Tour du Mont Blanc — Stage 1: Courmayeur → Rifugio Giorgio Bertone

From the centre of Courmayeur (1,224 m) the TMB trail climbs steadily through the Villair woods to Rifugio Bertone (1,989 m), overlooking Mont Chétif and the Mont Blanc chain. A short but steep stage, ideal for finding your trekking rhythm.

The trail leaves from Villair, Courmayeur’s old upper hamlet, and gains height through fir forest on an endless series of well-graded switchbacks: nearly 800 metres of steady climbing, best tackled early in the cool hours. At every bend the view widens, until the trees thin out and the Bertone terrace appears, with the Dent du Géant and the Grandes Jorasses suddenly within reach. Water and food only at the hut, so start well supplied. Early arrivals can climb half an hour to Mont de la Saxe for sunset over the massif.