Tour du Mont Blanc, Stage 6: From La Fouly to Champex

The sixth stage of the Tour du Mont Blanc offers a pause from the succession of major Alpine passes. Heading into the heart of the Swiss Valais, this section from La Fouly to Champex provides a different experience, more bucolic and forested. It’s an active recovery day, a moment to appreciate the charm of traditional Swiss villages, with their dark wooden storages and colorful geraniums. At Grand Angle, we see this stage as a necessary breath in the TMB adventure. It allows you to admire another side of the Alps—softer and pastoral—before tackling the challenges of the tour’s final section. It’s a perfect transition highlighting the diversity of landscapes and cultures along this trek in Switzerland.

• Classic itinerary: a stroll through the Swiss Val Ferret
• Variant via the Arpette Window: an Alpine challenge
• Culture and landscapes: the charm of Valais
• Arrival at Champex-Lac: Switzerland’s "Little Canada"
• Experience the Swiss TMB with Grand Angle

Classic itinerary: a stroll through the Swiss Val Ferret

Considered one of the easiest TMB stages, the classic version of this route spans approximately 15 to 18 kilometers. The elevation gain is moderate, around 420 to 755 meters, with 565 to 852 meters of descent, taking 4 to 5 hours to complete. It’s an ideal day to rest your legs while enjoying a charming setting.

From traditional villages to the enchanted forest

From La Fouly, the trail gently descends along the Dranse de Ferret river. You pass through a series of picturesque hamlets such as Praz-de-Fort and Issert, where you can admire typical Valais architecture. This part of the hike, mostly flat or gently descending, allows you to soak in the peaceful valley atmosphere. The final section involves a steady climb through the forest to reach Champex-Lac, sometimes along a fun thematic path, the "Mushroom Trail."

Culture and landscapes: the charm of Valais

This stage immerses you in Valais culture. The villages you pass, with their dark wooden chalets and barns (raccards), reflect ancestral craftsmanship. The green meadows, grazed by Hérens cows, are dotted with alpine flowers. It’s a postcard-perfect Switzerland that offers hikers a calming contrast to the harsh, rocky high-altitude stages in Italy and France.

Arrival at Champex-Lac: Switzerland’s "Little Canada"

Arriving at Champex-Lac (1470 m) is a moment of pure tranquility. Nestled in a forest of conifers, this beautiful alpine lake invites relaxation. Its peaceful atmosphere and scenic surroundings have earned it the nickname "Little Canada" of Valais. It’s an ideal spot for an afternoon of rest, a pedal boat ride, or simply enjoying a drink on the terrace while admiring nearby peaks such as the Grand Combin.

Continue your TMB exploration stage by stage

• TMB - Stage 1: Les Houches to Les Contamines-Montjoie
• TMB - Stage 2: Les Contamines-Montjoie to Les Chapieux
• TMB - Stage 3: Les Chapieux to Elisabetta Refuge
• TMB - Stage 4: Elisabetta Refuge to Courmayeur
• TMB - Stage 5: Courmayeur to La Fouly
• TMB - Stage 6: La Fouly to Champex
• TMB - Stage 7: Champex to Col de la Forclaz
• TMB - Stage 8: Col de la Forclaz to Argentière
• TMB - Stage 9: Argentière to Chamonix
• TMB - Stage 10: Chamonix to Les Houches

See all TMB stages ➜

Experience the Swiss TMB with Grand Angle

This stage, with its two alternative routes, perfectly illustrates how the Tour du Mont Blanc can be adapted to individual preferences and fitness levels. Whether you prefer the conviviality of the classic route on our 10-day guided trip or are tempted by the -challenge of the Fenêtre d'Arpette on a self-guided trip, Grand Angle organizes your adventure so that you can fully enjoy the journey. This Swiss day is a perfect transition before embarking on the seventh stage, bringing you closer to France. To choose the route that suits you best, contact our Alpine trekking experts.