TMB Stage 1: Guide from Les Houches to Les Contamines

Introduction

Welcome to our Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) series, where we take you along on our unforgettable day-by-day journey through one of the most iconic long-distance trails in the world. Over the next posts, we’ll share our experiences, challenges, and the breathtaking landscapes we encountered along the way.

This post covers Day 1, where we traveled to the starting point of the trail in Les Houches and hiked to Les Contamines. This marks the official Stage 1 of the TMB, from Les Houches to Les Contamines.

We embarked on this incredible adventure at the end of June, a fantastic time to experience the trail as the summer blooms begin to emerge, and the weather is generally favorable.

Stage 1 Hiking Stats:

• Distance: 15,7 km
• Highest point: 1,671m
• Lowest point: 1,000m
• Elevation gain: 1,110m
• Elevation loss: -978m

Read: The Ultimate 11-Day Tour du Mont Blanc Hiking Guide

Getting to Les Houches

Since we currently live in Strasbourg, France, we decided to reach the TMB by car, which turned out to be the easiest, fastest, and most cost-effective option for us.

We started our journey early, leaving at 5 a.m., and drove through both France and Switzerland to reach Les Houches. The drive wasn’t without its challenges—heavy rain poured down in sheets, making the roads feel like a scene out of a weather drama. Despite this, we made it to the TMB parking lot by 10:50 a.m., ready to begin our adventure.

Here are all your accommodation options in Les Houches

At first, we mistakenly parked in the cable car parking lot. Realizing our error, we quickly moved the car to the correct parking area, located just behind the cable car station. The best part? This parking lot is free, making it an excellent choice for hikers starting their journey here.

Tip: Make sure to pack quality waterproof jackets — one for him and one for her — they’ll make all the difference on rainy days.

TMB Stage 1: Les Houches to Les Contamines

Getting to the TMB

From the car park, we joined another group of hikers heading toward the TMB. However, at this point, we all missed the official starting point and ended up on a different path past the bridge. After realizing the mistake, we backtracked and finally found the official start of the TMB at “Résidence Le Grand Balcon.”

We usually travel with Airalo eSIMs, but when we need unlimited data for work, we go with Holafly.

Les Houches to Col de Voza

We officially began our TMB stage 1 journey at 11:26 a.m., and by then, the rain had stopped, leaving us with clear skies to start the hike. Following the trail toward Col de Voza, we quickly discovered there are multiple routes to get there. By mistake, we ended up on an alternate path through the forest rather than the main trail.

For us, the first part of the trail was spent winding through the woods until we emerged at a cable car station. From there, we rejoined the official trail and continued our ascent.

This initial section of the hike proved a bit challenging, as we were already feeling the effects of the long drive earlier that morning. Despite our fatigue, we pushed on and reached Col de Voza by 2 p.m., completing the ascent from 1,008 meters to 1,657 meters.

Read: Tour du Mont Blanc Packing List

Col de Voza

At Col de Voza, we found a few welcome amenities, including an open restaurant, public restrooms, drinkable water, and a small train station.

The train, which runs a few times a day, travels up to the Nid d’Aigle (Eagle’s Nest). If you’re looking to explore more of the Alps, the Nid d’Aigle is a historic destination worth visiting. This location also carries significance from World War II, making it an intriguing stop for history enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.

Tip: We use Black Diamond walking poles for Men and Women — sturdy, lightweight, and perfect for both easy trails and tougher hikes.

Col de Voza to Fioux and Bionnassay

From Col de Voza, we followed the signs to Fioux and later to Bionnassay. This section of the trail was incredibly picturesque, as it led us through several charming, small villages that felt like they were straight out of a postcard.

Along this stretch, we came across wells in the villages offering drinkable water. However, at the time, we didn’t realize the water was safe to drink, so we ended up hiking through this part of the trail feeling quite thirsty—lesson learned for next time!

This portion of the route was mostly downhill, providing a nice change of pace after the earlier climb.

Tip: We used this MSR tent — super reliable, easy to set up, and held up perfectly in all weather conditions.

Bionnassay to Les Contamines

At this point, the sign on the trailboard indicated Les Contamines as our next destination. After a series of descents and ascents to cross the river, we continued onward, eventually tackling a final uphill stretch through the forest to reach Les Contamines.

We have to admit, the last 4 kilometers were quite challenging for us. After a long day of hiking, fatigue was setting in, and the uphill sections tested our endurance.But with determination, we pushed through and made it to our destination.

Check our Google Map of the Tour du Mont Blanc

Les Contamines

We arrived at the car park in Les Contamines at 6 p.m., where we were relieved to find a fresh water well to refill our bottles. After a short stroll through the village, we decided to catch the last free shuttle bus of the day at 6:46 p.m., which would take us to the campground.

If you’re looking to shorten your hike a bit, you can take this free shuttle bus even before reaching Les Contamines, saving yourself some effort.

We asked the driver about the location of the campground, and she kindly dropped us off right in front of it. This small detour saved us a good 30 minutes of additional hiking, which felt like a well-earned break after a long day on the trail.

Tip: Always travel with a filtered water bottle — it saves money, reduces plastic waste, and keeps you hydrated wherever you go.

Camping le Pontet

After arriving at the campground named Camping Le Pontet, we checked in and paid €17 for a tent spot for two people. Feeling accomplished, we ordered a pint of cold beer to celebrate before pitching our tent.

The campsite was spacious, with six tents scattered across a large field. On one side, there were mobile homes; on the other, camping cars, with the tent area set apart for a quieter experience.

The campsite offered two sets of bathrooms:

1. Smaller bathroom block: Located on the side of the campsite, it had three squatting toilets and one sitting toilet, along with four hot showers (though the water could be lukewarm at times—if so, you’d need to use the main bathroom). There were also large sinks here for cleaning cooking gear.
2. Larger bathroom block: Found on the left side of the restaurant, it featured two bidets, five sitting toilets, five showers, four sinks, and even a hair dryer.

The campsite restaurant served hot food, and the bar offered cold drinks. A 330 ml bottle of Mont Blanc beer cost €5, while a pint of draft beer was also €5.

For practical needs, you could charge your electronics in the bathrooms where 220V plugs were available. Laundry services were also available upon request.

The reception closed at 7:30 p.m., but late arrivals simply pitched their tents and checked in the next morning.

Read: The Ultimate 11-Day Tour du Mont Blanc Hiking Guide