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 Vittorio Sella - Valnontey
Departure from Cogne (Aosta Valley)
Spectacular view over Gran Paradiso.
Refuge de l'Epée - Bruil
Departure from Valgrisenche (Aosta Valley)
Fourth stage between Valgisenche and Val de Rheme.
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.
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.
Planaval - Rifugio chalet de l'Epée
Departure from Arvier (Aosta Valley)
A Trek through Valgrisenche with a view over the large village dam.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
Lex Blanche to Courmayeur - Tour Mont Blanc
Departure from Courmayeur (Aosta Valley)
This 4th stage of the Tour Mont Blanc (TMB) begins with a descent to Val Veny before climbing up Arp Vieille and to the Fauvre Edge. The route hugs the mountain to reach the ski slopes and drops down 800m to Courmayeur. 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__.
Les Chapieux to Lex Blanche - Tour Mont Blanc
Departure from Bourg-Saint-Maurice (Savoie)
This 3rd stage of the Tour Mont Blanc (TMB) follows the Torrent des Glaciers up 900m to the Col de la Seigne. Climbing gently, at first, for just over 10km before dropping down 300m to Lex Blanche. 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.
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 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
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.
From Plan de l'Aiguille to Montenvers station
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
A beautiful hike downhill from the restaurant near the Plan de l'Aiguille cable car to the Montenvers station and back to Chamonix station by train.
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).
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.
La Jonction via Montagne de la Côte
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
The Montagne de la Côte is a steep ridge separating the final tongues of the Bossons and Taconnaz Glaciers tumbling down from Mont Blanc and Le Goûter.
Historically, the route taken by Balmat and Paccard on their first ascent of Mont Blanc, this climb starts out pleasantly winding through the forest, then onto grassy slopes, and finally into a more mineral setting, ending in a very high-mountain glacial atmosphere.
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.
Mer de Glace through the forest
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
Many of you are familiar with the Mer de Glace and its trusty red cogwheel train. This time, however, you won't be using the train - you'll be climbing Mer de Glace on foot. Don't worry, you'll be able to admire the little red train as you make your way up. The hike continues as far as the ladders leading down to the Mer de Glace. From here on, the ride becomes mountaineering, and it's time to turn back.
Tour Mont Blanc in 11 stages
Departure from Les Houches (Haute-Savoie)
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. These 11 stages are one way of doing it but you can make your own version of the TMB. The classic route begins and ends in Les Houches and takes an anticlockwise direction around Mont Blanc and the adjacent peaks. There is a total of 164 km (102 miles) walking these 11 routes and a positive height gain of over 10,000m. Certainly a challenging adventure but well worth the effort. Let's do it!
Les Houches to Les Contamines - Tour Mont Blanc
Departure from Les Houches (Haute-Savoie)
This 1st stage of the Tour Mont Blanc (TMB) is possibly the toughest but the adrenaline is pumping and short-cuts are not on the agenda. 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.
The Tines loop via Argentière
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
3rd° loop of the Arve descent, from Les Tines, up through Le Lavancher and Petit Balcon Nord, superb scenery and a very pleasant forest crossing, and a descent as close as possible to the river.
Tête de Prapator (Prapator head)
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
Lovely loop at the end of the Grand Balcon Nord, Chamonix valley.
Tour des Aiguilles Rouges: Bellachat Refuge - Servoz
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
Fifth and final stage of the Tour des Aiguilles Rouges.
This stage offers panoramic views of the Mont Blanc massif and its glaciers, the Contamines valley and Les Fiz. The descent is through forest.
Lac Cornu (lake) from the Planpraz cable car
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
Beautiful walk facing the Mont Blanc massif, with a permanent view of the massif and glaciers.
The Aiguilles Rouges Black Lakes (Les Lacs Noirs des Aiguilles Rouges)
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
Hiking on the Aiguilles Rouges massif through a wild landscape, discovering magnificent mountain lakes.
You'll pass the Col du Lac Cornu, overlooking the eponymous lake, before arriving at the Lacs Noirs, where the mountain fauna is particularly present.
Despite some technical sections, I strongly recommend descending to the second lake, where few people venture. You'll be able to spot a few mountain animals - chamois, ibex, marmots - and, weather permitting, take a dip in a mountain lake with an exceptional panorama of Mont Blanc.
Tour des Aiguilles Rouges: Refuge La Flégère - Refuge Bellachat
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
Fourth stage of the Tour des Aiguilles Rouges.
This stage is on the Mont Blanc GRP® route, with the Mont Blanc massif and its glaciers as a panorama. Balcony hike to Planpraz. The panorama on arrival at Brévent is exceptional.
Lac Blanc and Cheserys lakes from La Flégère
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
Hiking facing the Mont Blanc massif and the Chamonix peaks.
Tour des Aiguilles Rouges: Servoz - Refuge Moede Anterne
Departure from Servoz (Haute-Savoie)
First stage of the Aiguilles Rouges tour.
This stage begins with a forest climb with views of Mont Blanc and the Bossons glacier. Continuing with a panoramic hike over the Passy reserve, we pass Lac de Pormenaz and arrive at Refuge de Moëde Anterne which overlooks the Mont Blanc mountain range.