What you will experience

See the summit of Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps, appear from the very first steps at the Plaine-Joux viewpoint, then spot it again from the balcony path down to the Varan chalets.

Cross the Platé Desert, a vast plateau of cracked limestone that looks like a lunar landscape, and look for fossilised shark teeth, remnants of an ancient sea.

Cross the Col de Barmerousse and walk through combes, wild valleys perched above 2,000 m, where you rarely meet other hikers.

Climb from Lac Vert to the Anterne lakes, at the foot of the Fiz wall, the great limestone cliff overlooking the pastures, and spend the night in a mountain hut facing this scenery.

Itinerary

1
DAY1/ 3
- D-·480m
  descent
- D+·950m
  Vertical ascent
- Distance·12km
  KM covered
Meet at 9.00 am in the Plaine-Joux car park (Passy), where your guide will welcome you. From the viewpoint overlooking the Mont Blanc massif, you’ll descend quickly to Lac Vert before beginning the ascent.

You’ll leave the forest behind and head out onto exposed mountain pastures at the foot of the Muraille des Fiz, before entering the Passy Nature Reserve. The path becomes rockier as you make your way to the Col d’Anterne.

From the pass, you descend into the Anterne valley and enter a different nature reserve. The landscape opens up, with meadows and small lakes. You finally reach Lake Anterne, then the Mountain hut where you’ll spend the night.

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The guides who will lead your adventure

Violette

Mountain leader (AMM)

French

English

For the last nine years, I've been living in the heart of the Chamonix valley, carried along by the rhythm of nature and the mountains. It's hard for me to stay indoors: a day without fresh air feels incomplete. I love the immensity of the peaks, the tranquillity of the undergrowth and the unexpected encounter with an animal on the path. I admire both the speed that pushes you to excel and the slowness that invites you to contemplate.
But above all, I love sharing these intense moments and making each outing a human and natural adventure.

Find out more about Violette

What's included in the price

Included

Guiding: throughout your stay, you will be accompanied by a certified mid-mountain guide (AMM) who knows the region well.

Accommodation: you will sleep 2 nights in a dormitory, in a mountain hut.

Meals: all meals are included, from dinner on day 1 to the packed lunch on day 3.

Not included

Transport to and from the meeting point.

Any personal consumption at the mountain huts.

The picnic lunch on day 1.

Everything that is not included in "What's included in the price".

What level to expect?

Level 3

Participants must be at least 18 years old

WHO IS THIS FOR?

This trek is for regular hikers who are already comfortable with consecutive mountain days and ready to sleep in mountain huts. You need to be able to walk three days in a row on rocky terrain, find your way through sparsely marked areas with your guide and keep your pace at altitude.

You're at the right level if:

You can walk 6 to 7 hours a day in the mountains
You can string together 3 days of hiking with a pack for hut nights
You're comfortable with days of up to 12 km and 800 to 1,000 m of ascent
You're comfortable on technical terrain, such as the limestone pavement of the Platé desert, scree and off-trail sections
You're comfortable with exposed sections between 2,000 and 2,300 m, with no climbing
You're ready to sleep in a dormitory with simple comfort
You've already been on mountain hikes

Take the level quiz

Getting there

Start · 09h00

Plaine Joux (Passy)

End · 16h00

Plaine Joux (Passy)

Transport

By train

Want to avoid traffic jams and travel in peace? The train is your best bet. You can get to Saint-Gervais-les-Bains – Le Fayet station:

Departure station > Saint-Gervais-les-Bains - Le Fayet station

From the station, it’s a 30-minute drive to Le Fayet. You’ll be able to organise a car share with the other participants or your guide.

A WhatsApp group will be set up 10 days before departure to help you organise your travel arrangements with the other participants.

By car

Prefer the freedom of a road trip?

The meeting point is the Plaine-Joux car park at 9am, where the hike starts. You can leave your car there for the whole expedition.

Do consider carpooling: a WhatsApp group will be set up 10 days before departure so you can organise this with the other participants.

How to register

1

Step 1

Choose your departure date and number of participants

2

Step 2

Book online by paying a deposit or the full amount directly. It is also possible to book by telephone by calling +32 460 25 61 85 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm).

If the minimum number of participants is reached, departure is confirmed!
If the minimum number of participants is not reached, we will give you a full refund.

Departure is confirmed 15 days in advance for adventures lasting more than 4 days. Departure is confirmed 7 days prior for adventures lasting less than 4 days.

3

Step 3

In the case of a deposit, the remaining amount will be debited from your account before departure.

Your reviews

The opinions of our participants who have placed their trust in us

4.7/ 5 · based on 90 reviews in this category

Denise H.

Guide très agréable, à l écoute des désirs et des aptitudes des participants. Refuge, accueil très sympathique, repas de qualité et très savoureux. Belle experience. Merci

Marie F.

Absolument ravie d’être passée par Wildhartt pour ma première expérience de trek/bivouak ! Notre guide Thomas était top, l’organisation parfaite (matériel, repas, logistique) La création du groupe Whatsapp en amont du départ est un vrai + Hâte de réserver ma prochaine aventure !

Christophe R.

Nous avons participé cet été à cette randonnée itinérante de 5 jours avec des ânes en famille, avec nos deux enfants de 8 et 11 ans, et nous en gardons un très beau souvenir. Un grand merci à notre accompagnateur, Romain, qui a parfaitement géré le séjour du début à la fin, y compris lors des moments plus compliqués. Il est très présent et prend en charge une grande partie des aspects pratiques, ce qui est particulièrement appréciable. Il faut cependant garder à l'esprit qu'il reste tout de même un certain nombre de choses à gérer en tant que participant, notamment lorsqu'on voyage avec des enfants. Le matériel fourni pour les ânes était parfaitement adapté et nous a permis de profiter pleinement de l'expérience. Quant au parcours, il était tout simplement magnifique, avec des paysages variés et superbes. Nous avons particulièrement apprécié le premier bivouac, qui se trouvait dans un cadre splendide, ainsi que la nuit en auberge dont le confort a été très apprécié après deux étapes fatigantes. Concernant les points plus mitigés, nous avons trouvé que le début du parcours était sensiblement plus difficile et technique que ce à quoi nous nous attendions au regard du niveau annoncé pour le séjour. La conduite des ânes demande un temps d'adaptation, et la combinaison de cette découverte avec des étapes de randonnée déjà exigeantes a rendu les deux premiers jours assez sportifs. Heureusement, Romain a su s'adapter à la situation en modifiant intelligemment l'itinéraire afin d'alléger la troisième journée. Cette adaptation nous a permis de récupérer et de profiter pleinement de la suite du séjour. Malgré cette réserve sur le niveau de difficulté du début du parcours, nous recommandons cette expérience pour la qualité de l'encadrement, la beauté des paysages et l'originalité de l'aventure avec les ânes.

Laetitia L.

Une randonnée magnifique, dépaysante, avec des paysages variés à couper le souffle. Grâce à Raphaël, nous avons pu voyager autant dans cet espace magnifique que dans le temps, grâce à ses explications sur la géologie de cet environnement.

Serge D.

Partis en rando-ânes en groupe réduit, nous avons pu bénéficier d’un guide exceptionnel qui par son implication, ses connaissances du milieu naturel et son expérience a rendu ce séjour de 5 jours dans les Cévennes inoubliable.

Frequently asked questions

What level is required for this hike?

You walk 6 to 7 hours a day for 3 days, with days that can reach 12 km and 800 to 1,000 m of ascent. The terrain is varied: mountain trails, scree and the lapiaz of the Platé desert, where you need to watch every step. There is no climbing, but you need to be comfortable on exposed sections and used to walking several days in a row.

Where do we sleep during the expedition?

You sleep 2 nights in a mountain hut, in a dormitory. Comfort is simple, as in all mountain huts: you share the room with other hikers and enjoy the mountain atmosphere. Remember to bring your sleeping bag liner, which is on your pack list.

What should I put in my bag?

A 30 L backpack is enough for these 3 days in mountain huts. You have no tent or cooking equipment to carry. Bring clothing suited to the mountains (waterproof jacket, down jacket, hat and light gloves, even in summer), good hiking shoes, sun protection, your headlamp and your sleeping bag liner. You'll find the full list in the expedition's pack list.

Can the route be adapted?

Yes. Your guide adapts the day depending on the conditions and the group's ability. On the second day, a shorter alternative is possible from the Sales valley, via the Laouchets valley and the Col de Portette. On the lapiaz, which is poorly marked, your guide takes care of navigation.

How many people take part in the expedition?

The group consists of between 3 and 8 participants, accompanied by your guide. A WhatsApp group is set up 10 days before departure so that you can get to know each other and make arrangements with the others, for example regarding carpooling.

Are instalment payment options available?

Yes, that's right! At checkout, you can choose the Alma option to pay for your booking in 2x, 3x or 4x. All you have to do is select Alma at checkout and follow the instructions. It's simple, fast and secure.

Can I privatise this expedition for my group?

Yes, all our expeditions can be privatised for a group already formed, on the dates of your choice.

To make your request, go to the expedition that interests you and click on "Privatise the expedition". We'll take care of the rest!

What kind of people usually join Wildhartt expeditions ?

You don’t need to be a top athlete or adventure expert to feel at home. Most Wildhartt participants are between 25 and 60 years old, with a balanced mix of women and men.

Many join solo or in small groups of two or three. They often live in cities and are looking for a meaningful break — some time to reconnect with nature, slow down, and enjoy something real.

They usually have a regular movement practice (hiking, running, yoga...), but not with a competitive mindset. They’re in good shape, but don’t necessarily have technical skills. What brings them together is a shared desire to disconnect, observe, learn, and experience nature in a more grounded, accessible way.

If that speaks to you, you'll feel right at home. The group spirit is kind and open, and the pace adapts to everyone.

What happens if the weather is bad?

At Wildhartt, nature is our playground, rain or shine. Rain, snow or wind: our guides adapt the itinerary, activities and accommodation to guarantee you the best possible experience.
Unless safety is at stake (storm, avalanche, flood...).

In this exceptional case, we can cancel an expedition, at least one week before departure.
If this happens:
→ You can postpone your adventure at no cost,
→ Or receive a full refund.

What does the price of a Wildhartt adventure include?

At Wildhartt, transparency is essential. The price of your expedition reflects a clear breakdown of costs:

30% for our guides, the mainstays of every adventure.
35% for accommodation and meals, essential for your comfort.
10% for equipment and transport, to guarantee safety and fluidity.
24% for organisation and logistics, from first contact to the end of the expedition.
1% for the rewilding of Europe, a concrete commitment to give back to nature what it gives us.

Our priority: to offer you a quality experience, with complete clarity.

Do you have any questions? Contact us.

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What you will experience

Itinerary