The Tour du Mont
Blanc is
likely to have the best conditions between mid-July and the end of the August.
Huts are generally open from mid-June until mid-September, which defines the
hiking season for the Tour du Mont Blanc for most of our itineraries. Some lifts
and shuttles and lifts only operate in July and August, which limits the season
of our itineraries that use these shuttles and lifts.
Here's what
conditions to expect at different times of year:
Late June:
Huts are open and routes from the valleys to the huts are clear. Problematic
snow is likely on the passes and at high elevations, but it is usually tracked.
The higher elevation variants, and the approach up the back side of Le Brevent
(at the end of our itineraries) usually are not doable. Some form of traction
for your shoes is advisable. Even if the passes are clear in time for your
hike, they usually clear at the very last minute, and June hikers always have a
couple of stressful weeks leading up to their hike as they check webcams and
eagerly wait for the snow to melt in time for their hike. In almost every year,
it is not possible to predict what trails are going to be like in June until
one or two weeks before. The shuttle between Les Chapieux and Mottets, as well
as the chairlift down from Maison Vieille are not operating.
July and
August: Problematic snow can remain on the route through the
first two weeks of July, but it is less likely than in June. By mid-July,
trails are almost always clear. Summer settles in and on some days there may be
afternoon thunderstorms. These thunderstorms rarely interfere with hiking
itineraries and are not usually problematic. Of course, thunderstorm safety
should be practiced. The wildflowers at the higher elevations should be all out
by mid-July. Hiking conditions during this time are often favorable, and it’s a
great time to be on the trail.
Early
September: The first snow of the winter usually falls in the
first week of September. The snow rarely sticks around for more than a day, but
the visibility can be very low, making navigation problematic on this one day.
Most days in early September are beautiful and perfect, and the thunderstorms
are less, but there is a higher risk of snowstorms and conditions that may
prevent you from completing your hike during this time. Many hikers have
incredible weather in September, but some do not. It’s simply a matter of luck.
The later you push into September, the higher the risk that unfavorable
conditions (usually snow, but sometimes extremely cold temperatures) can
interfere with your hiking itinerary. We notice that customers who are on the
trail beyond September 15th are much more likely to quit their hike
early due to conditions. In early September, the wildflower season is mostly
over, with the exception of brilliant bursts of fireweed that mark the end of
summer. The shuttle between Les Chapieux and Les Mottets, as well as the
chairlift descent from Maison Vieille, do not run at all in September. Other
buses and lifts start to close down as the month goes on, and some buses begin
to operate reduced schedules.
In all
months, it’s reasonable to expect 1 to 2 rainy days on the trail.
To research
more detailed information about average temperatures, precipitation, etc., we
recommend checking Meteoblue
(go to “History & Climate” and then “Climate (modelled)”) for Le Brevent,
Col de Voza and Col de la Seigne. These are high points on the
tour. The low points on the tour are Chamonix and Courmayeur.
Important
note about availability on the Tour du Mont Blanc: Many authors and bloggers have published
information that June and September are the shoulder seasons and are less
crowded on the Tour du Mont Blanc than other times of the summer.
The word is out and now
huts tend to fill up early
in June and September. July also fills up early. For the past couple of years, August has had the most
availability for last-minute bookings, which is somewhat unexpected. The
UTMB race takes place on the trail, usually right at the end of August and
beginning of September. This may increase prices for hotels in places like
Chamonix, Les Houches, and Courmayeur, but it generally does not affect
availability at the huts. While we have heard of many people wanting to avoid
the route during the time, the hikers we have spoken with who actually have
done the route during the race have said that it was not a hindrance to hiking
and that they actually enjoyed the energy of the event while they were on the
trail. It’s not for everyone though, and some hikers may want to avoid the
trail during this time.
The Tour do
Mont Blanc is a very popular route, and the huts are going to be full during
the entire season. If your goal is to avoid the crowds (although in most places
the trail does not feel crowded at all), then we recommend choosing a route
that is less famous, but just as, if not more, incredible. There are well over
800 mountain huts in the Alps, and hut to hut possibilities are endless. Here
are some great tours to look at:
Best of the
Dolomites Trek
Culinary
Delight Hut Hiking Tour
Hut
to Hut Light in the Austria Alps
Tour
of the Vanoise
Hut
to Hut in Switzerland
Read more about Understanding the hut-to-hut hiking season in the Alps.
