MAY 2023 – ACTIVITY 2 – RIVER LOOP (CHAMONIX, FRANCE)

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The second activity we did whilst in Chamonix was a little hike nearby called the River Loop. 

Total Distance: 7.5 Miles
Steps: ~25,000 Steps
Highest Point: 3800 Feet
Total Realistic Time: ~5 Hours

The boys and my sister in law went out and bought fresh croissants 🥐 for us for breakfast.  Birthday boy went out for a run earlier in the morning and to also track a route for us to walk after breakfast.

The River Loop is the one we decided to do today, it is one of the walks in the Walking Chamonix Mont Blanc Guide.

I did not use my usual OS maps app as this did not cover France. I am using Gaia GPS app with the France IGN Topo, you can sign up for a free trial. It did the job very well.

We walked through the central area of Chamonix, some lovely buildings and houses along with the beautiful scenery along the way.

This then takes you to a path where the River Loop starts. The start is very green and reminds me of the walks we do in the Lake District in the UK but here we also get the lovely snow capped mountain views alongside. Very refreshing and jaw dropping.

The quietness with the sound of birds.

More mountain views

Someone wanted to take a short detour to mix things up a bit 😉

Into the forest area looking for a coffee stop

There is a clear path which takes you around the River Loop, a good route for all. Taking in more views.

We found the coffee and toilet stop. Nice little spot in the middle of the forest to take in the surroundings whilst enjoying a well deserved coffee break.

Waiting patiently for their refreshments
This one is mine 🙂

After a refreshment break we carried on walking through the forest to get us back to the centre of Chamonix.

We dropped off our bags at the apartment and headed out for some food. We were all very hungry at this point. We found a lovely restaurant called Anna Purna – Grill and Curry Indian Cuisine. The food was delicious and fresh, generous portion sizes, staff were very welcoming. A mojito had to be had here 🙂

The boys had some ice cream on the way back to our apartment too, looks yum.

We also recommend this relaxed chilled coffee shop called Shouka, freshly made coffee from bean to bar is their motto. We have been in a too many times already, the coffee is so smooth, goes down well with their fresh cakes.

Conclusion:

The River Loop is a nice relaxing easy walk for all where you can take in the views at your pace.

Now it was time to head back to our apartment and get some sleep as my youngest brother and his partner would be heading back home very early in the morning. We still had some time there tomorrow as we will be leaving on a later evening flight, so we are hoping to fit in another walk and coffee 🙂

GENERAL EQUIPMENT

  • Apple iPhone 12 Pro (for taking photos/videos and mapping using Gaia GPS app with France IGN Topo)
  • Comfy walking shoes (most important)
  • Flask with Hot/Cold drink (a good cuppa is always welcome)
  • ibuprofen (helping hand if you have any aches and pains)
  • Food and snacks (fuel to keep you going)

 

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