Tête du Prarion and La Charme
A gentle family-friendly hike with superb views and friendly goats along the route
Les Houches is one of the most idyllic parts of the Chamonix valley in summer; not so steep or dramatic as some of the other areas, it has a more gentle landscape filled with meadows and forests.
Starting from the top of the Prarion gondola, take a sharp right out of the lift station and follow a narrow path signposted “Tête du Prarion” that goes up through a forest to bring you out onto a ridge.
The ridge twists and turns over rocky ground for about 20 to 30 minutes until you come to an exceptional viewpoint at 1,969m. From here you can see for miles all around - not only can you see Mont Blanc but also the Aravis and the Fiz mountains as well as down into the Chamonix valley and the neighbouring Contamines-Montjoie valley. There is an orientation table so that you can get your bearings and put names to the multitude of peaks that surround you.
Retrace your steps and once back at the lift station turn in the direction of the Le Prarion Hotel-Restaurant and follow the signposts for Alpage de la Charme. An easy stroll of about 20 minutes will bring you to a traditional alpine goat farm, where fresh cheese is made on-site. You can take a seat on a wonderful plateau, looking out over Saint-Gervais, while you feast on local cheeses and charcuterie.
Once you’ve had your fill of cheese and scenery, you can continue past the farm and take the next path on the right. This heads briefly uphill before flattening out into a meadow, which is part of the ski area in winter - look up and you’ll see the lift cables overhead.
Bear left and follow a trail which will take you over a small hill then back down to the Prarion Hotel-Restaurant. From here you can either stop for more refreshments on their sunny terrace or take the gondola back down to the car park.
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What to bring
You don't really need a map for this hike as it's well-signposted and easy to find. Although it is short, consider bringing a small backpack with drinks, snacks, suncream and spare layers of clothing in case of changeable weather.
What to see
Sights in Chamonix
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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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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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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.
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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.
Where to lunch
You can buy a platter of cheese, meats and bread at La Charme, or you can order lunches, snacks and drinks at the Hotel-Restaurant du Prarion.
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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Gandhi Restaurant
This restaurant serves tasty, good value Indian cuisine for lunch, dinner and to takeaway.
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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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Le Hors Pistes Restaurant
Brilliantly located in the heart of the Les Houches Prarion ski area.
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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.
What to do
Things To Do in Les Houches
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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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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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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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Outdoor Ice Rink
This open air ice rink is open throughout the winter months from late December to the end of March. It is situated on the main road just opposite the exit toward the train station and the motorway.
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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.
Directions
This hike starts from the top of the Prarion gondola, which is at the far end of Les Houches. You can drive there and park your car at the bottom, or take the bus straight to the lift station.
