summer’s count at around 90,000 hikers, up from 60,000 in 2022. Refuges on the busiest stages have sold out months ahead for years. Tracked activities along TMB segments on AllTrails are also up significantly over the last 5 years. 

Over the last two summers, more and more AllTrails community members have mentioned crowds on the TMB, and the specifics match what the communes describe: the early-morning rush out of Les Contamines, lines for the shuttle at Les Chapieux, and full, crowded campgrounds in August.

Issues with wild camping are what pushed the communes to act. Last August, surveyors counted 125 tents on one night in an area clearly signed as off-limits. Refuge keepers are finding tents around their huts from hikers who hadn’t booked, farmers are finding trash, and worse, on their land, and villages are annoyed by taxis shuttling suitcases. Local officials don’t think the current situation is tenable, hence the new regulations.

What it means for your trip

Book early. Reservations for 2027 at refuges in the official TMB network open on October 15. The official site recommends booking the stages with the fewest beds first and building the rest of your itinerary around them. 

If you were planning to wild camp, change your plan. Valley campgrounds like Le Pontet in Les Contamines and designated bivouac areas will still exist, but you’ll need to reserve them. Always respect regulations, landowners and nature by not circumventing the rules, leaving trash, or causing a disturbance.

Shuttle options might change. If you were counting on shuttling a big bag around the circuit with you, ask your operator how the new luggage rules will work. So far, the guidance is trekking packs only and no big suitcases.

Think about timing. Reviewers keep pointing to August as the busiest time of the year. If your dates can move, moving them earlier or later in the seasons might be the difference that allows you to secure a hut reservation.

Consider variant routes. The TMB has plenty of alternate routes on different stages, and some AllTrails members note that these variants are much quieter than the main route. Not for everyone, but worth considering.

What’s still unknown

The new regulations are still being finalized, enforcement across the three countries hasn’t been worked out, the bivouac fees/details haven’t been announced. But booking in some popular huts opens on October 15, and if the Tour du Mont Blanc is on your bucket list, it’s going to be a good idea to book extra far ahead this year.