Description

This 3-day hike along part of the Via Alpina in the stunning Haute-Savoie region of France takes you down the Chamonix Valley past the spectacular Aiguilles Rouges Massif and the Fiz Range, all the way from Samoëns to Vallorcine.

**Day 1** The first day is quite a baptism by fire, with over 1150m of ascent! Jumping on the Via Alpina Red stages R110 and R111, the trail follows the course of the Giffre stream out of Samoens and across the Tignes Gorge.

You then break out into the vast Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval plain, before continuing up to the collet d'Anterne Pass.

At this point, you will be entering the Anterne Mountain Nature Reserve, where you will spend the night at the Anterne Alfred Wills hut: http://refuge-wills.com/. **Day 2** The day begins by following the R111 to the beautiful Anterne Lake, which is a great spot for a swim.

The trail then enters a steep stage, climbing up to Anterne Pass, where you should stop to take in the fantastic panorama of the Mont-Blanc Massif.

You will then descend steeply down to the Aiguilles Rouges Nature Reserve, which is teeming with flora and fauna.

Hike through the nature reserve, still following the same Via Alpina trail to the Brevent Pass.

At the pass, you then need to jump on the Great Balcony Trail, which leads you to the Bel Lachat Hut, your spot for the night! Email for reservations: refuge.bellachat@gmail.com **Day 3** From the Bel Lachat Hut, retrace your steps to the Brevent Pass, from here continue on in the direction of Chamonix, enjoying fantastic views of Europe’s largest mountain, the Mont Blanc Massif, as you lace around the foot of the Aiguilles Rouges Range to the Montets Pass, finishing up at Vallorcine, where you can spend the night at Gite Le Mermoud.

Email: chalet.mermoud@orange.fr **Sources: ** http://www.via-alpina.org/en