July was our busiest month of the season, with lots of groups hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB). Consequently, we watched the conditions change week-by-week. In this article, you’ll find a detailed TMB conditions report for July 2026.

We’re a team of local guides living around the Mont Blanc massif. Our observations come from days out guiding the TMB in July 2026. We share our reports to help fellow hikers prepare for their own TMB adventure. If you’re hiking in July, this should give you an idea of what it will be like.

Want to see how things have developed throughout the season? Read our June TMB Conditions Report here.

Disclaimer: Mountain conditions can change quickly, especially at higher altitudes. Use your own judgement and adapt your plans accordingly. Not using a qualified guide? Make sure you know how to adjust your itinerary! Read this post on how to shorten your day.

overview : July TMB conditions

July brought full summer conditions to the TMB. The few patches of snow that we saw in June disappeared rapidly. The biggest story this month was the weather: July 2026 was exceptionally hot and dry! We had a prolonged heatwave between the 4th – 19th of July. Then we had another hot spell towards the end of the month. In fact, July 2026 set a new record for being France’s hottest month ever! In some ways, this was good for TMB conditions…

The trails became snow-free, but hiking in the heat is tough. We saw a few afternoon thunderstorms too. This combined with the heat meant that timing was especially important. It’s always a good idea to get going early, but especially in the hotter months. Tackle the climbs while it’s still cool, and beat the rain! One other thing that often makes hiking in July challenging is the water sources. These often dry up towards the end of July, so we highlight these in our TMB conditions reports.

What’s changed since June?

The transformation from June to July was dramatic.

In June, there was still significant snow on several high passes. This was particularly true on north-facing slopes and around the Col des Fours, Col de la Seigne and Grand Col Ferret.

But by early July, the situation had changed rapidly. Most of the TMB was now snow-free, with only isolated snow patches remaining on some higher or more shaded sections.

The heatwave accelerated the melt, but it also brought a new set of challenges. Hikers needed to think less about snow and more about heat, hydration and afternoon storms. During the heatwave, we wrote a post specifically on how to keep cool when hiking in the heat.

A few of the water fountains have already dried up (more details below). This along with the lack of snow is the main thing that’s changed between this month’s TMB conditions report and last month’s.

July TMB : Our Notes

We’ve organised our observations in the same order that most people hike the Tour du Mont Blanc. You can find the typical itinerary on our main TMB page.

TMB Conditions in France

Across the French section, the TMB conditions were generally dry, sunny and snow-free. On particularly hot days, we set off early for the bigger or more exposed climbs. These include the Col du Bonhomme, Col de la Seigne and Grand Col Ferret, where the long ascents can feel tough in the midday heat.

Les Houches & Les Contamines

The lower sections of the French TMB were lush-green and full of alpine flowers. The trails were generally dry, and the remaining early-season snow was no longer an issue. The main challenge was the heat, particularly because these lower trails can feel quite humid.

Water sources : The best place is the fountain behind Chalet Miage.
Food / Drinks : All the buvettes where you can stop to grab a drink / snack / lunch were open. We especially love Chalet Miage.
Lifts : In July, the Bellevue lift is always in full swing!

Col du Bonhomme & Col de la Croix du Bonhomme

By July, the significant snow patches we saw in June had melted. These two higher cols were dry, but they were also dusty and loose in places. A thunderstorm caught one of our groups as they descended from the refuge. It was a full-on afternoon and quite scary, but thankfully they were out of danger by the time the storm got serious!

Water sources : The fountain outside the refuge dried up, but the refuge were allowing people to go inside and fill up for free from their taps. However, there were big queues! You’ll see in our August TMB report that this was no longer an option, as the refuge had closed.

Col des Fours

The Col des Fours changed rapidly during the first few weeks of July. In June there was still a thick snow cover on the pass, although the track was solid. By the beginning of July, the snow was almost gone. This was one of the clearest examples of how quickly TMB conditions changed between June and July.

Les Chapieux & Col de la Seigne

The route over Col de la Seigne was also snow-free by July.

TMB Conditions in Italy

Across the Italian section of the TMB, conditions were generally hot and snow-free. The higher sections can still feel surprisingly cold, even during a heatwave. This is why you should always pack an extra layer! The longest, most exposed climbs are Col de la Seigne and Grand Col Ferret.

Col de la Seigne & Val Veny

The higher sections around the Col de la Seigne and Val Veny were now snow-free.

Water sources : all the water sources were fine! Refuge de Mottes has a good fountain.

Rifugio Elisabetta

The steep snow crossings that had made the shortcut from Elisabetta to Cabane Combal problematic in June was no longer an issue. All the snow has cleared!

Food / Drinks : Elisabetta was already very busy, and groups were advised to book tables in advance.

Grand Col Ferret

The south-facing Italian side tends to lose its snow earlier. By July, the remaining snow was all gone.

The bigger issue was the heat. On the 8th of July, one of our guides was heading over the Ferret section with a client who had developed a spectacular collection of blisters. It was a reminder that hot weather and long days can take their toll, even when the trail itself is straightforward.

Water sources : there is a fountain partway up this climb, but it was not always working. We don’t generally advise people to drink from this one, as the water may not be safe.

Courmayer to Val Ferret

The trail from Courmayeur to Rifugio Bertone was in good summer condition, although a bit dusty. The climb out of Courmayeur is steep and exposed in places, so on hot days we recommend setting off early. In contrast, the higher trail around Bertone can feel surprisingly cool when the wind picks up.

Water sources : the fountain at Bertone was still running, but it often doesn’t! It’s never a good idea to rely on this one!

TMB Conditions in Switzerland

Across the Swiss section of the TMB, conditions were generally excellent. On hot days, we set off early for the bigger climbs, particularly the Grand Col Ferret and Fenêtre d’Arpette. Note the trail closure at La Fouly.

Grand Col Ferret to La Fouly

The Swiss side of the TMB was snow-free, but there is a section of the river trail that is closed. This is due to a risk of rock fall. The new, clearly marked diversion adds only around five minutes. Trail closeures are obviously a thing to look out for when checking TMB conditions! They can be closed for all sorts of reasons, but there are normally well-signed diversions.

Fenêtre d’Arpette

A keen group did this variant in early July. The ascent was snow-free, with just one remaining snow crossing on the descent. Microspikes were not needed. We always recommend carrying at least 2 litres of water because there is no reliable water source on the ascent.

On 25 July, one of our guides was tempted to do this route but the forecast was unsettled. In the end, he took the normal Bovine route instead. Rain was expected, and the boulder field on the Arpette side would become unpleasant and potentially dangerous. Although the snow had gone, the usual Fenêtre d’Arpette rule still applied: it’s a great route in fine weather, but Bovine is the better choice when thunderstorms or heavy rain are forecast!

Col de Balme, La Flégère & Lac Blanc : the final TMB conditions

The snow has cleared from Col de Balme. We had several groups taking the variant route up the ladders to Lac Blanc. The conditions were fantastic! We also had a few groups enjoying the views from Possettes and Croix de Fer!

Water Sources : the fountain at Col de Balme was running, but very slowly!

Lifts : As is always the case in July, the lifts were all running!

TMB CONDITIONS JULY 2026 : SUmmary

July was a fantastic month for hiking the TMB.

The big transformation from June was the disappearance of the remaining significant snow. By early July, most of the route was in summer condition, and the higher variants such as the Fenêtre d’Arpette were accessible without microspikes.

The trade-off was the weather.

The month was exceptionally hot and dry, making heat and hydration much more important than they had been earlier. At the same time, thunderstorms could still roll in quickly, particularly during unsettled periods. Despite these challenging conditons, none of our hikers particularly suffered from the heat. Well done to all our guides and self-guided groups for keeping everyone safe!

If you’re hiking the TMB in August, we’d recommend:

• Start early on hot days.
• Carry plenty of water, particularly on long exposed stages.
• Don’t underestimate thunderstorms, even during a heatwave.
• Check the forecast before committing to exposed variants such as the Fenêtre d’Arpette.
• Keep an eye out for local trail closures and diversions.
• And, as always, be prepared to adapt your plans if mountain conditions change.

By the end of July, the TMB was looking and feeling like the height of summer: green valleys, dry trails, snow-free passes, huge mountain views and plenty of sunshine. This is fairly typical of TMB conditions in July.

What’s on in August? More than just TMB Conditions!

August is one of the liveliest months in the Mont Blanc region, with plenty happening both on and off the trail. If you’re passing through Chamonix, here are a few things worth knowing about:

Fête des Guides, 12–16 August
Chamonix’s annual Guides’ Festival celebrates the town’s mountain guides with traditional ceremonies, live music, activities and the famous procession of the guides. The main events take place from 12–16 August. Find the full programme here.

La Nuit des Ours, 3–10 August
Over in Vallorcine, the La Nuit des Ours festival brings together music, theatre, art and outdoor events in a beautiful mountain setting. See the programme here.

UTMB Mont-Blanc, 24–30 August
If you’re finishing your TMB in Chamonix towards the end of August, you’ll arrive just as the valley gets very busy for HOKA UTMB Mont-Blanc. The races run from 24–30 August, including the MCC, YCC, TDS, OCC, CCC, PTL and the main UTMB race. Expect much busier streets, accommodation and restaurants, particularly from the middle of the week onwards. See the UTMB schedule here.

Summer markets
August is also a lovely time to enjoy the local markets. The Chamonix market runs throughout the summer, while Argentière has a weekly market through August.

A little tip: If your TMB finishes in Chamonix during the last week of August, book your accommodation and dinner reservations well ahead. The UTMB week brings thousands of runners, supporters and visitors into the valley, so availability disappears quickly.