Grand Tour of Valais and Haut-Giffre
Activities
Difficulty
Duration
Dates
Price
From 1320.00 €
About the Grand Tour du Valais et du Haut-Giffre trek
A unique tour combining the “dents Blanches”, the “dents du Midi” and the high limestone peaks of the Haut Giffre valley, during which you’ll cross the Sixt Passy Nature Reserve.
In 12 days, complete a 165-kilometer tour with 12,500 meters of ascent! Wild and grandiose, this itinerant tour of the Valais Haut Giffre offers superb views of the Mont Blanc massif.
Through a route of alpine pastures and lunar scenery, it brings together a mix of moods and atmospheres. With its mountain lakes, rich endemic fauna, numerous passes (ten) and two borders, this Grand Tour du Valais Haut Giffre has nothing to envy the famous Tour du Mont Blanc.
Welcome to the Wild and the Unique, an interlude in time, to live in the moment.
You will leave with :
Sébastien
Mont-Blanc specialist
“The trip to the mountains is a moment of discovery. So you shouldn’t try to arrive before you’ve left to take full advantage of it!”
Photo gallery of the Grand Tour du Valais et du Haut-Giffre
The route of the Grand Tour du Valais et du Haut-Giffre
Upcoming departures
What's included in the formula
- Supervision by a state-qualified mountain leader
- Overnight stays as described in the program
- Half-board in the accommodation indicated in the program
- Picnics at lunchtime in refuges
- Showers in the accommodation indicated in the program
What's not included in the package
- Transport to and from the start of the trek
- Luggage transfer
- Beverages other than water at the table
- Any private transfers not included in the program
- Cancellation assistance insurance to be taken out upon registration
Day 1: Departure from Cirque du Fer à Cheval
7 hours’ walk – Overnight in refuge – D+ 1050 / D- : 30 m
Meet at 8:30am at the Fer à Cheval parking lot in Sixt Fer à Cheval, where you’ll meet your guide and the rest of your group.
At the center of the Cirque du Fer à Cheval, you’ll spend your first day in the heart of the Sixt Fer à Cheval nature reserve. Before reaching the refuge de la Vogealle, you’ll cross an equipped passage at the Pas du Boret.
Day 2: Vogealle hut to Folly hut
7 hours’ walk – Overnight in refuge – D+: 770 m / D-: 930 m
In a world of alpine grass and mineral atmosphere, you’ll head for the Col des Chambres.
You will have the opportunity to climb the Pointe de Bellegarde (2514m). Afterwards, you’ll pass a small equipped passage to the Lac des Chambres before descending to the Folly refuge.
Day 3: Passes
7 hours’ walk – Overnight in refuge – D+: 1050 m / D-: 820 m
At the foot of the Chaîne des Dents d’Oddaz, you climb up towards the Col de Pointe Droite to descend via the Pas au Taureau (equipped with rope and chain). To finish off this fine day’s walking, you’ll arrive at the Col de Bostan, before descending to the refuge of the same name.
Day 4: Entering Switzerland
Today, we’re off to Switzerland! A day between two passes will take you across the border to discover some of the Swiss countryside. You’ll follow the GR5 itinerary to reach the Cantine de Barmaz, where dinner and a rest await you.
Day 5: Barmaz canteen to Chindonne inn
This intense day begins with a traverse of Val-d’Illiez, overlooked by the Teeth du Midi mountain range. You’ll then cross several alpine pastures to walk along the ridges and finish the day at the cosy Chindonne inn.
Day 6: Incursion into the Trient valley
Today, you’ll be heading for the Trient valley, which will bring back memories for anyone we’ve accompanied on the full Tour du Mont Blanc.
You will then descend to the small village of Mex and head towards the Col du Jorat. Finally, you’ll reach the Salanfe hut and lake.
Day 7: Mineral day
After a fine night’s sleep, a mineral-filled day with two passes and three more lakes awaits you! Today, it’s a beautiful, wild, grandiose mountain stage to the large Lac d’Emosson, then a climb to the Cabane du Vieux Emosson.
You’ll need your headlamp to enter the small tunnel. A real adventure!
Day 8: Vieux Emosson hut to Grenairon refuge
Back to the Haut-Giffre and its reserve. After a beautiful climb to Cheval Blanc, you’ll pass by the famous “Mont-Blanc des Dames” (le Buet 3100m) to begin a beautiful traverse to the Grenairon mountains, home of the ibex.
You might even spot the bearded vulture on this day… and you’re sure to enjoy some splendid views of the Mont-Blanc massif.
Day 9: Face aux Fiz
You’ll leave Grenairon for a beautiful descent on the Cirque des Fonds trail. You’ll stop to say hello to the wardens and to Bruce, a Hérens cow breeder. Then you’ll head for the small Col d’Anterne, where the immense wall of the Fiz mountain range imposes its majesty.
Day 10: Alfred Wills hut to Platé hut
Three passes are on the program for this day. After enjoying Lac d’Anterne, you’ll hike up to its pass for an exceptional panorama of the Mont Blanc massif. Then you’ll pass the foot of the south face of the Fiz massif and climb up to the Dérochoir with its equipped passages. You’ll approach the Col de Portette, behind which lies the refuge.
Day 11: Across the Platé desert
Today you’ll be exploring Europe’s largest karst desert, the Platé Desert. You’ll make your way back down to the beautiful waterfalls of the Sales mountain, before returning a little further down to the hamlet of Salvagny and its cosy inn. You’ll spend your last night here before setting off the next day on the final leg of your Grand Tour.
Day 12: Last day on the way to the Fer à Cheval cirque
After 11 days’ walking, and to round off this wonderful adventure, you’ll head for the Commune mountain pastures, watched over by the great Tenneverge. You’ll descend towards the Cirque that greeted you on the first day. And here you are at the end of your trek!
Highlights of the trip
General information
SAFETY
You can find the Quai d’Orsay’s position on these countries on the official website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: diplomatie.gouv.fr in the “Conseils aux voyageurs” section.
The information contained on the website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs is subject to change and is given for guidance only. Please note that no region of the world or country can be considered safe from the risk of terrorism.
REGISTRATION
By post:
Ask us for a registration form
- by phone: 06 65 93 29 29
- or e-mail: contact@watse.fr
Send us your registration with a copy of your passport, your postal address, telephone number and e-mail address, together with a deposit of 30% of the cost of the trip.
Also, if you wish to take out a Comfort or Comfort Multirisk cancellation insurance policy, this must be paid at the same time as the deposit when you register. You can consult our insurance contracts on our website.
By internet:
Book your holiday directly on our website: directly on the holiday page, choosing your dates and insurance options.
ATTENTION: air fares will be maintained until 3 months before departure and may be readjusted if necessary if you book during this period.
ASSISTANCE AND SAFETY
We strongly advise you to take out assistance insurance for the duration of your trip.
We offer two different types of insurance: Comfort Cancellation and Comfort Multirisk, to be taken out when you register for your trip.
Details of this insurance are available on request or can be viewed by by clicking here.
Other offers include Mondial Assistance, your own insurance company or Club Alpin Français. Check that your trekking activity is covered.
Make sure your insurance covers all medical expenses in the event of an accident.
You must make sure that you are covered for mountain rescue costs. If this is the case, you must provide us with the following information before you set off on your trek:
- a certificate from the insurance company covering mountain rescue costs.
- the contract number and telephone number of the assistance center
Beware of restrictive clauses in certain insurance policies (particularly those linked to Visa Premier, Gold or other cards), such as mountain insurance limited to snow activities, or altitude sickness not recognized as an illness requiring repatriation, which will be refused.
Please check the actual content of your insurance and take the necessary steps if necessary.
Health & climate
JET LAG
No time difference.
CLIMATE
Temperatures vary according to altitude. It can reach 30°C in summer on the plains, or sub-zero on the summits.
HEALTH AND VACCINES
No vaccinations required.
We strongly recommend that you are up to date with the usual vaccinations: diphtheria-tetanus-poliomyelitis, whooping cough, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, hepatitis A and B.
We recommend that you have a check-up with your dentist before you leave.
IFREMMONT
No specific indications.
Transport and conditions
For an additional fee, we can arrange transportation to and from the trek start point. Contact us or let us know your requirements when booking.
AIR
No specific indications.
LUGGAGE
You carry your own gear for the entire trek, so make sure you select only the bare essentials, the most versatile. We’ll be happy to advise you on the best equipment to bring along.
The stay
MEALS
Picnic lunches are taken at the refuge. Morning and evening meals are taken at the refuge.
You can also bring your favorite snacks.
If you have a special diet, please let us know as soon as possible.
ACCOMMODATION
During the trek, we stay in refuges. The dormitories are always different and vary in size. A sheet-sack is compulsory for the night, and earplugs and a small headlamp with a red bulb (less annoying in gîtes) are recommended.
TRAINING
Supervision by a state-qualified French mountain leader.
Practical info
ELECTRICITY
Some (but not all) refuges allow you to recharge your small electronic devices (cell phone, camera). If necessary, bring an external battery or solar charger.
FORMALITIES AND VISA
No visa required for French nationals and citizens of bordering countries.
BUDGET, CHANGE AND TIPS
Meals not included (cold drinks, snacks, etc.) and accommodation are included in the price of the stay. Tipping is not compulsory and should reflect your satisfaction with the team.
Watse added value
A WATSE CREATION
A wild and intimate itinerary you won’t find anywhere else.
YOUR FIRST BIG TREK
A great experience to prepare for a future high altitude trek in the Himalayas or the Andes.
FIELD EXPERIENCE
Your guide is a specialist in the area and knows the terrain like the back of his hand