Le Tour & Vallorcine – Domaine de Balme

CHamonix Summer Holidays, La Tour, Vallorcine, Chamonix Activities

Vital Statistics

Departure: 1480m | Top of the area: 2270m
Activities: Mountain biking, walking, hiking, climbing/glacier hiking
Gondolas: 2 | Chairlifts: 2

Le Tour is situated at the top of the valley and is a traditional Savoyarde village which borders Switzerland. The views back down the valley towards Chamonix are unmissable and create a fantastic backdrop to your walking or biking. You’ll also enjoy the herds of cows which graze the pastures during the summer – listen out for their bells – every farmer has his herd tuned to a different note!

The high mountain pastures of the Domaine de Balme are perfect for rambles, while the Glacier du Tour provides the ideal theatre for mountaineering. Get up high to enjoy views of the Emosson Dam or take a technical trek from the Refuge Albert 1er across the Glacier du Tour.

Le Tour is also one of Chamonix’s main mountain biking destinations, offering long trails suitable for varying abilities. Find out more about mountain biking in the valley.

Local tip

Local tip 1: If you’re heading up to Le Tour and Vallorcine, we recommend taking the Mont Blanc Express train to Vallorcine instead of the bus to Le Tour. It’s free with your tourist guest card and usually much less busy than the buses, plus you can enjoy the great views on the way.

Local tip 2: Check out our Mountain Restaurants guide for the best places to eat on the mountains, view Le Tour summer lift map.

Lift passes

Le Tour is included on the Mont Blanc Multipass.