Giffre walks

A lovely walk in the Giffre valley, starting from the immense glacial amphitheatre known as the Fer à Cheval, to reach the Fond de la Combe, with magnificent waterfalls, particularly in spring; the flora and fauna are also impressive. Moderator's note, following a comment from a user on 17 June 2023. The footbridge at Fond de la Combe is temporarily closed by municipal order and if you want to go to Bout du Monde, you should cross to the right bank of the Giffre at the Prazon chalet. The loop indicated here is therefore not currently possible.

This place really does exist and it’s not far away! To get there, simply:- head to the stunning Sixt Fer à Cheval cirque,- take the wide tracks and paths starting from the car park,- continue on to the front walls.

A superb walk facing the long barrier of the Rochers des Fiz (or Chaîne des Fiz – Massif de Platé, Haut Giffre), in an exceptional setting with a section of the route running alongside the Souay torrent. When the sun is shining, the reflections of Lake Pormenaz are truly beautiful.

As Hugues Aufray sings:Come on lads, wake up, we’ve got to get a move on, we’re off to the ends of the earth...Walkers who aren’t afraid of heights, or who can overcome their fear, will be rewarded with sublime views.

A lovely, easy hike that climbs up to Lac Vert and goes around it. Along the way, there are beautiful views of the Mont Blanc massif.

This is a fairly short, easy walk. The mountain pasture and lake are magnificent, but the access path, which is sometimes quite muddy, is mainly in the forest and offers few views.

With its lunar landscape, peaceful atmosphere and magnificent views, Platé is a site unlike any other. Hike to discover a site with exceptional geological, floral and fauna riches. The size of the site makes it the largest sharp limestone pavement in Europe.

A superb hike in the Giffre Valley, much of which is in the Sixt Passy nature reserve, with exceptional scenery and breathtaking views.

At an altitude of over 3,000 metres, there is a magnificent viewpoint over the Aiguilles Rouges and the Mont Blanc massif. This is a long and demanding hike in a wild setting offering superb panoramic views. This hike can be done in a single day (Very Difficult) or over two days with a night in a refuge (Difficult).

A very beautiful hike starting from Le Lignon in a magnificent setting (Passy - Haut-Giffre nature reserve). Depending on the season in which you do this hike, take into account the crossing of several snowfields (very late in 2013) and numerous streams that "cut" the path.

This is a fairly short walk with no real difficulty. There are beautiful views for much of the route and the scenery at the top is superb.

Discover the ancient Tines Gorges, carved out by the Giffre. Now abandoned by this turbulent torrent, these gorges offer a spectacular walk. Please note: message from a hiker dated 18/09/2022: Part of the walk is closed by prefectural order due to the risk of falling trees. Another message dated 19/07/23 states: The path is destroyed in several places due to tree felling. Please check before planning this trip

A must-see in this mountainous area, close to Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, this hike offers views of magnificent landscapes. Between the cliffs, you follow the Giffre river and admire the many waterfalls of the torrents that flow into it. It starts here from the car park just after Nambride, the last car park where you can park for free to access the site. You can therefore shorten this hike (see practical information and other descriptions on Visorando). Most of the elevation gain is at the bottom of the valley and can also be avoided (see practical information).

An extraordinary hike that almost forms a loop, starting from the Châtelet car park; a complete change of scenery guaranteed in an exceptional environment (Passy and Sixt nature reserves; Platé desert). You will need two vehicles.

This former mountain pasture is located at the foot of the Aiguilles de Warens and offers a beautiful landscape reminiscent of certain panoramas in the Dolomites. A superb circular, where you will pass the Aiguille de Varan from the Zéta. At Lachat d'en Haut and along the route, you will also enjoy superb views of the Mont Blanc Massif, the Aravis Massif and the Fiz Massif.

Crossing the Buet, ascending via the Refuge de Grenairon and descending via Les Fonts. It is a long loop with a significant elevation gain and a section at an altitude of 3,000 metres. Having done this hike again in the direction of Grenairon chalet to Fonts chalets, I am repeating the description as it is much easier, shorter (approx. 9 to 10 hours), and it is easier to see the rest of the path from above when descending from Beaux Prés.

After climbing up the Giffre torrent, cross the impressive footbridge over the Tines Gorges. Head to the hamlet of Le Mont and its small chapel to return to Samoëns, passing through picturesque villages.

A short circular hike, allowing you to admire the 360° panorama from Pointe d'Angolon and then enjoy the calm and beauty of the lakes of Nyon Guérin and Joux Plane. Please note that the ridge walk may not be suitable for those who are prone to vertigo.

A very pleasant short hike with beautiful scenery and superb views of the Arve Valley and the Aravis mountain range (with a view of Pointe Percée). Suitable for children who can walk a little.

This hike allows you to discover the Les Gets ski resort. It offers beautiful panoramic views of the Les Gets, Morzine and Samoens valleys. Route through the forest or mid-mountain, passing by the Col and Lac de Joux Plane.

A beautiful circular hike from Passy in a rugged environment with a remarkable summit overlooking the Arve valley. The wild and vertiginous crossing from the Aiguille de Varan to the Désert de Platé is quite unforgettable. The hike can be split into two by staying overnight at the Refuge de Varan. This hike should not be attempted in uncertain weather or foggy conditions.

An easy family walk that can be enjoyed in all seasons.

A beautiful circular at the top of Flaine, in a spectacular sharp limestone pavement setting, with one of the most beautiful views of the Mont Blanc range as a bonus.

This route presents no difficulties other than the distance and elevation gain, and can be completed in one go by well-trained hikers. The route is fully signposted and can be completed in its entirety by following the directions on the signs and markings (a little more difficult when the "high" part is snow-covered, as it was during our last hike :-) ).

A very beautiful day hike with a wide variety of landscapes. Please note: the Pas du Boret pass should only be attempted by experienced hikers who are not prone to vertigo. If you do not feel comfortable walking along the mountainside, take the route via Bout du Monde instead. Avoid the Pas du Boret if the weather conditions are not favourable.

This hike includes some vertiginous passages on the ridges between Col de Joux Plane and La Bourgeoise, overlooking Samoëns and the Giffre valley.

A beautiful hike near Les Carroz d'Arâches. Between forest and mountain pastures, it first leads to the shores of Lac de Vernant, located between Tête du Pré des Saix, on the Les Carroz d'Arâches and Samoëns side, and Grands Vans on the Flaine side. The ascent then leads to the Col de Vernant with a distant view of the Cirque du Fer à Cheval, then to the Tête du Pré des Saix itself, which offers a remarkable panorama of Mont Blanc and its massif, as well as the other surrounding massifs. The descent finally ends at Lac de l'Airon, the last stage before the finish.

A hike from Le Lignon to the Sales chalets. It crosses forest and mountain pasture landscapes. Following the Sales torrent, you can admire the various waterfalls along its course. You will cross the Pas de Sales, a passage carved into the rock by farmers in the 19th century to bring their herds up to the mountain pastures. It is still used today. In addition to the domestic animals that make up the herds found around the chalets of Sales, it is not uncommon to see marmots and ibex, even close to the trails. This beautiful hike will delight your eyes.

The Tête de Bostan offers a superb panorama of the higher peaks very close to the Dents Blanches and Dents d'Oddaz. This hike offers an ascent of this summit via the original and wild Pas de la Latte route. The descent is via the more usual Col de la Golèse route.

The first stage of a two-day excursion to Lac d'Anterne, this day allows us to reach the Refuge du Col d'Anterne via Les Argentières and Lac de Pormenaz.

In the land of the Dents d'Oddaz and the Dents Blanches, visit a pretty lake nestled at the foot of the former.

This is a long hike with a significant elevation gain. The effort is rewarded by panoramic views throughout the route.

A magnificent ascent via the Sales Refuge. After passing close to the Pleureuse, Sauffaz, Sales and Trainant waterfalls, the Sales valley offers us bucolic landscapes that contrast with the harshness of the surrounding peaks. It's like being in a Snow White cartoon... or, more to my taste, Shrek. The rest of the route, no less remarkable, will lead us to a breathtaking panorama...

A pleasant, easy walk that allows you to explore the Flaine valley.

Beautiful climbs and pretty waterfalls, with panoramic views over the Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval valley.

First day of the hike. A good, varied climb that will take you to the Désert de Platé, a rather exceptional protected site.

Starting from the Col de Joux Plane, this hike crosses the ski slopes descending from the Pointe d'Angolon (Domaine des Gets). The climb to the Pointe de Nyon offers beautiful views of the Les Gets resort and Morzine. At the summit, there is a superb view of the Haut Giffre peaks (orientation table).

A superb four-day hike, with lakes, waterfalls, ladders, ibex, marmots and magnificent panoramic views, particularly of Mont Blanc, located 15 km away.

A lovely walk through the woods to the Chapel of Jacquicourt. For experienced walkers (fairly steep climb).

A long hike taking you to the famous Platé Desert, a vast limestone plateau covered in countless sharp limestone pavements. This route forms a circular route through the two beautiful valleys of the Gers and the Foges.

A lovely mountain walk, easy at first, at the bottom of a wooded and green valley, then difficult, on the mountainside, exposed to the sun. Interesting waterfall. Panoramic view from the pass. ⚠️ This route crosses the Aiguilles Rouges nature reserve. Please respect the regulations in force. See practical information.

A lovely route starting from the Agy plateau, through mountain pastures and forests, with views of the Giffre mountains on one side and the Aravis on the other.

A very beautiful, long hike from which you can admire various magnificent waterfalls, the Plaine du Grand Pré, the Fiz, the Lacs de Laouchets, the Désert de Platé, and the Mont Blanc range from the Dérochoir. A long hike with no technical difficulties or exposed sections.

A circular loop around the resort of Les Gets with an ascent to the Pointe d’Angolon, where the panorama is superb, offering views of: the Fiz and Aravis ranges, the Mont Blanc massif in the background and the Dents du Midi. You can also see Morzine clearly and a stretch of Lake Geneva. The climb to Pointe d’Angolon is a good introduction to ridge trails as it is slightly exposed, with cables at one point. However, the route is never difficult.

A lovely walk starting from Flaine, with no particular difficulty, featuring a pleasant route through the sharp limestone pavement and a section along the cliff edge.

Descend into the Gorges de Sales and pass by the foot of magnificent waterfalls.

From the Moëde Anterne refuge where you will have spent the night, there is a beautiful climb to the Col d'Anterne, facing Mont Blanc, then a return trip to Lac d'Anterne. The descent from the pass is via the 4X4 track to spare your joints.

A loop via the magnificent and wild Trè-les-Eaux valley on the way there and via the Col de la Terrasse and the Refuge de Loriaz on the way back. Exceptional 360° panorama from the summit!Trè-les-Eaux is one of the few places in the Chamonix valley that is still untouched by mass tourism.

Climb up the rocks for panoramic views of Mont Blanc. Please note: technical and exposed sections.

Second stage of the Tour des Aiguilles Rouges. This second stage follows the itinerary of the Mont Blanc GRP®. Hike through the Passy Reserve to the Col de Salenton. It's optional to climb the Mont Blanc des Dames: le Buet. Descent through the Vallon de Bérard nature reserve to the mountain hut.