Mountain getaway
Here, the landscape brings back buried memories. You suddenly discover the mountain of your childhood, the mountain of your dreams! The one you drew at school without having seen it, the one that the over-frequentation of ski resorts means you can no longer find. It's all there: the crest of the snow-capped peaks forming the horizon, the lush green meadows where the herds graze, the little village huddled around its bell tower, hanging on to the slope and, everywhere, the wooden chalets, the traditional habitat, dotted across the mountain. This is a wild mountain that man has not deserted.
Here, the landscape brings back buried memories. You suddenly discover the mountain of your childhood, the mountain of your dreams! The one you drew at school without having seen it, the one that the...
Here, the landscape brings back buried memories. You suddenly discover the mountain of your childhood, the mountain of your dreams! The one you drew at school without having seen it, the one that the over-frequentation of ski resorts means you can no longer find. It's all there: the crest of the snow-capped peaks forming the horizon, the lush green meadows where the herds graze, the little village huddled around its bell tower, hanging on to the slope and, everywhere, the wooden chalets, the traditional habitat, dotted across the mountain. This is a wild mountain that man has not deserted.
You will love
- A traditional mountain with pastures, herds and chalets...
- A serene atmosphere away from the big resorts
- Landscapes of the Mont-Blanc massif
- The unique taste of the "Beaufort", the local cheese.
TOUR OF THE BEAUFORTAIN MASSIF
Level 3 / 4
Next departure on 30/08/2026
Secure payment
Day-by-day itinerary
Meet your guide on Sunday at 9.45 am outside the Beaufort-sur-Doron tourist office. Transfer to the Poncellamont valley, the starting point for the hike.
TÊTE DE CUVY – REFUGE DE L’ALPAGE
Starting from the Tête de Cuvy area, the route climbs gradually through the Beaufortain mountain pastures to the Refuge de l’Alpage, offering stunning panoramic views of the surrounding peaks. A pleasant and varied hike, alternating between alpine paths and more rugged sections, allowing you to explore the high-altitude landscapes of the massif away from the most popular routes.
Overnight stay in a refuge, without luggage.
3h00 walk / Elevation : + 670 m ; - 120 m / 6 km
COL DE LA FORCLAZ – COL DE LA LOUZE
Short bus transfer to reach the start of your hike. Setting off from the Poncellamont valley, the route climbs gradually through the mountain pastures to reach the Tête de Cuvy and its stunning panoramic view of the surrounding peaks, before finishing at Refuge de l’Alpage. A pleasant and varied first day, alternating between alpine paths and wilder sections, allowing you to discover the high-altitude landscapes of the massif away from the most popular routes.
Overnight stay in a refuge, without luggage.
4h30 walk / Elevation : + 600 m ; - 750 m / 6 km for the most direct route.
5h30 walk / Elevation : + 800 m ; - 950 m / 13 km with the ascent of the Grand Mont or the Tempête lakes
COL DU COIN – COL DU BRESSON
The trail starts gently in the mountain pastures between Lac des Fées and Lac des Halles, leading to Col du Coin, which offers fantastic views of the Mont Blanc massif. It then joins Lac d'Amour at the foot of Pierra Menta, one of the most famous peaks in Beaufortain, an iconic mountain for ski mountaineering! After passing Col du Bresson, the day ends on a high note in the Presset valley. Overnight stay in a refuge without luggage.
5h walk / Elevation: + 1060 m / - 400 m / 11 km
COMBE DE LA NEUVA – COL DE LA SAUCE
A rugged trek through the heart of the Beaufortain, this stage crosses the Col de la Sauce at 2307 m, after passing through the vast alpine pastures of the Combe de la Neuva and crossing the Col du Grand Fond. A wonderful day offering superb panoramic views of the surrounding peaks in an unspoilt high-mountain setting. A lovely, longer and more varied stage, offering the chance to explore a wild part of the Beaufortain.
6h00 walk / Elevation : + 530 m / - 1380 m / 16 km
CRÊTE DES GITTES – COL DU BONHOMME
An initial climb beneath the Rocher du Vent offers views of the vast Cormet de Roselend plateau before reaching the Col de La Sauce and then the Crête des Gittes. From the Col de la Croix du Bonhomme, the route follows a section of the Tour du Mont Blanc, along the traditional route taken by peddlers between Val Monjoie, Tarentaise and Val d'Aoste. A short, unusual detour is possible via the Rocher du Vent and its tunnel, offering spectacular views of the Gittaz and Roselend lakes and the Mont Blanc massif... of course (+1h30 walk, +/-250m elevation gain / +4km). Overnight stay in a refuge at the foot of the Aiguille de Roselette, as close as possible to the Mont Blanc massif without your luggage.
6h00 walk / Elevation: + 950 m ; - 850 m / 14 km
COL DU JOLY – MONT CLOCHER
A beautiful hike starting at the base of the Aiguille de Roselette, leading to the Col du Joly. The route then climbs gradually toward Mont Clocher, a remarkable viewpoint overlooking the Mont Blanc massif, the Beaufortain, and the surrounding alpine pastures. The hike continues along the ridges before gradually descending back toward the valley, through an open and wild landscape. A long, scenic final stretch, perfect for taking one last look at the iconic landscapes of the Beaufortain.
7h00 walk / Elevation : +1330 m ; -600 m / 18,5 km
End of the hike at 4.00 pm in Beaufort.
Dates and prices
From Sun 30/08/2026
To Fri 04/09/2026
From Sun 20/06/2027
To Fri 25/06/2027
From Sun 27/06/2027
To Fri 02/07/2027
From Sun 11/07/2027
To Fri 16/07/2027
From Sun 18/07/2027
To Fri 23/07/2027
From Sun 01/08/2027
To Fri 06/08/2027
From Sun 15/08/2027
To Fri 20/08/2027
From Sun 29/08/2027 To Fri 03/09/2027
Open departure
Secure payment
Departures on Sundays only.
THE PRICE
Includes:
- Organisation and booking fees ;
- Guiding by a qualified mountain leader ;
- Accommodation with half-board formula, picnic lunches and snacks ;
- Luggage transfer on Days 2 and 4 ;
- Tourist tax ;
- Transfers as decribed in the technical facts.
Does not include:
- Personal expenses (drinks, visits, etc.);
- Luggage transfer on Days 1, 3 and 5 ;
- Cancellation insurance;
- Your return journey from home to the point of departure/end point.
The price is all inclusive from departure to end point.
Also available a la carte
Contact us!Technical sheet
LEVEL ***
Elevation: +/- 900m approximately per day.
Walking time: 5 to 7 hours per day.
Type of trek: often stony mountain route. A few variants may be proposed with steeper passages requiring a little more attention. The use of walking poles is recommended.
You need to be in a good overall physical condition. Regularly practise an endurance sport such as walking, running, swimming or cycling, 3 to 4 hours a week. Your fitness training will make your walk easier and make it all the more enjoyable. Click here for a description of the different levels: hiking levels.
GUIDING
Number of participants between 6 and 14, supervised by a qualified professional (mountain leader).
The mountain guide leader may have to modify the programme to adapt it to the level of the participants and/or the natural conditions. As a last resort, he is the sole decision-maker.
To thank your guide, it is usual to tip your guide at the end of your hike, depending on your satisfaction. This is not mandatory, but much appreciated.
ACCOMMODATION
Classic : 5 nights in dormitory in refuge.
All accommodation has hot showers. Due to increasingly recurrent periods of drought, access to showers is not guaranteed.
MEALS
Breakfast and dinner are provided in each accommodation. For lunch, the guide prepare a picnic for the group, generally made up of a variety of salads and local products. For nights without luggage transport, picnics are ordered at the refuge.
Please inform us about your food allergies and special diets at the time of booking. We do our best to accommodate special diets (gluten-free, vegetarian, etc.). However, we encourage you to bring some additional products for your own picnics.
LUGGAGE TRANSFER
Your luggage is transported to your accommodation on Days 2 and 4.
CURRENCY
Please bring cash for drinks and personal expenses, as not all accommodations accept credit cards.
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
We opted to not transfer luggage on several nights where this service involved extensive and very costly logistics, in order to maintain a more affordable rate and limit the carbon impact. The third night without luggage was chosen for its otherwise unbeatable itinerary! Let us know your thoughts.
MAPS
IGN Top 25 - 3532 OT - Massif du Beaufortain
ACCESS TO DEPARTURE POINT
Departure at Beaufort sur Doron.
BY TRAIN
Go: departure from Gare de Lyon (Paris) and arrival in Albertville.
Bus 21 from Albertville to Beaufort sur Doron (timetable available on Altibus.com).
Return: bus 21 from Beaufort sur Doron to Albertville (timetable available on Altibus.com).
Departure from Albertville and arrival at (Paris) Gare de Lyon.
Timetables must be checked with SNCF www.voyages-sncf.com
BY CAR
Please check mappy.com or viamichelin.com
End point at Beaufort sur Doron.
ACCOMMODATION BEFORE AND AFTER
Hôtel le Grand Mont, place de l’Eglise 73270 Beaufort, 04 79 38 33 36
Gîte de Molliessoulaz, 5398 route de Molliessoullaz 73720 Queige, 06 30 10 34 56
TO CONTACT US
If you are late please contact the agency as soon as possible +33 (0)4 50 79 09 16 or +33 (0)6 42 49 76 07
EQUIPMENT LIST
Clothing
- Walking trousers
- Shorts (Bikini/swimsuit, just in case!)
- Breathable or merino wool t-shirts
- Breathable or merino wool leggings
- Fleece or jumper
- Lightweight down jacket
- Wind stopper or Goretex jacket
- Waterproof poncho + gaiters or Goretex trousers + waterproof rucksack cover
- Pair of gloves and a warm hat
- Sun hat or baseball cap
- Walking socks (1 pair per day)
- Sturdy walking boots with a good sole, already broken in
- 1 change of clothes for the evening
- A pair of comfortable shoes for the evening
Other Equipment
- Toilet bag
- Quick drying towel
- Sunglasses and sun cream
- Water bottle or Camelback (1.5 litre minimum)
- Knife, fork and spoon
- Plastic lunch box/plate for your picnic lunches (0,4 ~ 0,5L)
- Plastic cup for coffee
- Small First Aid kit (antihistamine, ibuprofen, Compeed type blister pads...)
- Survival blanket
- Head torch or hand torch
- Sleeping bag liner sheet and pillowcase (blankets provided at accommodation)
- Two adjustable walking poles (highly recommended)
- Identity card or passport
BACKPACK
Bring a comfortable backpack of 30 to 40 litres for your personal belongings for the day (warm clothes, waterproofs, water, plate and cutlery for your picnic, sunscreen and your identity papers) and please keep a little room to carry a picnic and snacks.
LUGGAGE TRANSFER
You are allowed 1 soft, sports type bag, with all your possessions inside, of 10kg maximum per person. Your baggage will be transported, on days 2 and 4 only, between accommodation by our logistics vehicle where access is not always easy.
Baggage which is too heavy won't be accepted by the drivers, please think of their backs!
YOUR BACKPACK FOR THE NIGHTS WITHOUT LUGGAGE
On nights 1, 3, 5, your luggage won't be delivered at your accommodation. Here are the things to bring with you (about 2 kilos are enough!):
- small toiletries bag
- sleeping bag liner sheet
- change of clothes for the day after (bare necessities!) and comfortable for the evening.
Customer Reviews
-
31/07/2025
Dominique
Organisation, choix de l'itinéraire et guide au top. Le tour du beaufortain est magnifique. Tout était parfait.
