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Salvan walks
Le Luisin from La Creusaz
Visorando Member
3.80 mi
+3,051 ft
-3,041 ft
4h 25
Difficult
Departure from Salvan (Valais)
Less frequented than the Haute Cime opposite, the Luisin is a superb viewpoint and a lovely hiking destination in a high mountain setting. This hike offers an original approach to this beautiful summit, starting from high up in a wild setting.
Auberge de Salanfe - Cabane du Vieux Emosson
10.52 mi
+6,050 ft
-4,813 ft
7 hrs
Very difficult
Departure from Evionnaz (Valais)
A long day leading to Lac d'Emosson via the Col d'Emaney and Col de Barberine. Descent to Lac d'Emosson, then Col de la Gueulaz and the final climb to the Cabane du Vieux Emosson.
Auberge de Salanfe - Les Marécottes
6.08 mi
+2,608 ft
-5,089 ft
5h 05
Moderate
Departure from Evionnaz (Valais)
This final stage will take you back to Les Marécottes station, very close to the starting point in Salvan. The Salanfe glacier cirque is located at the crossroads of numerous hiking trails. You will finish your tour via the Col de la Golette, which is not very busy. The passage is quite narrow and the start of the descent is equipped with chains. At the pass, you can enjoy one last view of the Dents du Midi and Lake Salanfe. To the east, you can enjoy the panorama of the Valais Alps.
Auberge de Salanfe - Mex
5.95 mi
+1,952 ft
-4,180 ft
4h 25
Moderate
Departure from Evionnaz (Valais)
During this stage of the Tour des Dents du Midi, at the Col du Jorat you will enjoy a panoramic view to the south of the peaks on the border with Italy. You will probably recognise the Matterhorn. You will also have a bird's eye view of the Lac de Salanfe, with the Dôme de la Sallière in the background. To the north, the Rhône valley awaits you. In the small village of Mex, nestled on a plateau, several viewpoints offer views of the villages in the valley, all the way to Lake Geneva.
Auberge de Salanfe - Emosson Dam
9.17 mi
+5,502 ft
-4,977 ft
9h 00
Difficult
Departure from Evionnaz (Valais)
During this second stage, after the Col d'Emaney, you will be enchanted by the peaceful Alpage d'Emaney. During the ascent of the Col de Fenestral, you will be surprised by the beauty of the Lac de Blantsin. The Col de Fenestral offers a panoramic view of the entire eastern part of the Mont Blanc massif.
Le Luisin from Van d'en Haut
9.79 mi
+6,499 ft
-6,480 ft
7 hrs
Very difficult
Departure from Salvan (Valais)
Less frequented than the Haute Cime opposite, the Luisin is a superb viewpoint and a lovely hiking destination in a high mountain setting. This long and demanding hike undoubtedly offers the easiest route to this beautiful summit.
N.B. The elevation gain shown is overestimated: allow for around 1,400 m.
Salvan - Auberge de Salanfe
5.21 mi
+3,504 ft
-646 ft
5h 25
Difficult
Departure from Salvan (Valais)
From the hamlet of Les Granges to Van d'en Bas, you will climb up the Dailley Gorge via daring constructions, footbridges, galleries and vertiginous stairways. The Salanfe river rushes down the steep gorges in several stages. The view is breathtaking. You will enjoy numerous views of the Alpine peaks.
You will cross the magnificent Vallon de Van. In the evening in Salanfe, you can already admire the Dents du Midi rising behind the lake
Tour of the Dents du Midi and Petits Perrons
47.96 mi
+21,709 ft
-21,378 ft
7 days
Difficult
Departure from Salvan (Valais)
Starting in Salvan and finishing in Les Marécottes (VS, Switzerland), this hike is almost circular. The route combines several circuits. In the Val de Trient, you’ll discover the Dailley Gorges and the Vallon de Van.You will complete the entire Tour des Dents du Midi and enjoy this magnificent mountain range as well as the Sauflaz Gorges.You’ll make a short detour onto the Tour des Dents Blanches, which you can admire from the Barme plateau.
Circular Marecot from Salvan
2.15 mi
+623 ft
-604 ft
1h 30
Easy
Departure from Salvan (Valais)
A circular route around Salvan, passing through Le Marecot.
Follow the route with the Visorando app
A circular walk from Van d’en Bas to Sex des Granges and Lake Salanfe
9.98 mi
+5,784 ft
-5,758 ft
9h 35
Very difficult
Departure from Salvan (Valais)
Le Sex des Granges (2,082 m) is the first peak on the ridges surrounding Lake Salanfe. This circular walk takes you along the ridges, offering superb views, as well as a stroll along the lakeshore.
Tête Noire
1.88 mi
+1,404 ft
-1,434 ft
2h 05
Moderate
Departure from Valais
Short loop to visit the Grotte aux Nymphes.
Well-equipped and mainly shaded trail.
The descent to the Grotte aux Nymphes is steep. The climb back up is gentler. You can do this hike in the opposite direction if you prefer a slow descent and a steep climb.
Please note: in summer 2025, the Grotte aux Nymphes was not accessible due to construction work.
Loop between the lakes of Emosson and Salanfe.
17.42 mi
+9,701 ft
-9,688 ft
2 days
Difficult
Departure from Finhaut (Valais)
Lac de Salanfe is located in a large cirque, which is most easily accessed from the east via the Vallon de Van d'En Haut. From the Emosson dam, two passes offer access to this magnificent lake.
In a high mountain setting, you can admire the Ruan massif to the south-west and the Dents du Midi massif to the north-west. During these two days, you will cross the Barberine, Emaney and Fenestral passes.
Emosson Dam - Auberge de Salanfe
8.25 mi
+4,167 ft
-4,711 ft
7h 25
Difficult
Departure from Finhaut (Valais)
For this first stage, after skirting Lake Emosson opposite the Mont Ruan massif, the Col de Barberine and Col d'Emaney passes will take you to the shores of Lake Salanfe. You will appreciate the contrast between the Ruan massif and the Dents du Midi massif.
Ascending journey to the heights of Vallorcine
5.59 mi
+961 ft
-2,986 ft
3h 25
Difficult
Departure from Finhaut (Valais)
An easy hike overlooking the Trient and Vallorcine valleys, with superb views of the surrounding mountains such as the Mont Blanc massif and the 4,000-metre peaks of Valais. Caution for those prone to vertigo or fear of heights: there is a section with handrails, which is not dangerous but requires particular attention
Ascent of the Haute Cime and return to Champéry
10.07 mi
+5,023 ft
-8,419 ft
7 hrs
Very difficult
Departure from Evionnaz (Valais)
Starting from the Susanfe hut, climb up to a unique viewpoint in a high mountain setting!
Vernayaz – Le Trétien via the Route des Diligences
5.90 mi
+2,936 ft
-981 ft
5h 15
Moderate
Departure from Vernayaz (Valais)
This beautiful route follows part of the “Route des Diligences”, which, in themid-19th century, alongside the arrival of the railway, led to the boom in tourism in the Trient Valley. The hike also offers the chance to admire the historic chalets in the villages of Les Granges, Les Marécottes and Le Trétien.Accessible by public transport.
Vernayaz Waterfalls Circular Path
11.65 mi
+5,085 ft
-5,072 ft
9h 45
Very difficult
Departure from Vernayaz (Valais)
This route, starting from Vernayaz, takes in some of the most iconic sites from the early days of tourism in Valais: the Route des Diligences, the Dailley Gorges and the Pissevache Waterfall. To complete a circular route, take a lovely balcony path beneath the Dent du Salentin. This allows you to enjoy the spectacular route through the Dailley Gorges as part of a day’s walk, rather than just a return trip from the car park.
Trient to Tré-le-Champ - Tour Monte Blanc
Association / Club / Walk leader8.54 mi
+3,760 ft
-3,392 ft
7h 10
Difficult
Departure from Valais
This 9th stage of the Tour Mont Blanc (TMB) offers three options, the North-West one that climbs up almost to the summit of Carraye (t 2,132m) and drops down to Valorcine, the South-West past Col de Balme (at 2,191m) then drops to Le Tour or the middle option that goes over Col de Balme and Aiguilette des Posettes (at 2,210m) to drop down to Tré-le-Champ. Here's the description of the classic middle option. 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.
Along the Bisse du Trient
3.99 mi
+1,175 ft
-1,191 ft
2h 50
Easy
Departure from Valais
Starting from Col de la Forclaz (1527m), a short and easy out-and-back walk along the Bisse du Trient (irrigation channel) to the Chalet du Glacier (1583m), which offers a fine view of the Glacier du Trient and the Petite Pointe d'Orny (3187m).
⚠️ Part of the trail has been damaged by a landslide. Bypassing is possible, but the walk is not accessible for baby carriages and wheelchairs (see practical info).
7th stage of the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB)
8.88 mi
+3,461 ft
-4,012 ft
7h 05
Moderate
Departure from Valais
7th stage of the TMB: from Forclaz pass to Montroc
The Emosson lakes in the footsteps of the dinosaurs
14.03 mi
+5,886 ft
-5,869 ft
12 hrs
Very difficult
Departure from Vallorcine (Haute-Savoie)
A superb circular French-Swiss for experienced walkers.The beauty of the landscapes in absolute silence will make you forget everything.Add to that a leap back in time several million years and you'll feel like you're walking on air.
⚠️ 16/12/2025: closure of a section of the Barberine forest (between (S/E) and (1)). See decree. Detour possible.
Cabane d'Antème - Cantine de la Barmaz
6.43 mi
+1,617 ft
-3,366 ft
4h 20
Moderate
Departure from Champéry (Valais)
This stage partly follows the Tour des Dents du Midi, with a remarkable passage at the foot of the Sauflaz Gorges. As you climb back up towards Bonavau, you will switch to the Tour des Dents Blanches. The Barme Plateau is a magnificent place to contemplate these famous white teeth.
Vieux Emosson Refuge - Refuge de la Pierre à Bérard
7.85 mi
+3,921 ft
-4,715 ft
7 hrs
Very difficult
Departure from Finhaut (Valais)
Pass through the listed site of dinosaur footprints, then climb up to Cheval Blanc and reach the summit of Buet via the ridges. A difficult alpine route classified as T4 with breathtaking views of the Aiguilles Rouges.
Cabane du Vieux Emosson - Couteray
7.16 mi
+2,067 ft
-4,728 ft
5h 05
Difficult
Departure from Finhaut (Valais)
This route begins with a detour off the beaten track, suggested to us by the refuge warden, to reach the Col de la Terrasse. An alpine route with the Emosson dam in the background and a chance to discover the lakes at the Col du Corbeaux. After a long descent at the foot of Mont Buet in the Tré les Eaux valley, cross a long ledge equipped with cables and ladders to finally reach the Chalets des Granges and arrive at the Couteray car park.
Mex - Chindonne
7.95 mi
+3,996 ft
-2,421 ft
7h 10
Difficult
Departure from Mex (Valais)
During this beautiful stage of the Tour des Dents du Midi, you will cross pastures and forests to reach Chindonne. As the stage is quite short, you will not miss climbing the Dent de Valerette, a magnificent viewpoint. You will then enjoy a panoramic view of the Dents du Midi and the Rhône valley.
Auberge de Bonavau - Auberge de Salanfe
9.16 mi
+6,831 ft
-6,001 ft
7 hrs
Very difficult
Departure from Champéry (Valais)
A big day with spectacular scenery. The Pas d'Encel pass is a little tricky to navigate to reach the foot of Mont Ruan. Reach Haute Cime, the highest point of the Dents du Midi at 3,257 metres, via the Col de Susanfe, then descend to the Auberge de Salanfe on the edge of the lake.
Signal and Lac de Soi from Plan de Soi
7.68 mi
+3,609 ft
-3,599 ft
6h 40
Difficult
Departure from Val D'Illiez (Valais)
A hike that leads to a lake at the foot of the Dents du Midi: the view of these imposing peaks is magnificent! The first part of the ascent is shaded, on a path that criss-crosses an alpine track. The rest of the hike takes place in the alpine pastures and ends in an increasingly rocky environment.
Circular Antème from La Frâche
5.61 mi
+2,746 ft
-2,746 ft
5h 00
Moderate
Departure from Champéry (Valais)
A very beautiful hike to do in dry weather. The paths are in good condition. If you go via the west, towards Lac de Soi, the climb is longer but less steep. There are no technical sections, but the entire hike takes place in a vertical environment. There is a small change in the route on the descent.
Circular walk via La Barberine and the Diligence Trail
4.35 mi
+915 ft
-886 ft
2h 50
Moderate
Departure from Vallorcine (Haute-Savoie)
Starting from Vallorcine station, this short circular walk takes you past a recently renovated chapel, the Barberine waterfall and then the museum, before returning via the picturesque stagecoach track.
Col de Balme - Champex-Lac
10.94 mi
+4,327 ft
-6,673 ft
8h 50
Very difficult
Departure from Haute-Savoie
This second stage begins with a pleasant trail towards the "Des Grands" mountain pasture. Once you reach this chalet, the trail descends to the torrent, which you must cross at the Chalet du Glacier (1583 m). The view of the nearby Trient Glacier is magnificent. The long climb to the Fenêtre d'Arpette begins just after the Chalet Buvette. The landscape is chaotic at the pass and in the Arpette valley. The landscape becomes greener again from the Arpette refuge. The path then follows a bisse (irrigation channel) to Champex.
From Champéry to the Susanfe hut
4.78 mi
+4,219 ft
-823 ft
5h 50
Difficult
Departure from Champéry (Valais)
The usual route to the Susanfe hut from Campéry starts in the forest before emerging onto the Bonavau mountain pasture. Below the imposing peak of the same name, the trail climbs up a path with a few equipped sections and crosses the Pas d'Encel. The final ascent of the Susanfe valley takes place in a high mountain setting.
The Haute Cime
14.85 mi
+9,242 ft
-9,242 ft
2 days
Very difficult
Departure from Champéry (Valais)
The Haute Cime is the westernmost peak of the Dents du Midi massif and the highest point in the French-Swiss Pre-Alps. It is a unique vantage point, offering a breathtaking panorama and a climb in a beautiful high mountain setting
This long and demanding hike can be completed in two days with an overnight stay in a mountain refuge.
Col de Balme - Source de l'Arve - Col des Posettes from Le Tour
2.88 mi
+82 ft
-1,204 ft
1h 25
Easy
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
A short summer hike with exceptional panoramic views over the Chamonix valley and its massifs. There are several ways to approach it from Le Tour: the one shown is from the East, using the Charamillon cable car and the Autannes chairlift. The return journey is via the Charamillon cable car.
Refuge Albert 1er - Glacier du Tour
5.15 mi
+1,939 ft
-3,048 ft
4h 05
Moderate
Departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (Haute-Savoie)
Located above the Tour glacier, on its right bank, it is the only refuge managed by the Chamonix CAF that can be reached without crossing a glacier in summer. Its location is ideal, with views over a wide range of peaks: Aiguille du Tour, Chardonnet, Aiguille d'Argentière, la Verte and les Drus, les Aiguilles Rouges. It was named after Albert 1st, King of the Belgians. Considered the only high-mountain refuge accessible to families.
Couteray - Refuge du Vieux Emosson
7.45 mi
+3,753 ft
-1,053 ft
6h 40
Difficult
Departure from Vallorcine (Haute-Savoie)
A pretty route, with views of the Tour and Argentière glaciers, which passes through the Refuge de Loriaz to reach the Barrage d'Emosson via a balcony path and finishes at the Refuge du Vieux Emosson.
Tour of the Dents Blanches massif, Ruan, Tenneverge
75.55 mi
+33,983 ft
-33,875 ft
8 days
Very difficult
Departure from Vallorcine (Haute-Savoie)
Straddling the Franco-Swiss border, the Dents Blanches, Dents du Midi, Tenneverge, Mont Ruan and Aiguilles Rouges. An area strongly shaped by the folding of the Alps, with surprising landscapes ranging from lunar deserts to high-altitude lakes, waterfalls and forgotten mountain pastures. A wild and unspoilt nature that only hikers can discover. Alpine valleys, often isolated by "pas", technical and cabled paths opening the doors to this universe of raw and grandiose nature...
Col de Salenton, via the waterfall and the Bérard valley
8.80 mi
+3,944 ft
-3,930 ft
7h 30
Difficult
Departure from Vallorcine (Haute-Savoie)
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.
Tré-les-Eaux - Col de la Terrasse - Loriaz
11.24 mi
+4,747 ft
-4,747 ft
10 hrs
Very difficult
Departure from Vallorcine (Haute-Savoie)
A superb circular at the edge of the high mountains (2,700 metres) with a very significant elevation gain.
This hike should only be attempted at the beginning of summer (as snow may still be present and obscure the markings).
Pointe de la Terrasse from the Buet station
9.57 mi
+4,760 ft
-4,767 ft
8 hrs
Very difficult
Departure from Vallorcine (Haute-Savoie)
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.
In the forests and mountain pastures around Vallorcine
11.74 mi
+4,396 ft
-4,396 ft
10 hrs
Very difficult
Departure from Vallorcine (Haute-Savoie)
Loop through forests and mountain pastures.From the Col des Posettes via the Croix des Posettes or from the Col de Balme via the Catogne chalets, you will have a complete view of the surrounding Vallorcine landscapes.It's like a balcony overlooking Mont Blanc.
⚠️ This route crosses the Aiguilles Rouges nature reserve. Please respect the regulations in force. See practical information.
The Mont Buet loop
14.75 mi
+7,238 ft
-7,257 ft
7 hrs
Very difficult
Departure from Vallorcine (Haute-Savoie)
Starting from Buet, this is a large loop in a very rocky landscape. After the Refuge de la Pierre in Bérard, the ascent of Mont Buet and the Cheval Blanc pass, the circuit makes a short detour into Switzerland to visit the dinosaur site. The return journey is via the Col de la Terrasse, the Refuge de Loriaz and the hamlet of Couteray
⚠️ This route crosses the Aiguilles Rouges nature reserve. Please respect the regulations in force. See practical information.
Le Buet from Vallorcine
11.66 mi
+5,922 ft
-5,892 ft
10 hrs
Very difficult
Departure from Vallorcine (Haute-Savoie)
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).
More walks in Salvan
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