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In the heart of the Montagnes du Giffre, discover the most beautiful routes on foot or mountain bike starting from Samoëns thanks to the many itineraries accessible to all.
Choose your activity (hiking, mountain biking, trail or motorbike) and distance by clicking on “Filter”.
Download a GPX track and print a PDF of your route by accessing the route description.
For even more hiking itineraries, click here. For VTTAE routes in the Montagnes du Giffre, click here.
NEW: a selection of 14 “turnkey” hikes to complement the summer shuttle service. An original way of combining the shuttle service with walking – or the other way round – to create some lovely loops in the valley! Discover the “Rando’ Bus” guide and the shuttle timetable.
On the Grand Massif side, discover the downhill mountain bike trails by clicking here.
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This hike takes you to the summit of the Criou, the symbolic mountain towering over the town of Samoëns. There is a breathtaking panoramic view from the summit over the Giffre Valley, Mont Buet, Rousse des Chambres and Les Dents Blanches.
Time taken: 5 hours
Starting altitude: 717 m
Finishing altitude: 2,207 m
Particular difficulties: none up to the chalets at Le Criou. The ridge at the top of Aouille du Criou overlooks the very sharp drop of the north face of the Criou.
Itinerary for guidance only.
Itinerary under the emblematic Samoëns mountain, overlooking the village.
To discover: Chalet du Trot
Lac des Chambres is a very surprising lake. Rarely completely filled with water, it more often than not evokes a polar landscape, made up, depending on the season, of floating blocks of ice or ice stranded on the shore.
Itinerary for guidance only.
Lac des Chambres is a very surprising lake. Rarely completely filled with water, it more often than not evokes a polar landscape, composed, depending on the season, of blocks of ice floating or washed up on the shore.
(Re)experience the UTHG race at your own pace with the Tour du Giffre course!
Start with a 3km climb which offers a breathtaking view of the whole Haut Giffre valley, then cross the mountain to the Chalets du Trot.
On your descent, discover the hamlet of Le Mont and then head for the Tines gorges.
A new slope leads to the majestic Lac de Gers and its combe.
The last few kilometres will take you to the Lac aux Dames where you can take advantage of the leisure centre to stretch your legs.
Itineraries are indicative.
(Re)experience the UTHG race at your own pace with the Fireflies Tour course !
Start with a 3km climb which offers a breathtaking view of the whole Haut Giffre valley, then cross the mountain to the Chalets du Trot.
On your descent, discover the hamlet of Le Mont and then head for the Tines gorges.
The last few kilometres will take you to the Lac aux Dames where you can take advantage of the leisure centre to stretch your legs.
Itineraries are indicative.
The shortest and steepest in the world!
From the village or from Vallon d'en Bas.
Itineraries are indicative.
Discover the Folly refuge on the 16km trail.
Itineraries are indicative.
This magnificent village used to be lived in all year round. It had its own primary school downhill from the chapel.
Departure altitude: 702m
Maximum altitude: 1100m
Difficulty: quite difficult
Through the Allamands forest, join the 4x4 track that leads to the Bostan valley and its refuge.
Enjoy panoramic views of the Giffre Valley and the Teeth of Oddaz.
Discover the Vallon du Grand Crêt.
From Samoëns, cross the hamlet of Vercland and reach the Grand Crêt. From here, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the valley, opposite the Criou.
Nearby: Restaurant le Grand Crêt.
Wide open and easy to access, the Col de la Golèse path has been used for a very long time. In fact, this route is the gateway to neighboring Switzerland via the Col de Coux.
Itinerary for guidance only.
Following the Clévieux stream for part of the way, you'll reach the Golèse hut, at the pass of the same name, to enjoy views over the Giffre (Samoens) and Manche (Morzine) valleys. @Patrice Gain
Managed by the International Association for Tour of the Dents Blanches (AITDB), this Franco-Swiss tour takes you on a route that is hospitable at times, e.g. on the way through the pastures in Barme (Switzerland), or wild as it is in the Ottants pass.
Starting point: Samoëns
Departure altitude: 720m
Arrival altitude: 2548m
Map reference: 1:25,000, Top 25 n°3528 ET, 3530 ET. At 1:100,000: IGN n°45.
Terrain: Meadows, woods, forests, rocky, depending on the route.
Hiking level: From family walks (1*) to family hikes (2 to 3*).
Particular difficulty: No major difficulties. The passage des Ottans may present difficulties until early July due to snow conditions.
Marking: In France, yellow and red GR de Pays markings. In Switzerland, white-red-white mountain trail markings.
The Tour des Dents Blanches jumps mountains between Switzerland and France, providing not only a sporting thrill, but also a complete change of scenery. A 6 to 8-day long mountain itinerary will give you the chance to appreciate an unspoilt region that knows how to live with the times. A lovely blend of Valais and Haute-Savoie, with resort villages, gîtes and refuges, chalet museums, customs, sports and leisure facilities...... Not forgetting, of course, the people and the pleasure of sharing this art of living.
The Tour des Dents Blanches is a mid-mountain route, with sections approaching high altitude and requiring, depending on snow conditions, appropriate equipment (rope, ice axe, even crampons for the nevé below the Ottan ladders). It is aimed at experienced hikers with good orientation skills (the route between Susanfe and La Vogealle is not very clear in fog). Depending on the year, the Passage des Ottans can present significant difficulties until early July.
The recommended direction of rotation is clockwise: Samoëns-Morzine-Champéry-Sixt, due to the progression of difficulties and the fact that the Ottan ladders are trickier to climb than to descend.
A little away from the classic hiking trails, this itinerary offers all that the imagination attributes to our mountain countries: the cows, the meadows mowed of the rosière opening on the Mont Blanc chain standing in the middle of the eponymous pastures.
Departure altitude : 1168 meters
Maximum altitude : 1374 meters
Tyoe of terrain : path and small roads
Dogs are forbidden on the leisure bases of Samoëns and Morillon.
Starting point : La Rosière
Itinerary for guidance only.
A family discovery trail in the beautiful Giffre valley.
From our charming village of Samoëns, go exploring the Giffre valley and all its villages.
Follow the Giffre to discover the village of Sixt fer à Cheval.
Nearby: Chapelle de Notre Dame des Grâces. This chapel was built in the 17th century on the site of a sulfur spring capable of curing certain skin ailments. It was an important place of pilgrimage throughout the Giffre Valley.
This pass has often been a justice of the peace for the riders of the Tour de France © and the Dauphiné Libéré ©.
His ascent by bike from Samoëns, apart from sporting performance which requires good training, is the opportunity to browse a wonderful balcony opening onto the valley, then towards the Mont-Blanc massif under its most majestic profile.
Itinerary for guidance only.