Chamonix Valley Vortex Walk
Experience the energy of Mont Blanc while recharging your batteries with a renaissance experience face to face with the glaciers
Chamonix-based photographer and writer Teresa Kaufman has been hosting Discovery & Photo Walks since 2011 in the beautiful and energy-charged environment of the Chamonix Valley. Orignally designed for budding photographers visiting Mont Blanc, Teresa’s walks have started to appeal to a different kind of visitor - those looking for a digital detox from the internet and social networks in order to reconnect to nature in Chamonix’s fantastic landscapes.
2023 is a time of RENAISSANCE. A time to regenerate using the Vortex energy of Mont Blanc and the Chamonix Valley. At this moment, we yearn for a sense of renewal and stimulation and a need to define new resolutions to better our life and health. Teresa Kaufman, a photographer by trade who has lived in Chamonix for many years, offers a unique AWARENESS walk, taking you into one of Chamonix's most protected natural landscapes; a place far from the noise of the valley floor, bathed in light where rare plants and wildlife have found refuge, and where locals continue to maintain a pastoral lifestyle, residing in traditional 18th Century alpine chalets. A place where you feel as if you can touch Mont Blanc. It is in this stress-free environment, face to face with the Mont Blanc glaciers, that we can experience the inner calm to surpass any stresses.
You may feel empowered by this force or incredibly relaxed. How you experience this immersion in nature is entirely subjective. It's a chance to let go and reconnect with your senses while the majestic Mont Blanc range provide the backdrop. Teresa's stories about Chamonix's history, mountain climbers, crystal hunters, wild goats and wolves - will help paint the picture of this unique valley.
Useful information:
- Walks usually last approximately 3 hours, depending on the pace of the participants
- Late-afternoon walks to follow the pattern of the sun, it’s intensity and colour enhancement to the surroundings
- Available from late-Spring to late-Autumn.
- Meeting point is the SNCF train station in Les Houches - car pool to starting point
- Slight uphill to start, then pleasant and easy walking in a nature reserve
- Private walks starting at €65 per person with a minimum of 2 or €120 for a solo traveller
- Larger groups on request.
As a "people" photographer, Teresa will be happy to offer a Mini-Photoshoot where she will photograph or film you in the scenery with your own smartphone so that you will be able to share this experience with friends and loved ones.
Discover more about Teresa's Discovery Walks and Photoshoots.
Jump to
What to bring
Camera or smart-phone to capture your experience. Water & snacks, good walking shoes, appropriate attire for the weather, walking poles if you wish.
What to see
Sights in Chamonix
See all Sights in Chamonix-
Montagnard museum
Situated in a house dating back to the 1750's, this museum showcases mountain lifestyles from the reconstruction of three pieces of traditional housing and objects from everyday life.
-
Les Houches summer lifts
Les Houches sits at the bottom end of the Chamonix Valley and is a popular place for hikers, mountaineers and mountain bikers in the summer months.
-
Parc de Merlet
Parc de Merlet is a great place to spot some local animals in their natural environment. A nature reserve, rather than a zoo, the park is perched on a large plateau high above Les Houches.
-
Les Bossons glacier
This small two person chairlift is only open for a short time in summer, but it's great if you want to take a close up look at the bottom of the Glacier des Bossons.
-
Tramway du Mont-Blanc
The Tramway du Mont Blanc runs from the bottom of the valley in Le Fayet all the way up to the Nid d'Aigle at 2,380m above Les Houches.
-
Maison de l'Alpage museum
This little museum is housed in the same building as the post office and library in the village centre of Servoz.
Where to lunch
Restaurants in Les Houches
See all Restaurants in Les Houches-
Kitsch Inn Bar & Restaurant
Quirkily decorated, as the name suggests, this restaurant has different rooms for different moods. Grab a quick coffee and a snack at the breakfast bar, enjoy a casual meal in the retro formica kitchen area, or sit and take your time over dinner at one of the large tables in the dining room. They also have a large sunny terrace where they serve up a nice BBQ in the summer and a kids play area.
-
Rocky Pop Restaurant
This restaurant is part of the popular Rocky Pop Hotel, opened in December 2016, whose ethos is "joy and togetherness".
-
Le Hors Pistes Restaurant
Brilliantly located in the heart of the Les Houches Prarion ski area.
-
Le Basilic Restaurant
Just across the road from the Bellevue lift in Les Houches, this is a perfect spot to recharge your batteries after a day on the mountain, or pop in for lunch.
-
Les Vieilles Luges Restaurant
An authentic Alpine farmhouse with a charming ambience and great food. Located right in the middle of Les Houches ski resort, this chalet serves delicious home-cooked local produce.
-
Le Delice Restaurant and Café
Le Delice in Les Houches serves fresh seasonal dishes made from scratch, including two flavour-packed burgers with homemade fries. There are veggie vegan and gluten-free options, plus a great drinks list with beers on tap cocktails and local liqueurs. Whether you're after lunch dinner or just a drink it's a welcoming spot with something for everyone.
What to do
Things To Do in Les Houches
See all Things To Do in Les Houches-
Teresa Kaufman Discovery Walks & Mini-Photoshoot
An opportunity to get in the picture with Teresa Kaufman as your personal photographer, guide and story teller. This is the perfect activity accessible to everyone; children, adults, grandparents - easy walking, incredible scenery, a moment to share. Non-skiers will love it in the winter. An activity to experience with loved ones or to give as a gift.
-
Chamonix Valley Vortex Walk
Chamonix-based photographer and writer Teresa Kaufman has been hosting Discovery & Photo Walks since 2011 in the beautiful and energy-charged environment of the Chamonix Valley. Orignally designed for budding photographers visiting Mont Blanc, Teresa’s walks have started to appeal to a different kind of visitor - those looking for a digital detox from the internet and social networks in order to reconnect to nature in Chamonix’s fantastic landscapes.
-
Adaptive Sensory Walks in Chamonix
In 2012, the photographer/author Teresa Kaufman hosted her first group of autistic adolescents on a Discovery & Photo Walk in the valley of Chamonix. She is now introducing a 5 Senses Walk for disabled visitors - visually impaired, hard of hearing or autistic youngsters.
-
Centre Equestre Du Mont-Blanc
This horse riding centre is situated in just up the hill from the train station in Les Houches. The centre is open all year round and has both an indoor and outdoor arena.
-
Indoor Climbing Wall
The Chamonix valley is home to one of the largest indoor climbing walls in France. The Mont Blanc Escalade is located in Les Houches and is open all year.
-
Mont-Blanc Forest
Zip wires, rope bridges and tree top courses in the woods in Les Houches.
