Bellevue to Prarion
An easy hike through the alpine meadows of Les Houches
This hike is a pleasant stroll through the bucolic high alpine meadows of Les Houches, making life easy by using the lift system at either end.
Stepping out of the Bellevue cable car, it becomes immediately obvious where the area gets its name from - glaciers rise above you to your left, meadows stretch out to your right and straight ahead lies the Col de Tricot and the neighbouring valley of Les Contamines.
To reach Prarion we turn right and head towards the Col de Voza on a dirt track that runs parallel to the old rail tracks. After a couple of hundred metres we cross the tracks and continue in the same direction, going down a rocky path lined with ferns and wildflowers until we come to the wide open plateau of Col de Voza.
This is one of the stops for the Tramway du Mont Blanc and is a beautiful scenic place to pause for a drink at La Rioule, the charming little restaurant right beside the station.
Crossing the tram tracks, we pick up the Chemin du Delevret on the other side and start to climb gently uphill. The field on the left often has sheep and horses grazing in it. The route continues steadily but not steeply uphill, passing through grassy meadows lined with pine trees.
Les Houches is a little lower down than the other hiking areas in the Chamonix valley, so the vegetation seems to be a bit more lush and colourful. Spring is a riot of pink, blue and yellow wildflowers, in summer everything fades to mellow shades of mauve and purple, while autumn is a glorious palette of gold and bronze.
Looking overhead you’ll see the cables of ski lifts and most of the wider tracks are in fact ski runs in winter. There are many variations on this route, but Prarion is well-signposted so even if you deviate from the main route you’ll easily find your way back again.
The trail is almost at an end when you reach the Hotel-Restaurant Le Prarion; they have a sunny panoramic terrace which is the perfect spot to stop and enjoy a drink before you take the Prarion gondola back down to the town.
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What to bring
This hike requires no special equipment, just your usual hiking boots and maybe poles if you are used to using them. The route is very exposed with no shade or shelter, so check the weather forecast and dress appropriately. You won't need a map, as it is so well-signposted, but if you prefer to have one then you'll need IGN 3531ET.
What to see
Sights in Chamonix
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
There are numerous dining options from start to finish; Bellevue itself has a small café at the top of the cable car station, the Hotel Bellevue and Le Courant de l'Air on the Col de Voza are both pleasant places to stop, and Hotel Le Prarion at the end of the route has a lovely sunny terrace where you can enjoy food and drinks. The Kitsch Inn at the bottom of the Bellevue cable car is also a good option for homemade cakes and daily specials.
Restaurants in Les Houches
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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.
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Rocky Pop Restaurant
This restaurant is part of the popular Rocky Pop Hotel, opened in December 2016, whose ethos is "joy and togetherness".
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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.
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Gandhi Restaurant
This restaurant serves tasty, good value Indian cuisine for lunch, dinner and to takeaway.
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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.
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Le Hors Pistes Restaurant
Brilliantly located in the heart of the Les Houches Prarion ski area.
What to do
Things To Do in Les Houches
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Mont-Blanc Forest
Zip wires, rope bridges and tree top courses in the woods in Les Houches.
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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.
Directions
The Bellevue cable car is in the centre of Les Houches; there is a car park at the bottom of it, or there is a bus stop right outside. Once you've come down the Prarion gondola at the end of your hike, you can either pick the bus up from there or walk the short distance along the road back to the Bellevue car park.
