The TMB Booking Timeline
Planning a TMB trek involves multiple bookings across three countries. Miss a window and you could find yourself rerouting your entire itinerary around a single fully-booked refuge. Here's when to book what.
6+ Months Before (January-March for Summer Trek)
Flights
- Book flights to Geneva (GVA) as early as possible
- Summer flights to Geneva fill up and prices climb steeply after March
- Consider flexible dates — midweek flights are often 30-50% cheaper
Most Popular Refuges
These fill up first and should be booked as soon as reservations open (usually March 1):
- Rifugio Bonatti — the most in-demand refuge on the TMB
- Refuge Les Mottets — small capacity, prime location
- Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme — popular stage endpoint
3-4 Months Before (April-May)
Remaining Refuges
- Book all other refuges along your planned route
- Have a backup plan — if your first choice is full, know the alternatives
- Use our planner to see all options for each stage
Travel Insurance
- Ensure it covers trekking at altitude (up to 3,000m)
- Should include helicopter evacuation (standard in the Alps but verify)
- Cancel-for-any-reason coverage is worth the premium
Gear Check
- Test all gear on training hikes
- Order anything you need — popular items sell out by summer
- Break in new boots (100km minimum before your trek)
1-2 Months Before (June-July)
Transport to Trailhead
- Book Geneva → Chamonix transfer (bus or shuttle)
- If starting elsewhere, book trains via SNCF or SBB
- Consider booking a return transfer from your endpoint
Luggage Storage
- Arrange luggage storage in Chamonix or your start town
- Most hotels will store bags for a small fee even if you're not a guest
Double-Check All Bookings
- Confirm every refuge reservation
- Print or screenshot confirmation numbers
- Note check-in times and cancellation policies
1-2 Weeks Before
Weather Check
- Start monitoring 10-day forecasts
- Check trail conditions on local tourism office websites
- Verify all refuges are open (early/late season)
Final Pack
- Lay out everything, weigh it, remove 20%
- Charge all electronics
- Download offline maps and GPX files from our planner
Key Contacts
Keep these handy:
- Chamonix Tourist Office: +33 4 50 53 00 24
- Courmayeur Tourist Office: +39 0165 842 060
- Emergency (all countries): 112
The Bottom Line
Book refuges and flights 6 months ahead. Everything else can wait until 1-2 months before. The single biggest planning mistake is assuming you can book refuges a few weeks out — you can't, especially in July and August.
Ready to Plan Your TMB?
Use our interactive planner to build your custom itinerary, find refuges, and download GPX files.
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