Walks - no car required (in order of distance/difficulty)
There are plenty of flat walks along the valley that are not taxing, especially next to the river. You will see people of all ages strolling between Samoëns and Morillon, and also from Samoëns towards Sixt Fer à Cheval.
Les Randonneurs to Samoëns – orientation
The scenic route from Les Randonneurs to town crosses the Clevieux, a tributary of the Giffre.
From the chalet, instead of following the route back onto the main road, look out for a turning on your right, you can recognise it by a trough fed by a spring that seems to come from inside a tree trunk. This route takes you into the east side of the town, across a footbridge over Le Clevieux. After exploring the town, return via the foot path next to the main river, Le Giffre, along the opposite side of the valley from the chalet. There are several footpaths crossing the valley from Le Giffre to Les Vallons.
Les Randonneurs to Samoëns – orientation
The scenic route from Les Randonneurs to town crosses the Clevieux, a tributary of the Giffre.
From the chalet, instead of following the route back onto the main road, look out for a turning on your right, you can recognise it by a trough fed by a spring that seems to come from inside a tree trunk. This route takes you into the east side of the town, across a footbridge over Le Clevieux. After exploring the town, return via the foot path next to the main river, Le Giffre, along the opposite side of the valley from the chalet. There are several footpaths crossing the valley from Le Giffre to Les Vallons.
This picture shows our chalet, during construction, from the other side of the valley.
Le Mont
Le Mont is a pretty hamlet perched on the hillside towards Sixt Fer à Cheval. It’s a little uphill to get there but not too strenuous. The footpath to get there starts at Sougey, just beyond Vallon d’en Haut, before you get back onto the main D907. For a longer hike, cross the D907 to the Gorge de Tines (below) and return to the chalet back across the valley.
Gorge des Tines
The Gorge des Tines is on the opposite side of the valley heading towards Sixt Fer à Cheval. You can easily take in the gorge and Le Mont in the same day for a longer hike.
There is a marked footpath with ladders and wire rails guiding you along what was once the path of the river, worn over thousands of years, before it changed to its present course. This is perfect for an overcast day (or when you want to avoid the sun).
Verchaix
You may have driven through part of Verchaix if you arrived via the Vallée Verte. Most of the village lies on the upper slopes of the valley and is accessible via a combination of footpaths and quiet roads from the centre of Samoëns. This makes a pleasant half day stroll, we’ve often continued to Morillon and come back along the river banks.
Pertuet – Chalets du Trot
For a lovely walk in alpine meadows, take the path from Vallon d’en Haut towards Montagne de Criou, as far as Pertuet. From here turn off the main path and head for Chalets du Trot where there are various routes back depending on how energetic you feel, possibly going as far as Le Mont before heading back to the valley bottom, or taking a more direct route. The lower parts of this walk are along logging tracks.
Lac de Ger
The walk to Lac de Ger, almost directly south of Samoëns, can be done from the chalet. Allow all day for this but you won’t need to rush to be back for supper. The last section is cinder track since the lake is accessible by road, hard on the feet after a long trek, but the views from the lake towards Tête Pelouse are worth it.
The route we have taken is to cross the valley from Vallon d’en Haut, cross the river at Pont de Reve, and pick up the main path to Lac de Ger at Cascade de Nant d’Ant, via Bermont d’en Haut. We’ve returned the same way but you could vary the route by starting or finishing at Salvigny. This would be a very long hike unless you left a car at the car part in Salvigny to drive the last stretch back to the chalet.
Le Mont
Le Mont is a pretty hamlet perched on the hillside towards Sixt Fer à Cheval. It’s a little uphill to get there but not too strenuous. The footpath to get there starts at Sougey, just beyond Vallon d’en Haut, before you get back onto the main D907. For a longer hike, cross the D907 to the Gorge de Tines (below) and return to the chalet back across the valley.
Gorge des Tines
The Gorge des Tines is on the opposite side of the valley heading towards Sixt Fer à Cheval. You can easily take in the gorge and Le Mont in the same day for a longer hike.
There is a marked footpath with ladders and wire rails guiding you along what was once the path of the river, worn over thousands of years, before it changed to its present course. This is perfect for an overcast day (or when you want to avoid the sun).
Verchaix
You may have driven through part of Verchaix if you arrived via the Vallée Verte. Most of the village lies on the upper slopes of the valley and is accessible via a combination of footpaths and quiet roads from the centre of Samoëns. This makes a pleasant half day stroll, we’ve often continued to Morillon and come back along the river banks.
Pertuet – Chalets du Trot
For a lovely walk in alpine meadows, take the path from Vallon d’en Haut towards Montagne de Criou, as far as Pertuet. From here turn off the main path and head for Chalets du Trot where there are various routes back depending on how energetic you feel, possibly going as far as Le Mont before heading back to the valley bottom, or taking a more direct route. The lower parts of this walk are along logging tracks.
Lac de Ger
The walk to Lac de Ger, almost directly south of Samoëns, can be done from the chalet. Allow all day for this but you won’t need to rush to be back for supper. The last section is cinder track since the lake is accessible by road, hard on the feet after a long trek, but the views from the lake towards Tête Pelouse are worth it.
The route we have taken is to cross the valley from Vallon d’en Haut, cross the river at Pont de Reve, and pick up the main path to Lac de Ger at Cascade de Nant d’Ant, via Bermont d’en Haut. We’ve returned the same way but you could vary the route by starting or finishing at Salvigny. This would be a very long hike unless you left a car at the car part in Salvigny to drive the last stretch back to the chalet.
Le Criou
The path to the top of Le Criou, the rocky peak which dominates the town at 2,023 m, starts in Les Vallons. Start early, it’s a long strenuous hike! We haven’t tried it yet. This is a there-and-back walk, not a circular route. The lower part is largely in woodland and the final stretch is a scramble. No doubt the views at the top are spectacular and this is a must if you are a peak bagger.
For a detailed description of the walk go to https://www.randos-montblanc.com/en/hard-hikes/criou.html.