Walking tours in France
Between the Vanoise National Park and Mont Blanc
Technical lev. : 2.5 / 5
Physical lev. : 2.5 / 5
You will discover, together with your Trekking Guide, great wild hikes, far from the world but a few steps from civilization, to which we will come back in the evening finding the comfort of our Hotel: it will be our real Base Camp in the middle of the mountains. We will take paths, and often fairly easy off trails, to find the most beautiful view points. Do not look for the paths on the maps, only our Guides know them.
Booking Dates & Prices
The Trip
Sporty hikes in the mountains between the Southern Side of the Mont Blanc Massif and the Vanoise National Park, which was the first French National Park born in 1960. Together with the Italian Park of Gran Paradiso, they form Europe's largest protected area: we will walk into the heart of these protected and wild mountain areas. Great Alpine Landscapes during the day and the comfort of a cozy Hotel down the valley in the evening.
You will discover, together with your Trekking Guide, great wild hikes, far from the world but a few steps from civilization, to which we will come back in the evening finding the comfort of our Hotel: it will be our real Base Camp in the middle of the mountains. We will take paths, and often fairly easy off trails, to find the most beautiful view points. Do not look for the paths on the maps, only our Guides know them.
The Program
DAY 0 - Sunday - night in ** Hotel in Séez
Arrival in the afternoon at the hotel Auberge du Val Joli in Bourg Saint Maurice / Seez: possible from 2:00 p.m.
Meeting with the Trekking Guide at 6:00 p.m. for briefing and backpack check.
DAY 1 - Monday
ROSUEL - BETWEEN THE LAKE - ROSUEL
Night: ** Hotel Auberge du Val Joli
Walking time: About 6 h
Vertical Drop: + 650 m and - 650 m approximately 14 km.
You will leave in the Vanoise National Park, the path climbs steadily, in the shade of the Larches and Spruce trees, we may see the Lammergeier which nests in the cliffs between the Dôme de la Sache (3588m) and the glaciers of the Dôme de Platière. The day is short to warm up, we will eat at Lac de la Plagne, those who want to take a nap are in Paradise, those who want to walk a little more, can continue further with the Guide to then walk back all together to the mini bus to return to the hotel at the desired time, a small group gives the freedom to choose.
DAY 2 - Tuesday
COL DU PETIT SAINT BERNARD - BASSA SERRA - COL DU PT ST BERNARD
Night: ** Hotel Auberge du Val Joli
Walking time: 6 to 7 hours approximately
Vertical Drop: + 1000 m and - 1000 m approximately 15 km.
Today direction towards the Mont Blanc Massif on its southern side, you will discover a wild valley between France and Italy in order to reach one of the most beautiful Belvederes on the South Face of Mont Blanc: here you will find a bit of an Himalayan air, but at the heart of the Alps. The 3000 meters Wall of Ice and Granite is magnificent. The off-trails allow us to be alone in the middle of the Great Outdoors, you will return on an off-trail loop along beautiful lakes ...
DAY 3 - Wednesday
THE CHAPIEUX - COL AND LAKE OF MYA - THE CHAPIEUX
Night: ** Hotel Auberge du Val Joli
Walking time: 6 to 7 hours approximately
Vertical Drop: + 1000m and -1000m approximately 12 km.
Today you will discover further the Mont Blanc Massif: you will leave the charming village of Chapieux to head towards the Col de Mya and its Lake. The Guide could choose a small variant with you, depending on the group level. The Aiguille des Glaciers and Mont Blanc will be on your background the whole day.
On your way back you will take the time to know and enjoy the cheese production in the Alpine Pastures: Beaufort and Sérac are the typical local cheese produced in the Farm in the Ville des Glaciers: tonight's aperitif should be excellent ;)
Before returning to the minibus in Les Chapieux, you will walk down by a path that runs along the torrent of the Glaciers in front of the cliffs of Séloge.
DAY 4 - Thursday
VAL D'ISERE - PETIT COCOR - VAL D'ISERE
Night: ** Hotel Auberge du Val Joli
Walking time: 6 to 7 hours approximately
Vertical Drop: + 1000 m and - 1000 m approximately 12 km.
Today you will head towards the Italian border, in the Grée Alps, the Gran Paradiso massif will be very close. You will climb through the Gorges de Malpasset, an easy but vertiginous path, the Prariond refuge which has just been rebuilt will be an excellent coffee break. Before leaving for the summit of the week, the Petit Cocor (3018m) facing the Gran Paradiso (4061m) above the glaciers of the Grande Aiguille Rousse (3482m) and its lake. The landscape up there should leave you with lovely memories and photos in mind. You will walk back down almost on the same path.
DAY 5 - Friday
LE CHATELARD - COL AND LAKE DU RUITOR - LE CHATELARD
Night: ** Hotel Auberge du Val Joli
Walking time: 6 to 7 hours approximately
Vertical Drop: + 1000 m and - 1000 m approximately 12 km.
For the last day, you will take the path to the Col du Ruitor: tis was the path that Porters and Smugglers took to bring goods from Aosta Valley, the nearby Italian region where people have been speaking French since many years. Until 1860 and before the attachment of Savoy to France, the Alps here formed a single country, the Duchy of Savoy and Piedmont-Sardinia.
From the Lac du Ruitor you will get a perfect view on the Mont Pourri massif (3779m) and the Dôme de la Sache glaciers. One last swim before heading back ... We should make a nice loop to get back to our mini-bus.
DAY 6 - Saturday
Breakfast at our hotel and end of our adventure!
The Budget
The price includes
Your expenses on site
Equipment
The backpack
If possible take a light backpack with good carrying, the backpack should not exceed 1.5 kg.
Backpack for 5 to 6 days:
Leters:
Your backpack must have 10 to 15 liters of space for picnics that you will carry for lunch.
Kilos to carry - It is better to wash than to carry:
Count 2 liters of water and 1 kg of food for the day.
Count an extra kilo for 10-day treks.
Head-to-toe material for the Trek:
Do not forget :
Toiletries :
Pharmacy & others:
Your guide will have a more complete pharmacy in the event of a larger accident.
For realx time: A small book or Card game (less than 150 grams)…
Necessary for meals:
The hiker's enemy is weight, but a frozen or soaked hiker is a hiker without pleasure, so take the time to properly pack your bag.
Useful Information
Insurance
Cancellation and repatriation insurance is advised as well as other insurance guaranteeing search and mountain rescue.
ACCESS
How to reach Bourg Saint Maurice, 73700:
Night before the trip and last night after the activity
We have chosen to include in the price the night before the trek beginning and the night after the end of the trek, in order to allow you to better organize your transports and to avoid to rush, as well as making your trip easier without having to worry about additional nights.
Upon your arrival on Saturday: shuttles bus from Bourg Saint Maurice to Seez are available (€ 2 one way, at 11:30 am and 4:30 pm, departure from Bourg Saint Maurice station).
Meeting with your Guide at 6:00 p.m. for briefing and backpack checking.
Check-in possible starting from 2:00 pm.
Accommodation during the stay:
Given the post-Covid 19 situation, to guarantee you a better standard, the Hotel ** Auberge du Val Joli chosen for your stay is a cute and comfortable 2-star hotel, where you will be accommodated in double / triple / quadruple rooms or in suites, with the other members of your group.
Any question?
Contact us