The trip

LEVEL ****

Elevation: +/- 1100m approximately per day.
Walking time: 7 hours per day.
Type of trek: mountain route for trained hikers, with off-trail sections. The glacial crossing requires specific equipment but does not present any technical difficulties. It is necessary to arrive well trained to be able to take full advantage of the journey. In case of bad weather, there are optional routes.

You have to be in a general good fitness level. Please practice a cardio sport such as hiking, running, cycling, from 6 to 8 hours a week.
Your physical preparation will enable you to enjoy your trek to the maximum.
Please find the description of the levels by clicking here: levels of difficulty

GUIDING 

Between 6 and 9 participants supervised by qualified professionals.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.
It is usual to tip your guide at the end of the trek, according to your satisfaction. It is not mandatory but, it is very appreciated.

GLACIATE CROSSING

The equipment (helmet, harness, crampons) is delivered on day 3 at Pralognan, with the luggage.
The High Mountain guides join the group on evening 4, at the Col de la Vanoise refuge.
The glacier hike between the Dômes de la Vanoise has no technical difficulty. Only the exit of the glacier can be a little tricky.
Guiding: 1 guide for 4 persons maximum (except at the start of the season, 1 guide for 5 persons).

ACCOMMODATION

CLASSIC: 5 nights in dormitory, in refuge.
All accommodation offers hot showers. However, due to increasingly recurrent periods of drought, access to showers is not guaranteed.

MEALS

Breakfast and dinner are provided in each accommodation.
Picnics are included and are carefully prepared daily by your mountain leader, comprising a variety of a healthy salads and local products.

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 TRANSPORT

The luggage transport is provided on day 3, at the refuge above Pralognan. You will be able to change your clothes, and get mountaineering equipment for the following days (see "Equipment" section).

Practical information

ACCESS TO DEPARTURE POINT

Meet Sunday at 13:30 in Aussois (tourist point) or in front of the train station in Modane at 13:15. Plan to have lunch before.

BY TRAIN
Inbound: Depart from the Gare de Lyon train station (Paris) at 6:44am arrive in Modane at 10:52am.
Return: Depart from Modane at 7:12pm arrive in (Paris) Gare de Lyon train station at 11:26pm.
Times given are indicative and should be verified at a train station or at www.voyages-sncf.com

BY CAR
Take the A6 motorway to Lyon, then the A43 direction Chambery and Modane.
At Modane follow direction Aussois via the D215. Free car-park at Aussois.

End of trek at 15:00 at Aussois.

ACCOMMODATION BEFORE AND AFTER

Tourist Office Aussois: +33 (0)4 79 20 30 80    www.aussois.com

INSURANCE

In accordance with regulations, we are covered by Professional Liability Insurance. Under no circumstances, we can replace your personal civil liability.
The repatriation insurance EUROP ASSISTANCE that we offer is dedicated to French speaking people living in Europe. If it is not your case, we advise you to subscribe to another travel insurance which will cover you in case of injury and repatriation during your trek.

If you chose to take out repatriation insurance with EUROP ASSISTANCE whom we propose, Altitude Mont Blanc will only serve as an intermediary between the client and the insurer. We cannot influence either party. We adhere to strict conditions of sale. You are responsible for compliance with the reporting procedures of any incident.

Before making any decision, contact EUROP ASSISTANCE.

CONTACT US

If you are late please contact the agency as soon as possible on : +33 (0)4 50 79 09 16 or +33 (0)6 42 49 76 07

Equipment & luggage

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
• Wind stopper or Goretex jacket
• Lightweight down 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

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 (0.40L to 0.50L)
• 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​

Mountaineering equipment

• Sturdy walking boots, already broken in with a good sole and stiff enough to support crampons (no trail running shoes or flexible hiking shoes).
• Hiking poles
• Warm clothing adapted to the chilly conditions of the high mountain (goretex, warm fleece, long calecons and choker, warm hat, gloves, technical socks, etc.).
• Technical equipment is provided (crampons, helmet, etc.).

BAGGAGE TRANSPORT

Your baggage and mountaineering material will be transported on day 3 at your accommodation by our logistics vehicle. You are allowed 1 soft, sports type bag, with all your possessions inside, of 10kg maximum per person. 

BACKPACK

Leave on your own for 2 or 3 days and more

In the 'weight is the enemy' section, here are some tips on how to save a few hundred grams. For example, for your toiletries: a simple plastic bag with a zip or a small plastic box to avoid accidental crushing.

•     Hotel-size soap is generally enough for a week.
•     A tube of toothpaste 3/4 full will do the trick
•     Shaving foam: a small sample can
•     A small microfibre towel
•     A small bottle of shampoo
•     A travel toothbrush

Pharmacy: in addition to your personal medicines, bring:

•     Elastoplast or hook-and-loop tape
•    "Second skin" tape to protect against blisters, such as Compeed
•     A small pair of scissors, thread and needle
•     A small tube of sun cream and lip balm

Now all you have to do is apply this recipe to your entire bag!