Pointe de Chesery: Out and Return
Departure from Châtel (Haute-Savoie)
This is a short tour which is useful to fill a couple of hours; perhaps when you want to stretch your legs on a short and steep ascent, or if you have spent most of the day hurtling downhill on a mountain bike and you want to do something different.
The Pointe de Cheserey can be easily ascended and descended using the same path as an out and return.
Tête de Chalin
Departure from Monthey (Valais)
An uphill hike taking you to the foot of the Eastern Peak (Cime de l'Est), eastern peninsular of "les Dents du Midi", with mind-blowing mountain view points and a panoramic view extending towards the Vaudois Alps. A challenging itinerary with a short aerial path through ridges.
Le Fer a Cheval
Departure from Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval (Haute-Savoie)
A very popular out and back walk into the nature reserve above Sixt Fer A Cheval. Excellent scenery but best enjoyed out of the main summer season when it is very busy.
Pointe de Chamossiere ridge hike, Lac de Joux Plan, Les Gets
Departure from Verchaix (Haute-Savoie)
A circular route encompassing a stunning ridge hike with views down to the glacial valley of Samoens and Sixt Fer a Cheval whilst overlooked by Mont Blanc.
Cheval Blanc, Bec du Corbeau and Pointe de Bellevue from Super Chatel
Departure from Châtel (Haute-Savoie)
A lovely walk, made accessible by the cable car. Varied and interesting walking with a lake, a quiet path through trees and two great view points.
Lac de Montriond to Roc de Taveneuse, views to Lac de Taveneuse & Abondance
Departure from Montriond (Haute-Savoie)
A there and back hike up to Roc de Taveneuse with views across to Abondance. This hike offers a challenging initial forest climb (hard relentless cardio but no rock climbs or cables/supports) but then opens up to mountain pastures with full panoramic shot of Mont Blanc (on a clear day). A further climb brings you to Roc de Tavaneuse with 360 views.
Le Giffre, Gorges des Tines and Sixt Fer a Cheval from Samoens
Departure from Samoëns (Haute-Savoie)
Apart from the first hill at the start this is a mainly flat and low level walk from Samoens to Sixt Fer a Cheval and back taking in the Gorges des Tines. It is a pleasant walk with a lot to see and do.
Trient to Tré-le-Champ - Tour Monte Blanc
Departure from Valais
This 9th stage of the Tour Mont Blanc (TMB) offers three options, the North-West one that climbs up almost to the summit of Carraye (t 2,132m) and drops down to Valorcine, the South-West past Col de Balme (at 2,191m) then drops to Le Tour or the middle option that goes over Col de Balme and Aiguilette des Posettes (at 2,210m) to drop down to Tré-le-Champ. Here's the description of the classic middle option. Let's do it!
The TMB is a classic long-distance footpath that goes around Mont Blanc, passing from France into Italy and through Switzerland before returning to France.
Along the Bisse du Trient
Departure from Valais
Starting from Col de la Forclaz (1527m), a short and easy out-and-back walk along the Bisse du Trient (irrigation channel) to the Chalet du Glacier (1583m), which offers a fine view of the Glacier du Trient and the Petite Pointe d'Orny (3187m).
⚠️ Part of the trail has been damaged by a landslide. Bypassing is possible, but the walk is not accessible for baby carriages and wheelchairs (see practical info).
7th stage of the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB)
Departure from Valais
7th stage of the TMB: from Forclaz pass to Montroc
Tête du Pré des Saix and Chalet de l'Airon from Plateaux des Saix
Departure from Samoëns (Haute-Savoie)
A short circular walk from the top station of the Telecabin du Grande Massif Express. A short variant is also described to take in the two lakes. Magnificent views from the Tête du Pré des Saix.
Tour des Aiguilles Rouges : Refuge Pierre à Bérard - Refuge Flégère
Departure from Vallorcine (Haute-Savoie)
Third stage of the Tour des Aiguilles Rouges.
This stage is on the GRP® Tour du Pays du Mont Blanc itinerary. Descend through the Vallon de Bérard nature reserve with its waterfall to the Col des Montets, then climb back up to the Refuge de la Flègère to take in the panoramic view of the Mont Blanc mountain range and its glaciers.
Col de Balme - Source de l'Arve - Col des Posettes from Le Tour
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
A short summer hike with exceptional panoramic views over the Chamonix valley and its massifs. There are several ways to approach it from Le Tour: the one shown is from the East, using the Charamillon cable car and the Autannes chairlift. The return journey is via the Charamillon cable car.
Refuge Albert 1er - Glacier du Tour
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
Located above the Tour glacier, on its right bank, it is the only refuge managed by the Chamonix CAF that can be reached without crossing a glacier in summer. Its location is ideal, with views over a wide range of peaks: Aiguille du Tour, Chardonnet, Aiguille d'Argentière, la Verte and les Drus, les Aiguilles Rouges. It was named after Albert 1st, King of the Belgians. Considered the only high-mountain refuge accessible to families.
Lac Blanc via Lacs de Chéserys from Col des Montets
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
A must-do hike through the Aiguilles Rouges Nature Reserve in the Chamonix Valley.
Lac Blanc culminates at 2352 m, offering an unforgettable panorama of the Mont Blanc range.
The route described here is much more bucolic and wild than the variant via La Flégère, which has become far too touristy.
Lac de la Remuaz loop
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
Magnificent hike, facing the Mont Blanc Massif all the way! While the whole route is quite busy, Lac de la Remuaz is off the trail and therefore isolated: a little forgotten gem.
Les Sources de l'Arve
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
With a group of senior hikers from the Arve Valley, we set off down the Arve River from its source at La Jonction, Geneva, to its confluence with the Rhône.
A short one-day circuit, ascending via the balconies and descending as close as possible to the river, the SM3A path.
Circular: Posettes ridge and Vallorcine valley
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
Circular close to the Franco-Swiss border with a variety of exposures in a Nature Reserve (forest to the East, long ridge, alpine pasture, forest to the west), with a beautiful 360° panoramic view and a belvedere ideal for picnics.
Péclerey mountain from the Tour village
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
This modest hike takes us to the Péclerey mountain overlooking the village of Le Tour, at the northern end of the Chamonix valley. This small, unassuming mountain offers superb views of the surrounding peaks (Aiguilles Rouges, Mont-Blanc), the Chamonix valley and the Tour glacier.
Chéserys, Blanc and Persévérance lakes circuit
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
A long loop taking in the various lakes in the eastern part of the Aiguilles Rouges Massif, with magnificent views of the Mont Blanc Massif just opposite, reflected in the waters of the lakes.
⚠️ The itinerary includes two tricky sections equipped with ladders and metal ramps.
Tré-le-Champ to Lac Blanc - Tour Mont Blanc
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
This 10th stage of the Tour Mont Blanc (TMB) normally runs along the high ground above the L'Arve valley to La Flègere but here's the description of the variant to Lac Blanc. A shorter stage but full of excitement and challenges. Let's do it!
The TMB is a classic long-distance footpath that goes around Mont Blanc, passing from France into Italy and through Switzerland before returning to France.
Le Grammont
Departure from Vouvry (Valais)
Passing through Tanay preserved site, and its lake, you'll climb to the summit offering a unique view point over Lac Léman and a panoramic view over the surrounding mountains.
A busy hiking trail with steep slopes but without any technical difficulty.
N.B. The calculated height difference is over estimated, it's actually closer to 1000 metres.
La Grande Jumelle
Departure from Vouvry (Valais)
A not too busy hike up to a summit offering a vast panoramic view. A relatively challenging route with some aerial passages requesting a certain sense of itinerary at times. The beginning of the hikes passes through Tanay site and its lake.
Refuge du Lac Blanc - Chamonix
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
9th stage of the Tour du Mont Blanc, from the Refuge du Lac Blanc to Chamonix.
Lac Blanc to Les Houches - Tour Mont Blanc
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
This 11th stage of the Tour Mont Blanc (TMB) is practically all downhill (with obvious exceptions at La Flégère, up to the Col du Brévent and Le Brévent and the Tête de Bellachat). The Refuge Lac Blanc is at 2,352m and the Chalet Les Méandres is at 1,100m. Let's do it!
The TMB is a classic long-distance footpath that goes around Mont Blanc, passing from France into Italy and through Switzerland before returning to France.
Loop from Argentière to Le Tour
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
After the sources of the Arve, the second loop of the Arve starts from Argentière and takes you on a balcony to the village of Le Tour. The return journey is via Tré-le-Champs, with beautiful panoramic views of the Mont Blanc Massif.
Forest and alpine pastures on the heights of Argentière
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
Outward journey from Argentière via Aiguillette d'Argentière and Lac Blanc, then down via Flégère to Les Praz de Chamonix.
Return to Argentière by train from Les Praz station. Otherwise two cars are required for arrival and departure.
Mont Ouzon, views of Lac Leman, Chablais & Mont Blanc Massifs
Departure from Le Biot (Haute-Savoie)
Starting in the abandoned ski resort of Drouzin le Mont in Col du Corbier, this is a moderate mountain climb winding through a forest section & alpine meadows before concluding with a short but challenging craggy rock face. The summit is sheltered by large rocks offering 360 stunning views of Lac Leman to the North and Mont Blanc to the South. It is not for the faint hearted, solo inexperienced or novice if a vertical rock scramble is not your thing, but the rest of hike is far more moderate.
Lognan refuge and Argentiére glacier
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
An exceptional hike, with no great technical difficulty, but with a substantial vertical drop that will take you to one of the most beautiful accessible glaciers in the French Alps, along with the Tour glacier.
The scenery is breathtaking, with the Aiguille Verte (4100 m), the Aiguille d'Argentière (3900 m) and the Aiguille du Chardonnet, among the most famous. The glacier is accessible, but be careful not to venture onto this glacier without suitable equipment, as numerous crevasses are visible.
Lac Blanc (lake) from La Flégère
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
A hike for those who want to enjoy the high mountains without too much elevation gain. It's ideal for children aged 8-10, to help them appreciate the mountains.
You'll enjoy a panoramic view of the Mont Blanc range from the Chamonix side.
Tour d'AÏ
Departure from Leysin (Vaud)
The Tours d'Aï and Mayen are twin peaks visible from afar. The Tour d'AÏ is slightly higher than its neighbour, and also visited more frequently. It's a progressive climb which offers an aerial tour at the very end. Amazing views of Lac Léman, le Chablais, les Dents du Midi and the Mont Blanc massif from the summit.
Tour de Mayen
Departure from Leysin (Vaud)
The Tours d'Aï and Mayen are twin peaks visible from afar. The Tour de Mayen is slightly lower than its neighbour, not as busy and provides a more wilderness setting. The climb is progressive with two stages, the Chalets de Mayen and Segray Lake. Just beneath the summit, a very clear view of Lac Léman, les Diablerets, le Chablais, les dents du Midi and the Mont Blanc Massif.