Public Transport
Lake Geneva to the Vanoise

Walking with just a daypack is getting harder and harder, especially in the Alpes where only some of the valleys have a bus connection. Occasionally it's also possible to creatively use a skilift as most of them are open during summer for mountainbikers (and hikers).

Base camp in Châtel:
Thonon - Chévenoz
  • Park car in Chévenoz at the church
  • Bus 102 to railways station of Thonon
  • Walk to Chévenoz

  • Chévenoz - La Chapelle d'Abondance
  • Bus 102 from Châum;tel to Chévenoz
  • Walk to Refuge de Bise - stay overnight
  • Walk to La Chapelle d'Abondance
  • Bus 102 or local bus back to Châum;tel

  • Here's the trick ... we bought in Châtel a skipass for Portes du Soleil. Through the camping site only about 2 Euros per person per day.
    La Chapelle d'Abondance - Col de Bassachaux
  • The day before parked the car at Col de Bassachaux
  • Walked to Gelopen naar Crêum;te des Rochassons
  • Skilift down to Plaine Dranse en continuing to Pré la Joux
  • Free shuttle bus back to camping site
  • Next day, bus 102 to La Chapelle d'Abondance
  • Walk to Col de Bassachaux
  • Car back to camping site

  • Crête des Rochassons - Samoëns
  • The day before parked car in Samoëns
  • Bus 94 to Cluses
  • Bus 91 from Cluses to Morzine
  • In Morzine walk to tourist info
  • Free shuttle bus to Les Prodains
  • Telecabin to Avoriaz
  • Walk across Avoriaz to the other side for the skilifts
  • Skilifts to Les Lindarets - Crëte de Rochassons - Plaine Dranse - Pré la Joux
  • Free shuttle to the camping site
  • Next day .... free shuttle to Pré la Joux
  • Skilift to Plaine Dranse and Crëte des Rochassons
  • Walk to Refuge de la Golèse - stay overnight
  • Walk to Samoëns
  • Car back to Châtel

  • Base camp Samoëns
    Samoëns - Salvagny
    Circular walk (13km):
  • Samoëns - Salvagny along GR5
  • Back along department road

  • Salvagny - Le Brevent
  • Evening before we parked the car at railway station Cluses and returned to camping with bus 94
  • In the morning bus 94 to Sixt (transport on demand!)
  • Walk to Salvagny and further to Refuge Moëde-Anterne
  • Overnight in refuge
  • Next day, walk to summit of Le Brevent
  • Telecabin from Le Brevent to Chamonix (buy ticket at Planpraz as there is no ticket desk at the Brevent)
  • In Chamonix walk to railway station and catch train to St.Gervais-les-Bains
  • In St.Gervais change trains to Cluses
  • Car drive back to base camp

  • Le Brevent - Les Houches
  • By car from base camp to railway station Les Houches and park
  • Train to Chamonix
  • Walk through Chamonix to telecabin station and take telecabin up the Brevent
  • Walk to Les Houches, car back to base camp

  • Les Houches - Les Contamines-Montjoie
  • By car from base camp to railway station St.Gervais-les-Bains and park
  • Train to railway station Les Houches
  • Walk to Les Contamines
  • Bus 84 from Les Contamines to St.Gervais, car back to base camp

  • Les Contamines-Montjoie - Landry
  • Car parked in Les Contamines
  • 4-days hike Les Contamins - Refuge La Balme - Refuge Plan de la Lai - Refuge La Balme-Tarentaise - Landry
  • From Landry by train to Chambery
  • In Chambery change trains to Aix-les-Bains
  • In Aix-les-Bains change trains to Geneva, step out in La Roche-sur-Foron
  • In La Roche change trains to St.Gervais-les-Bains
  • In St.Gervais bus 84 to Les Contamines, then car back to base camp