There are permanent accommodation options available for this hike. In the south, camping is prohibited in the Gran Paradiso National Park. You may only pitch a tent once, at Gressonney-Saint-Jean. You must take the bus to La Thuile and then head directly to the Deffeyes Refuge, as the bus stops 2–3 km before it.
The stages in the south may seem short, but it is difficult to combine them as camping is not permitted.
The hike is done alone in the south as there are few people. The arrival in Cogne is superb as you find a magnificent mountain village. You must take the bus between Cogne and Lillaz as the route follows the road.
For those short on time, it is possible to cover the least interesting section, between Champorcher and Gressoney, by road, and to hitchhike between Champorcher and Pont Saint-Martin, then take the bus from Pont Saint-Martin to Gressoney Saint-Jean. You should then stay at the campsite in Gressoney.
On the northern section, the landscape changes completely and you can see the Grand Combin. The climbs, although long, are less steep. At this time of year, the mountain huts are empty so there’s no problem with bookings.
In fact, the Tor des Géants consists of the Alta Via No. 2 in the south and the Alta Via No. 1 in the north. By setting off early in the morning, around 6.30 am, it is possible to cover certain stages in a single day. At the cafés, you can enquire about potential accommodation.
Please note: this is a difficult hike, even though it is very well signposted. Using the VR app is highly recommended. There are also plenty of mountain huts, villages and houses where you can ask for water.