There is a free camping area at the Tourist Office in town
. I've heard mixed things about camping here. Some say it's beautiful and some say it's too loud and busy but it's really the only option in Les Chapieux for camping. There are a few restaurants for dinner and a small shop for basic groceries and supplies.
Where can I sleep Tour du Mont Blanc?
Where can you stay on the Tour du Mont Blanc? You can do the entire hike by staying in
hostels and refugios
– which is great if you're on a budget. The refugios typically have dormitory style rooms and from what I've read you can usually just phone ahead a night or two for a room.
Can you wild camp on Tour du Mont Blanc?
Wild Camping on the Tour du Mont Blanc
Wild camping along the TMB is complicated and discouraged (and often illegal)
. The trail passes through three countries and several local municipalities, each with their own specific rules and regulations.
Can you camp on the Haute Route?
If you are wanting to do the Haute Route on a smaller budget, or if you simply want to experience the joys of maximizing your time outdoors in the most spectacular Alpine settings,
camping along the Walker's Haute Route is your best bet
.
Is free camping legal in France?
France.
Wild camping in France is a legal grey area, but is generally tolerated with the permission of landowners, or if you're well away from tourist sites
. You are also advised not to stay beyond 9am the next day.
Can you sleep anywhere in a campervan in France?
Bed and bread
Wherever you park, you are always allowed to eat in your motorhome
. Picnicking at the side of a public road – even in a car park – is not permitted though. This could even get you into trouble with the police. As regards to overnight parking, you can simply stay in a car park.
Is Tour du Mont Blanc hard?
The Tour du Mont Blanc is for sure a stunningly beautiful trek but
it isn't easy
and each day you will experience some challenging terrain. The Tour du Mont Blanc is physically demanding, you will be travelling over rugged and mountainous terrain with a sustained amount of ascent and descent on a daily basis.
Can you hike Mont Blanc without a guide?
Technically, you do not need a guide to climb Mont Blanc
. However, there are plenty of reasons why you should consider hiring a guide. For starters, the only people who should be considering climbing Mont Blanc without a guide are very experienced climbers with years of alpine climbing experience.
How many miles is the Tour du Mont Blanc?
The Tour du Mont Blanc is a popular hiking trail in Europe that stretches 170 kilometers (
106 miles
), through France, Italy and Switzerland. The Mont Blanc trail has one of the most impressive and beautiful ranges in the world, and it's a relatively accessible trail for anyone in good shape.
When can you climb Mont Blanc?
The ideal time to climb Mont Blanc is considered to be the period
between June and September
, as these represent the warmer, more palatable months. A predominant amount of people aim for the heart of summer, namely the months of July and August and that's for a number of reasons.
When can you hike Tour du Mont Blanc?
The best time of year to hike the Tour du Mont Blanc is from
mid-June to early September
. Late June is the more beautiful and quiet time of year but you may have some snow leftover up high to deal with. July and August are the peak months because of the weather.
Can you hike up Mont Blanc?
While a few people have been known to run up it in a day(!)
a guided Mont Blanc summit hike typically takes 3 days
. The first day for the ascent to the first hut (3-4hrs), the second day for the summit attempt and descent to the second hut (8-10hrs), and the third day for the descent back to the valley (4-6hrs).
How difficult is the Haute Route?
How strenuous is the route?
This is an ‘advanced level' tour so a good level of aerobic fitness is a prerequisite
. You should be able to comfortably ski all day and be happy skiing (uphill) at 400m/hr. Typically there are 3-5 hours of uphill per day and between 900m to 1300m of ascent.
Can you do the Haute Route without a guide?
Hiking the Haute Route Without a Guide
The trail is well sign-posted throughout, making it possible to attempt the route independently
. Follow the red and white stripes to stay on track! It's a popular hike during summer so you won't be alone if you come into any difficulty.
Is the Haute Route open?
The Haute Route Chamonix to Zermatt is a remote trek. Take a tent, or sleep in a mountain hut or a refuge. One or two nights could be spent in valley hotels to catch up on hot showers. In general,
mountain huts and refuges are open from mid-June until the first or second week in September
.
What is Aire camping?
An aire is
a low cost or free private camping area in France
. Often, they are run by the local town council. There are various names for this type of camping, though aire de service is by far the most common.
Can you have a campfire in France?
The sight and smell of smoke from smouldering garden waste in the countryside in France is not uncommon, but
the use of domestic bonfires to eliminate waste is generally outlawed
. The practice is prohibited both for health reasons and for the potential nuisance that it causes to neighbours.
Where is wild camping legal Europe?
Armenia, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova
are countries that do not really have any laws against wild camping, So you are free to camp pretty much anywhere you want to; with the exception of some national parks in Ukraine.
Can you sleep overnight in French motorway services?
Can you stay overnight in an ‘aire de service' on a French motorway?
Yes, often it is allowed
. They often have specific motorhome parking areas and there will be an allowed time you are allowed to stay for.
Can I drive my motorhome through France?
Rules and regulations when driving a motorhome in France
The rules and regulations are broadly the same as when you're driving a car
. Make sure you've got your passport, driving licence, V5 ownership papers and insurance documents. Fluorescent tabards and warning triangles are a must in case you break down.
How long can you stay on an Aire in France?
The general rule is that you can stay for
a maximum of 48 hours
. There are so many motorhome stopovers dotted around the country that it can seem difficult to travel more than a few miles off the motorway without bumping into one.
Is Mont Blanc harder than Kilimanjaro?
Mont Blanc (4808m) is harder than Aconcagua (6960m) and
much harder than Kilimanjaro
(5895m) The effort required on summit day exceeds that of running a marathon. You absolutely MUST have solid endurance fitness to do this (mountaineering experience not required)
Can a beginner climb Mont Blanc?
Climbing Mont Blanc for beginners
One of the most popular (and least technical) routes is the Gouter Route, which passes the Gouter Hut and the Bosses ridge. This may be one of the easiest routes, but
it still requires a good level of fitness, acclimatisation, and adequate preparation
.
Is Tour du Mont Blanc worth it?
Every day, you will climb about 3,000 feet and then descend another 3,000 feet, traversing five major passes through three different countries.
After putting in 12 to 18 miles every day, you can bet that the effort is worth it
. There's a reason why the Tour du Mont Blanc is one of the most famous hikes in the world.
Can you climb Mont Blanc in a day?
Climbing Mont Blanc in a day is the opportunity to live an incredible human adventure
. The climb starts on well-marked trails and finishes on the ice-cap at the summit. It represents a total vertical gain of almost 4000m (13 200ft).
Is there always snow on Mont Blanc?
Mont Blanc's summit at 4,810 metres is covered in snow and ice all year round
, so when people talk about ‘doing Mont Blanc', they usually mean hiking the lower regions of it. For some, Mont Blanc appears rugged, jagged and alienating.
Can you climb Mont Blanc in the summer?
What time of year should I plan my ascent of Mont Blanc? As with most mountains in the Northern Hemisphere,
the best time to climb is in the summer season (June to September)
. However, if you are an experienced climber and wish to avoid the crowds, climbing in Autumn and Spring could be what you are looking for.
