GRANDE TRAVERSEE DES ALPES self-guided - 2nd section

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7 days 7 days
Self-guided Self-guided
With baggage transport With baggage transport
Accommodation Classic (dormitory)
Level *** Level ***
From 565 € From 565 €

From Mont Blanc to the Maurienne

The Alps from one side to the other to meet people and discover mountains. The Grande Traversée des Alpes (GTA) between Lake Geneva and the Mediterranean sea is a long-distance journey. The opportunity to take a long break and put daily life aside.

This itinerary runs along the Swiss and Italian borders while crossing five departments and some of the most famous massifs in the Alps.

2nd section: Mont Blanc, Beaufortain, Vanoise
This section takes you through the giant glaciers of the Mont Blanc to those of the Dômes de la Vanoise equally as impressive due to the area they cover. Along the way, milk drums remind you of the authenticity of pastoral life here, rooted in the Beaufortain pastures. No factory farming here with herds of more than 150 cows. This section also is the way between three major valleys in the Alps: the Chamonix Valley, the Tarentaise and the Maurienne valleys.

You will like

  • The well-known mountain ranges: Mont Blanc and Vanoise
  • The view over the Mont Blanc from the Gittes ridge
  • The local Beaufort cheese
  • The numerous lakes along the way
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GRANDE TRAVERSEE DES ALPES self-guided - 2nd section

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Dates & prices

NEW: DIGITAL ROADBOOK 

Your roadbook can be provided in a digital format with an app to download on your phone, or with the traditional paper format send by mail (or even both versions, with a supplement of 25€). Please tell us your preference!

DEPARTURES AND PRICES

Daily departure from 25th of June to 30 of August 2023

Without baggage transport
565€ per person, classic accommodation (based on 2 people)
Single person supplement: 60€
Comfort option, 4 nights in a room of 2/3 persons : 90€/pers.

With baggage transport (except days 3, 5 and 6)
805€/ person for groups of 2, classic accommodation.
730€/ person for groups of 3, classic accommodation.
680€/ person for groups of 4, classic accommodation.
655€/ person for groups of 5, classic accommodation.
640€/ person for groups of 6 , classic accommodation.
Single person supplement230€
Comfort option, 4 nights in a room of 2/3 persons : 90€/pers.

Information and reservation by phone or mail.

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THE PRICE

The price includes

  • Accommodation with half-board from dinner the first evening to breakfast of the last day;
  • A road book: description and IGN maps (1 road book per registration up to 4 people. A supplementary road book for groups of 5 or more. Extra road book supplement 10-25€);
  • Daily baggage transport between accommodation if you have chosen this option (except Days 3, 5 and 6);
  • Transfers as detailed in the guidebook;
  • Organisation and booking fees, taxes.

The price does not include:

  • Picnic lunches;
  • Personal expenses, drinks, touristic visits, etc.;
  • Luggage transport on day 3, 5 and 6;
  • The cable car up at Les Houches (approx 17€ per person);
  • The taxi transfer to Modane on Day 7;
  • Travel insurance.

The price is all inclusive from departure to end point.

L’itinéraire jour après jour...

Day 1

Start at the Prarion gondola in les Houches.

LES HOUCHES - COL DU TRICOT - CONTAMINES
Take the gondola to start you on your way to the Col du Tricot at the foot of the Bionnassay glacier. Descend to the village Les Contamines and Notre-Dame-de-la-Gorge.
Night in a small dormitory in the Nant Borrant refuge.
5 - 5.5 hour walk / Elevation: +600m -1250m
1 hour walk / Elevation: +250m from Les Contamines to Nant Borrant

Day 2

COL DU BONHOMME - CORMET DE ROSELEND
Climb up along the Roman road to the famous Col du Bonhomme on the Tour of Mont Blanc. Then cross the Gittes ridgeline and traverse through the vast Beaufortain pastures at Cormet de Roselend.
Night in dormitory on the Cormet de Roselend plateau.
6 - 6.5 hour walk / Elevation: +1350m -700m

Day 3

COL DU BRESSON - PORTE DE ROSUEL
Balcony trail overlooking Lake Roselend and climb up to Col du Bresson at the foot of the Pierra Menta. Descend to the valley of Ormette via small canals and hamlets to reach the Tarentaise valley. Taxi transfer from the Saint Guérin chapel to reach Peisey Nancroix and Rosuel. Night in a dormitory in a refuge without luggage.
6 - 6.5 hour walk / Elevation: +950m -1170m

Day 4

COL DU PALET - TIGNES
Enter into the Vanoise National Park at the foot of Mont Pourri and the Dome de la Sache.The valley continues to the Plagne lake and then the Palet refuge. The limit of the park is just above the Col du Palet (2652m) which you have to cross to go down to Tignes-Val-Claret.
Night in a hotel, in bedroom.
6 - 6.5 hour walk / Elevation: +1100m -550m

Day 5

VALLEY OF LA LEISSE - COL DE LA VANOISE
Short transfer by local bus to the Val Claret village. Depart to discover the wide spaces of the Vanoise National Park and climb up to the Col de la Leisse. Descend the Leisse Valley with its lakes and where the 1700m south face of the Grande Casse overhangs the trail.
Night in a dormitory in the refuge Col de la Vanoise (*without baggage).
6.5 - 7 hour walk / Elevation: +1100m -650m

Day 6

CIRQUES DU PETIT AND GRAND MARCHET
Leave the refuge and take the balcony trails overlooking the Pralognan Valley: Combe de l'Arcelin, Cirque du Dard, Grand Marchet, Petit Marchet, Valette Lake and Combe des Nants. Descend into the Prioux Valley. 
Night in a dormitory in a refuge without luggage.
6.5 - 7 hour walk / Elevation: +1000m -1800m

Day 7

COL DE CHAVIERE - VALLEE DE LA MAURIENNE
Walk up to the Chavière Valley dominated by the Dômes de la Vanoise, in a moon-like world, dotted with cairn forests. The Aiguilles de Péclet-Polset show us the col de Chavière nearby. Walk down into the Valley of Maurienne among the pastures and to Modane.
Possibility to take a taxi from l'Orgère to Modane, to order the previous day and to pay on site, shuttle at 16.30pm, in july and august).
6 - 6.5 hour walk / Elevation: +1150m -950m to the Orgère refuge
1.5 hour walk /  -880m additional descend from l'Orgère to Modane on foot

End of the trek around 5:00pm at Modane train station.

 

The trip

LEVEL ***

Elevation: +/- 600m to 1200m approximately per day.
Walking time: 4 to 7 hours per day.
Type of trek: this tour is not technically difficult and is open to children from 12 years.

ROAD BOOK

Before departure, we send you a travel folder containing: 

  • 3 IGN TOP 25 with the route highlighted. 
  • 1 road-book containing all the information necessary for the trek. 
  • 1 waterproof map holder.
  • Accommodation list.

Your roadbook can be provided in a digital format with an app to download on your phone, or with the traditional paper format send by mail (or even both versions, with a supplement of 25€). Please tell us your preference!

SIGNPOSTS AND WAYMARKS ALONG THE TREK

In France trails are marked with red and white stripes for Grande Randonnée (in both directions).
It is preferable to know how to read a topographical map at 1/25000.

BAGGAGE TRANSPORT

Two options:
Without baggage transport: you carry your baggage.
With baggage transport: your baggage is transported daily by our logistics vehicle except days 3, 5 and 6.

YOUR BACKPACK FOR THE NIGHT WITHOUT YOUR BAGGAGE

For the night without your baggage at the accommodation (you will get it back the night after), here are the things to add to your backpack (about 2 kilos are enough!):
- small toilet bag
- sleeping bag liner sheet
- change of clothes (bare necessities!)

ACCOMMODATION

CLASSIC:
6 nights in refuge, in a dormitory.
COMFORT:
D1, D2, D3 and D4 in a room of 2/3 people, extra cost 90€/pers.

MEALS

Breakfast and dinner are provided in each accommodation.
Picnics are not included and can be pre-ordered at each accommodation in the evening. 

PHYSICAL CONDITION

To be able to easily walk 15km (on flat trails) in 3 hours maximum.
If this is not the case, at least 3 weeks before departure, 2 to 3 times a week, we advise you to undertake some prior fitness training: 4 to 5km of jogging or 3 to 4 hours hiking or cycling. Your physical preparation will enable you to enjoy your trek to the maximum.

PERSONALISED TOURS

We can personalise a tour according to your requirements (number of days, participants, level of route, accommodation, etc.)

MAPS

IGN Top25 3531 ET St-Gervais ; 
IGN Top25 3532 OT Beaufortain ;
IGN Top25 3532 ET Les Arcs ;
IGN Top25 3633 ET Tignes ;
IGN Top25 3534 OT Trois Vallées.

Practical information

DEPARTURE

From end June to mid September.

ACCESS TO DEPARTURE POINT

Depart from the Bellevue cable car in Les Houches.

BY TRAIN
Inbound: depart Gare de Lyon (Paris) - St-Gervais-le Fayet by TGV, then to Les Houches on the Mont Blanc Express.                                                                                                   Return: Modane - Chamonix via Chambery.                                                           www.oui.sncf

BY CAR
Take the A40 motorway direction Chamonix, exit 21 Saint-Gervais-les-Bains.
Free parking near the train station. Then train to Les Houches on the Mont Blanc Express. Return: Modane - Saint-Gervais-le-Fayet via Chambery on train.                         www.oui.sncf

CAR-SHARING                                                                                                                      Get in touch with people to share a lift! Here are some website recommendations: www.blablacar.fr www.covoiturage-libre.fr www.laroueverte.com www.roulezmalin.com

CLOSEST AIRPORTS
Geneva (GVA)
1 hour by car to Chamonix.
Bus and minibus services direct to your accommodation (25-35€ pp each way)
Lyon (LYS)
2h15 by car to Chamonix.
Train every 2 hours to Chamonix, 4h15 journey (40-45€ pp return)
Paris (PAR)
7 hours by car to Chamonix.
Train every 2 hours to Chamonix / 5-6 hours journey (80-120 pp return)

End point around 5:00pm at Modane train station. Do not hesitate to visit the museums in Modane whilst waiting for the train.

ACCOMMODATION BEFORE AND AFTER

Chamonix Tourist Office: +33 (0)4 50 53 00 24                                                         www.chamonix.com
If you book a night in the Chamonix valley, ask the hotel reception for a bus/train pass to use public transport for free in the Chamonix valley.
www.chamonix.montblancbus.com/en/bus-lines

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 & baggage

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
  • 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
  • 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.

BAGGAGE TRANSPORT

Your baggage will be transported daily (except days 3, 5 and 6) between accommodation by our logistics vehicle. You are allowed 1 soft, sports type bag with all your possessions inside, no heavier than 10kg. Your bag has to be carried everyday by the driver, where access is not always easy, please think of their backs! Baggage which is too big and too heavy won't be accepted by the drivers!

If you wish to prolong your holiday, we can safely hold another bag for you which you may leave with us at the departure point and it will be deposited at the end point with your other baggage.

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