Real-time accommodation availability in our app

Updated 6th March 2025 for new properties.

As part of our acquisition of TMB Planner, we’ve integrated technology into our app to check bed availability for mountain huts. At time of launch, we focused on incorporating the existing TMB Planner accommodation scope for the Tour du Mont Blanc trail, however, we’ve now extended the same technology to other popular trails where accommodation is challenging for DIY planners to find, such as Alta Via 1 in the Dolomites and the newest trail we are working on, the West Highland Way in Scotland.

What type of accommodation can we provide availability data for?

The scope of mountain huts is limited to those which list their availability online. We can not provide availability data for mountain huts that do not list their availability online, for example, those properties requiring bookings to be made via phone, email, or submitting an online form.

In our accommodation database, we also have many more accommodation types along the trail, such as hotels, campgrounds and bivouac locations. Where an accommodation location lists their availability online, such as hotels, we plan to integrate this information into our app over the next year.

what type of accommodation can’t we provide availability data for?

If the accommodation location is one of the following, there is no availability data that we can provide you;

• Bivouac or wild camping locations

• Campgrounds that don’t accept/need bookings

• Accommodation that don’t list their availability online

• A general accommodation location rather than being for a specific property

The following Tour du Mont Blanc properties are now live. From March 7th 2025, you will also be able to see real-time availability and set alerts for the following properties on our other trails. More are planned to be added by the end of March!

• Tour du Mont Blanc

  • Chalet Les Meandres (ex Tupilak)

  • Gite Michel Fagot

  • Refuge du Fioux

  • Auberge du Truc

  • Chalet CAF des Contamines

  • La Ferme a Piron

  • Gite Les Melezes

  • Gite le Pontet

  • Refuge Nant Borrant

  • Refuge des Pres

  • Refuge de la Balme

  • Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme

  • Refuge de la Nova

  • Les Chambres du Soleil

  • Refuge des Mottets

  • Robert Blanc

  • Cabane Combal

  • Rifugio Monte Bianco

  • Rifugio Maison Vieille

  • Gite le Randonneur du Mont Blanc

  • Rifugio Bertone

  • Hotel Funivia

  • Hotel Lavachey

  • Hotel Chalet Val Ferret

  • Gite Alpage de La Peule

  • Hotel du Col de Fenetre

  • Gite de La Lechere

  • Chalet Le Dolent

  • Auberge de Maya-Joie

  • Auberge des Glaciers

  • Gite de la Fouly

  • Hotel Edelweiss La Fouly

  • Pension en Plein Air

  • Gite Bon Abri

  • Chalet La Grange

  • Relais d'Arpette

  • Hotel Col de la Forclaz

  • Auberge la Grande Ourse

  • Auberge du Mont-Blanc

  • Refuge Le Peuty

  • Refuge du Col de Balme

  • Gite Mermoud

  • Gite d'Alpage Les Ecuries de Charamillon

  • Albert Premier Hut

  • Chalet CAF du Tour

  • Gite Le Moulin

  • Auberge la Boerne

  • Refuge Lac Blanc

• Walkers Haute Route

  • Refuge Lac Blanc

  • Auberge la Boerne

  • Gite Le Moulin

  • Chalet CAF du Tour

  • Gite d'Alpage Les Ecuries de Charamillon

  • Gite Mermoud

  • Albert Premier Hut

  • Refuge du Col de Balme

  • Refuge Le Peuty

  • Auberge du Mont-Blanc

  • Auberge la Grande Ourse

  • Hotel Col de la Forclaz

  • Relais d'Arpette

  • Gite Bon Abri

  • Chalet La Grange

  • Pension en Plein Air

  • Cabane de Mille

  • Cabane Brunet

  • Cabane FXB Panossiere

  • Cabane de Louvie

  • Cabane de Prafleuri

  • Cabane de la Barmaz

  • Cabane des Dix

  • Cabane de Moiry

  • Turtmannhutte

  • Topalihutte

  • Taschhutte

• Alta Via 1 Dolomites

  • Rifugio Biella

  • Rifugio Scotoni

  • Rifugio Lagazuoi

  • Rifugio Col Gallina

  • Rifugio Scoiattoli

  • Rifugio Averau

  • Rifugio Nuvolau

  • Rifugio Croda da Lago

  • Rifugio Passo Staulanza

  • Rifugio Adolfo Sonino Al Coldai

  • Rifugio Attilio Tissi

  • Rifugio Mario Vazzoler

  • Rifugio Bruto Carestiato

  • Rifugio Passo Duran

• Bernese Oberland Traverse

  • Brochhuette SAC

  • Berghaus Alpiglen

  • Rotstockhuette

  • Gspaltenhornhuette SAC

  • Bluemlisalphuette SAC

  • Winteregghuette SAC

• Tour des Combins

  • Cabane de Mille

  • Cabane Brunet

  • Cabane de Louvie

  • Cabane FXB Panossiere

  • Cabane de Chanrion

  • Rifugio Champillon

  • Rifugio Frassati

  • Mont-Joux Auberge

  • Great St. Bernard hospice

  • Hotel du Col de Fenetre

  • Gite de La Lechere

  • Chalet Le Dolent

  • Auberge de Maya-Joie

  • Gite de la Fouly

  • Auberge des Glaciers

  • Hotel Edelweiss La Fouly

  • La Tsissette Hut

  • Pension en Plein Air

• Tour of Monte Rosa

  • Britannia Hut

  • Albergo Ristoro Sitten

  • Topalihutte

  • Taschhutte

• Alta Via 2 Dolomites

  • Rifugio Puez (CAI)

Introducing Jonas de Jong, trail expert for Tour des Combins

We are excited to share that Jonas de Jong has joined The Hiking Club team as “Trail Expert, Tour des Combins”.

Originally from the Netherlands, Jonas moved to Switzerland in 2016 and his love for the mountains blossomed. He’s hiked and run through forests, hills, and mountains, completing multi-day tours like the Tour du Mont Blanc, Tour des Combins and Tour du Monte Rosa. Jonas has also ventured into high-altitude mountaineering, having conquered over 10 of the Alps' 4,000-meter peaks. In trail running, he’s become one of the fastest from his low-altitude homeland, participating in races like Sierre-Zinal and OCC of the famed UTMB circuit.

Jonas is training to become an International Mountain Leader and has become an expert in the Pennine Alps region. He has experience during all seasons - summer, winter and shoulder - and offers guiding services for those that are interested in tackling more technical routes or to support a private group. He has guided groups all across the alps and beyond in hiking, trail running and snowshoeing.

As the “Trail Expert, Tour des Combins”, Jonas will be the key point person on The Hiking Club team for this trail. Our planning app will not only include necessary data and information for hiking the main trail, but also the inclusion of alternative routes and highlights that provide a unique experience. He will also provide consulting services via our Expert Access and Expert Consultation packages, present workshops and webinars, answer customer support questions and lead marketing activities.

With Jonas’ expertise, we aim to bring the most comprehensive planning tool for the Tour des Combins to The Hiking Club community.

The Pennine Alps

The Pennine Alps are a towering mountain range marking the border between the canton of Valais in Switzerland and the Italian provinces of Piedmont and the Aosta Valley. They are located in the western part of the Alps, with the Mont Blanc massif flanking them to the West and Lepontine Alps to the East. With over thirty 4,000m / 13,000ft + peaks including the famous  Matterhorn and Monte Rosa, a trail through the Pennine Alps features on the bucket list of most hikers.

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Pennine Alps: Shaded in blue

The availability of mountain accommodation and transportation has created many incredible day and overnight hiking experiences in the Pennine Alps. The top 5 multi-day experiences in this area are:

• Walker’s Haute Route (~ 213km / 132mi): along the North side 

• Alta Via 1 - Aosta Valley (~ 190km / 118mi) : along the South side

• Tour of Monte Rosa (164km / 102mi): around the East end

• Tour des Combins (100km / 62mi): around the West end

• Tour of the Matterhorn (107km / 66mi): around the middle section

Experienced mountaineers also have the original ‘Haute Route’ which follows the Pennine Alps mountain chain, spending much of its time on glaciated terrain. This route was first forged by the English Alpine Club in the mid-19th century and has become a popular ski route in the Spring months too.

The rugged high mountain terrain of the Pennine Alps offers few opportunities for easy passage between Switzerland and Italy.  For hikers, only four trails become snow-free in the summer and a further two remain glaciated year-round (but can be crossed with a guide). Col du Grand Saint Bernard on the West end and Simplon pass on the East offer the easiest places to cross the Pennine Alps and have been used by travelers as far back as the Bronze Age — about 800 B.C.  Nowadays, roads have been built over these two passes and you’ll often hear the roar of sports cars enjoying the high mountain switchbacks.

Aside from the big mountain vistas, some of the unique highlights in the area include seeing the Valais Blackneck goat, the origin of raclette and fontina cheeses (which are a culinary highlight in their own right!); the tallest gravity dam in the world (Grande Dixence); the highest peak in Switzerland (Monte Rosa); and longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the alps (Charles Kuonen suspension bridge).

Valais blackneck goat

Raclette

Grand Dixence Dam

East Side of Monte Rosa from Rifugio Oberto

Charles Kuonen suspension bridge

Lac Des Dix from Refuge la Barma

Col du Grand Saint Bernard holds particular historical significance as Napoleon crossed here with his army to surprise Austrian forces in Genoa. A famous painting (considered a propaganda masterpiece) was produced to mark the occasion and ultimate triumph of the campaign. In the painting, Napoleon is wearing a magnificent cloak on a rearing charger, when in actual fact, he crossed the pass riding a donkey, wearing a simple grey greatcoat. Hannibal is also etched into the foreground of the painting which aims to draw a comparison with other great generals and has fueled the debate as to whether Col du Grand Saint Bernard was where he crossed the Alps with his African war elephants to strike at Rome.

Napoleon crossing the Alps: Jacques-Louis David, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Pennine Alps is also home to The Great St Bernard Hospice was originally a monastic shelter founded in the Middle Ages, led by Augustinian monks. The hospitality of the monks is legendary and continues on as a hospice welcoming pilgrims and hikers, and a museum, today. Founded in 1049, the hospice became famous for its breeding and use of St Bernard dogs in rescue operations.

The Saint Bernard dog: Large size, and gentle temperament originally bred for rescue work by the hospice of the Great St Bernard Pass.

Hiking in this inspiring part of the world was where the idea for The Hiking Club was born and therefore thought there was no better location to kick off our ‘Trails of the world spotlight’. Many of you have experience hiking in the Pennine Alps so we’d invite you to share any highlights or interesting history from the area that you discovered.

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Author: Brendan Jones, The Hiking Club
A pizza-making, craft beer-loving, peanut butter connoisseur that has been exploring the great outdoors since completing the Duke of Edinburgh Award in high school. He started The Hiking Club to democratise hiking and the benefits that come from spending time in nature. You can read more about Brendan and the team here.

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The Hiking Club empowers anyone to walk the way they want in the wild with personalised self-guided hiking experiences that are easy to find, quick to plan and simple to navigate.

We believe hiking experiences have the power to transform lives. With a growing range of personalised hikes that take into account your preferences, fitness and interests, we give you everything you need to explore the legendary trails of the world!