Full TMB budget: self-guided
| Category | Budget tier | Comfort tier |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (9-10 nights) | EUR 1,600-1,750 | EUR 1,900-2,250 |
| Daily average | EUR 170-190 | EUR 200-250 |
| Accommodation includes | Dorm half-board at refuges | Mix of hotels + refuges, private rooms |
| Additional costs | Lifts, beer, snacks | Luggage transfer, demi-pension upgrades |
Source: recency.md; Bookatrekking — TMB Cost 2025/2026.
These numbers assume self-guided trekking with refuge half-board as the primary accommodation. The budget tier uses dorm beds throughout. The comfort tier mixes hotel nights in Courmayeur and Champex-Lac with refuge dormitories on trail stages.
Half-board pricing by country
Half-board (dinner + breakfast + dormitory bed) is the standard unit at mountain refuges. The price varies substantially depending on which side of the border you sleep.
| Country | Half-board range (2026) | Dorm-only range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | EUR 75-100 | EUR 30-45 | Paid showers common (EUR 2-4). Wine with dinner extra. |
| Italy | EUR 60-85 | EUR 25-40 | Best food of the three countries. Showers usually included. |
| Switzerland | CHF 100-130 (~EUR 100-130) | CHF 50-70 | Everything costs more. See below. |
Source: recency.md; 2025/2026 published refuge pricing. Prices rising 5-10% per year due to energy and staffing costs.
The CHF shock: stages 6-8
The TMB enters Switzerland at Grand Col Ferret (Stage 6) and exits at Col de Balme (Stage 9). The Swiss section covers roughly three days. Here is what changes:
| Item | France/Italy | Switzerland | Multiplier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorm bed + half-board | EUR 60-100 | CHF 100-130 | 1.3-2.0x |
| Beer (50cl draft) | EUR 5-7 | CHF 8-12 | ~1.7x |
| Simple lunch | EUR 12-18 | CHF 20-30 | ~1.7x |
| Shower | EUR 2-4 (if charged) | Often included | -- |
| Currency | EUR | CHF (1 CHF ~ 1.00 EUR as of 2026) | Card accepted at most huts |
Practical advice:
- Swiss huts increasingly accept cards, but carry CHF cash as backup.
- Champex-Lac has an ATM. La Fouly does not (confirm locally).
- Budget an extra EUR 50-80 total for the Swiss stages compared to equivalent French stages.
CAF/FFCAM membership
The Club Alpin Francais (now FFCAM — Federation Francaise des Clubs Alpins et de Montagne) offers membership that functions as both a discount card and insurance policy for the French Alps.
Costs: EUR 80-100/year depending on the section (local club) you join. Some sections charge more for insurance tiers.
Benefits on the TMB:
- Refuge discounts: EUR 5-15 per night at FFCAM-affiliated French refuges. Over 5-6 nights in France, this recovers a significant portion of the membership cost.
- Rescue insurance in France: FFCAM membership includes accident and rescue coverage via the Cartes Neige system. This covers PGHM mountain rescue costs that might otherwise be billed for medical transport (helicopter ambulance/SAMU).
- UIAA reciprocity: FFCAM membership provides discounts at alpine club huts across Europe (SAC, CAI, DAV, OeAV), though the discount is smaller abroad.
Source: FFCAM; general FFCAM membership documentation.
Is it worth it? For trekkers spending 5+ nights in French refuges: yes. The refuge discounts alone recover EUR 25-75 of the membership cost. The rescue insurance adds significant value. For trekkers doing only the TMB and not returning to the French Alps: marginal. Evaluate against your travel insurance.
Rescue costs: the three-country asymmetry
Mountain rescue in the Mont Blanc region involves three national systems. Who responds depends on which side of the border you are on, and the cost structures are radically different.
France — PGHM
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Organization | PGHM (military gendarmerie, specialized mountain unit) |
| Availability | 24/7, 365 days |
| Annual operations | 1,300+ in the Mont Blanc massif |
| Helicopter use | 97% of rescues are helicopter-assisted |
| Emergency number | +33 (0)4 50 53 16 89 (direct); 112 (EU emergency) |
| Cost | Rescue itself is free (state-funded). Helicopter medical transport (SAMU) may be billed. EU citizens with EHIC partially covered. Non-EU visitors should carry insurance. |
Source: PGHM Chamonix.
Italy — CNSAS
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Organization | Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico (volunteer-based) |
| Emergency number | 118 (medical); 112 (general) |
| Cost | Regional rules apply. Valle d'Aosta can bill for helicopter rescue. Expect EUR 2,000-5,000+ for non-residents. |
Switzerland — Rega
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Organization | Rega (Swiss Air-Rescue), non-profit foundation |
| Helicopter bases | 14 across Switzerland; any location reachable within 15 minutes |
| Patron membership | CHF 30/year |
| Cost for non-patrons | CHF 3,500-15,000+ for helicopter rescue. Rega patrons: Rega waives costs not covered by insurance. |
Source: Rega.
The critical asymmetry: French rescue is free at point of delivery. Italian rescue may bill. Swiss rescue will bill non-patrons/non-insured — a 15-minute helicopter flight can cost CHF 3,500+. Rega patron membership (CHF 30/year) is the cheapest rescue insurance in the Alps: it ensures Rega waives any costs not covered by your existing health/travel insurance. Buy it before crossing into Switzerland.
Minimum insurance recommendation
| Coverage | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Helicopter evacuation | EUR 25,000 / CHF 25,000 |
| Medical repatriation | EUR 100,000+ |
| Trip cancellation | To cover refuge pre-payments |
| Search and rescue | Check if separate from medical evacuation |
Guided vs. self-guided
Self-guided (the numbers above)
You book refuges yourself, carry your own pack, and navigate using trail markings, a guidebook, and/or GPS. This is the cheapest option and the one most TMB trekkers choose.
Self-guided with luggage transfer
Several operators run luggage transfer services between TMB stages. Your main bag is transported by van to the next refuge; you walk with a day pack. Cost: EUR 15-25 per bag per stage, or EUR 150-250 for the full circuit. Companies include: Les Bagages du TMB, Taxi du Mont-Blanc, and multiple Courmayeur-based operators.
This is the comfort-tier option within self-guided trekking. Total trip cost: EUR 1,900-2,250.
Guided
The Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix and numerous commercial operators run guided TMB programs. Typical pricing for a 7-11 day guided trek: EUR 2,500-4,500 per person (guide fees, accommodation, half-board, transfers). Some operators include luggage transport; some do not. Private guiding is more expensive.
The Compagnie employs approximately 220 guides and has operated since 1821. It is the oldest mountain guide company in the world. (Compagnie des Guides)
Budget summary table
| Expense | Budget (EUR) | Comfort (EUR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refuge half-board (9-10 nights) | 675-950 | 900-1,200 | France cheapest, Switzerland most expensive |
| Hotel nights (Courmayeur + Champex-Lac) | 0 | 250-400 | 2-3 nights at EUR 80-150/night |
| Luggage transfer (full circuit) | 0 | 150-250 | EUR 15-25/bag/stage |
| Extras (beer, coffee, snacks, showers) | 150-250 | 200-350 | EUR 15-25/day beyond half-board |
| Lifts / shortcuts | 0-50 | 50-100 | Flegere, Brevent, Balme if weather forces shortcuts |
| FFCAM membership | 0-100 | 0-100 | Saves EUR 5-15/night in France |
| Rega patron membership | 30 (CHF) | 30 (CHF) | Non-negotiable for Swiss stages |
| Travel insurance | 50-150 | 50-150 | Helicopter evacuation coverage |
| In-country subtotal | EUR 900-1,500 | EUR 1,600-2,550 | |
| Geneva-Chamonix shuttle (return) | 30-60 | 30-60 | EUR 15-30 each way |
| International flight | Varies | Varies | Geneva (GVA) is the standard gateway |
| Total (excluding flights) | EUR 930-1,560 | EUR 1,630-2,610 |
Source: all pricing from recency.md, montourdumontblanc.com, and cross-referenced refuge rate sheets.
For the interactive version: budget calculator.
Sources
- montourdumontblanc.com — Official refuge booking, 2026 pricing
- Bookatrekking — TMB Cost 2025/2026 — Budget cross-reference
- tourdumontblanchike.com — Refuge pricing
- The Hiking Club — 2026 TMB Accommodation — 2026 booking
- PGHM Chamonix — Rescue operations, costs
- Rega Swiss Air-Rescue — Patron model, rescue billing
- FFCAM / Mont Blanc reservation — Membership, Gouter booking
- Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix — Guided programs
- recency.md — 2026 pricing, closures
- SAC Swiss Alpine Club — SAC hut pricing
- Alps2Alps — Transfer pricing
- Responsible Vacation — Luggage transfer market