Grand Muveran - Trekking around Ferdinand Hodler's majestic mountain

6-day hike through the unknown Vaud Alps

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Six oil paintings of the 3051 metre-high Grand Muveran are known. They differ in terms of the changing light and weather conditions.
The plateau after the Buvette la Varre, on the first day to the self-catering hut Cabane Barraud.
At the beginning of July, we come across flower meadows full of lilies and rare plants.
Above the Alp La Chaux, where we will spend the second night...
... in this yurt at the ‘Gite de l'alpage de Dorbon’.
What day is it? - Today! - Great, this is my favourite day.
On the third day, we climb up to a stony plateau...
... with a lake plateau, below the Col de la Forcle.
Fossilised ammonites bear witness to the fact that the limestone of the Grand Muveran massif was formed 200 million years ago on the seabed.
The view from the Col de la Forcla back to the lake plateau and Alpe de Dorbon.
A colony of ibex on the descent from Cabane Rambert.
Through the steep flanks below the Grande Dent des Morcles...
... we also find dense and bright fields of flowers.
High above the Rhône valley, we leave Valais in the direction of Lake Geneva...
... to the last hut of this trek, the Cabane la Tourche.
Evening atmosphere with far-reaching views over Lake Geneva.
Le Grand Muveran by Ferdinand Hodler, view from Villars, painted 1912.

Grand Muveran - Trekking around Ferdinand Hodler's majestic mountain

Tour description

The Gran Muveran is the southernmost massif of the unknown Vaud Alps, high above the Rhone Valley and with views far across Lake Geneva. I know of no other comparable area in the Swiss Alps that is so varied and remote, yet so easy to hike. Many of the Alps are no longer utilised and are true flower paradises with rare lilies. We pass ibex colonies, bearded vultures and griffon vultures circle in the sky.

On the first day, I cook the food as we are staying in a self-catering hut. On the second day, we swim in Lac de Derborence and sleep in the cosy yurt of a young family in the evening, who still bring the alpine cheese down to the valley on donkeys. You will find comfort at the newly renovated SAC huts Rambert, Fenestral and la Tourche on the border to the high mountains, where we spend the next few nights. Finally, we will be enthroned high above Lake Geneva and hike along mountain fortresses from the time of General Guisan... - majestic.

Ferdinand Hodler painted the Grand Muveran massif again and again in all colours and moods. So it's time to get your own picture of this picturesque mountain massif.

 

06.07.2025 – 11.07.2025

Length & Duration
Approx. 7 - 12 km or 3 - 5 h per day | Ascents from 610 - 880 metres ︎↗︎
170 - 1500 metres ↘︎ | Total 57 km

Difficulty / Character
Hardly any steep climbs, mostly easy mountain hiking with medium-length daily stages. This leaves enough time for breaks at mountain lakes, nature observation and spontaneous detours. A pleasure trek, not a performance trek.

Equipment
Packing list and detailed information will follow after payment

Services
Guided trekking with overnight stay & catering half board in 3 SAC huts, 1 alpine hut / yurt and a self-catering hut

Not included
Outward and return journey from Pont de Nant, food from rucksack, drinks in huts, mountain taxi or cable cars

Cost per person
Booking til 31.5.25 CHF 1'099.- / after 1249.- | SAC members receive a refund | Payment promptly after registration by QR code

Number of guests
Maximum 6 person

Registration deadline
Sunday, 22 June 2025

Arrival
By public transport or car, as the start and end points are the same

Meeting point
Depending on where the participants live, at Zurich / Bern main station or Les Plans-sur-Bex. | Info will follow with detailed programme

End
Friday around 16.30 | Pont de Nant car park | Departure bus 16:42, arrival Zurich main station 20:28

 

Hiking guide

Markus Unterfinger
Phone: 076 419 21 10
markus@wanderidee.ch

Register online

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