Chaux de Tompey via Corbeyrier

 

🗺️ Overview

• Starting point: Café de Luan (1220 m)
• Highest point: Chaux de Tompey (2015 m) or Chaux Mont (2200 m, optional)
• Total elevation gain: ~650 m (up to 1000 m if extended to Chaux Mont)
• Total distance: ~8 km (loop via La Berneuse ~11 km)
• Total time: 3 h 30
• Technical difficulty: Moderate – steep in sections, a few unclear trail points

Download GPS file

---

Above Aigle lies an unknown corner of the Chablais. Unlike its neighbouring tourist hubs, Leysin and Villars, Corbeyrier feels rural and quiet—as if you’re the only wanderer around.

The hike starts at Café de Luan (1220 m), just five minutes above Cobyrier. The café has its own parking, reserved for clients, but you’ll usually find a few spots on the grassy roadside nearby. On busy sunny days, you may need to leave the car in Cobyrier and either walk up (about 45 minutes) or take the small bus that runs once per hour.

Shortly after the café, signs on the right indicate the path uphill toward Col de Tompey. The goal of this hike is Chaux de Tompey, though it’s not mentioned on the signs—just follow “Col de Tompey,” and later “Chaux Mont.”

The first section climbs gently along a wide path, which after 15 minutes joins a gravel road leading to a wooden alpine farm. Continue straight; the road soon becomes a trail. Pay attention here: just past the forest entrance, the correct path turns left uphill in a small switchback and can be easy to miss.

From this point, the trail is generally well marked. At one point, you’ll notice a nail or metal stake in the middle of the path, marking where an old trail once descended. Take the left option downhill briefly; after a flat section, it climbs steeply again.

After about 15 minutes you’ll reach another inhabited alpage, followed soon by a crossroads. The left path leads directly to La Berneuse, the top of the Leysin gondola. The right one is yours. If you have more time than I did, you could make a loop—ascending via La Berneuse and descending the way I went. That route may be less tiring, as the ascent I took was quite steep.

Shortly after the crossroads you reach a beautiful flat meadow, then re-enter the forest for another steep push. About 15 minutes later, you arrive at Col de Tompey (1750 m).

Beyond the col, the trail cuts across the grassy slope, reaching the base of a rocky face where it U-turns and begins the final ascent. This part is steep and somewhat eroded, but after around 20 minutes you’ll suddenly spot the summit cross ahead. Ten more minutes bring you to the top.

From the summit, Kuklos, the rotating restaurant above Leysin, appears just across the ridge—beautifully framed by the Dent de Midi towering beyond.

It was cold and time was short, so I had a quick lunch and headed back down the same way. Another option is to continue along the ridge beyond the peak toward Tour d’Aï, visible behind the next hill. The path leads to Chaux Mont (2200 m)—about 200 m higher and 30 minutes farther. From there, you can descend toward La Berneuse to complete a satisfying loop.