The TMB in 12 days: day-by-day plan

This itinerary follows the overnight stops of the classic TMB from Les Chapieux onwards, but splits the start of the route into three days instead of two. On the first evening you sleep in the hamlet of Bionnassay, just past the Col de Voza; on the second, at the Refuge de Nant Borrant, in the Contamines-Montjoie Nature Reserve. The climb to the Col du Bonhomme therefore comes on the third day, starting from Nant Borrant.

This breakdown takes into account the closure of the Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme, under renovation from 17 August 2026 until 2029: there is no longer any accommodation between La Balme and Les Chapieux. Setting off from Nant Borrant shortens this day, on which there is nowhere to stop for the night.

Day-by-day plan

Day	Leg	Distance	Ascent	Descent	Walking time	Overnight
	Les Houches → Bionnassay Short day, handy on the day you arrive.	8.2 km	680 m	370 m	3h30 – 4h	Col de Voza, Bellevue and Bionnassay
	Bionnassay → Nant Borrant	13.6 km	540 m	470 m	4h – 4h45	Nant Borrant and La Balme
	Nant Borrant → Les Chapieux	14.2 km	1,070 m	920 m	6h – 7h15	Les Chapieux
	Les Chapieux → Rifugio Elisabetta	13.9 km	970 m	380 m	4h45 – 5h45	Val Veny
	Rifugio Elisabetta → Courmayeur	16.8 km	520 m	1,400 m	5h45 – 6h45	Courmayeur
	Courmayeur → Rifugio Bonatti	11.1 km	1,000 m	240 m	4h30 – 5h15	Italian Val Ferret
	Rifugio Bonatti → La Fouly	19.7 km	860 m	1,290 m	6h45 – 8h	La Fouly
	La Fouly → Champex-Lac	15.4 km	530 m	630 m	4h30 – 5h15	Champex-Lac
	Champex-Lac → Trient	15.4 km	770 m	960 m	5h30 – 6h30	Trient and Col de la Forclaz
	Trient → Tré-le-Champ	13.8 km	1,060 m	940 m	6h – 7h15	Le Tour, Tré-le-Champ and Argentière
	Tré-le-Champ → La Flégère	6.6 km	720 m	270 m	3h15 – 3h45	Lac Blanc and La Flégère
	La Flégère → Les Houches	17.4 km	710 m	1,590 m	6h30 – 7h45	Les Houches
Total		166 km	9,430 m	9,460 m

Distances and ascent calculated on the OpenStreetMap track of the main route and the variants; “≈” marks an estimated value. Walking times according to the DIN 33466 standard, without breaks.

The itinerary on the map

one colour per dayD1overnight stopvariants

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Tips for this itinerary

The Auberge de Bionnassay and the Refuge du Fioux are the two options for the first night: they have limited capacity, so book them early.
As with the classic itinerary, book Elisabetta and Bonatti first: they are the first huts to fill up.
Carry enough water and food for the Nant Borrant – Les Chapieux day: no accommodation is open between La Balme and Les Chapieux in 2027 and 2028.