Tour du Mont Blanc — Les Houches Start
Les Houches is the official start and finish point of the Tour du Mont Blanc, the 170 km circuit around the Mont Blanc massif that passes through France, Italy and Switzerland. Even if you only walk the first stage to Les Contamines, you will understand immediately why this is the most celebrated long-distance trail in the world.
Stage 1: Les Houches to Les Contamines
The classic opening stage climbs through the forest above Les Houches to Col de Voza, then traverses the Bionnassay alp before a long descent through the Contamines valley — around 19 km and 1,200 m of ascent in total.
The path is extraordinarily varied: spruce forest, open alpine meadow, views of the Glacier de Bionnassay calving into a turquoise lake, and finally the pretty village of Les Contamines-Montjoie with its baroque church and excellent fromageries.
Just a Day Hike? Do the Tête Rousse Section
For a shorter taste of the TMB, take the Bellevue cable car up and walk the high-level variant across the Tête Rousse ridge — a 4-hour round trip that gives you genuine high-mountain terrain, marmots guaranteed, and views that will recalibrate your sense of scale.
This section is well-waymarked with the TMB's distinctive red-and-white blazes and requires no technical equipment outside of summer snowfall.
Logistics from Les Houches
The official TMB trailhead marker stands beside the church of Saint-Nicolas in the centre of Les Houches village — hard to miss, and a popular spot for a pre-departure photo with a fully loaded rucksack.
Maison de la Montagne in Chamonix (190 Place de l'Église) handles TMB hut bookings; reserve refuges at least 3 months ahead for July and August departures.
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