Chemin des Narcisses – A Classic Hike in the Swiss Alps

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Overview

  • Starting point: Les Avants (974m)
  • Arrival: Sonloup (1,157m)
  • Altitude gain: ~250m + some ups and downs for a total of 350m
  • Duration: ~2 hours (loop)
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Best season: June (for peak narcissus bloom)
  • Family-friendly: Yes (even suitable for young children)
  • Funicular option: Yes (Sonloup–Les Avants)

This hike is a classic for me—one I’ve done many times and make sure to do almost every year. It’s the perfect way to inaugurate my new blog label, “Classics”—trails that I return to again and again because they never disappoint.

Best Time to Visit

The ideal period for this family-friendly loop hike is June, when the narcissus flowers are in full bloom. During this time, the alpine pastures transform into a breathtaking white carpet of blossoms, making it a truly magical experience.

Starting Point: Les Avants

The hike begins in Les Avants, where there’s a parking area in front of the train station. From there, walk about 100 meters back down the road toward the valley. You’ll see a sign directing you to turn right between a couple of chalets—this is where the trail starts to climb

                                                  

After a few minutes, you’ll enter the woods. If it has rained recently, the path can be quite muddy, so good hiking boots are a must. Aside from that, there are no real difficulties on this route. In fact, we even did it with Gaia when she was not yet four years old, and she managed most of the loop on her own feet!

The Best Spot for Narcissus Flowers

Halfway through the woods, you’ll come across clearings, and this is where you’ll find the best views of the narcissus fields. Thousands upon thousands of white flowers stretch as far as the eye can see—it’s truly a sight to behold. Take your time capturing photos before continuing the trail.


About 30 minutes from the start, you’ll reach a large clearing with a house. To continue, take the entrance path down from the house downhill—it’s quite steep. I always wonder why they didn’t build a more gradual path that cuts across, it’s probably due to property rights.

The Climb to the BBQ Spot

At the bottom of this section, you’ll reach a paved road. Follow it to the right, going uphill until you pass a couple of houses. Here, the trail turns back into a proper hiking path, climbing rather steeply through the woods, with several flights of stairs.


But don’t worry—there’s a reward at the top! You’ll find a beautiful BBQ area with picnic tables and a breathtaking view over Montreux and Lake Geneva. It’s the perfect spot to take a break and enjoy the scenery.

The Final Stretch

After the BBQ area, the trail continues with gentle ups and downs through the forest. At one point, you’ll reach a bench with a panoramic view—a great place to pause and take it all in.

Some years, people build wooden shelters here, which Gaia absolutely loves to explore. After about 30 more minutes, you’ll arrive at the top station of the Sonloup funicular. If you prefer, you can take the funicular back down to your starting point.

However, if you’d rather finish the hike on foot (as we did), cross the funicular building and follow the steep downhill trail on the other side. The path starts through the woods and later joins a road, eventually leading back to the Les Avants train station.

Final Thoughts

Chemin des Narcisses is a perfect family hike, offering a mix of forest trails, wildflower meadows and stunning views. The best part? The magical bloom of the narcissus flowers in June makes it feel like walking through a fairy tale landscape.

If you haven’t done this hike yet, add it to your list—and if you have, you probably already understand why it’s one of my Classics.

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