Tour du Mont Blanc May Require Reservations in 2027
The Tour du Mont Blanc could become harder to hike without advance planning from spring 2027. French municipalities along the route are working on rules that would require hikers to hold a booking for a mountain hut or authorised bivouac area. The 170-kilometre circuit crosses France, Italy and Switzerland and attracts around 80,000 walkers each year, with crowding becoming a growing concern on popular sections.
What Could Change in 2027
- Route: Tour du Mont Blanc, more than 170 km around the massif
- Countries: France, Italy and Switzerland
- Proposed start: Spring 2027
- Proposed rule: Hut or authorised bivouac booking required on the French section
- Annual hikers: Around 80,000
- Switzerland: No comparable restriction announced
Saint-Gervais-les-Bains mayor Jean-Marc Peillex is calling for checks and sanctions if hikers arrive without an approved overnight booking. Other French municipalities along the circuit are working on the rules, while Switzerland has announced no comparable restriction. Booking controls already exist on the French normal route to Mont Blanc’s summit, and the Goûter and Tête Rousse huts have been temporarily closed since 11 August because of rockfall risk.
The French side of the Tour du Mont Blanc passes through some of the route’s best-known Alpine stops, including Saint-Gervais, Les Contamines and the Chamonix valley. Hikers then continue into Italy towards Courmayeur and into Switzerland near Orsières. If reservations are introduced, these places will still be accessible, but spontaneous overnight stops on the busiest French stages could become much harder during peak season.
If the French rules take effect in 2027, walking the Tour du Mont Blanc will require more advance planning than before. Hikers may need to secure a hut or authorised bivouac place before setting out, especially on busy summer dates. Because Italy and Switzerland have not announced matching rules, the booking system could vary around the circuit, making it important to check each section before travelling.
