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Having gained the col from the northeast, the road now slants down into the Vallée du Trient and bypasses both Le Peuty and neighbouring Trient on its way to Le Châtelard and the French border. For those who plan to stay overnight in the valley, however, simple gîte accommodation is available at the Refuge du Peuty (40 dorm places, open June to mid-Sept; tel 027 722 09 38), while in Trient itself the Relais du Mont Blanc has 80 places (open all year; tel 027 722 46 23), with another 21 dormitory places to be found at the Gîte La Gardienne, which is also open all year (www.largardienne.ch). (For further information go to www.trient.ch)

Although there are a few local valley walks, in summer Trient is mostly used as an overnight halt by trekkers passing through. There are no climbs easily accessible from the valley, for the main peaks of interest are approached from huts such as the Cabane du Trient under Pointe d’Orny at an altitude of 3170m, and the shortest route to that takes 5½–6hrs from the village. But in winter the upper Vallée du Trient can be explored on snowshoes and cross-country skis, while low-key ski tours are promoted on the Croix de Fer above Col de Balme, the Pointe Ronde massif southeast of the Col de la Forclaz and, of course, on the Plateau du Trient and Aiguille du Tour. The classic Haute Route ski tour avoids the Vallée du Trient by descending from Cabane du Trient into the Val d’Arpette by way of either the Fenêtre du Chamois or Col des Encandies, but in summer trekkers following the Walker’s Haute Route pass through the valley by a choice of routes, as do those tackling the ever-popular Tour du Mont Blanc. In addition, a third multi-day trek comes this way, intent on making a complete tour of the valley. This is the Tour de la Vallée du Trient.