There’s nothing to be ashamed of if, despite all your preparation, you need to skip TMB days. The Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) is considered a difficult hike, with around 10,000 metres of vertical climbing. Hikers are normally on the trail for 10 days, which can take its toll (consult our general TMB page for more information on the itinerary). Illness, physical fatigue or just bad weather can get in the way, so it’s good to know in advance how to skip one or even several days. That’s why we’ve created this cheat sheet, in the hope that we can help you get back on track. Sometimes, just taking one day off can make a huge difference.

As local guides, we have lots of experience helping hikers get from one point to the next. Below we’ll go through the day-by-day itinerary, detailing how to skip each section. If you find that you just want to shorten a day, consult our article on TMB shortcuts here.

Transport on the TMB

For hikers looking to skip TMB days, public transport can be a valuable tool.

In the Chamonix Valley, regular buses and the Mont-Blanc Express train connect Les Houches, Chamonix, Argentière and Vallorcine, making it easy to skip sections or rejoin the trail. Tickets can usually be purchased at stations, from ticket machines, online, or directly on local buses. You can use this website, or download the Chamonix app.

In Les Contamines, a seasonal shuttle bus links the village with Notre-Dame de la Gorge, allowing hikers to avoid several kilometres of valley walking. You can find the 2026 timetable here, but note that they will not release the timetable until about mid-June.

Similar bus networks operate around Courmayeur and Val Ferret in Italy, as well as in the Swiss section between La Fouly, Champex and Trient. You can find the Italian bus schedules on the Arriva website. For public transport in Switzerland, find the local transport website (TMR) here.

TMB Taxis

You can also skip TMB days by using taxis, but of course these tend to be much more expensive. We strongly recommend booking at least a day in advance. While last-minute taxis are sometimes available, drivers are often busy, meaning you may need to be flexible with your departure time or wait several hours for a vehicle. Here are the taxi companies that we use most regularly :

• For France, we use Taxi Mont-Blanc (also called Taxi Besson / Peak+), contact number +33 (0)4 50 93 62 07. They will also help in Italy and Switerland
• Another Swiss option is Taxi Fen’yx
• In Italy, we always just use Taxi Mont-Blanc

skip tmb days in France

It’s fairly easy to shorten these first three days of the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB). Here are our go-to solutions…

Stage 1 (Les Houches – Les Contamines)

You can take a taxi all the way from Les Houches to Les Contamines. We recommend using Taxi Mont-Blanc. Alternatively, you can take the Mont-Blanc Express train to Le Fayet, then ride a bus or take a taxi to Les Contamines.

Stage 2 (Les Contamines – Les Chapieux)

There’s a public bus that runs between Les Chapieux, Ville des Glaciers and Refuge Les Mottets. To buy a ticket go to the tourist information building near the farm shop in Les Chapieux.

For taxis, contact :

• Taxi Mont-Blanc
• Taxi Jack Celair (+33 6 22 23 76 36)
• Arcs Cimes Taxi (+33 7 69 72 18 55)
• Miage Taxi (+33 4 50 47 74 89)

Stage 3 (Les Chapieux – Val Veny)

How you skip this TMB section will depend on where you’re staying in Val Veny. If you’re staying at Rifugio Monte Bianco then the journey is easy; take a taxi from Les Chapieux all the way to the refuge. The road passes right outside the building.

If you’re staying at Cabane du Combal, you can take a taxi to La Visaille, then walk 1 hour up road.

Unfortunately there aren’t any public transport options for this stage.

SKIP TMB DAYS IN ITALY

It’s fairly easy to skip these days in Italy, and public transport is possible on most days. This is what we tend to do…

Stage 4 (Val Veny – Courmayeur)

Catch the bus at La Visaille and ride it all the way to Courmayeur. The bus runs every hour and the journey takes around twenty minutes. You’ll find the timetable at the bus stop and on the Arriva website.

Stage 5 (Courmayeur – Val Ferret)

Again, how you skip this section of the TMB depends on where you’re staying. For Rifugio Bonatti, take the free bus up to Val Ferret, get off at the Bonatti bus stop, then hike 40 minutes uphill. If you’re staying at Rifugio Elena, take the bus to Arnuza, then hike around 1 hour.

Stage 6 (Val Ferret – La Fouly)

To skip this day, you can either take a series of buses or splash out on a long taxi ride.

If you’d rather take buses, first go back to Courmayeur, then take another bus to the town of Aosta. From there, connect to St Bernard Pass, then Orsière, then La Fouly. This is as complicated and time-consuming as it sounds, but it is the cheapest option.

Alternatively, hike down to the road at Val Ferret, then take a taxi all the way to La Fouly.

skip TMB days in Switzerland / France

Skipping these final days is very easy, and you can save money by using public transport.

Stage 7 (La Fouly – Champex)

Take a bus from La Fouly to Orsières, and then another to Champex Lac.

Stage 8 (Champex – Trient)

Skip this TMB day by taking a train from Champex to Martigny, and then a bus from there to Trient. You’ll find the train timetables on the national railway website (SBB) here.

Stage 9 (Trient – Argentière)

Skipping this day using public transport is a bit of a faff, but it’s possible. You can often take a TMR bus from Col de la Forclaz (a short but steep hike back up the hill) to Châtelard. From there, take a train to Martigny, and then take the Mont-Blanc Express train to Montroc or Argentière. Check that the TMR bus is running, as it does not run throughout the summer season.

Alternatively, reach out to Taxi Mont-Blanc!

Stage 10 (Argentière – Chamonix)

Of all the TMB days to skip, this one is the easiest. Ride the scenic Mont-Blanc Express train, or take a public bus. The journey only takes around 20 – 30 minutes, and the trains and buses are very regular.

The Goal is to Keep Going

Remember, there is no shame in choosing to skip TMB days when circumstances require it. The Tour du Mont Blanc is a long and demanding journey, and adapting your plans is often the smartest way to stay safe, recover properly, and keep moving forward. Whether you use trains, buses, or taxis to shorten a stage, the goal is the same: to give yourself the best chance of getting back on the trail and enjoying the rest of your adventure. After all, reaching the finish line is far more important than how you got through every single kilometre.