Saint-Gervais-les-Bains walks

This hike takes you into the high mountains. The finish is the Tête Rousse mountain hut, one of the stages on the classic Mont Blanc route. Crampons are recommended for the final few metres (crossing the Tête Rousse Glacier). Please note: This is a hike with a significant elevation gain, suitable only for experienced walkers who do not suffer from vertigo.

This hike is not particularly difficult, despite one slightly steep section, and will take you to the foot of the terminal tongue of the Bionnassay Glacier, then to the Col de Voza. All along the way, you will enjoy magnificent views of the Bionnassay Glacier, then the Chamonix Valley and the Mont Blanc Massif.

This route does not present any particular difficulties, except for a significant elevation gain (over 1,100 metres), which classifies it as difficult. It reaches the summit of Mont Vorassay after the Col de Tricot and passes close to the Bionnassay glacier. There are magnificent views of the refuge and the Aiguille du Goûter as well as the Aiguille de Bionnassay. The descent is very pleasant and passes through a beautiful forest.

A great classic in the area, with particularly bucolic scenery ("and in the middle flows a river"). Ideal for a long break, a picnic or a day in the sun by the stream.

Sublime hike to the Chalets de Miage and Mont Truc.

Circular route starting from La Gruvaz, suitable for mountain biking, running, walking or snowshoeing.

Loop trail around Mont Vorassay, allowing you to get close to the Bionnassay Glacier. The Col du Tricot offers a beautiful view.

A classic in the area, with sweeping views of the Chamonix valley and the other side of Saint-Gervais. A fairly easy, family-friendly hike. There are lots of activities and games if you want to spend the day there.

stage1 of the Tour du Mont Blanc: from Les Houches to the Refuge de Nant Borrant (in the commune of Les Contamines Montjoie) via the Col du Tricot variant.

Tour du Mont Blanc in 9 days.

Itinéraire de la traversée des Alpes. Départ des Houches pour rejoindre le Beaufortain. Itinéraire classique et tranquille passant par Bionassay et les Contamines Montjoie pour aller jusqu’au refuge de la Balme. Cet itinéraire est commun à celui du tour du Mont Blanc.

stage 1 of the TMB: Les Houches to Les Contamines-Monjoie via the Col du Tricot

Completed from 27 June to 4 July 2011, with 4 hikers, 2 tents, in almost complete autonomy (food provided for 7 days, only bread and a few items were purchased along the route). The cable car and bus were used to shorten some stages and we needed about a day more to complete the Brévent balcony opposite the Mont Blanc massif. The return to the starting point will be by public transport, bus or train...

A beautiful hike offering views of numerous mountain ranges along the way: the Aravis range, Tête du Colonney and surrounding area, the Mont Blanc range, Mont d'Arbois and Mont Joly. The route includes a difficult section where the path disappears from view for a few dozen metres due to a lack of maintenance. An alternative route is available if you wish to avoid this difficulty.

The Refuge de Tête Rousse is a stopover refuge for Mont Blanc. This hike gives you a taste of what to expect before climbing Mont Blanc and spending a night in a refuge at over 3,000 metres. The hike takes two days: the ascent on the first day and the descent on the second.

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.

Easy hike below Mont Joly and Col du Joly with a beautiful view of Mont Blanc and the Dômes de Miage.

The route starts in the forest and then, as it gains altitude, the landscape becomes increasingly rocky. The Refuge du Nid d'Aigle marks the boundary between the two environments. From the Baraque Forestière des Rognes, the trail becomes narrow and steep until you reach the Refuge de Tête Rousse. The descent follows the same trail back to the Baraque Forestière des Rognes. This gives access to the Dérochoir, a slightly tricky section. After that, the trail is straightforward until you reach your destination.

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 route passes through nature reserves. Please respect the regulations in force. See practical information.

A beautiful loop starting from the old farms of Les Chavants, going to the Charousse mountain pasture and returning via Vaudagne and the Chemin des Diligences.

This sixth stage of the GTA GR®5, which is shared with the GR® TMB, takes place in the Mont Blanc massif and then the Beaufortain massif. From Les Houches, the route follows the Maison Neuve chairlift and reaches the Terrain chalets before climbing up to the Col de Voza. The GR®5 descends due south along a wide path towards the Refuge du Fioux and then reaches the hamlet of Bionnassay. It crosses the Torrent de Bionnassay valley and turns sharply westwards before reaching the hamlet of Champel. From there, the path heads south to reach La Gruvaz, from where it descends westwards into the Bon Nant stream, which it crosses to run along the left bank towards the south. It returns to the right bank, passes through Les Contamines-Montjoie following the stream’s axis due south, and goes past the remarkable chapel of Notre-Dame de la Gorge. Continuing to follow the Bon Stream valley, the GR®5 climbs to a natural bridge and crosses a gorge at the Pont Romain de la Téna to reach the Refuge de la Balme.

A pretty, varied loop that starts off rural, then becomes airy, then vertiginous, then wooded. The views from the Prarion ridge are particularly beautiful over the entire Mont Blanc massif. The descent to the Col de la Forclaz is a little vertiginous (with cables in places) but not difficult.

A magical new route to the heart of the Mont Blanc massif. High-altitude atmosphere and proximity to the great Alpine glaciers!

An ideal day trip to explore the lush mountain pastures and small high-altitude chalets of Colombaz. A magnificent viewpoint over the Mont Blanc massif, whose summit peeks out between the Dômes de Miage and the Aiguille de Bionnassay.

A charming little hike starting from Saint-Gervais-les-Bains. The trail is accessible all year round.

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