What to do in autumn in Haute Maurienne Vanoise?
Shiver as you listen to the deer bellow
From late September onwards, head for the Orgère or Polset areas at the gateway to the Vanoise National Park, or towards Sardières and Sollières in Val Cenis. Park your car, sit back and listen, and you'll soon hear the powerful bellowing of the stag.
At the edge of the forest in fading light, the thrill is guaranteed! If you're lucky, you'll even be able to observe the jousting of the bucks and the beautiful ballet of the hinds. But keep a safe distance from these wild animals.
To discover the stag bellow in complete safety, take advantage of the outings proposed by Jean-Yves Ployer at the end of September. This passionate mountain guide and photographer shares the secrets of the stag's bellow, and captivates young and old with his anecdotes and his knowledge of the Park, of which he is a former warden.
Let's go for a stag bellow hike
Hiking between golden larches
An autumn stroll... barefoot!
For a different kind of hike, and one with a clear conscience, join Thierry, mountain guide, Nordic walking instructor and yogist, in Val Cenis for a unique discovery of the sumptuous landscapes of Haute Maurienne Vanoise. There's just one condition for discovering this gentle hike on the path to happiness: take off your shoes! Your objective? To rediscover the pleasure of our ancestors and the benefits of the sensation of direct contact between the meridians under the arch of the foot and the earth. To make the most of this experience, Thierry shows barefoot hikers how to walk properly, with exercises for anchoring to the earth, mindfulness walking and Afghan walking, and gives advice on self-massage and digitopuncture of the feet (with Yoga Balles).
Mountain biking before the 1st snowfall
Small hamlets and big bikes
For a different kind of outing, Cédric, a seasoned cyclist and mountain bike instructor, offers to combine heritage and sport with a 2-in-1 escapade: the outing (mountain bike or VTTAE) begins with the discovery of authentic chalets and chapels typical of the hamlets of Bessans and the Avérole valley, then continues on to the Espace VTT de Chantelouve, a playful concentration for all levels, ideal for exercising on courses with wooden or stone modules. An ideal spot to practice among the golden larches.
Back to cross-country skiing in November
In early November, you'll also be able to meet the French biathlon team in Bessans, who will be on hand to enjoy the resort and finalize their preparations. Bessans is in fact the new training ground for our Tricolores, as Stéphane Boutiaux, director of the French biathlon teams, explains: "Three years ago, during the Covid, we had already come to Bessans, but it wasn't necessarily on purpose. This autumn, it will be!
Test paragliding New D'Tour event
On September 30 and October 1, Aussois will host the 1st edition of "D'Tour", a new touring competition organized by the Vol Libre Vanoise association. Combining walking and paragliding, D'Tour is designed to explore the hidden treasures of Haute Maurienne Vanoise (Thabor, Mont-Cenis, Albaron...), with your feet on the ground and your head in the clouds! Pilots (with or without passenger) can choose between 3 different circuits to take off from Aussois, according to their level. Each route, with one round per day, takes the form of a points race, with a maximum number of beacons to be collected.
The extra activity...
Drawings, pastels and watercolors in Rando-art
The landscapes of Haute Maurienne Vanoise lend themselves all year round to contemplation, photography and painting. But this autumn, you can take advantage of "art hikes" to paint and draw the valley's heritage and sumptuous panoramas. These outings are open to all with Isabelle, who is passionate about nature and the visual arts. During a gentle 3-hour hike, you'll share a time of exchange and well-being along the paths. With pencils, felt-tip pens, watercolors, pastels and sketchbooks in your rucksack, you'll be able to let your emotions speak for you, for a time of artistic calm that allows you to encounter nature and yourself.
There are 4 themes on offer this autumn: " Discovering the forts " at Aussois; " Discovering the buildings " in Bessans and Bonneval-sur-Arc, France's most beautiful village; " Along the water " (rivers and torrents) and " Le chemin du Petit Bonheur ", discovering the flora and fauna of Haute Maurienne Vanoise.
Looking to unwind? Escape to the mountains for a few days and enjoy a rejuvenating, cocooning stay in one of our accommodations with wood-burning stove or fireplace, for cosy evenings by the fire.