La Tournette

Date of walk : Jun 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Beautiful hike. Quite technical. Magnificent scenery and ibexes accustomed to hikers.

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Date of walk : Aug 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Since it was restored and reopened in the spring, the route is easy to do and well maintained.
It's best to get up as early as possible in the summer (leaving around 7am from the car park) to avoid the crowds on this popular hike.

After a strenuous ascent to the refuge, there is some respite for a few hundred metres before the second, once again strenuous section to the summit. In the final section, there are several passages with steel ropes to help you along, but nothing insurmountable.

All along the way, there are magnificent views of Lake Annecy and the surrounding mountains.
And don't forget your binoculars, as chamois and ibex are also very fond of the area!

On the way back, don't hesitate to stop off at the Chalet de l'Aulp for refreshments, lunch or a Reblochon cheese to take away!

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Hello,

Please note: due to roadworks, access to the Tournette summit from the Col de l'Aulp is closed until April 2024.

Read the 1st article and the second more recent one.

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Date of walk : Aug 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A really top-notch hike, especially if you like sport, because with 1300m of ascent, it's physical. Top spots on Lake Annecy and other Monts.
You do need to be careful, though, because sometimes it turns into climbing (even if it's not much). Lack of support chain in some places, but doable if you're not afraid.
The only downside is that the route is in reverse rather than a loop.
Be careful on the way back down, it's a long way down.
Good footwear strongly recommended.

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Date of walk : Jun 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

Mid-June already quite busy.
Some of the raid sections are a bit slippery.
Round trip, so less interesting but really beautiful.

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Date of walk : Jun 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : N/A
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

We left early, so there were no hikers and plenty of ibex. The view from the Pierre-Chatelard refuge is worth the walk in itself. As the weather conditions were unfavourable (thunderstorm the day before, clouds, presence of névés...), I turned back at the bottom of the chimney. As the sun came out, I met a lot of hikers on the way down, some of them on their way to La Tournette. A magnificent route, to be done again in September, hoping to avoid the crowds in the cabled sections...

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Date of walk : Oct 16, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

This is a classic route, very popular, and should only be done during the week if possible to avoid rock falls and overcrowding in equipped landscapes. For the descent, it's better to consider the circuit than an A R.

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Date of walk : Jul 09, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A great classic with some fairly difficult and steep sections. In the bar after the refuge de la Tournette and before changing course towards the Col du Varo, there is no real route. Everyone takes their own route through the sharp limestone pavement. Despite the crowds, a few ibex were grazing near the path. If you are a guest of the Chalet de l'Aulp, for example for an evening meal, you can take the car up the track to the chalet. GOOD SHOES are essential.

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Date of walk : Jul 08, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

We climbed up from Les Prés Ronds.
Arriving below the Casset wall, just before the refuge at Chalet du Casset, we joined the start of a climbing route on this wall. We left the route at the Col du Varo and climbed to the top of La Tournette, where we enjoyed a magnificent 360° panorama.
Back at the col, we took the path at the north end down to the Chalet de l'Aulp.
The route is well used, except for the climbing route.
A very nice hike.

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Date of walk : Oct 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

The Tourrnette loop is an emblematic hike above Lake Annecy, well frequented during the school holidays, with great weather and magnificent views.
We set off from Les Prés Ronds (car park with toilets) to reach the summit of La Tournette via the Col Varo. The path weaves its way between the bars and you need to be sure-footed. In wet conditions, the risk of slipping on the worn rock means you need to be very careful. Ibexes and chamois were there, as this is their territory.
We descended via the pointe des Frètes (a grassy, rounded summit on this slope). The path is well marked and leads back to the Prés Ronds without a problem.
There is a short steep section below the pointe de Bajoulaz, and a fine ridge route to the pointe des Frètes.
Highly recommended, with sufficient training on the varied terrain.

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Date of walk : Oct 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Monday 25 was chosen for the very fine weather and fewer people than on the weekend.
Departure 8am from the Chalet de l'Aulp. Conditions were excellent, the path not even slippery at the start of the day. Only one person met on the way up. Easy route to follow, even for a first-timer and on your own. Ascent in 2 hours without running. Need to be careful in the final third, but good safety equipment (chains and cables). Magnificent 360° view from the top of the chair. No wind and plenty of sun.
Care also needed on the way down (rolling stones and slippery ground). Descent in 1h30.
Lots of people (65) on the way down. Didn't see any animals but quite a few small hoof prints on the trail (chamois).
Would recommend.

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Date of walk : Sep 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A magnificent hike, but very physical for non-mountaineers like us. You have to go at your own pace, but we got there and the reward at the end was the magnificent panorama. The part with the chains is not easy because the stones are polished and slippery. Some chains are missing and some are broken. It's a pity that this section has not been made safer. We came across a whole group of ibex that were not very shy. Wonderful. Thanks to the author

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Date of walk : Sep 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

DIFFICULT AND LONG HIKE
STEEP SLOPE FROM THE START, THEN A LONG CLIMB

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Date of walk : Aug 13, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Magnificent hike, quite difficult because of its gradient and steep terrain (especially on the way down!) Very busy at this time of year, though.
Some chain and rope climbing. Good footwear is essential.
Breathtaking views all along and from the top! A few reluctant ibex just a few metres from us.
A loop is possible, apparently, but we couldn't find any signposting.

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Date of walk : Jun 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

We set off very early in the morning and made our way up without a hitch in glorious weather, arriving at the chair to admire the 360° panorama. It's impossible to get lost - the route is very well signposted. The few tricky sections were dry and posed no particular problems. We came across a group of curious but not very wild ibexes. We stayed on the chair for quite a long time and had plenty of time to admire the view over the lake. On the way down, we stopped off at the DUFOUR refuge and then at the Chalet de l'Aulp. I think you should leave early in the morning, because on the way back we passed a lot of people going up. It's a very nice little hike, but plan a slow descent to save your knees. It's a shame that the refuge is closed, we would have stayed a night at altitude. We recommend this wonderful hike. Please do not bring your pets, the recommendations are clear, dogs must be kept on a lead.

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