Hiking in the Vanoise and Tarentaise regions
Mountain hiking: a must for your summer vacation in Savoie!
You know the saying: the best way to walk is to put one foot in front of the other... and start again! That's how time passes, peacefully, when you're hiking the trails of Savoie. One step leads to another, a view of the Vanoise glaciers follows a detour by a mountain lake, which in turn follows a bucolic episode in the middle of flower-filled mountain pastures...
Walking in the mountains? A meditative interlude for some, a sporting challenge for others, or a convivial moment to chat and nibble.
Ultra-light backpack for trail runners, or a real "home" containing an elaborate picnic. Chunky high-top mountain boots, or lightweight trail sneakers with notched soles. Connected watch in hand... or tucked away at the bottom of your bag. To each his own way of surveying the immense garden that surrounds mountain villages!
All walkers, but all different? Are they really? Not so sure... Because if there's one thing that families out for a stroll have in common with sports enthusiasts in search of performance, it's the same strong emotion felt in the midst of the mountains: the one that reminds us that we are decidedly small in the face of these venerable peaks that took shape millions of years ago.
The hikers are walking, the marmots are whistling, the herd bells are ringing. Happiness is in the mountain pastures!
Filter hiking trails by village and level of difficulty
Looking for a map of hiking trails in Savoie? Download the map of hiking trails in La Plagne and its villages.
Never hiked in the mountains before? Don't worry, go for it!
Hiking in the mountains can seem intimidating at first: fear of moving away from "civilization", fear of getting lost, fear of not being in the physical condition required to hike at altitude... Rest assured: you don't have to be a top-level sportsman (or have a GPS for a brain) to get started!
As with any sporting activity, all you need to do is start gently, with a short stroll in the mountains- an hour or two, for example - on a hiking trail with little difference in altitude (in other words, no major ascents or descents).
To help you choose your introductory hiking itinerary, take a look at the hiking map for La Plagne(Versant Nord), Aime and its villages(Versant du Soleil) and Champagny-en-Vanoise. What interests you? The easy green hiking trails, suitable even for children. By looking at the legend, you'll find out everything you need to know about each trail: the distance to cover, the gradient to expect, and even an estimated duration of the walk. Handy for beginners!
All hiking trails are marked with yellow signs that point you in the right direction. You'll never have to go off-trail in the grass: just follow the same dirt path as the thousands of walkers who have gone before you. A good practice that reduces the likelihood of getting lost to zero (and helps protect the natural areas around you, which are susceptible to erosion).
Make sure you've got the right footwear before you set off on Savoie's hiking trails. No flip-flops or slick city sneakers here! Mountain boots (high-top or low-top hiking boots, trail sneakers...) are essential to avoid slipping, and to protect your feet and ankles from the rocks and roots you'll encounter along the way (yes, the trails are groomed but unsealed; no asphalt to speak of!).
Mountain hiking: loop itineraries and round trips
There are several types of mountain hikes:
- Loop hikes: as the name suggests, these hikes follow a loop itinerary, with the same starting and finishing points. For example: the Sentier Nature (a blue/ easy loop starting from Montchavin); or the Gorges de la Pontille (also a blue loop, starting from Champagny-en-Vanoise), Their advantage? You'll discover different landscapes throughout your mountain hike, as you never pass along the same path twice.
- Round-trip hikes: unlike loop itineraries, round-trip itineraries take you along the same trail twice. Sound less exciting? Think again! We often forget that it's the same trail, so different are the views on the outward and return trips! The other great thing about this type of itinerary? You can simply turn back whenever you want. Practical when hiking with children, who sometimes tire more quickly than expected... Take the Chemin de la Pierra from Montchavin, for example, a very easy hike that's perfect for toddlers.
- Multi-day itinerant hikes: this type of hike is ideal for sports enthusiasts who want to spend several days on a hiking adventure in the Alps (for example, on the GR5). And at night? Hikers can choose between sleeping in a refuge, bivouacking in the wilderness (on authorized sites only; regulations vary at national level), or treating themselves to a real good night's sleep in a cosy bed if the chosen circuit passes through a village. A little "luxury" not to be sniffed at when you've been walking for days with a heavy hiking pack on your back (sleeping bag, stove, food reserves, etc.).
Hiking is similar to trekking: both involve walking for several days. Trekking has a wilder, sometimes even hostile side. Trails are often harder to access, more challenging and more exposed. A trek requires much more preparation than a simple 2 or 3-day itinerant hike, and is usually undertaken in the company of a guide who is an expert in this type of wilderness adventure.
Did you know? Trekking can also be done with a pony or a donkey!
Follow the guide! All the benefits of organized hiking in Vanoise
Everyone knows how to walk. On the other hand, spotting a chamois in a scree slope, a protected flower (such as edelweiss) or the traces of an old farm is much more complicated! That's whereour mountain guides come in.
These nature-lovers with their encyclopedic knowledge will tell you all about the landscapes that surround you, the fauna and flora, the traditional architectural heritage of Savoie, farming techniques past and present...
Our mountain guides will be happy to advise you on THE hike that will most delight you: half-day or full-day, a stone's throw from your accommodation or a little further afield, with children or experienced hikers... Trust them, let them guide you!
Another idea: you can consult the list of themed hikes organized by the Champagny-en-Vanoise tourist office in spring and autumn, or ask the mountain guides for their program for the week ahead (themed hikes on marmots, medicinal mountain plants, traces left by wild animals, gourmet hikes, night hikes...).
Do I have to pay to use the hiking trails in the Vanoise National Park?
No, you don't! Access to hiking trails in the Vanoise National Park is entirely free, whatever the season (spring, summer, autumn - and winter, of course, for ski touring enthusiasts).
The only thing you might have to pay for? A "special pedestrian" lift pass, in case you'd like to take a chairlift or gondola to get to certain high-altitude viewpoints more quickly (and with less fatigue). Like La Roche de Mio, for example, or La Grande Rochette.
Note that access to these viewpoints by lift is completely optional. If you're feeling up to it, you can reach them via the hiking trails.
How do I prepare for a mountain hike?
Before setting off on a mountain hike, take three precautions:
Choose an itinerary suited to the physical condition of all those taking part in the hike. Everyone should return from your mountain walk with a smile on their face... and a desire to go back!
Looking for a map of hiking trails in Savoie? Download trail maps for the Versant Nord (La Plagne and its villages)the Versant du Soleil (Granier...) and Champagny-en-Vanoise.
- Make sure everyone is well-shod (high or low-top hiking boots, trail sneakers, etc.). No flip-flops, sandals, city sneakers with smooth soles, etc.). The integrity of your ankles and knees depends on it...
- Take a look at weather forecast. The weather changes fast in the mountains! Be particularly vigilant if thunderstorms are forecast: they may arrive more quickly than the weather report indicates... Know when to give up, or opt for a shorter walk to make sure you're back before the thunder starts rumbling...
What should I pack in my hiking backpack?
Hiking rucksack essentials: water (too much rather than too little, especially on hot days), snacks if you're going to be out for several hours, SPF 50 sun cream (the sun beats down hard at altitude!), a charged telephone, a mini first-aid kit (blister plasters, etc.), a hiking trail map, and a cap if you don't already have one on your head. And don't forget your garbage bag.
Hiking with the family? Bear in mind that your little ones can't carry a bag as heavy as yours, so you'll need to pack some of your own hiking essentials in your own bag. Read on to find out how to prepare your children's hiking bag.
Depending on the weather and your interests, you can add to your bag: a windbreaker (often useful at altitude, even when it's hot "down below"), a pair of binoculars, a small book for recognizing flowers and/or animal tracks...
Vanoise hiking, Tarentaise hiking... What's the difference?
When we talk about hiking in the Vanoise, we're talking about hiking in the Vanoise massif, a massif in the French Alps located in Savoie and bordering other massifs you may know: the Beaufortain massif, the Belledonne massif, the Mont Blanc massif...
The Tarentaise, for its part, is a valley that stretches from Albertville to Val d'Isère, passing through La Plagne and Champagny-en-Vanoise.
So when you're hiking in La Plagne or Champagny-en-Vanoise, you're hiking in both the Tarentaise and Vanoise regions! You can even hike in the Parc national de la Vanoise if you take a trail in this 530 km² protected natural park straddling the Vanoise massif and the Alpes Grées.
Our tips for hiking with your dog on the trails around La Plagne and Champagne-en-Vanoise
Does your pet need to stretch its legs... a little? A lot? Madly? Treat him to a walk in the fresh air, so he can explore the hiking trails around La Plagne with his nose to the wind! Here are three useful tips for a serene outing:
Tip #1: Take a look at the hiking trail maps, and look out for itineraries where dogs are allowed (in other words, itineraries without a "dog" pictogram surrounded by a red circle; i.e., itineraries that don't pass through the Vanoise National Park). You can also simply use the "dogs allowed" filter in the full list of hiking trails around La Plagne and Champagny-en-Vanoise.
On the Versant Nord (La Plagne, Montchavin, Les Coches...), around 15 walks are dog-friendly. On the Versant du Soleil (Granier...), all walks are dog-friendly. In the Champagny-en-Vanoise area, another fifteen or so walks are accessible to your faithful companion.
Tip #2: Take a leash with you. Essential if your hike takes you close to a herd (watch out for patous, those intimidating herd protection dogs...), or simply if you come across other hikers, children or adults, who are afraid of dogs.
Tip #3: Be mindful of your pet's well-being. Choose a walk suited to its physical condition, take water and a bowl with you, etc.
When is the best time to go hiking in the Vanoise?
Hiking trails in the Vanoise National Park are splendid in all seasons.
In spring, explore the low-altitude trails while you wait for the snow to melt at higher altitudes.
In summer, the flower-filled mountain pastures are a must for mountain hikers, unless you'd prefer to take on high mountain trailswith their more mineral atmosphere? Or take shelter from the sun in the forest on hot days?
In autumn, the wild grasses turn yellow, the blueberry bushes turn red and the larches blaze in spectacular orange hues, before shedding their thorns as winter sets in.
Pasto Kézako?
Would you like to find out more about people and their herds? Or find out how to share mountain space? Want to find out more about herd protection dogs and understand predation? Or are you looking for tools to raise awareness...
All this information is now available on Pasto kezakothe website providing information and raising awareness of pastoralism in the mountains.
