Refuges with tent pitches
Sleep close to refuges, with access to water, toilets and sometimes food.
Bivouacking means, above all, taking on a special responsibility towards the mountains: leaving no trace of your passage, taking all your rubbish away, preserving the environment and respecting other users — walkers, shepherds and farmers. Choosing a suitable spot is essential, particularly to avoid sensitive areas and minimise your impact on the natural environment.
Much more demanding, camping is another way to tackle the Tour du Mont-Blanc, but it requires greater self-sufficiency, a heavier rucksack and more complex logistics. You must be prepared to carry your own kit, water and food, and to cope with conditions that can change rapidly.
The TMB passes through several countries, local authorities and protected areas, each with its own regulations. Strict compliance with local rules is essential.
A bivouac is a lightweight, temporary camp set up for a single night only, between sunset and sunrise (between 8 pm and 7 am).
On the Tour du Mont-Blanc, bivouacking is regulated; pitching a tent for a single night may be prohibited.
Always check the local regulations.
Always choose authorised spots to sleep in a tent. On the Tour du Mont-Blanc, some refuges and dedicated areas allow bivouacking within the rules.
Sleep close to refuges, with access to water, toilets and sometimes food.
Some areas allow bivouacking under conditions (times of day, altitude, local rules).
Choose a proper campsite for more comfort and a hassle-free option.
The Mont Blanc massif is an exceptional yet fragile environment. Its lakes, mountain pastures, flora and fauna deserve our full attention. It is also a living landscape, shaped by pastoralism, where farmers and shepherds keep mountain traditions alive.
Whether you’re out hiking or camping, a few simple steps can help preserve this balance: choose an authorised campsite, respect the flocks and the shepherds’ work, and do not swim in high-altitude lakes (sun cream and other products on your skin can affect water quality).
Enjoying the mountains also means learning to share them and look after them, so that everyone can continue to discover their beauty in the future.
The Tour du Mont-Blanc crosses three countries: France, Italy and Switzerland, each with its own regulations regarding camping.
One route, three countries, three different sets of regulations: remember to check the rules when planning your hike!
On the French section of the Tour du Mont-Blanc, wild camping is generally permitted for one night, between sunset and sunrise. Certain local authorities and protected areas have specific rules in place.
In nature reserves, wild camping is subject to specific regulations and may require advance booking at designated sites.
Vallorcine
🟢 Bivouacking permitted above 1,700 m
Chamonix
🔴 Bivouacking prohibited within the municipality, except at higher altitudes.
🔴 Bivouacking prohibited at Lac Blanc and the Col des Posettes.
🟢 In the Aiguilles Rouges Nature Reserve, bivouacking is permitted at designated sites subject to booking.
Les Houches
🟢 Bivouacking is tolerated for one night.
🟢 In the Carlaveyron Nature Reserve, bivouacking is permitted at designated sites subject to booking.
Saint-Gervais-les-Bains
🔴 Camping is prohibited on private land and on active mountain pastures.
Les Contamines-Montjoie
🟢 Camping is permitted in the designated areas at Pont de la Rollaz and La Balme, subject to compulsory booking.
Bourg-Saint-Maurice – Les Chapieux
🟢 Official camping area in the village of Les Chapieux.
🔴 Camping is prohibited in the Vallée des Glaciers, particularly around the Mottets mountain hut and as far as the Col de la Seigne.
All forms of camping are banned across the Aosta Valley, even for periods of under twenty-four hours. Bivouacking is banned below 2,500 m, which covers almost the entire Aosta Valley territory crossed by the Tour du Mont-Blanc.
Failure to comply with the regulations results in a fine of €566.
Bivouacking is generally banned, with a few tightly controlled exceptions (one night, not in groups, above the tree line, or in an emergency).
Some municipalities impose specific rules or ban the practice entirely. In Valais, camping is only permitted in dedicated areas (campsites or official pitches).
In practice: favour campsites or authorised accommodation, particularly at La Fouly, Champex or at Col de la Forclaz.
