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With its perennially snow-capped peak, rugged paths and sheer magnitude, it’s no wonder Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps, is a popular hiking destination.
However, its popularity – specifically the volume of trekkers who traverse the 170km Tour du Mont-Blanc circuit – are becoming something of a problem. So much so, in fact, that local French authorities have called for a new permit system to be implemented.
Right now, over 80,000 people set out on the Tour every year. That not only places strain on the smallest villages, but even Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, one of the largest and best-equipped towns on the route, is buckling under the pressure of so many visitors.
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Mayor Jean-Marc Peillex told Swiss broadcaster SRF that groups of hikers have to walk parts of the trail awkwardly in single file, and that litter and a disrespectful attitude towards the countryside are also becoming issues. He backs a cap on numbers to be managed through a permit system, with a fine for anyone who doesn’t comply.
Set to be implemented from spring 2027, rules in Saint-Gervais and a handful of other French towns will mean hikers will need to book their mountain huts or place in bivouac zones in advance. It’s a setup already in place at refuges like Nid d’Aigle, Tête Rousse and Goûter, according to Travel Tomorrow.
However, that doesn’t mean everyone thinks the proposal is a good idea. Mountain guides have said they’ll now need to reserve their places a year in advance (before they’ve even secured clients) and many fear it ruins people’s roaming freedoms and willingness for activity.
The circuit ventures through Italy and Switzerland, as well as France, but it’s only the latter where restrictions are proposed – this itself could prove confusing for hikers.
It seems that the reservations for huts are set to go ahead, but stay tuned about news on the permits, too.
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