Hiking Routes

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, composed, depending on the season, of blocks of ice floating or washed up on the shore.

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.

The village of Vallon is split into two parts: Vallon d’en Bas and Vallon d’en Haut. Its inhabitants are called the Cavoêrus. This village constituted a civil parish from 1730. On June 22, 1811, it was attached to Samoëns by an imperial decree.
Duration: 1h30

Elevation: 17 meters

Type of terrain: Roads and trails

Special recommendation: none

Starting point: The Grand Massif Express (GME) cable car park

Special difficulty: none

Map reference: itinerary n ° 4 topoguide Haut Giffre Valley.



Go along the Giffre to a footbridge spanning the Clévieu. Cross then take the path on the left, which takes you on the old dykes of Giffre. The path, in the undergrowth, soon joins the Giffre which we follow to the Revé bridge.

Leave the bridge on your right and take, a few meters further, the path which leaves on the left and crosses the plain of Vallon. Facing you overlooks the Criou mountain and to the right, at the bottom of the valley, the Commune mountain.

Cross the road and continue with the one just opposite which leads to Vallon d'en Haut.

In the village turn left. Observe the fountain, dated 1873 and carved from a single block of stone. Continue to Vallon d'en Bas. The chapel founded in 1636 is placed under the name of the Saints: Jacques, Philippe and Joseph, in thanks for their protection during the plague epidemic which raged in 1630.

Shortly after the chapel, turn right in front of a large pool. The road leads to a crossroads. Turn left, follow the Clévieu stream then cross the departmental road.

At the second bridge, change banks and continue along the Clévieu to find the footbridge taken on the outward journey. Continue on the path and return to the gondola parking lot.



Itinerary for guidance only.

(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.