Tour of the Val d'Arly

Flumet – Bogneuve: 13 km – 970 D+ / 177 D-

From the center of Flumet, follow the FFC route marked “Tour du Val d’Arly” heading towards Saint Nicolas la Chapelle. Continue on the paved road (a short passage on track) to the perched village of Chaucisse. From there, take the track that joins the Route de Montagnes, for a climb to the place called BOGNEUVE.

Flumet – Bogneuve by Long Variant: 29.5 km – 1400 D+ / 622 D-

From the center of Flumet, follow the FFC route marked “Tour du Val d’Arly” towards the center of Saint Nicolas la Chapelle. From there, join the main road heading for Héry-sur-Ugine. Before the village of Héry, take the turn off towards Les Praz. Continue following the signs to the Col de l’Arpettaz, then take the track to Bogneuve.

Bogneuve – Col des Aravis : 7,2 km – 146 + / 352 D-

Follow the alpine field track that runs along the Aravis Range and overhangs the Arly valley until the Col des Aravis. Don’t forget to look up and enjoy the panorama on the Mont-Blanc and Beaufortain massif.

Col des Aravis – Le Plan

From the Col des Aravis, go down the Route des Grandes Alpes (departmental road 909) to BOIS JOLI and take the 4×4 track to the CLAPIERES. At CLAPIERES, turn right to join the Gardette road until PETAZ. The path becomes a more rough track and goes through a forest, then comes out on the main road which will take you to Le Plan to finish this stage.

Le Plan – Bonjournal: 4.9 km – 498 D+ / 5 D-

From Le Plan, take the forest track in the undergrowth towards CREPINIERE. Continue the ascent due west through BOENET and SU LOU LANGO. In some places, the track is quite steep, so consider using your assistance on these short parts. Then go around the head of Christomet to arrive at BONJOURNAL (1725m), overlooking the Val d’Arly.

Bonjournal – Les Varins : 15,8 km – 340 D+ / 1207 D-

From Bonjournal, head towards the Refuge du Plan de l’Aar (path heading south). Then go down the track to reach BONNE FONTAINE and then LES STOZALETS. At this intersection, follow the left-hand path to SCIOZIER. Then take the alpine field track on the left to the TOUVIERE. Head down to the Arly river on a short part of the road, and then carefully cross the main road. The next part of the itinerary is just after on the right (telegraph pole with beacon) and then a descent on a narrower path. Once past the bridge of LA TRACASSIERE, go to LES EVETTES (chairlift) and then up towards BARRIOZ. Here, take the communal road on the balcony of the Arly which goes up to MARIAGE and then down to the intersection of CHENUX. From there, follow signs for VARINS to reach the Crêt du Midi chairlift.

Les Varins – Refuge du Petit Tétras : 9,4 km – 728 D+ / 65 D-

From Les Varins, follow the flat trail towards CASSIOZ (Megève) due north. From this hamlet, turn right on the track going up towards NANT VALAIS. At the intersection of NANT VALAIS, follow the gradual ascent up the municipal road to the hamlet of LEUTAZ. From here, take the forest track in the undergrowth and then in the mountain pasture until you reach the STIARD (stay on the track). From there, continue the ascent up the gentle slope until the intersection of TENDUES. Stay on the track, go under the Crêt du Midi chairlift and join the Petit Tétras refuge after a short descent.

Petit-Tétras – Chevan : 1,5 km – 32 D+ / 122 D-

From the refuge, go down the track passing under the top of the Crêt du Midi chairlift. Stay on the trail on the side of the mountain pasture, go past the Ban Rouge chairlift, cross the Varins stream and join the CHEVAN mountain pasture after a short descent.

Chevan – Col de la Limace : 3 km – 301 D+ / 11 D-

From CHEVAN, follow the alpine pasture track that goes pogressively up the valley. Cross the Varins stream, until you reach the Trois Coins ski lift. From there, turn right towards the COL DE BASSE COMBE and then the COL DE LA LIMACE.

Col de la Limace – Col de la Lezette : 7,9 km – 204 D+ / 318 D-

From the Col de la Limace, take the trail that goes up to the CRETE DE DOUCE. Here, the landscape widens and offers beautiful views on the Beaufortain and the Combe de Savoie. Continue on this ridge until the COMBE DE DOUCE. From there, stay on the trail that gradually goes down to the Saisies and the COL DE LA LEZETTE.

Col de la Lézette – Mont-Lachat : 6,8 km – 194 D+ / 406 D-

From the Col de la Lézette, continue downhill on the trail to the PLAN PERIOT intersection. Then go up towards CHARD DU BEURRE (arrival of the chairlift) and follow the track, sometimes technical (passage of roots) in the wood until Sous-Covetan.

Mont-Lachat – Crest-Voland: 2,7 km – 0 D+ / 345 D-

From the Lachat lake, follow north towards Crest-Voland. After a few meters of descent, join the blue enduro trail that goes down through the mountain pastures. At the crossroads of BELLEGARDE and BERETS VERTS, stay on this track, which ends in a long straight line in front of the church of Crest-Voland and the Aravis.

Return to Flumet

From the church of Crest-Voland, take the departmental road D71B towards Notre Dame de Bellecombe then head towards Flumet, still on the main road to get back to your starting point. Be careful during this passage on road.