Introduction

Welcome to Day 7 of our Tour du Mont Blanc adventure! Today, we debated on how to tackle the TMB Stage 7. Whether to take the bus from La Fouly to Champex to skip this section of the trail or to follow the original TMB route. After completing the hike, we can say it’s definitely a more relaxed day, but not the most memorable. Most of the trail winds through forests, with only a small stretch passing through a beautiful valley dotted with quaint villages.

If you’re looking to save time or energy, taking the bus is a perfectly convenient option, especially considering the more scenic sections still lie ahead. However, if you do decide to hike this stage, it’s a peaceful walk with a gentle ascent, providing a bit of respite before the more challenging days to come.

TMB Stage 7 Hiking Tips and At a Glance

TMB Stage 7 Hiking Stats:

• Distance: 15,9 km
• Highest point: 1,607m
• Lowest point: 1,051m
• Elevation gain: 1,203m
• Elevation loss: -1,330m

If you are looking for another stage or a complete guide, you may want to check:

• TMB Stage 1: Guide from Les Houches to Les Contamines
• TMB Stage 2: Guide from Les Contamines to Col de la Croix du Bonhomme
• TMB Stage 3: Guide from Croix du bonhomme to Rifugio Elisabetta
• TMB Stage 4: Guide from Rifugio Elisabetta to Courmayeur
• TMB Stage 5: Guide from Courmayeur to Rifugio Bonatti
• TMB Stage 6: Guide from Rifugio Bonatti to La Fouly
• TMB Stage 8: Guide from Champex to Trient
• TMB Stage 9: Guide from Trient to Tre-le-champs
• TMB Stage 10: Guide from Tre-le-champs to Flégère
• TMB Stage 11: Guide from La Flégère to Les Houches
• Half TMB Guide: Hike the Best of Tour du Mont Blanc
• Hiking Tour du Mont Blanc: The Complete 11-Day Guide
• 15 Proven ways to shortcut the TMB
• 10 Easy Ways to Stop the TMB
• 12 best Tour du Mont Blanc tips
• The Best Tour du Mont Blanc Packing List

TMB Stage 7: La Fouly to Champex

Leaving La Fouly

After a restful night in our tent, we woke up around 6 AM, packed up our gear, and made our way to the hut for breakfast. Once we were fueled up and feeling ready, we cleaned up and left the campsite by 7:20 AM.

We headed out of the camping area, passing through the charming, albeit small, village of La Fouly. Despite its size, La Fouly has a quaint, welcoming vibe that makes it a lovely stop along the trail.

La Fouly to the Valley

Right at the edge of town, we turned left into the woods, where the first part of the trail is mostly surrounded by forest. Along the way, we were treated to occasional glimpses of the valley and small villages nestled below.

This portion of the trail is relatively relaxed, offering a peaceful walk through the trees with the occasional scenic view to break up the greenery. It’s a gentle start to the day’s hike.

The Valley

At one point, the trail emerged from the forest and led us through a couple of charming small villages. This part of the hike was undoubtedly the highlight of the day, offering lovely views and a break from the forested path. Sadly, it was also the shortest stretch.

Between two villages, we came across a small hill with a bench, the perfect spot to take a rest. From there, we enjoyed a well-deserved break with a great view, feeling refreshed before continuing on.

Hill to Champex-Lac

The next part of the hike was less enjoyable, as we faced a steady uphill through the forest. While it wasn’t a difficult climb, the forest paths were beginning to feel repetitive, especially since we’d already encountered a lot of them back home.

Just before reaching the top, we stumbled upon a lovely bench with a scenic view, which made for the perfect spot to take a lunch break and recharge.

After that, we pushed on towards Champex. Upon reaching the sign for the town, we still had to walk through the entire village to reach the campsite. We finally arrived at around 12:15 pm, ready to relax after a challenging, yet rewarding, morning.

Champex-Lac

With some time to spare, after pitching our tent, we decided to head to the local bakery for a refreshing beer. Not long after, the rain began—marking the start of three consecutive rainy days.

We then made a quick stop at the supermarket to pick up food for the evening and grabbed some fresh bread from the bakery. The bread was absolutely delicious, and we were pleasantly surprised to find that the supermarket also stocked tofu!

Camping Les Rocailles

We didn’t book a spot in advance at Camping Les Rocailles, but it wasn’t an issue. When we arrived, there were only five tents, so it was much quieter compared to the previous day. It seems many people might have combined stages due to the rainy weather.

The campsite was a bit old, but still did the job. It offered unlimited hot water and clean toilets. The common area was open, so it felt a bit cold with the rain, but most people gathered there to eat and chat. We met fellow hikers—a couple from Scotland doing the Haute Route, two Germans on the TMB, and one Argentinian/French duo. It was great to share stories and experiences with fellow travelers.

The cost for two people with one tent was 35.2 CHF (16 CHF for the tent, 8 CHF per person, and 1.6 CHF per person in stay tax).

Fenêtre d’Arpette

Originally, we had planned to stay at Relais d’Arpette, which is about 50 minutes from Champex-Lac and offers a head start for the Fenêtre d’Arpette, the variant for the next day. However, due to the weather, we decided to change our plans.

We waited until the last moment to decide and asked the local tourist information center for advice. They informed us that the Fenêtre is a rocky section, and with the rain, it would be very slippery. But more importantly, the fog up there was so thick that it would be impossible to see the trail.

In fact, even the next day, during Stage 8, the weather was still foggy, and the trail was much lower than the Fenêtre. The weather definitely affected the visibility and the overall experience.