Tour de Mayen

The Tours d'Aï and Mayen are twin peaks visible from afar. The Tour de Mayen is slightly lower than its neighbour, not as busy and provides a more wilderness setting. The climb is progressive with two stages, the Chalets de Mayen and Segray Lake. Just beneath the summit, a very clear view of Lac Léman, les Diablerets, le Chablais, les dents du Midi and the Mont Blanc Massif.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.00 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 885 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 885 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,249 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,476 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the rock climbing area's car park, at the upper end of Leysin resort, at the junction between Route des Chamois and Chemin de Prafandaz. Arriving from Aigle by "la route du Col des Mosses" (Mosses pass road).

Yellow indication signs provide direction information and travel times here and there.

(S) Go past a livestock fence and take the small paved road leaving the car park heading north-east, surrounded by meadows. This path, forbidden to motorised vehicles except for those of the alpine livestock farmers, will take you to the Chalets de Mayen. After your first hairpin turn to the left, you'll get to a branch trail: follow the hairpin turn to the right. The slope gets steeper and the trail continues through forest cover. After a hairpin turn to the left, you'll reach a mountain chalet (admire the wooden shingles of the roof).

(1) Keep heading north-east passing under Berneuse cable car cables. The path is a slight uphill stretch, with a few bends and after a large loop to the left, reaches the Chalets de Mayen.

(2) Take the trail heading north-east along the "Buvette de Mayen" fence and head downhill towards Buvette de Mayen Lake ("Lac Segray / Tour de Mayen" sign). Don't walk along the lake bank but uphill just opposite, surrounded by meadows amid small rocks. The path goes steadily uphill on the balcony.

(3) At the fork crossing, leave the trail that starts heading off to the right towards the Tour de Famelon. Make a blunt left turn uphill through grass passing by a wooden cabin. Keep heading west to the tip of a stoney track. Once there, le track steers right due north. Go through the relatively flat stoney track. Then, uphill again, turning left (north-west) reaching a small pass with Segray Lake lying in the background.

(4) Stay at this height and bypass the lake to the left. Follow the trail heading south-east to go round the top of the Tour Mayen. You'll get to another small pass and steer right. The trail continues in proximity to the rocky base, to the right-hand and regularly heads uphill due north-west.
N.B. To the left, the rocky slope leads to rocky ledges overlooking Mayen Lake. The path is at a fair distance (so no danger) and it is advised not to leave it.
The path then steers right and abruptly heads uphill with several twists on gravel. You'll reach the base of a rocky passageway.

(5) The passageway is concealed and equipped with chaines. Head up the passageway using a few easy rock climbing steps. At the end of the passageway, go left, uphill to a sheltered grassy area and promptly reaching the summit. Incidentally, locate the entrance to the passageway pour the way back (a picket is usually used as a landmark).

(6) For the way back, just follow the trail you came on.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,476 m - Leysin - Climbing site
  2. 1 : km 0.61 - alt. 1,555 m - Junction - Hairpin to the right
  3. 2 : km 1.88 - alt. 1,707 m - Chalet de Temelay
  4. 3 : km 4.04 - alt. 1,842 m - Chalets de Mayen
  5. 4 : km 4.71 - alt. 1,919 m - Segray-Mayen / Famelon junction
  6. 5 : km 5.6 - alt. 2,074 m - Lac Segray
  7. 6 : km 6.04 - alt. 2,156 m - Small pass
  8. 7 : km 6.42 - alt. 2,236 m - Equipped rocky corridor - View of the - Lac Léman
  9. 8 : km 6.5 - alt. 2,228 m - Tour de Mayen
  10. S/E : km 12.99 - alt. 1,476 m - Leysin - Climbing site

Practical information

It takes around 3 hours hike, without stops, to get to the top.
Hiking gear and shoes a must.
Water available at the first chalets on the trail and at the Chalets de Mayen.
Basic shelter just after (3). Aux chalets de Mayen (2) : drinks, food, accommodation.
A map is necessary (at least the one found with the current description)

In the nearby area

Mayen Lake.
Segray Lake which provides a beautiful wilderness setting for a short rest and can be the hike objective in its own right.

Unobstructed panoramic view from the summit: Lac léman, Rhone Valley, Diablerets Massif, Chablais Massif, dents du Midi, Mont Blanc Massif, ...

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
B.GURTNER
B.GURTNER

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 21, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The first part of the hike, from the car park at the climbing site to the Chalets de Mayen, is a long climb on a tarmac road. It should be possible to avoid this by starting from Les Esserts, where there are two footpaths leading to the tarmac road. They are indicated on the Leysin summer walking map.

Otherwise a very nice walk!

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teresatblanco
teresatblanco

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 10, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

I did this hike at the beginning of June 2018 starting from Leysin Feydey train station so the start of the route was not respected.

The climb was via the ski slopes which are never the best part of a hike.

The climb up to the chalet and Lac de Mayen is nice, but everything gets more interesting after that point. Another varied traverse with a few bits of snow and stunning scenery.

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gatsaule
gatsaule

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 03, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

És un cim molt bonic,amb unes vistes excepcionals. Combined with the walk to the Tour d'Aï la volta està molt bé, però la proximitat de l'estació d'esquí i l'aproximació per la carretera asfaltada li treu una mica la gràcia.

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canonge michel
canonge michel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 14, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

I did a beautiful route in mid-June, with all the mountain flowers to accompany me on the way up and a magnificent view once I reached the top. Really top !!!!

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fami.clerc
fami.clerc

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 26, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful autumn route in fine weather. Superb views from the summit

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sylius
sylius

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 02, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hello,

Nice hike with a lovely view once you reach the top and a fairly easy effort to get there. My advice to regulars is to start with the AI tower and continue with the Mayen tower for a full day.
Marmots and jackdaws along the way.

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