Hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc is a thrilling adventure, offering some of the most stunning alpine scenery in Europe. But the challenge of lugging a heavy backpack over rugged terrain can sometimes dampen the experience.
That’s where luggage transfer services come in, providing a seamless way to enjoy the trek without the burden of carrying a full pack everyday.
In this post, we’ll explore how these services work, the benefits they offer, their limitations, and why they might be the perfect solution for your Tour du Mont Blanc journey.
Tour du Mont Blanc Luggage Transfer Basics
Luggage transfer services will transport a bag along the route for you.
This allows you to hike with a smaller daypack while still having all of your luggage available at the end of the stage.
However, there are several locations along the trail that luggage cannot be transferred to.
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How do luggage transfers work on the TMB?
The concept is simple: you’ll split your gear/luggage into two distinct bags. One bag will be a small daypack that you will hike with. This should have all of your essentials (rain gear, snacks, water, etc.) and should be relatively light. You other bag, typically a medium sized duffel bag, will have any luggage that you still want access to on your trip, but won’t need while out on the trail. Think extra sets of clothes, toiletries, etc.
Using a luggage transfer service you’ll drop your heavier bag off at a specified location, usually outside your accommodation, in the morning and then the luggage transfer company will transfer it to your next accommodation stop where you’ll find it waiting for you when you arrive at the end of the stage.
A simple but useful service!
However, keep in mind that there are many locations along the Tour du Mont Blanc that are not accessible to the luggage transfer companies. These include high mountain refuges that don’t have road access, some remote villages, and a few additional stops that we cover in the next section.
In those situations you’ll have your bags sent ahead to the next reachable accommodation point, which may be another day or two ahead on your itinerary.
In terms of what to pack/not pack in your transfer luggage, please consult the list below:
Packing tips for TMB luggage transfers
We recommend making sure you have the following packed in your day-pack that you will hike with:
Medication
Water/snacks
Valuables/Money
Passport/Identification card
Fragile items
In the morning you will typically leave your bag at the front desk/reception for your accommodation. Bags are then picked up between 8-9 am (earlier for some specific refuges) and shuttled to your destination.
Expect your bag to arrive in the afternoon around 17:00 – 18:00. It can be a bit later for some of the more remote refuges, but the luggage transfer provider will be sure to let you know that in advance.
Most transfer companies have a weight limit of 15 kg per bag and require a soft sided duffel bag as opposed to roller suitcases or other types of bags.
Locations not served by TMB luggage transfer services
As we mentioned above, there are locations along the Tour du Mont Blanc that cannot be reached by the luggage transfer companies. These are mostly refuges located in remote locations without road access.
Keep these in mind when planning out your itinerary and when selecting what items to bring in your trail pack vs your transferred luggage.
TMB locations not served by luggage transfers
The following refuges along the Tour du Mont Blanc are not served by luggage transfer companies:
Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme
Rifugio Elisabetta
Cabane du Combal
Rifugio Bertone
Rifugio Bonatti
Alpage de la Peule
Les Ecuries de Charamillon
Refuge Lac Blanc
Refuge de la Flégère
Refuge de Bellachat
While the above list is not exhaustive, it should give you a sense of the types of locations where luggage transfer is not possible. In addition to these refuges, you can generally expect that transfers will not be possible if you are staying in private accommodation, Airbnbs, or anywhere that does not provide a staffed front desk.
If you’re considering a guided trek on the TMB or working with a company to create self-guided itinerary you should be able to have luggage transfer included with your trip package. Those on either a self-guided or guided trip arranged with a guiding company may also have additional options for luggage delivery to the refuges listed above, as special arrangements can often be made.
Luggage Transfer Cost on the Tour du Mont Blanc
The cost for luggage transfer on the Tour du Mont Blanc will vary by the number of bags, number of stops, and the location of those stops. You’ll see the cost per transfer decrease as you add more bags or more people to your group, and also see the cost decrease if you’re willing to go a few days in between transfers.
Here are some sample costs for luggage transfer from our recommended provider, Taxi Mont-Blanc:
- 1 person/1 bag/9 transfers: 327,00 €
- 4 people/2 bags/9 transfers: 572,00 €
- 1 person/1 bag/4 transfers: 174,00 €
- 4 people/2 bags/4 transfer: 297,00 €
While that may seem pricey to you, keep in mind that there can be quite a bit of driving between the various huts and the route isn’t always as straightforward as you might think.
In general you can expect to spend between €30,00 – €50,00 per bag per transfer.
TMB Luggage Transfer Providers
There are a handful of luggage transfer providers serving the Tour du Mont Blanc. Generally, they are all reliable and will get the job done. However, we recommend Taxi Mont-Blanc (formerly Taxi Besson) as they have the best service, most reliable drivers, and an easy to navigate website.
Luggage transfer companies on the TMB include:
When searching online you may also find a few other providers, including those that offer guided or self-guided TMB hikes. In most cases they are not the ones actually providing the luggage transfer service, but rather partner with one of the above companies to provide the transfers.
Summary & What’s Next
To summarize, it is relatively straightforward to have your luggage transferred along the Tour du Mont Blanc. There are a few remote refuges where you likely will have to live without your bag, but for the most part you can easily have luggage shuttled along the route.
Luggage Transfer Key Takeaways
Transfer services are reliable, but won’t deliver bags to every refuge.
We recommend Taxi Mont-Blanc for transfer services.
Expect to spend between €30,00 – €50,00 per bag per transfer.
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Tour du Mont Blanc Refuge Guide
Familiarize yourself with the mountain huts along the TMB.
Learn when to make bookings, what to expect, and more!
Stages of the TMB
Read a detailed description of each of the traditional 11 stages of the TMB.
Get essential information so you know what to expect each day on the trail.
Tour du Mont Blanc Gear List
Before commiting to having your luggage transferred it is worth consulting a good gear list to be sure you are only packing what you need.
