Hikes and ski tours in the Mont Blanc and Ecrins ranges

Some of our favourite trekking and skiing routes in the French Alps

The French Alps are full of amazing hikes and ski tours. So much so that it can be difficult to know where to start. To help out, we’ve put together a selection of our favourite routes, both summer and winter. Hopefully this will give you some ideas for your next trip. We’re adding routes around our base in Chamonix all the time, so keep checking back for more inspiration. We also have a selection of our favourite routes near our previous home in the Ecrins Massif. The route listings below link to the relevant blog posts in the Hiking Routes and Ski Touring categories.

Let us know if you have any great walking or skiing routes you think we should add around Chamonix or elsewhere in the Alps.

We can offer guided hiking on any of the Chamonix routes mentioned. We can also take you ski touring on most of the routes, with the exception of high mountain routes on glaciers which are included purely for information and personal interest. We’re happy to provide information and help you organise a trip to the Ecrins, but we can’t always get across from Chamonix to do the routes with you. We run self-guided trekking holidays in the both the Ecrins and Mont Blanc ranges.

If you’re looking for longer routes, have a look at our Tour du Mont Blanc trips and other multi-day routes on the Summer Hiking page.

Hiking routes around Chamonix and Mont Blanc

Have a look at our guided hiking page for the classic Chamonix Day Hikes as well. The famous longer routes in the area include the ten-day Tour du Mont Blanc (and our popular four-day version of the TMB), and the Walkers’ Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt.

• Aiguillette des Houches – Chamonix Hikes
• Aiguillette des Possettes – Chamonix Hikes
• Chamonix Hiking – the Grand Balcon Nord
• La Jonction – Chamonix Hikes
• Lac Blanc – Chamonix Hiking
• TMB or Haute Route?

Ski Tours around Mont Blanc

We’re growing our list of ski tours in the area, not just in the Chamonix valley but in the wider Mont-Blanc region as well. The aim is to provide more introductory ski tours, but all are subject to avalanche risk. Remember that most introductory ski tours are still challenging by ski resort standards – you need to be comfortable skiing black run steepness on off-piste terrain. If in doubt, ask an instructor or guide.

• Col de la Cicle and Col de la Fenêtre ski touring
• Col des Rachasses
• Col du Belvedere
• Mont de l’Arpille

Hiking routes in the Ecrins

In the Ecrins, the hiking trails are far quieter than elsewhere in the Alps. The high peaks sit between sleepy villages and remote valleys giving a remote feel to the area. The classic long distance trail is the GR54 Tour des Oisans, or Tour des Ecrins. You can do the Northern section of the GR54 in a long weekend, while the southern part is a little more remote and involved. We wrote this page on Ecrins hiking back when we lived in the area.

• Christmas Day Snowshoeing – Lauteret and Galibier
• Cime du Pied de Barry Walk
• Col d’Arsine Walk
• Le Sapey walk

Ski Tours in the Ecrins

Although we’re based in Chamonix these days, we have spent a lot of time ski touring in the Ecrins. We still like to take trips to La Grave or Les Deux Alpes during the winter to explore new routes in the area. For more info, we wrote a page on Deux Alpes ski touring when we lived there. Most of the routes listed below are non-glacial with the exception of the Col du Replat. However, all are potentially exposed to avalanche risk – ski them at your own risk or hire a professional to guide you.

• Col de Laurichard (2654m)
• Col du Galibier
• Combeynot, Col du Lautaret
• La Petite Buffe (2683m) – Chazelet
• Les Deux Alpes to La Berarde via the Col du Replat
• Pic Blanc du Galibier
• Pic des Trois Evêchés
• Roche Château ski tour
• Rocher de la Grande Tempête