Tour du Muverans

Stage one of the Tour du Muverans starts at Derborence Lake, where you’ll find the trailhead with ease, as the town of Derborence is well-known and easy to access. You’ll begin at Refuge du Lac, a hut on the lace with a sunny terrace – the perfect place to fuel up before you begin. From there, you’ll climb 1400 meters to Cabane de Rambert. On the way, you will pass many old and new chalets to stop and have a coffee, and you will follow a river to pastures that will eventually lead you to Col de la Forcle Pass at 2612m. After the pass, you will find an artificial lake that was created by the local community to irrigate their vineyards before you finally reach the hut at 2580m.

Now in Rambert, you’ll start the day with a descent that’s been compared to stairs. Get ready! While the day is short, only 10 kilometers, you will climb 1169m. On the way, you will pass Plan Coupel and Le Pessot, a waterfall. The terrain is very steep by the waterfall, but beautiful. From here, you’ll cross the stream Salentze and head toward Alp Bougnone. This is the mark of the beginning of a stretch in the forest, which will be short-lived. Soon, you’ll be back to hiking along cliffs, passing huts managed by the Saillon ski club. You’ll also get to see some small lakes that are peeking out between the rocks in the alpine meadows this day. If the sun’s out, they’ll look like they’re sparkling! Finally, after passing even more ski huts, the path will lead you to Cabane de Demècre, where you’ll stay for the night. Enjoy the views of Mont Blanc, Dents du Midi, and Lake Geneva after a hard day’s effort!

Stage three also begins with a descent to help you warm up. After the descent, the path will become hilly and steep toward Rionda, which unfortunately will make it difficult for people prone to vertigo. You can take the lower path via Chalet Neuf, L’Au d’Arbignon to Rionda as an alternative if you need it here. However, if you stay on the original path, you’ll be greeted by the best panoramic views of the trail thus far. You’ll emerge from a forested section to a view of Mont Dolent, the border mountain between Switzerland, France, and Italy, as well as the Trient massif, Mont Blanc, and the Dents du Midi. From here, you’ll climb for a while longer, until you reach a low descent to finally reach Pont de Nant. Again, if you have vertigo, there is an alternate path to avoid hiking this last section on the way to Pont de Nant. You can instead take the path through the Javerne mountain pasture. Pont de Nant itself is a lovely place to finish the day, where you’ll be treated to a warm dinner and soft bed.

The final stage doesn’t mean it’s an easy one! Once again, the day starts with a descent followed by a climb. You’ll hike through forests and valleys until you reach a large meadow that winds between towering white cliffs. From there, you will pass a few mountain huts on your route where you can stop for a rest and a nice beverage before you finally cross from Vaud into Valais. Slowly, you’ll make your way back to Derborence, where you can finish your trail back at the terrace where you started. If you’re not yet ready to go home, there are many options for places to sleep in Derborence to soak up one last night near the trail.

The best time of the year to hike the Tour du Muverans is from June – September. This is common for the Alps, as it’s the time when the weather is the best, the snowbanks have finally melted, and the mountain huts are open to hikers.

Because the Tour du Muverans is so high, there’s a chance there may be lingering snow on the earlier side of the season, so it’s worth calling the huts to ask about the trail conditions. This can save you a whole lot of heartache when you’re up on a mountain wishing for micro-spikes.

Be aware that from July-August is the busiest season, which means the huts will book up quickly. Take care to reserve your spots far in advance, ideally when they accept reservations in the early spring.

The Tour du Muverans is a difficult trail for the physical demand it puts hikers through each day, but not for its technicality. If you’re a strong hiker with experience at higher elevations, you should be able to manage this trail.

However, it is still important to prepare adequately. Make sure you bring a well-stocked pack with your favorite gear. You’ll want weather-proof clothing (both breathable and water resistant), a comfortable backpack, hiking shoes that feel sturdy, and poles to help with the climbing. In addition to these, a first aid kit, loaded GPX on your device, and snacks to keep your energy up are major help on a trek like this.

Make sure to take care of your surroundings. By respecting the Leave No Trace principles, you can be a steward of the land, hopefully leaving it better than you found it. The Tour du Muverans is a hike that will remind you of how beautiful the world can be, so it’s best to keep it beautiful for the people who will come after you.

The trail difficulty for the Tour du Muverans is rated as difficult for its physical demand. It is not a technically challenging trail, only a medium rating with options to detour difficult sections if the conditions are slippery. However, the daily elevation gain and loss are demanding on the body.

While the Tour du Muverans is a short trail, it is recommended to train properly for the hike. One way to do this is to practice climbing hills with a full pack and with your hiking gear. The hike’s highest point is at 2578m, meaning that there is a fair amount of altitude involved in hiking the Tour du Muverans.