I moved to the Annecy area in 2018 and have spent the years since discovering the best Annecy hiking has to offer, in town and well beyond. Let’s be honest: I came here for the mountains, and I make the most of them.
For years, people have asked me which hikes to do around here, depending on their level, with children, with or without a view of the lake… So I wanted to write one big guide with all the answers. But because we all have our biases, I first asked my community, the locals of Annecy, to rank their favourite hikes. In this guide you’ll find their ranking, my own opinions, and what you need to choose the right hike for your level, your time and your car (or your lack of one).
Visiting Annecy? Here are my other articles about my town:
- 🏰 The story behind Annecy castle
- 😋 The best restaurants in Annecy and the best brunches in Annecy
- 🪂 My paragliding flight over Annecy
Annecy hiking: the best hikes, ranked by locals
Here are the top three hikes in Annecy according to the people who live here, with my own take on each one. The figures come from my own articles.
1. La Tournette
The hike at a glance
Altitude: 2,351 m
Getting there: about 35 minutes by car from Annecy, to the Prés Ronds car park
Distance and elevation gain: 11 to 12.5 km round trip, about 1,200 m of ascent
Level: hard
La Tournette comes first, and by a long way. At 2,351 metres it towers over the lake and you can admire it in every season: it’s our local mini Mont Blanc. It is also one of the most demanding hikes around Annecy. Some stretches are technically steep, and the end of the climb goes up a chimney fitted with ladders and chains. Nothing impossible, but I wouldn’t call it a hike for everyone, especially with children.
As for the season, count on 1 July to 15 October, depending on snow conditions. “So, is La Tournette doable yet?” has become a classic question around here.
Since I moved to Annecy I’ve climbed it dozens of times, from every side, and Rhéa comes with me. We also bivouacked up there in 2019 with Cyril. It was a wonderful memory, but the rules have changed since then and I wouldn’t do it again.
2. Le Parmelan
The hike at a glance
Altitude: 1,834 m
Getting there: by car only, starting from Villaz
Distance and elevation gain: 10 km, about 1,000 m of ascent
Level: open to everyone, “even if it climbs a bit”
Le Parmelan is one of my favourite hikes in Annecy. It is less technical than La Tournette but just as popular, and it gives you a sweeping view of Lake Annecy and Mont Blanc. I start from Villaz, at the end of the forest road. You can only get there by car, on a fairly winding road, and the small car park fills up fast when the weather is good (arrive early).
Two paths lead up. The Grand Montoir is the shortest but the trickiest. It’s slippery when wet, and best avoided if you get dizzy (on the way down, I wasn’t feeling brave). The Petit Montoir is longer but safer. Pack a windproof jacket, because it blows hard at the top. I never tire of it: I’ve done it in December and in February.
3. Le Mont Veyrier
The hike at a glance
Altitude: 1,291 m
Getting there: about twenty minutes on foot from Annecy, starting at Petit Port
Distance and elevation gain: about 11 km and 900 m of ascent (loop from Petit Port), 3 to 5 hours depending on the options
Level: tough, especially in the second half
Mont Veyrier is my favourite Sunday walk and the classic training ground for regulars. It is also the hike to do when you’re just passing through. You can do it without a car (driving there in summer is actively discouraged), on foot or by bike from Annecy, and that’s what makes it so popular. Trail runners love it too. It looks cute and easy, but it is often underestimated: the climb bites from the very start, the ridge is beautiful (and difficult), and the paths are slippery after rain. I see plenty of people going up in flip-flops or Converse, as if they had finished lounging in the sun and fancied the view from above. Please don’t do that: it’s a proper hike!
At weekends it gets very busy, and the easiest starting point near Annecy is Petit Port. Another option is to climb from Veyrier-du-Lac, a route I find great for the views of Mont Veyrier itself.
The top three doesn’t surprise me much, although I wouldn’t necessarily have put La Tournette first (it’s quite committing) and I’m surprised by how little love the Semnoz got.
The runners-up, tied in 4th place
Four hikes tied for 4th place: Pointe de Talamarche, the Taillefer ridge, Pointe Percée and the Semnoz hikes.
Pointe de Talamarche
The hike at a glance
Altitude: about 1,850 m
Elevation gain: between 950 and 1,400 m depending on the start
Routes: 4 possible starting points
I’m such a fan of this hike and its view! You can climb it from Morette (13 km, 1,300 m of ascent), from the Aulp chalet (15 km, 950 m of ascent), from Montremont (10 km, about 1,000 m of ascent) or from Alex via the Trou de la Chapelle (14.5 km, 1,400 m of ascent). Whichever you choose, the profile is “moderate, not technical, but long and demanding”. The exception is the Alex route, which I keep for experienced hikers (a cave to cross with a head torch, and sections with chains and ropes). At the top the view is incredible: Lake Annecy, La Tournette, the Aravis, Talloires and sometimes Mont Blanc, in a much quieter atmosphere than on the big classics. My favourite start is Morette, early in the morning. I like to stop for a bite at the Lindion mountain hut. Rhéa loves the Montremont version, and so do I when I want a lovely day out without stress.
The Taillefer ridge
The hike at a glance
Starting points: several (Duingt, Entrevernes, Les Maisons)
From Duingt church: about 7 km, 370 m of ascent, 3 hours
Taillefer has several starting points, with more or less climbing. For me the ridge is an easy hike, especially if you start from Entrevernes or Les Maisons rather than Duingt. The view over the lake and La Tournette is gorgeous, the atmosphere is very special, and it’s one of my favourites in every season!
One warning: the big loops along the Taillefer ridges are rated “hard” (12 to 15 km depending on the start), so check your route carefully before you set off.
Pointe Percée
The hike at a glance
Altitude: about 2,750 m, Aravis range
Distance and elevation gain: about 12 km, 1,000 to 1,100 m of ascent
Duration: 5 to 7 hours
This is the highest summit in the ranking, and it plays in a different league from the others. The start is at Les Troncs, in Le Grand-Bornand (1,256 m), or at the Col des Annes. The Gramusset mountain hut (2,164 m) marks the gateway to the steepest part, about 1.5 to 2 hours’ walk in.
The normal route is graded PD (peu difficile, “not very hard”) in mountaineering terms, with ledges, slabs and technical sections where a rope may be needed in summer. In winter and spring the same route turns into a snow climb. It is for people who are already used to high mountains.
The Semnoz
The hike at a glance
Summit: Crêt de Châtillon, about 1,700 m
Plateau loop: 8.15 km, about 370 m of ascent, 3 hours 25, starting at 1,411 m
For many locals, the Semnoz is the way into high mountains. You drive up to the ski resort (car park on the Bauges side), and the loop around the plateau is not hard. At the Crêt de Châtillon, two viewpoint indicators give you a 360° panorama: Parmelan, the Dents de Lanfon, the Mont Blanc massif, Beaufortain, the Bauges, and the lakes of Bourget and Annecy (be aware that a shoulder of the mountain almost completely hides Lake Annecy from the summit).
Snow can linger into early May, the mountain hut opens from 15 June, and the circuit gets very busy: set off before 10 am to avoid the crowds. The area is sensitive, with rules to protect the wildlife and plants.
How to choose your Annecy hiking route
You don’t need to read everything in one go: pick what you feel like doing and you’ll land in the right section. And if you can’t decide, the table just below compares the hikes already covered on the blog.
A quick note on the figures. “Ascent” means elevation gain, written D+ in French guidebooks and on French route sheets. Levels such as “easy”, “moderate” or “hard” come either from the local tourist office and route websites, or from my own experience, and I say which when it matters. Distances and timings vary a little with the variant you choose, so treat them as a guide and check the current route before you leave.
Easy or family hikes
Hiking in Annecy without a car
Views over Lake Annecy
An Annecy waterfall hike
A proper day in the mountains
By season
| Hike | Distance | Elevation gain | Level | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Tournette | 11 to 12.5 km | about 1,200 m | hard | car, about 35 min to the Prés Ronds |
| Le Parmelan | 10 km | about 1,000 m | open to everyone | car only |
| Mont Veyrier | environ 11 km | environ 900 m | tough, especially in the second half | on foot from Annecy, about 20 min |
| Pointe de Talamarche | 10 to 15 km depending on the start | 950 to 1,400 m | moderate, long and demanding | car |
| Roc de Chère | 5.75 to 6.33 km | about 180 to 230 m | easy | bus line 20, car, boat in season |
Easy hikes around Annecy, for beginners or a gentle day out
If you want easy Annecy hiking that suits families and doesn’t involve much climbing, start with Roc de Chère. This nature reserve on the lakeshore has two easy loops: one from Menthon-Saint-Bernard (5.75 km, about 180 m of ascent, 2 hours 10) and one from Échavines (6.33 km, about 230 m of ascent, 2 hours 30). The viewpoint looks over the bay of Talloires, Duingt castle, the little lake, the Bauges and La Tournette. Autumn here is honestly the best time. It’s one of those outings I recommend all the time.
For me, the Taillefer ridge is also an easy hike, especially if you start from Entrevernes or Les Maisons rather than Duingt. Be careful, though: “Taillefer” covers several starting points, and the big loops along the ridges are rated “hard” (12 to 15 km depending on the start). Check your route before you leave.
On the Semnoz, the tourist office rates the three lakes circuit as “very easy” (5.4 km, 1 hour 40, 140 m of ascent), as well as the foothills of the Semnoz (8 km, 336 m of ascent). One step up, with a view over the lake, is the 3 crosses hike in Sévrier (a medium-level circuit according to Visorando, 5.86 km, 344 m of ascent, 2 hours 40), which I describe in the list of hikes with a view of the lake further down. For a flat outing, even with an all-terrain pushchair, the Bout du Lac nature reserve is 3.4 km long and takes about 50 minutes, with no climbing, and 1.6 km of it is wheelchair accessible (according to Allovoyages). And for a first real mountain, Le Parmelan is open to everyone, even if it climbs a bit.
Roc de Chère
Le Parmelan
Hiking in Annecy without a car
No car? You still have plenty of options. Line 20 of the SIBRA network (Annecy’s local buses) leaves from Annecy station and serves, in order, Petit Port Chavoires (the start of Mont Veyrier), Chef Lieu Veyrier, Chef Lieu Menthon (for Roc de Chère) and Angon (for the waterfall). Timetables change with the season, so check them on sibra.fr before you go. You can also walk to Mont Veyrier from the centre of Annecy (about twenty minutes).
The lake tour (42 to 43 km officially) can be split into stages thanks to the network’s buses and the stopping boats of the Compagnie des Bateaux du lac in season. And for Lac de Lessy, a bus links Annecy to Le Grand-Bornand via Thônes, then a shuttle goes up to Le Chinaillon in season.
Mont Veyrier
Roc de Chère
The lake tour on foot
Lac de Lessy
Hikes with a view of Lake Annecy
Lots of Annecy hikes look over the lake, but not in the same way. Here is how I rank them, from the easiest to the most committing:
- Roc de Chère (easy): a viewpoint over the bay of Talloires, Duingt castle and the little lake.
- The Taillefer ridge (easy to moderate depending on the start): a ridge through box trees, high above the lake, with La Tournette opposite.
- The 3 crosses hike in Sévrier (medium-level circuit, 5.86 km, 344 m of ascent, 2 hours 40): woodland first, then three crosses on the slopes of the Semnoz, including the Chuguet cross, which looks over Lake Annecy and La Tournette. It starts from the town hall car park in Sévrier.
- Mont Veyrier (tough, especially in the second half): the view of Annecy and its lake.
- Le Parmelan (open to everyone, but it climbs): a sweeping view of Lake Annecy and Mont Blanc.
- The Seythenex mountain pasture (moderate, 7 km, 560 m of ascent): Lake Annecy, the Aravis and the Bauges.
- Pointe de Talamarche (long and demanding): the lake, La Tournette, the Aravis and sometimes Mont Blanc.
- The Sambuy combe (1,850 m): the lake and, in clear weather, Mont Blanc.
- La Tournette (committing): it towers over the lake from its 2,351 m.
At the top of the Semnoz (the Crêt de Châtillon), a shoulder of the mountain almost completely hides Lake Annecy. On that side, the view is better from the Sévrier crosses mentioned above.
Annecy waterfall hikes
The Angon waterfall, in Talloires-Montmin, drops from a cliff about 60 metres high. The shortest way is to start from the Pirraz car park in Vérel (4 km, 1 hour 15, 180 m of ascent, paid parking from May to September). From Talloires, count 3.2 km, 2 hours and about 200 m of ascent. The “Angon and Rovagny” loop is 4.5 km and takes 2 hours 30. The tourist office rates it “moderate”: the paths are easy, but the last few metres are very slippery (the rock stays wet even in dry weather) and not recommended for young children. Spring is the best season, when melting snow feeds the waterfall, and closed shoes are essential. Bus 20 stops at Angon.
For a different style, the Seythenex cave and waterfall form a developed site: a guided visit of about 45 minutes, a path with many steps, and closed shoes recommended.
Big mountain days around Annecy
When I talk about a proper day out, I mean 900 m of ascent or more, five to seven hours on the trail, and an early start. La Tournette (about 1,200 m), Le Parmelan (about 1,000 m) and Pointe de Talamarche (950 to 1,400 m depending on the start) are the three classics of the ranking. Further afield, the Trou de la Mouche (about 1,000 m, very hard, unmarked path), Pointe de Tardevant (about 1,130 m), Mont Trélod (about 1,120 m) and the Jalouvre circuit (about 1,000 m) are the same format, but more committing.
What sets them apart is not only the length. Le Parmelan is open to everyone even if it climbs, while La Tournette asks you to be comfortable with ladders and chains, and the Trou de la Mouche asks for a map and compass. Choose according to your level, not according to the view.
La Tournette
Le Parmelan
Pointe de Talamarche
Other hikes around Annecy
This is the rest of my community’s selection, with more Annecy hiking routes near town or a little further out. Distances and elevation gains come from online route sheets, and they vary a little depending on the variant you pick.
Around La Clusaz
- Le Trou de la Mouche: 8.85 km, about 1,000 m of ascent, 5 hours, high point 2,439 m. Rated “very hard”, on an unmarked path (map and compass). It starts from the Lac des Confins car park.
- Pointe de Tardevant and its lake: 13 km, about 1,130 m of ascent, 6 hours 55, 2,497 m. It starts from the Lac des Confins car park: arrive early in summer, because it fills up fast.
- The Beauregard plateau, above La Clusaz.
In the Bauges
- Le Roc des Bœufs: 7.5 km, about 760 m of ascent, 4 hours 20, high point 1,768 m. “Hard”, with a steep climb, an exposed final ridge and a view from Mont Blanc to La Meije. It starts from the Mont Derrière car park, in Bellecombe-en-Bauges.
- Pointe de Banc Plat and the Montagne du Charbon: a 13.2 km loop, about 840 m of ascent, 6 hours, 1,907 m. Views of Mont Blanc, La Tournette, Lake Annecy and the summits of the Bauges. The ground is muddy and slippery in the off season, and the ridge is exposed.
- Mont Trélod: 11.6 km, about 1,120 m of ascent, 6 hours 30, 2,170 m. One of the 14 summits above 2,000 m in the Bauges, with a 360° panorama. There is no water point.
- The Col d’Orgeval: a 13.8 km loop, about 950 m of ascent, rated “very hard” by Haute-Savoie Tourisme. It starts from the La Sambuy resort.
Elsewhere around Annecy
- The Pic du Jalouvre circuit (Bornes-Aravis range): 9.7 km, about 1,000 m of ascent, 5 hours 35, high point 2,262 m, “hard”. It starts from a hairpin bend on the Col de la Colombière road.
- The Pas du Roc: an 8.7 km loop with the Montagne des Frêtes, about 670 m of ascent, 4 hours 25, “moderate”. A passage cut into the cliff runs alongside the waterfall (slippery rock in wet weather). It starts from the Pont de Pierre car park, near Thorens-Glières.
- Lac du Mont Charvin: 9.8 km, about 840 m of ascent, 5 hours 15, 2,090 m. Superb views of Mont Blanc from the ridge.
- La Sambuy: the combe climbs to 1,850 m, with a view of Lake Annecy and, in clear weather, Mont Blanc.
- The Col de la Forclaz: from the head of the lake, 11.25 km, about 835 m of ascent, 5 hours 35, high point 1,285 m. Paragliders take off near the pass.
Bauges, Aravis or Bornes: which mountain range for which hike?
Around Annecy, three limestone ranges of the French Prealps share the hikes in this article.
The Bornes massif
It lies in Haute-Savoie, bordered to the south-west by Lake Annecy and the Bauges massif, with the Glières plateau at its centre. Its highest point is the Pointe Blanche (2,438 m). This is the massif of La Tournette, which you can see very clearly from the lake, and of Le Parmelan, famous for its limestone pavements. The Pas du Roc, near Thorens-Glières, is part of it too.
The Aravis massif
It stretches for 35 km, from Cluses to Ugine, with the Pointe Percée as its highest point. It is often linked with the Bornes (“Bornes-Aravis”). You’ll find La Clusaz, Le Grand-Bornand, Manigod and Saint-Jean-de-Sixt there, and the cooperative of farmhouse reblochon cheese producers was born in Thônes. Golden eagles and bearded vultures nest here. My hikes in this area are the Trou de la Mouche, Pointe de Tardevant, Mont Charvin, the Jalouvre and the Beauregard plateau. The rules (dogs, bivouacking, swimming) change from one village to the next.
The Bauges massif
It straddles Savoie and Haute-Savoie, between Annecy, Aix-les-Bains, Chambéry and Albertville. The regional nature park, created in 1995, covers about 85,600 hectares. The highest point is the Pointe d’Arcalod (2,217 m), while the Semnoz peaks at 1,702 m. You may meet chamois, mouflon, marmots, black grouse and golden eagles, and Tome des Bauges is a protected-origin (AOC) cheese. The hikes here are the Semnoz, the Roc des Bœufs, Pointe de Banc Plat, the Trélod and the Col d’Orgeval. Part of the massif is a hunting and wildlife reserve, with stricter rules.
When to go hiking around Annecy
Spring: the Angon waterfall is at its best when melting snow feeds it. The lake tour can be done from April to June. At Roc de Chère, April to June is nesting season, so take extra care. On the Semnoz, snow can linger into early May.
Summer: Annecy hiking in summer means starting early. The lake tour is not recommended in summer unless you leave very early. La Tournette is walked from 1 July to 15 October, depending on conditions, and snow often clings on until June. On the Semnoz, the mountain hut opens from 15 June. Lac de Lessy is walked from late June to October.
Autumn: it’s honestly the best season at Roc de Chère, and the lake tour is best from September to mid-October.
Winter: Annecy hiking in winter means snowshoes, because high-altitude outings turn into snowshoe walks (see below).
And in winter? My snowshoe hikes
- Semnoz: several circuits, from the squirrels circuit (1.9 km, very easy) to the three lakes circuit (4.7 km minimum, about 170 m of ascent). You can rent snowshoes at the Nordic chalets for €5 to €10 a pair per day.
- Parmelan: 12 km, about 870 m of ascent, fairly hard and steep at the start, from the Plan du Raphoz car park (about 1,030 m).
- Croix du Nivolet, on the Chambéry side: about 300 m of ascent, from Le Sire, at La Féclaz.
Frequently asked questions
Which hike should I choose in Annecy as a beginner?
Start with Roc de Chère (5.75 to 6.33 km, 180 to 230 m of ascent) or, if you want flat ground, the Bout du Lac reserve (3.4 km, about 50 minutes, 1.6 km of it wheelchair accessible). On the Semnoz, the tourist office rates the three lakes circuit as “very easy” (5.4 km, 1 hour 40, 140 m of ascent). And for a first mountain, Le Parmelan is open to everyone, even if it climbs a bit.
Which hike can I do in Annecy without a car?
Mont Veyrier starts about twenty minutes’ walk from the centre. Line 20 of the SIBRA network serves Petit Port Chavoires (Veyrier), Chef Lieu Menthon (Roc de Chère) and Angon (the waterfall). Timetables change with the season, so check them on sibra.fr. The lake tour can be split up with buses and the stopping boats in season.
Which hike has the best view of Lake Annecy?
It depends on your level. Roc de Chère if you want it easy, Taillefer for the atmosphere, Mont Veyrier if you like it steep, and Le Parmelan and Pointe de Talamarche for a proper day out. From the Semnoz, the lake is almost entirely hidden.
Is La Tournette suitable for everyone?
No. Some stretches are technically steep, and the end of the climb goes up a chimney fitted with ladders and chains. It is rated hard. Snow often lingers until June, so ask the tourist office before you set off.
Where can I park for hiking around Annecy?
At Veyrier, the Petit Port car park is limited, so arrive before 8 am. Driving to the Col du Pré Vernet and Col des Contrebandiers car parks has been banned since 29 July 2024. For La Tournette, you park at the Prés Ronds, where the car park fills quickly, because driving up to the Aulp chalet is banned in summer. At Le Parmelan, the small Villaz car park fills fast in good weather. At Vérel (Angon waterfall), parking is paid from May to September, and in Menthon-Saint-Bernard it is free.
Which hikes should I avoid in the rain?
Every path gets more slippery, but some are really bad. Mont Veyrier has steep sections that turn slippery after rain. The last few metres to the Angon waterfall are very slippery even in dry weather, because of the spray. At the Pas du Roc, the rock is worn smooth. The Grand Montoir on Le Parmelan is slippery when wet, and the Trou de la Mouche is steep, loose and slippery when it’s wet.
Can I hike with my dog around Annecy?
Often yes, but not everywhere, and the rule changes from site to site. The FFRandonnée (the French hiking federation) recommends keeping your dog on a lead while hiking, and points out that dogs are often banned in nature reserves and always banned in national parks. In the Bauges national hunting and wildlife reserve (5,200 ha), dogs are banned unless you have permission. In the Aravis, the rule depends on the village: a lead is compulsory in Manigod, and dogs are banned in the Combe de Balme area in La Clusaz from 26 June to 10 October. The Seythenex mountain pasture is closed to dogs from 1 May to 31 October, even on a lead. So check the rules for each hike before you go.
What should I do if I meet a patou?
A patou is a Pyrenean mountain dog that guards a flock of sheep. It protects the animals and is not a pet. Go around the flock as widely as you can, don’t stroke the dog, don’t shout, and don’t take photos with the sheep. Speak calmly so it knows you’re there, let it come close to identify you, and if you’re on a bike, get off and walk past. Avoid taking your own dog into these areas.
Can I bivouac or swim?
Not everywhere. Bivouacking is banned in Manigod and, depending on the season, in Balme-de-Thuy, in Talloires-Montmin and at the Lessy mountain hut. In the Bauges national reserve, camping and fires are banned. Swimming is banned at Lac du Mont Charvin and Lac de Lessy.
What about hiking with children?
The Bout du Lac suits all-terrain pushchairs, Roc de Chère is easy, and Le Parmelan is open to everyone. Avoid La Tournette with children (it’s committing), and avoid the last few metres to the Angon waterfall, which are not recommended for young children.
Can I do a multi-day hike around Annecy?
Yes. The lake tour can be done in two days with a night in Talloires or Doussard, and the Sambuy circuit in two days with a night in a mountain hut, where booking is compulsory.
What equipment should I take?
Ankle-high boots, layers of clothing including a windproof jacket, a head torch, a first aid kit, a survival blanket, a whistle, 1.5 to 2 litres of water per day, a paper map and a compass. In an emergency, the number to call is 112.
How long do the main hikes around Annecy take?
It depends on the hike. Easy outings take two to three hours: the Roc de Chère loops take 2 hours 10 and 2 hours 30, the three lakes circuit on the Semnoz takes 1 hour 40, and the Semnoz plateau loop takes 3 hours 25. The Angon waterfall takes between 1 hour 15 and 2 hours 30, depending on where you start. Mont Veyrier takes 3 to 5 hours depending on the options. For the big days, count 5 to 7 hours: Pointe Percée takes 5 to 7 hours, the Trou de la Mouche about 5 hours, Mont Trélod 6 hours 30 and Pointe de Tardevant 6 hours 55. Add time for breaks, photos and a proper lunch, and leave early.
Which are the hardest hikes around Annecy?
The Trou de la Mouche and the Col d’Orgeval loop are both rated “very hard”. Pointe Percée is the highest summit in this guide, with ledges, slabs and sections where you may need a rope in summer. La Tournette is rated hard, with its chimney of ladders and chains. The Alex route up Pointe de Talamarche, with a cave to cross and sections with chains and ropes, is one I keep for experienced hikers. If you are not used to mountains, start with the easier hikes above and build up.
What is the best time of year for hiking in Annecy?
Each season has its highlight. In spring, the Angon waterfall is at its best when melting snow feeds it, and you can walk the lake tour from April to June. In summer, La Tournette opens up from 1 July to 15 October, depending on snow, and Lac de Lessy is walked from late June to October. Autumn is honestly the best season at Roc de Chère, and the lake tour is best from September to mid-October. In winter, the high-altitude outings turn into snowshoe walks.
Before you go
Safety and respect for nature
For your safety
Weather
Check it the evening before and just before you set off. If storms are forecast, postpone.
Tell someone
Give someone your route and your return time. Avoid hiking alone.
Equipment
Ankle-high boots, windproof jacket, head torch, first aid kit, survival blanket, 1.5 to 2 L of water.
Map and compass
A phone is not enough: take a paper map and a compass.
Emergency: 112
Give your name, your number, the exact location and the number of casualties.
For nature
Waymarked paths
Stay on them: for your safety and for biodiversity.
Litter
Take a bag and bring all your rubbish back down with you.
Dogs
On a lead where required. Check before you go: some sites ban them.
Flocks and patous
Close gates, don’t feed the animals, and keep your distance from patous (the large white dogs that guard flocks).
Wildlife and plants
Keep quiet, take photos from a distance and don’t pick anything: some plants are toxic or protected.