If you're hiking in the Faucigny area and want a direct approach to Le Môle without going through the busier departure points of Saint-Jeoire or Marignier, the answer lies between the villages of La Tour and Saint-Jean-de-Tholome. Perched on the western slope of the massif, these two communes are the natural starting points for the summit on its sunny side. Quiet, rural and largely bypassed by the tourist flow, they offer a grounded base before the real climbing begins.
Two villages in a balcony position
La Tour sits in the Faucigny hinterland, between the lower flanks of Le Môle and the floor of the Arve Valley. Small roads climb to it through meadows and deciduous woodland, reached from Bonneville or Saint-Jeoire. Saint-Jean-de-Tholome, its immediate neighbour, has a similar feel: scattered hamlets, summer-cut meadows, and the silhouette of Le Môle defining the skyline at every turn. Both villages belong to the Arve Valley, the Alpine corridor linking Geneva to Chamonix that forms the backbone of the Faucigny. Their modest elevation makes them practical bases for hikers who want an early start without a long approach drive.
Le Môle, the Faucigny's landmark summit
Le Môle tops out at 1,863 metres. It is not the highest summit in Haute-Savoie, but it may be the most distinctive: its isolated pyramid is visible from the Arve valley floor, from Lake Geneva, and on clear days from the Swiss Prealps. From La Tour and Saint-Jean-de-Tholome, you are positioned directly below this western face, which makes for a direct ascent with no wasted approach. The summit panorama is the payoff: the Mont Blanc massif, the Aravis range, Lake Geneva and, on clear days, far beyond. Le Môle's forward position at the edge of the Prealps gives it a visual range that peaks buried deeper in the mountains simply cannot match.
The routes up from La Tour and Saint-Jean-de-Tholome
Two distinct itineraries reach the summit from these villages. The first leaves from La Tour itself: a 17.87 km loop with 1,634 m of elevation gain, intended for experienced hikers. The ascent of Le Môle from La Tour passes through the Tête de l'écutieux (1,627 m) before reaching the summit at 1,863 m. Expect around 6h15 at a steady pace. The second option departs from Saint-Jean-de-Tholome via the hamlet of Chez Béroud: 13 km and 1,266 m of gain, a shorter route that still rates as very hard. Neither path has reliable water sources; carry at least 2.5 litres per person. The recommended window runs from June to October.
- Le Môle from La Tour: loop 17.87 km, 1,634 m gain, 6h15, very hard
- Le Môle via Chez Béroud (from Saint-Jean-de-Tholome): 13 km, 1,266 m gain, very hard
Working farmland and rural character
One thing that stands out when passing through these villages is how much working agriculture remains. This western face of Le Môle is still actively grazed: cattle herds in summer, well-kept barns, live electric fences bordering the path before you reach the first treeline. This rural backdrop is part of the outing in its own right. The Faucigny has preserved a farming identity in this area that coexists with the more sporting side of mountain hiking. If that dimension of mountain life interests you, these villages are a good entry point before the summit push.
Getting there and practical notes
The most direct approach to La Tour or Saint-Jean-de-Tholome comes from Bonneville via the D15, heading into the hinterland. From Saint-Jeoire, secondary roads lead to the same area. There is no regular public transport to these communes; car access is essentially the only option. In summer, an early start (by 7am at the latest) is strongly advisable to beat the heat and the afternoon thunderstorms that frequently develop over the western slopes of Le Môle. Parking at the La Tour trailhead is limited during peak season.
La Tour and Saint-Jean-de-Tholome rarely come up in conversations about hiking in Haute-Savoie. That is precisely what makes them worth knowing. They offer a serious approach to Le Môle on its sunny, uncrowded side, in a setting that still feels genuinely rural. Whether you take the longer loop from La Tour or the Chez Béroud variant from Saint-Jean-de-Tholome, the surroundings have not been packaged for mass tourism. For those looking to step off the main axes while still targeting a prominent summit in the Faucigny, this corner is worth keeping in mind.