TOUR OF THE VANOISE GLACIERS self-guided

Hiking details
6 Days 6 Days
Self-guided Self-guided
With baggage transportation With baggage transportation
Accommodation Classic (dormitory)
Level *** Level ***
From 495 € From 495 €

At the heart of France's first National Park

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 some of the major landscapes of the Alps, this trek also offers a number of more technical variants, to be chosen depending on your mood and the weather conditions...

You will like

  • The wild, unspoilt territory of France's first national park
  • An exclusive route around the 'Dômes de la Vanoise' glaciers
  • The typical village of Pralognan-la-Vanoise
  • The variety of landscapes between Maurienne and Tarentaise
  • Accommodation in friendly refuges and hotels, in bedrooms
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TOUR OF THE VANOISE GLACIERS self-guided

From 495 €

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Hiking details

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Dates & prices

DEPARTURES AND PRICES

Departure from 22 June to 07 September 2025

Without luggage transfer (departure of your choice)
495€ per person, classic accommodation
Single person departure (without luggage transfer): 90€

With luggage transfer except on day 5 (departure on Monday or Wednesday)
For 2 to 6 persons: 680 per person
Single person departure (with luggage transfer except on day 5): 180€

Information and booking by telephone or e-mail.

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THE PRICE

The price includes:

  • Accommodation with half-board from dinner of the first day to breakfast of the last day;
  • 1 road book file (paper) for a group of 1 to 4 people and the digital version to download for each participant; additional paper road book on request;
  • Luggage transfer, except on day 5, if you have chosen the option ;
  • Tourist tax; 
  • Booking fees.

The price does not include:

  • Lunchtime picnics;
  • Shower tokens if required;
  • Personal expenses (drinks, touristic visits, etc.);
  • The bus transfer on Day 1 (6€) or taxi transfer (June & September);
  • The return journey from your home;
  • Cancellation insurance

The price is all inclusive from departure to end point.

The itinerary day by day

Day 1

PLAN DU LAC REFUGE - AIGUILLES DE LANSERLIA
Departure from Termignon and bus transfer to Parking de Bellecombe (without luggage transport) or Plan du Lac refuge(with luggage transport).
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.
5.30 hour walk / Elevation: +750m -750m /14km
7 hour walk / Elevation :
+850m / -850m / 18km (by the plateau du Turc)

Day 2

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: +550 m -1500 m / 17km

Day 3

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.
6 hour walk / Elevation: +1250 m -950m / 13km

Day 4

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.
7 hour walk / Elevation: +1150m -900m / 18km

Day 5

BARBIER TRAIL - PLAN SEC REFUGE
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: +950m - 550m / 13km

Day 6

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.
7 hour walk / Elevation: +780m -1800m / 17km

End point at Termignon.

The trip

LEVEL ***          

Elevation: +/-250m to 1350m average per day.
Walking time: 5 - 6 hours average per day.
Type of trek: mountain hike on marked trails including gravel paths. 

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: levels of difficulty

ROAD BOOK

One month prior to departure, we will send you your travel documents. We offer two roadbook versions:
The "paper" version we send by post:
- 2 IGN TOP 25 maps with route layout
- 1 road book with all the necessary information for the hike
- 1 card holder
- The list of accommodations.
The "digital" version is an application to download on your smartphone, accessible to each of the participants of the file. The information for downloading and using it is sent by e-mail.

SIGNPOSTS AND WAYMARKS ALONG THE TREK

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.

LUGGAGE TRANSFER

Two options:
without luggage transfer: you carry all your luggage.
with luggage transfer: your luggage is delivered to your accommodation each day (except Day 5).

ACCOMMODATION

CLASSIC
1 night in a 2-person bedroom, in hotel and 4 nights in refuge, in dormitory.
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 not included and can be pre-ordered in each accommodation the day before. 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.

MAPS

IGN MAPS 1:25000: Les Arcs 3532ET, Tignes-Val d'Isère 3633ET, Les Trois Vallées 3534OT.

Practical information

DEPARTURE

Departure from mid-June to mid-September.

ACCESS TO DEPARTURE POINT

BY TRAIN
Departure: Gare de Lyon (Paris), arrive in Modane. Then bus from Modane to arrive Termignon.
Return: bus from Termignon to Modane. Then train to Paris.
Timetables must be verified on the SNCF website.

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 luggage.

ACCOMMODATION BEFORE AND AFTER

Termignon & Haute-Maurienne Vanoise tourist office: +33 (0)4 79 20 51 67
Hôtel** La Turra (Termignon): +33 (0)4 79 20 51 36

TO 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
  • 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.

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 daily, except day 5, 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 NIGHT WITHOUT LUGGAGE

On night 5, your luggage won't be delivered at your accommodation (you will get it back the day after). 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

TOUR OF THE VANOISE GLACIERS self-guided

From 495 €
Book online
Secure payment Secure payment

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