Pointe de Talamache circular

This beautiful circular hike begins in a beech forest that may seem quite steep but is well marked. The alpine pastures, which are full of flowers until mid-summer, quickly come into view. You may encounter ibex on the Crête des Trévelles. The summit is easily reached and offers a beautiful 360° panorama. The descent to Pas de l'Aulp can be daunting but is very well protected.

Details

n°59044574

Creation:
31 Jul 2024

Last update:
11 Aug 2024

Last review:
01 Dec 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 9.62 km
Average duration: 6h 00
Difficulty: Difficult
Back to start: Yes
Ascent: + 1,126 m
Descent: - 1,124 m
Highest point: 1,846 m
Lowest point: 780 m

Country: France
Areas: Alps, Aravis and Bornes
City: Thônes (74230)
Start/End: N 45.860544° / E 6.282583°
IGN map(s): Ref. 3431OT, 3431OTR
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Photos

The mountain pastures before the Larrieu refuge chalet

Description of the walk

From Thônes, go up the stream of the Nant Malnant towards Montremont and park either at the first small car park at Prampaz, known as La Montaz on the IGN map, where the hike begins, or 400 m higher at La Joux.

(S/E) Turn left and follow the^GRP® Massif Tournette-Aravis trail, marked in yellow and red, uphill. After numerous tight hairpin bends, you will reach a T-junction. Keep left on the^GRP® to reach the Refuge de Larrieux.

(1) Turn right, still on the^GRP®, continue climbing and, after a series of hairpin bends, you will reach the Crêt des Tervelles crossroads. Here, join the^GR®96.

(2) Continue straight ahead to quickly reach the summit of Pointe de Talamarche.

(3) Cross the summit and continue downhill towards the south until you reach a crossroads above the Chalets de l'Aulp Riant.

(4) Keep left on the^GR® and, after a short, gentle climb, you will reach Roc Ancrenaz.

(5) Go around it and then cross the Pas de l'Aulp, a passage protected by cables. Continue the descent to the Col des Nantets.

(6) Leave the^GR®. Turn left downhill to reach the Chalet du Mont.

(7) Continue downhill to reach the crossroads at the rest area near the Cabane de l'Isba.

(8) From here, rejoin the^GRP® Massif Tournette-Aravis and continue for a few hundred metres until you reach the Joux car park.

(9) Continue downhill to the Prampaz car park (S/E).

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 781 m - Prampaz car park
1 : km 2.48 - alt. 1,532 m - Larrieux Refuge.
2 : km 3.48 - alt. 1,713 m - Crêt des Tervelles
3 : km 4.02 - alt. 1,844 m - Pointe de Talamarche
4 : km 4.97 - alt. 1,614 m - GR crossroads
5 : km 5.76 - alt. 1,665 m - Roc Lancrenaz - Pas de l'Aulp (1572m)
6 : km 6.88 - alt. 1,417 m - Col des Nantes (1426m)
7 : km 7.59 - alt. 1,193 m - Chalet du Mont
8 : km 8.65 - alt. 855 m - Developed area
9 : km 9.16 - alt. 809 m - La Joux car park
S/E : km 9.62 - alt. 781 m - Prampaz car park

Notes

(1) A fountain at the Refuge de Larrieux.
(7) Another at the Chalet du Mont.

Worth a visit

(3) At the summit of Pointe de Talamarche, head a few metres to the right to admire Lake Annecy to the east. The cross at the summit offers a 360° panorama with the Tournette Massif in the foreground.

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5

Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5

Ease of following the route
5 / 5

Route interest
4.8 / 5

Angelique89110

01 Dec 2025 at 09:14 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful route with lots of elevation gain, first part in the woods, the part where you approach the peak becomes difficult with snow, very slippery, I recommend walking poles, which were very useful to me, then the descent is fairly easy but once again you need to be equipped with good footwear.
A hike for experienced and well-equipped walkers. Not very long but difficult.

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Mbar2

10 Nov 2025 at 16:33 3600 • Edited: 10 Nov 2025 at 16:36 3600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike done on a Sunday in November in good weather, in the opposite direction to that shown on the map.
Some traces of snow on the descent on the north side, but nothing that caused any problems.

No difficulty in reaching the summit or descending. The cable at the Aulp pass is there for decoration.

The view from the summit is average because, as it is not very high, it is "blocked" on several sides (Tournette, Dents de Lanfon in particular).

Allow between 4½ and 5 hours (excluding lunch break) to complete the circular.

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florence seyssel

16 Sep 2025 at 09:07 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This trail is well marked and the signs are clearly visible. Regarding the Pas de l'Aulx, which is a somewhat exposed pass, there is a chain, but it is not located where people would need it most. Our path was wet and slippery, and the chain is at the bottom of the steep descent facing the drop. A chain for the descent would have been welcome, rather than at the bottom of the descent.

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Ptitchat74

14 Aug 2025 at 21:29 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike completed today in the heatwave. We set off early, so it remained cool for almost the entire climb. The climb through the Thônes forest may seem steep, but it is actually quite easy. The descent on the Col du Nantets side is quite steep, with a long section of rocks and stones. Good footwear and walking sticks are recommended. The view from the summit is definitely worth the effort

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User 14600349

11 Aug 2025 at 18:47 7200

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very interesting hike that can be done in either direction. Going counterclockwise, there is a 2.5 km climb through fairly steep woods on a wide path that is not particularly interesting. However, once you emerge from the woods, the hike immediately becomes more beautiful, with views and a pleasant trail through alpine pastures. From this point to the summit, the climb is a real pleasure. We set off at 7.30 a.m. and were lucky enough to see three ibexes just ten metres away.
The view from the summit is magnificent, with a 360° panorama.
The descent is longer and therefore less steep (although the last kilometre is also steep) but still enjoyable.
We did the hike on a Sunday morning at 7:30 a.m. and saw very few people. On the way down, we came across a few more walkers, who were probably going to have a picnic at the summit.
I did it with my two sons (aged 18 and 21) at a brisk pace in 4 hours (including a half-hour break at the summit)
In short, this is a hike that I highly recommend, and I was very surprised that there were only three comments about it.

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Stef74

11 Aug 2025 at 11:38 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent hike. Perfectly signposted
Admittedly, the climb can seem long, but it is pleasant and shaded.
The landscapes are extremely varied, the views are magnificent, the mountain pastures are sumptuous and there are few people except at the Col des Nantets, where there are many hikers in a small area, making the round trip from the Aulp chalet.
But once again, there's no one on the descent.
Thanks for the itinerary!

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ANTZEMBERGER

14 Jul 2025 at 10:11 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A hike accessible to many people, taking 3 hours and 45 minutes without breaks. Superb 360° panoramic views. Nothing very technical, the path is not very stony on the way up, then cleared of brush in the pastures. However, the descent is steep and hard on the legs. Perfect for the start of the hiking season.

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MATetMP

02 Nov 2024 at 08:02 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with varied landscapes. No technical difficulty, but a beautiful and long climb to start with (whichever direction you take), followed by an equally beautiful and long descent on the way back! Magnificent views of La Tournette and Mont Blanc from the summit, and the end of the lake on the other side.

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Vaoli

21 Oct 2024 at 08:12 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Varied route, forest, mountain pasture, ridge.
Magnificent 360° views.
Can be done in both directions.

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