Tour des Fiz in 4 days

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A superb route with lakes, waterfalls and magnificent views of Mont Blanc.
We started from Plaine Joux and did the circuit in the opposite direction, as we didn't want to tackle the steep climb to the Platé refuge.
Day 1: Plaine Joux, bivouac at Lac de Pormenaz
Day 2: Lac d'Anterne to the bivouac at the Sales refuge Day 3: Picnic at the Laouchet lakes and bivouac at the Platé refuge
Day 4: descent to Plaine Joux.
Apart from the refuges, there is little water, as it often flows underground.
Please note that there is no water fountain at the Platé refuge, but bottles can be purchased.
We didn't take the Dérochoir route, as it was too challenging for us, especially with heavy backpacks.
I recommend this tour, which is truly magnificent.
Avoid in August, as it gets very crowded!

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Hello,
I did this hike in 2017. At the time, I didn't ask about camping fees. So seven years later... Sorry. I think you should ask the lodges along the route.

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Hello!
This is my first solo hike lasting four days.
I plan to sleep in a tent throughout the trip and was wondering if there are any fees for pitching a tent?
Also, are there any other expenses on this route, and if so, what are they?

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Hello,

I was planning to go on this hike next weekend (21-24 May).
Is it better to avoid this period (still too much snow?)?

Thank you for your advice.

Nicolas.

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Date of your route : Sep 03, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
We had a great two-day hike on 31 August and 1 September. There were two adults in our group.
On the first day, we got caught in a heavy downpour half an hour before reaching the Sales refuge. We had to cancel our bivouac and spent the night at the refuge instead. Thank you to the refuge wardens for their hospitality.
The next day, we left the refuge at 7 a.m. It wasn't very warm, so tights and a down jacket were essential. Then the sun came out, which was great in such a magnificent landscape, with waterfalls (Sales, Sauffaz, etc.), the Col de Portette, the small pass of Anterne, the lakes of Anterne, Lauchet, Pormenaz and Vert, and the Platé, Sales and Anterne refuges.
Be careful, don't take it lightly, there are aerial passages with several ladders and chains between Lac de Pormenaz and Ayères du Milieu.

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Date of your route : Aug 19, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We completed the trek in three days. The route was excellent, the scenery was breathtaking, and we have no regrets about this trip.
However, having done it as a trek, we discovered on site that we couldn't camp at the Châtelet d'Ayeres refuge, and it was impossible to find a water source there. We were offered a flask as a poor substitute... An alternative solution to consider for campers...
The Dérochoir pass is indeed challenging, but far from insurmountable.

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Date of your route : Aug 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful day hike.
The Dérochoir section is tricky for people who are afraid of heights.

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Hello steph-71,

At this location, there is still a lot of snow in early May! Of course, it depends on how much snow fell during the winter, and this year, winter was not very generous with snow. It may still snow in March...

The Dérochoir pass, between points (15) and (16), is already tricky in summer. I think it would be unwise to attempt it in snowy conditions.

I would wait until June for this route.

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Hello, is this hike feasible in early May? Thank you in advance.

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Date of your route : Sep 23, 2019
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Route taken in mid-September. Marmots and mushrooms galore! (A few chamois in the distance too.) But the waterfalls were very small, as it was the end of summer.
As I didn't have a vehicle, I started this route from Servoz, which is accessible by train, to join the route at Ayères du chalet du Souay and begin with the ascent of the Dérochoir pass (a vertiginous passage indeed... take it slowly and watch where you put your feet, but it's not really difficult if you're not afraid of heights!This adds 6 km to the route, but that's no bad thing as otherwise the route is a bit short for four days! Even with this "detour", I completed it in three days in total (leaving Servoz at midday on Wednesday and returning to Servoz at midday on Saturday) with a very quiet Friday afternoon spent around Lake Promenaz. I also took the opportunity to climb to the Pointe Noire de Pormenaz, where the view of Mont Blanc, just across the valley, is exceptional!
It's worth noting that the climb from Servoz to Ayères takes place in the forest, where you can pick some mushrooms (especially ceps...!!). It's best to do this on the way back if you don't want to lose them during the trek
This trek also allows you to observe marmots up close near Lake Anterne!
In summary, I completed this route as follows:

• Day one: departure from Servoz at midday, first bivouac in the Sales plain just after the scree slope.
• Day two: departure at dawn, lunch break at Lake Anterne with the marmots, then bivouac at Lake Pormenaz
• Day three (easy): climb to the Pointe Noire de Pormenaz and return to Lake Pormenaz, then camp at the Souay chalet
• Day four: early morning descent to Servoz with a few cep mushrooms picked along the way to catch the 10:41 train!

Enjoy the hike!

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