74 - Haute-Savoie walks

Short, easy route to discover the beautiful village of La Clusaz from different perspectives.
Follow the signs for the “Tour du Village".

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).

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.

This 2nd stage of the Tour Mont Blanc (TMB) follows the river Le Bonnant upstream to climb over the Col du Bonhomme at 2,329m. 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.

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 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!

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.

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 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.

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 beautiful hike on snowshoes which takes you through completely wild areas covered in pure white snow.

Nice looped hiking trail mostly in the undergrowth where you can see pretty views like Val du Fier's canyon, the river Rhône downstream Seyssel or the lovely ruined Saint André's chapel overlooking Albanais' plains.

An atypical route through bushes and over the lake.

Snowshoe circuit on the vast Glières Plateau.
Besides the historical aspect, the Glières Plateau is interesting to visit because the mountains that surround it are strong points of reference.

A short and easy walk around the informative trail about the formation of marshland and the different fauna and flora found there, followed by a visit to the monument erected to the resistance fighters who were based at the Plateau des Glieres in the latter part of WWII. The way back follows part of the historic trail and passes the place where equipment drops were housed and the site of the infirmary.

An out and return walk to Lac du Mont Charvin. Passing through woodland, then pasture before entering the higher and more rocky terrain. Great views Mont Blanc from the ridge above the lake.

A circular walk, at first uphill through woodland where the shade can be a relief, then over open mountain pastures to Le Planet before returning downhill to the start.

A lovely walk through great scenery which changes at different points of the walks. Good views and very quiet.

Note this is not marked with the usual yellow signposts so you will need to refer to your IGN map. There are some hand-painted signs and arrows to help guide you. This walk also passes through the upland pasture with grazing sheep and the livestock is protected by dogs. Make sure you have read the information and know-how to pass flocks in a safe manner. A photo re info is attached,

A short uphill walk from the Col de la Colombiere to the lake and back. Nice scenery but can be popular.

This walk starts from the top of the gondola at Le Signal. It is an interesting walk, up to and through the Col de la Fenetre. The descent takes you back down through alpine pastures and into the valley leading back to Les Contamines-Montjoie.

⚠️ Please note that you need to park at (A) and not (D) for this walk ⚠️

A circular walk from Les Contamines Montjoie up to the Refuge de tré la Tete and views of the Tré la Tete glacier, then descending to Combe Noire to the waterfalls before returning past the pretty chapel of Notre Dame de la Gorge.

A good ridge walk starting from the Bettex telecabin station at Mont d'Arbois and finishing at Le Signal telecabin station above Les-Contamines-Montjoie.

A circular walk starting and finishing at the ski resort of Chinaillon; between Le Grand-Bornand and the Col de la Colombiere. A varied and interesting walk with great scenery, wildlife and options to take in Roc des Tours.

From Les Contamines-Montjoie; an out and return walk to the Lacs Jovet, joining and following the Tour du Mont Blanc trail for most of the way. There are more challenging alternatives to this walk to make it longer, more circular or technically harder; these are described in the useful information section.

A great pointy summit with a cross on top and good views followed by a descent of Borderan Combe. This could easily be done in reverse and/or without the use of the cable cars.

A circular walk to the Gramusset Refuge through great limestone scenery.

This circular walk will take you through the steep-sided wooded valley beneath the Aiguille de Manigod. It then brings you up into pastures before making the steep ascent to Sur le Freu and the more gentle ascent to the top of Orsiere via la Riondaz. The descent takes you back through pastures before heading back down through the forest to the start. Great views towards Manigod and the mountains behind Annecy, Mont Charvin.

A great walk for the family. You can choose between going to the lake and back or going right up to the top. The latter is easier than it looks and is actually less steep than the ascent to the lake.You will be rewarded with magnificent views.

A steep walk to a natural rock arch, the Trou de la Mouche (Fly Hole). The section up to the Trou is steep and loose in places, the initial descent is also steep but soon eases off. This route, although shown on IGN maps, is not marked with paint flashes. Signposts at the start of the route make this clear so make sure you have a map and compass.

The walk is best done in the direction described, and best done a clear, dry day.