Our take
If you’re hiking counter-clockwise, this is usually worth it—especially on day one or if you’re planning to take the Col de Tricot variant. It saves a steady climb and makes for a more enjoyable start.
Skip it if you want the full “walk every step” experience or prefer to avoid potential morning lines.
Overview
The Bellevue cable car is one of the most popular public transport options on the Tour du Mont Blanc. Its lower station sits directly on the TMB at the far end of Les Houches, and from there it quickly carries hikers up to near the Col de Voza.
This lift is a téléphérique (cable car), not a continuously running gondola. Instead of a steady flow of small cabins, it operates with a single large cabin that carries roughly 15–20 passengers per trip. Each journey takes about 15–20 minutes.
This distinction is important for TMB hikers: lines can build quickly in the morning, especially during peak season. To avoid long waits, we recommend arriving at the lower station around 7:20 AM to catch the first departure of the day.
Why utilize it?
Counter-Clockwise Hikers
For hikers traveling counter-clockwise, the Bellevue cable car is a popular way to skip the initial climb out of Les Houches to the Col de Voza. The climb consists of trails and paved roads up through the ski area, so many hikers are happy to skip this section.
Since this is the first day for many hikers, avoiding this ascent can make for a more gradual start to the trek. It’s also especially useful if you’re planning to take the Col de Tricot variant, as it significantly reduces the overall difficulty of that stage.
Clockwise Hikers
The cable car is less commonly used by clockwise hikers, but it can still be a smart option. Taking the lift allows you to shorten the stage between Les Contamines and Les Houches and avoid the long descent into Les Houches at the end of the day.
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