Gorges de la Diosaz, Servoz
Just 4 km down the valley from Les Houches, the village of Servoz hides one of the most dramatic and least-visited natural spectacles in the Mont Blanc area: the Gorges de la Diosaz, where a torrent has carved a 500-metre canyon of sculpted limestone so narrow that sunlight only reaches the bottom for a few hours a day. Most visitors to Chamonix never come here.
Walking the Gorge
A well-maintained metal walkway bolted into the canyon wall leads you through the gorge in a 45-minute round trip, passing waterfalls, rock pools of improbable turquoise and overhanging walls streaked with mineral deposits in rust, ochre and white.
The path is accessible to all but requires closed-toe shoes; the walkway is wet and spray is constant in the narrowest sections. Children find it thrilling. Adults find it quietly astonishing.
The Village of Servoz
Servoz itself is one of the most charming and overlooked villages in the Arve valley: a cluster of old stone farmhouses, a Romanesque church and a handful of vegetable gardens running down to the river. It has no ski lift, no souvenir shops and no English-language menus — a rarity this close to Chamonix.
The small épicerie on the main street sells excellent local Tomme de Savoie and house-made jams; the owner, whose family has farmed here for four generations, will happily tell you which meadow the milk came from.
Getting There from Les Houches
Drive west on the D213 for 4 km to Servoz; parking is free at the gorge entrance. Alternatively, the Mont Blanc Express train (SNCF line from Chamonix to Saint-Gervais) stops at Servoz station, a 5-minute walk from the gorge entrance.
The gorge is at its most dramatic in late May and June when snowmelt peaks and the waterfalls are at full volume; by August the flow is calmer but the crowds are still minimal compared to any Chamonix attraction.
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