Refuge Vittorio Sella - Valnontey
Departure from Cogne (Aosta Valley)
Spectacular view over Gran Paradiso.
Eaux Rousses - Refuge Vittorio Sella
Departure from Valsavarenche (Aosta Valley)
From Valsavaranche to Val de Cogne in the middle of a herd of chamois.
Bruil - Eaux Rousses
Departure from Rhêmes-Notre-Dame (Aosta Valley)
Another valley trek, the aim of today is Valsavarenche.
Refuge de l'Epée - Bruil
Departure from Valgrisenche (Aosta Valley)
Fourth stage between Valgisenche and Val de Rheme.
Planaval - Rifugio chalet de l'Epée
Departure from Arvier (Aosta Valley)
A Trek through Valgrisenche with a view over the large village dam.
Saint-Grat Lake and Refuge Adami
Departure from Valgrisenche (Aosta Valley)
Nestled at the foot of Tête du Ruitor and its glaciers, within a beautiful setting, Saint-Grat Lake is the highlight of any hike in its own right. Through the final twists and turns before the lake, the slope is smooth and the route straightforward. The next climb much steeper, leading to Refuge Adami gives you a stunning view point.
Lac du Vuert
Departure from Valgrisenche (Aosta Valley)
A two part hike. First up the Doire de Valgrisenche, a steady slope offering a leafy, green landscape. From the refuge, the landscape becomes essentially mineral and the slope steeper all the way to Vuert's small perched lake. Stunning high mountain surroundings.
Deffeyes Shelter - Planaval
Departure from La Thuile (Aosta Valley)
A long and difficult stage due to the ascension of 2 passes.
Trek across the Gran Paradiso
Departure from La Thuile (Aosta Valley)
It may not be true paradise but it certainly is heavenly. An exceptional group trek carried out in July 2011 which allows you to explore the Val D'aoste valleys ending with a balcony trail to Gran Paradiso summit.
La Joux - Deffeyes Shelter
Departure from La Thuile (Aosta Valley)
A trek across the Gran Paradiso passing through the 5 surrounding valleys.
Lacs de Fenêtre
Departure from Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses (Aosta Valley)
A superb circular walk crossing three cols and the border into Italy and back. There are amazing and changing views throughout. Recently upgraded with signage as a locally important route and marked as 210 on the Swiss side of the border, 103 or 13a on the Italian side.
Described here in a clockwise direction as the Col du Bastillon is better in ascent than descent.
The Matterhorn Tour
Departure from Bionaz (Aosta Valley)
Undertaken over 10 days, this circuit around the Matterhorn is outstanding. Each day it takes you over the 4000 m peaks of this alpine range. As it is located in 2 countries, Italy and Switzerland, it also brings you into contact with three European languages: Italian, German and also French in Valais in Switzerland.
The Matterhorn Tour Day 1: The Léchère - Prarayer Refuge
Departure from Bionaz (Aosta Valley)
Warm-up walk to reach the Prarayer refuge along the right bank of the lake.
The Matterhorn Tour D3: Perrucco Vuillermoz Refuge - Gandeg Cabin
Departure from Valtournenche (Aosta Valley)
Discover the giant that resides here, the splendid Matterhorn itself, before getting a closer look in the evening at the Gandeg cabin.
The Matterhorn Tour Day 2: Prarayer Refuge - Perrucco Vuillermoz Refuge
Departure from Bionaz (Aosta Valley)
Stage starting in pasture which quickly heads into the high mountains passing through the Valcornera pass.
Courmayeur to Malatrá Desot - Tour Mont Blanc
Departure from Courmayeur (Aosta Valley)
This 5th stage climbs out of Courmayeur to coss the Torrente Sapin and head past Rifugio Giorgio Bertone and climbing to the Col Sapin. Then down to Tza de Sécheron and back up to the Col Entre Deux Sauts. Let's do it! The Tour Mont Blanc (TMB) is a classic long-distance footpath that goes around Mont Blanc, passing from France into Italy and through Switzerland before returning to France.
Malatrá Desot to La Fouly - Tour Mont Blanc
Departure from Courmayeur (Aosta Valley)
This 6th stage of the TMB continues to follow the stream Dora di Ferret from high up before dropping into the valley, for a while. From below the Pré de Bard Damon and all the way up to the Grand Col Ferret the ascent is almost 500m. Here the route enters Switzerland and it's pretty much downhill, around La Dotse to follow the stream Dranse de Ferret into La Fouly. The Tour Mont Blanc (TMB) is a classic long-distance footpath that goes around Mont Blanc, passing from France into Italy and through Switzerland before returning to France. Let's do it!
Petit and Grand Cols Ferret
Departure from Orsières (Valais)
A lovely circular walk taking in both of the Col Ferrets. Done the way described means that you will ascend the steeper sections and enjoy the easy descent following the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) path.
Chemin de Bouquetins / des Bergers
Departure from Orsières (Valais)
This walk is a mixture of the Chemin de Bouquetins which coincides with the Sentier des Bergers in places. It takes advantage of the ski-lift in Fouly to save on the ascent but you can always walk uphill if you choose. These walks are both publicized by the tourist office and are well signposted.
La Fouly to Champex-Lac - Tour Mont Blanc
Departure from Orsières (Valais)
This 7th stage of the Tour Mont Blanc (TMB) begins in La Fouly and gently descends alongside the Dranse de Ferret to Praz-de-Fort and Les Arlaches. It then leaves the valley to climb up to Lac de Champex. 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.
Follow the TMB signposts.
The Refuge de Vallonbrun
Departure from Lanslevillard (Savoie)
A half-day hike for intermediate walkers. You'll walk through different settings that offer a large range of Vanoise flora, while benefiting from an extraordinary view over the summits of Maurienne and the Ecrins national park.
Tour du Cervin Day 4: Cabane Gandeg - Zermatt
Departure from Zermatt (Valais)
A Tour du Cervin alternative today, visiting the north side of the colossal peak before reaching Zermatt.
From the Mer de Glace to Chamonix through the forest
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
Return from the Mer de Glace glacier through the Montenvers forest along the eponymous railroad.
Grand Balcon Nord - Montenvers to Plan de l'Aiguille and to Les Houches
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
A high-level and stimulating walk along the Grand Balcon Nord overlooking the Chamonix-Mont-Blanc Valley. The route starts from the Montenvers train station (the Little Red Train) and passes the Refuge du Montenvers (worth an overnight stop). The Grand Balcon Nord terminates at Plan de l'Aiguille but the route drops down to Les Houche on the river L'Arve to reach the Chalet Les Méandres (ex Tupilak).
Tête de Prapator (Prapator head)
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
Lovely loop at the end of the Grand Balcon Nord, Chamonix valley.
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.
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.
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.