First of its kind in France, the Vanoise National Park was established in 1963. A vast territory where flora, fauna and rocky mineral world are all preserved. Between the Maurienne and Tarentaise valleys, its borders meet the Gran Paradiso massif and National Park in Italy, forming the largest nature reserve in Europe.
The tour will bring you around the famous "Dômes de la Vanoise", a range of glaciers extending over twenty kilometres at the centre of the Park and passes at the foot of the Grande Casse, the highest summit in Savoie at 3855m. In 1860, a rich Englishman employed a courageous woodsman to cut more than 800 steps in the ice so the summit could be reached for the first time.
Crossing typical landscapes of the Alps, this hike offers some more technical variations depending on your preference and on the actual conditions...
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!
Choice of departure from 25 June to 4 September 2023
Tour in 6 days / 5 nights
Without baggage transport
470€ per person, classic accommodation
Single departure (without luggage transfer): +65€
7 days / 6 nights tour : extra cost of 65€ per person
With baggage transport (except day 5)
For 2 persons: 830€ per person
For 3 persons: 745€ per person
For 4 persons: 670€ per person
For 5 persons: 630€ per person
For 6+ persons: 610€ per person
With baggage transport only on Day 1 and Day 4
For 2 persons: 575€ per person
For 3 persons: 550€ per person
For 4 persons: 530€ per person
For 5 persons: 515€ per person
For 6+ persons: 505€ per person
We propose the same circuit in a 7-day version, with a departure on foot from Termignon on the first day: Contact us.
Information and booking by telephone or e-mail.
The price includes:
The price does not include:
The price is all inclusive from departure to end point.
PLAN DU LAC REFUGE - AIGUILLES DE LANSERLIA
Departure from Termignon and bus transfer to Plan du Lac refuge.
Hike to Lanserlia lake, a short walk plunging you into the most secret atmosphere of the Vanoise. It is possible to do a longer hike through the wild plateau du Turc and descent to the Vallon de la Rocheure. Night in refuge.
5 hour walk / Elevation: +600m -600m
7h hour walk / Elevation : +960m / -960m (by the plateau du Turc)
VANOISE PASS - PRALOGNAN LA VANOISE
Traverse Leisse Valley and climb to Vanoise pass at the foot of Grande Casse, the Vanoise glacier. Descend to Pralognan-la-Vanoise passing by "Lac Long" and "Lac des Vaches". Night in a hotel.
6.5 hour walk / Elevation: +500m -1450m
PETIT MONT BLANC - LES PRIOUX
Climb to Petit Mont Blanc with its stunning panoramic viewpoint over Pralognan valley, Grande Casse mountain range and the Dômes de la Vanoise. Night in a refuge.
5.5 hour walk / Elevation: +1200m -900m
CHAVIÈRE PASS - ORGÈRE REFUGE
Gentle climb to Péclet Polset refuge, then to the "lunar" Chavière pass at 2896m. Descend to Partie lake and Povaret valley to reach Orgère refuge. Night in a refuge.
6 hour walk / Elevation: +1100m -900m
BARBIER TRAIL - PLAN SEC REFUGE or DENT PARRACHÉE
Long crossing on the nature discovery trail of Vanoise Park to reach the Barbier pass, then Aussois valley and its two wide lakes. Small detour is possible to the Masse pass at 2923m. Night in Plan Sec refuge or La Dent Parrachée refuge (*without your baggage).
5 hour walk / Elevation: +900m -500m
BALCONY TRAIL OF GENEPY - TERMIGNON
Long balcony trail overlooking the Maurienne valley and Arc river. The trail then runs under Dent Parrachée foothills and Arpont glacier. Going down to Termignon.
6.5 hour walk / Elevation: +500m -1500m
End point at Termignon.
OPTIONAL 7th DAY ON DAY 1 :
TERMIGNON - PLAN DU LAC
The hike starts in Termignon, along the Doron de Chavière, with a slightly steep climb between meadows and forest. The effort is rewarded by the spectacle that unfolds on arrival on the mountain pasture: vast panorama, lakes with turquoise waters in which the snow-covered summits are reflected, stone chalets and a few Tarines for background music!
Night in a refuge on the Plan du Lac plateau.
5 hour walk / Elevation: +1150m -100m
Elevation: +/-250m to 1350m average per day.
Walking time: 5 - 6 hours average per day.
Type of trek: mountain route with no technical difficulty.
Before departure, we send you a travel folder containing:
- 2 IGN TOP 25 maps 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!
The tour is well indicated with yellow paint markings and regular signs on the ground.
The trails also are numbered.
It is preferable to know how to read a 1/25000 topographical map.
Two options:
without baggage transport: you carry your baggage.
with baggage transport: your baggage is transported daily by our logistics vehicle (except Day 5)
CLASSIC: 1 night in a 2-person bedroom, in hotel and 4 nights in refuge, in dormitory.
All accommodation offers hot showers.
Breakfast and dinner are provided in each accommodation.
Picnics are not included and can be pre-ordered in each accommodation the day before.
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!)
Ability to easily walk 20km (on flat trails) in a maximum of 4 hours. If this is not your case, we recommend to prepare 3 weeks before the tour: 2 to 3 times a week, go running 4/5km or walk/ride a bike for 3-4 hours. Your physical preparation will enable you to enjoy your trek to the maximum.
We can personalise a tour according to your requirements (number of days, participants, level of route, accommodation, etc.)
IGN MAPS 1:25000: Les Arcs 3532ET, Tignes-Val d'Isère 3633ET, Les Trois Vallées 3534OT.
Departure from mid-June to mid-September.
BY TRAIN
Inbound: depart Gare de Lyon (Paris) at 10:41am arrive in Modane at 2:50pm. Then bus from Modane depart 3:15pm arrive Termignon 3:50pm.
Return bus: depart Termignon 9:30am arrive Modane 10:00am
Return: depart Modane at 10:04am arrive in (Paris) Gare de Lyon at 3:15pm.
Times given are indicative and should be verified in a train station or on www.oui.sncf
BY CAR
Take the A41 motorway to Chambery, then A43 to Modane. Follow direction Termignon.
Big and free parking in Termignon at the foot of the ski pistes.
CAR-SHARING
Get in touch with people to share a lift! Here are some website recommendations: www.blablacar.fr www.laroueverte.com
End point in Termignon to collect your baggage.
Termignon & Haute-Maurienne Vanoise tourist office: +33 (0)4 79 20 51 67
Hôtel** La Turra (Termignon): +33 (0)4 79 20 51 36
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
Clothing
Other Equipment
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.
Your baggage will be transported daily, if option chosen, (except day 5) 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.