Ultra-Trail du Haut-Giffre

The Ultra-Trail du Haut-Giffre is a 49-kilometer trail race with 2,923 meters of elevation gain that takes place in the upper Giffre valley, in the Haute-Savoie department, starting from Samoens. This race crosses one of the most spectacular territories in the Northern Alps, where waterfalls, gorges, limestone cirques, and peaks reaching nearly 3,000 meters compose a strikingly beautiful landscape. Samoens, a village classified as a "Pays d'Art et d'Histoire" (Land of Art and History), is an exceptional mountain town that serves as the ideal starting point for this adventure.

Samoens is a remarkable village situated at 710 meters of altitude in the Giffre valley. Unlike many purpose-built mountain resorts, Samoens is an authentic Savoyard village whose history dates back to the Middle Ages. The town is famous for its stonemasons, the "frahans," whose expertise spread throughout Europe. The Jaysinia alpine botanical garden, created in 1906 and classified as a Remarkable Garden, testifies to the botanical richness of the region.

The 49-kilometer Ultra-Trail du Haut-Giffre course explores the natural wonders of the upper Giffre valley. The route passes through major natural sites: the Cirque du Fer-a-Cheval, classified as a Grand Site de France, with its 700-meter limestone cliffs and thirty waterfalls; the Gorges des Tines, where the Giffre has carved a passage through limestone rock; the Desert de Plate, a vast high-altitude karst pavement with lunar-like appearance. These sites make this race a genuine journey into the heart of Alpine geology.

The 2,923 meters of positive elevation gain over 49 kilometers impose a sustained climbing pace. The profile includes long and steady ascents toward high-altitude plateaus, followed by technical descents into valleys and gorges. The trails vary between well-marked forest paths through beech and spruce forests, passages across the limestone karst pavement of the Desert de Plate, and technical singletrack in scree zones. The maximum altitude of the course approaches 2,500 meters, adding an additional physiological dimension.

The Giffre valley is a territory of exceptional natural richness, protected by the Sixt-Passy Nature Reserve. Alpine fauna is omnipresent: ibex on the rock walls, chamois in the alpine pastures, marmots on the altitude grasslands, golden eagles in the thermals. The flora is equally remarkable, with rare species such as the lady's slipper orchid and the martagon lily.

The climate of the Giffre valley is marked by high rainfall that maintains the lush greenery of the slopes and feeds the numerous waterfalls and torrents. Summers are cool at altitude, and thunderstorms can be violent. Runners must be equipped to face changing weather conditions.

For international runners, Samoens is accessible from Cluses, 20 kilometers away, served by the A40 motorway. Geneva airport is approximately an hour and fifteen minutes by road. Samoens offers varied accommodation, from hotels to mountain lodges, tourist apartments, and campsites.

Assistance on the Ultra-Trail du Haut-Giffre is an important element of race strategy. The most remote portions of the course, particularly in the Cirque du Fer-a-Cheval and on the Desert de Plate, are far from roads, making runner self-sufficiency essential but assistance at accessible points all the more precious. An assistant familiar with the local terrain can optimize resupply times and adapt equipment to conditions.

The Ultra-Trail du Haut-Giffre is a race offering total immersion in one of the most beautiful landscapes of the French Alps. It is an event that leaves a lasting impression on runners through the grandeur of the sites crossed and the purity of the mountain environment.