Châtel walks

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 TMB: from Forclaz pass to Montroc

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.

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.

This 8th stage of the Tour Mont Blanc (TMB) offers two options, the tough one via Fenetre D'Arpette and the somewhat easier option over Porte à l'Ô. Here's the second version, past Plan de L' au, over Alpage de Bovine and Porte à l'Ô, past the Col de la Forclaz to drop down to Trient. 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.

A circular walk from Champex Lac; ascending the tranquil and beautiful Combe d'Orny and joining the path to the Cabane d'Orny where there are refreshments available. The descent is via the path back to the La Breya ski lift taking in an optional ascent of La Breya. (It is also possible to descend by foot via the Val d' Arpette or from the ski lift, similarly the walk can be shortened and height gain reduced by taking the ski lift up.)

A circular walk from Champex Lac; ascending via the Bisses to the Arpette valley and then taking the path uphill through forest to the Col de la Breya. Then descending and joining the path to the Cabane d'Orny (refreshments available). The descent is via the path back to the La Breya chair lift taking in an optional ascent of La Breya.

6th stage of the Mont Blanc tour: from the Relais d'Arpette to the Forclaz Pass via la Fenêtre d'Arpette.

A short and easy walk from Champex Lac, taking the well signposted and good paths beside the Bisse. These are the water channels made to control and route the flow of water for irrigation purposes. The path returns to Champex via part of the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) path.

This is a variation on the Sentier Le Belvedere walk which is described in the Pays du St-Bernard tourist booklet.

An ascent of an easy alpine peak starting from the La Breya ski lift and via the Orny and Trient mountain huts. Superb views over the Trient Plateau.