The Aravis mountain range is crisscrossed by numerous trails that allow you to explore every corner of it. Among these trails, the long-distance hiking trails (GR) offer beautiful multi-day treks or day hikes to discover iconic mountain passes and peaks.
Discover the Aravis massif via the GR 96
The GR96 , in its entirety, connects Epernay in Savoie to Samoëns in Haute-Savoie. It crosses our region, passing through the Glières Plateau and circling the Aravis mountain range . Lovers of unspoiled nature can hike sections for a day or complete the four-day trek through the Aravis mountains. With Mont Blanc as a backdrop, you'll discover the magnificent landscapes of the limestone Prealps.
Day 1: from the Pré Vérel refuge to the Lindion chalet – 9 km and 800 m of elevation gain
You will ascend towards the Chalet de l'Aulp farm with its impressive herd of Abondance cows, continuing on to the Col des Nantets pass. From there, you will have a superb panoramic view of the north face of the Tournette and the Varo rocks on one side, and the Roc de Lancrenaz and its rocky barrier on the other. You will continue your journey below the Pointe de Talamarche, then towards the Chalet du Lindion , your overnight stop, where you will discover an impressive collection of alpine cowbells.
Day 2: from the Lindion chalet to the Les Lanfiannes gîte on the Glières plateau – 12 km and 970 m of elevation gain
After a beautiful descent into the Fier Valley , you can stop to visit the Haute-Savoie Departmental Museum of the Resistance, the Departmental Deportation Memorial, and the Morette Necropolis , or explore the prehistoric site of La Balme de Thuy and the Morette waterfalls before tackling the refreshing climb along the Nant Debout stream. The trail will lead you to the Dran plain and the Glières plateau. A stop at the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges chapel will allow you to appreciate the beauty of the surrounding landscapes before continuing on to your overnight stop at the Les Lanfiannes gîte.
Day 3: from Lanfiannes to the chalets of Mayse – 14 km and 980 m of elevation gain
You can take advantage of the crossing of the Glières Plateau to visit the Glières Resistance Monument and observe the rich flora found there . The fauna of this area is also diverse, with a pack of wolves residing on the plateau and numerous deer in the surrounding forests. You will then descend to the village of Entremont before climbing back up towards the Mayse chalets, today's destination, where many herds of chamois roam the cliffs.
Day 4: from the Mayse chalets to the Col des Annes (bivouac and catering) – 13 km and 1050 m of elevation gain
Setting off again in the morning, you'll skirt the mysterious Lake Lessy , whose waters gradually recede, before taking the rocky pass between the Jallouvre and the Aiguille Verte . You'll then have a magnificent view of the entire Aravis mountain range , overlooking Chinaillon and the Col de la Colombière , entering the land of ibex and bearded vultures. Next, you'll reach the Col des Annes at the foot of the Pointe Percée, where you can spend a final night bivouacking under the stars after discovering the traditional methods of Reblochon cheese making at one of the pass's farms and enjoying a delicious local meal.
Hiking in the Aravis massif by taking the GR de Pays Tournette-Aravis
Starting from the Morette bridge, the GR de Pays Tournette-Aravis takes you on an approximately 9-day hiking circuit in the Aravis mountains. The route forms a loop, several other starting points are possible: Serraval (La Bottière, La Molloire), Le Bouchet-Mont-Charvin (Le Pezières), Manigod (La Gutary, Col de Merdassier), La Clusaz (via ferrata parking, Crêt du Merle parking, Les Confins, Arpettaz parking), Le Grand-Bornand (Les Troncs, Le Chinaillon, Bouts parking, Col des Annes), Entremont (main town, Malvoisin).
Day 1: from Morette to the Larrieux refuge (1532 m) – 7 km and 1180 m elevation gain
The forest track climbs above the Morette Necropolis and the Fier Valley towards the Larrieux refuge , nestled in a flowery alpine meadow with breathtaking views of the Tournette mountain . Along the way, you'll pass the Lindion refuge, a perfect spot to stop for the first leg of your hike and give yourself time to explore the sites around Morette that mark the starting point of the trek.
Day 2: from the Larrieux refuge to the Aulp chalet (1424 m) – 6 km and 600 m of elevation gain
This section of the GRP (Grande Randonnée de Pays) trail offers views of the Dent du Cruet and the Pointe de Talamarche , as well as Lake Annecy, once you've passed the Col des Nantets pass. This stage, via the Chalet de l'Aulp, provides beautiful views of Lake Annecy and avoids steep paths and the Rosairy alpine pasture, whose trail is no longer marked at the owner's request. However, you can choose this option and go directly from Larrieux to the Refuge de Praz D'Zeures, thus skipping this stage.
Day 3: from the Aulp chalet to the Praz D'Zeures refuge (1750 m) – 7 km and 1100 m of altitude difference
You climb towards La Tournette with its view over the lake and the Annecy basin, the Semnoz and the Bauges mountains . Ibex will likely be on your path before passing through the Bajulaz pass – be careful, it's a tricky section – and descending to the Praz D'Zeures refuge.
Day 4: from the Praz D'Zeures refuge to Fontanettes (1485 m) – 16 km and 1033 m of elevation gain
The descent towards Serraval offers a beautiful view of the Sulens mountain and Mont Charvin. You will pass through the small hamlet of La Bottière and can observe the typical architecture of the many alpine chalets until you arrive at Les Fontanettes , your stop for the night.
Day 5: From Fontanettes to the Vieille Ferme (1470 m) or the Youth Hostel of La Clusaz (1230 m) – 15 km and 1000 m of elevation gain
During this stage, you will pass by the Pointe d'Orsière and enjoy magnificent views of the Sulens, the Charvin , the Tulle, the Pointe de Mandallaz, and the Etale. As you cross the hamlets of Manigod , you can stop to visit alpine farms and taste some farm-made Reblochon cheese before heading towards the Col de Merdassier and then the La Clusaz Youth Hostel. You can also choose to stop at La Vieille Ferme, at the Col de Merdassier.
Day 6: From the Youth Hostel to the Bombardellaz refuge (1601 m) – 14 km and 1100 m of altitude difference
With views of the Merdassier peak, the Beauregard plateau, the Danay, La Clusaz, the Aravis pass, and the beginning of the Aravis mountain range's valleys, you will hike towards Lac des Confins where you can stop for lunch at one of the restaurants. Enjoy the beauty of the flowering alpine pastures, and spot chamois and marmots along the way before reaching the Bombardellaz refuge.
Day 7: from the Bombardellaz refuge to the Lessy chalet (1787 m) – 16 km and 1160 m of elevation gain
You continue along the path beneath the Aravis valleys to reach the base of the Pointe Percée, the highest peak in the massif at 2752m . You can take a break at one of the farm inns at the Col des Annes, where Reblochon cheese, goat cheese, and country ham will be on the menu . As you climb above Chinaillon towards Lac de Lessy , you might spot a bearded vulture and enjoy the views of the Roc des Tours, the Jallouvre, the Pointe Blanche, and the Bargy.
Day 8: from the Lessy chalet to the Mangeurs de Lune refuge on the Auges plateau (1790 m) – 18 km and 1260 m of elevation gain
During this stage, your view will encompass the Bornes massif with the Rochers de Leschaux, Mont Lachat de Thônes , the Suet, and the Roc de Charmieux. You will pass through the village of Entremont and can visit its abbey, before heading back up towards the Plateau des Auges where you will enjoy a magnificent view of the entire Aravis mountain range.
Day 9: from the Mangeurs de Lune refuge to the Pont de Morette (580 m) – 13 km, 430 m of positive elevation gain and 1606 m of negative elevation gain
For this last day, you will enjoy the view over the Glières plateau and pass under the Pointes de Puvat, Balme, Québlette and Dran, then take the beautiful descent along the Nant Debout stream and its waterfalls, which will bring you back to your starting point at the Morette bridge.
Tour the Val Sulens by hiking trails
The Tour du Val Sulens is a 5-day hiking trail offering magnificent views of the Aravis mountain range, following a variety of paths. Similar to the GR de Pays long-distance hiking trail, this loop can start from several locations, such as Les Clefs (Belchamp le Haut parking area), Serraval (La Molloire, La Bottière), Le Bouchet-Mont-Charvin (main town, Greubaz parking area, Sardoches parking area), and Manigod (Gutary bridge, Comburce, La Vieille Ferme, Col de la Croix Fry).
Day 1: from Thônes to the Praz D'Zeures refuge (1750 m) – 11 km and 1435 m of elevation gain
You start from the center of Thônes and follow the course of the Fier River. At Les Clefs , you can admire the village perched on its promontory and discover its so-called Roman bridge spanning the Fier. In autumn, you'll likely hear the stags bellowing in the Montisbrand forest before reaching the Col des Vorets pass via the Rosairy alpine pasture and arriving at the Praz D'Zeures refuge and its flocks of sheep. Please note that the crossing of the Rosairy alpine pasture is unmarked, at the request of the landowner.
Day 2: from the Praz D'Zeures refuge to Bouchet-Mont-Charvin (935 m) – 9,5 km and 360 m of elevation gain (but 1150 m of negative elevation gain)
You begin a beautiful descent towards Serraval . The numerous crosses visible along the way are reminders of the Christian heritage of the villagers, including a very beautiful Baroque chapel to see in La Bottière. You are in the land of goatherds and sheep farmers, whom you can't miss in the many surrounding alpine pastures. You will then arrive at the Hôtel du Mont Charvin, where hearty, home-style cooking will revive you after this long descent. You will, of course, enjoy the view of the Charvin pyramid and the foothills of the Sulens.
Day 3: from Bouchet-Mont-Charvin to Fontanettes (1485 m) or Aulp de Marlens (1657 m) – 11 km and 1110 m elevation gain
You will leave Le Bouchet-Mont-Charvin heading towards the Col de l'Epine and cross the pretty hamlet of Rosset before reaching the Col du Fer at the foot of the Aiguilles du Mont. You will enjoy a beautiful view over the Val de Chaise and perhaps see paragliders taking off from the Col de l'Epine. Near Les Sardoches, marmots are starting to appear, so keep your eyes peeled! Especially since the mountain flora on the foothills of the Charvin is particularly rich and beautiful. You will then reach the Chalet de l'Aulp de Marlens and the herds of cows and goats belonging to the GAEC du Vent des Cimes farm, where you can taste delicious farm-made Reblochon and Chevrotin cheeses before spending the night at the foot of the imposing Charvin.
Day 4: from Aulp de Marlens to Vieille Ferme (1470 m) – 13 km and 1045 m of elevation gain
You'll pass through the Col des Porthets between Charvin and Tulle. If you're feeling adventurous, you can take a short detour to Lac du Mont Charvin and its emerald waters, the source of the Fier River . This route will allow you to observe the local flora and fauna: the rare edelweiss and chamois, eagles, and griffon vultures in the summer. You'll reach the alpine farms of Aulp de Fier, where farm-made Reblochon and Chevrotin cheeses are produced , before heading towards Comburce and its beautiful, typical Savoyard chalets, passing beneath the Aiguille de Manigod. Just a little further and you'll arrive at La Vieille Ferme, where Bertrand will delight you with his local recipes.
Day 5: from Vieille Ferme to Thônes (620 m) – 15 km and 690 m of elevation gain (and 1530 m of negative elevation gain)
This final stage takes you back to the Col de la Croix Fry and the Beauregard plateau, which you'll cross via the Frêtes trail, offering a stunning view of the Aravis mountain range. At the Croix de Colomban, the view plunges down to Thônes and its valley, which you'll reach via the Petit Novard forest and then the Mont forest, home to numerous roe deer, does, and stags. Don't forget to pay your respects to the King of the Mountain before returning to the center of Thônes.
