Hiking in the heart of the Alps
Table of Contents
1. The ideal time
2. Must-do multi-day hikes
3. 2- to 3-day family hiking trips
4. 3- to 4-day family hiking trip
5. 2-day hiking tour up to 3,000 meters
6. Where to stay during your backpacking trips in the high mountains?
Try a multi-day hike with your family. Whether you’re an experienced hiker or looking for your first multi-day hiking adventure with family or friends, pack your backpack and set off on a multi-day trek to explore the Haute Maurienne Vanoise. Enjoy a complete break from it all and recharge your batteries over a few days of hiking, with views of glaciers and encounters with marmots as a bonus!
1. The ideal time
Mountain huts are at their busiest from mid-July to mid-August: book several months in advance to ensure you have a spot in a dormitory or at a campsite for your trek in the Alps.
September is a superb month in Haute Maurienne Vanoise. Enjoy the end-of-season calm and the golden larch trees for 200% rejuvenating hikes.
Please note: some refuges offer "unguarded" areas that remain open and accessible all year round.
Please note: there may still be snow at altitude until early July. Ask the refuge wardens about the condition of the trails and the installation of footbridges.
🛈 You can also call on our mountain guides for a supervised, personalized and safe outing.
Come by train for a 100% low-carbon experience
All Haute Maurienne Vanoise hiking trails are accessible by public transport: train to Modane, then bus from the station (or walk straight off the train!).
2. Must-do multi-day hikes
Tour of the Vanoise glaciers
60 to 80 km, 4000 to 5000 m D+.
The Tour des glaciers de la Vanoise is an emblematic itinerary in the Northern Alps, inviting you to explore an exceptional high-mountain setting in 4, 5 or 7 days, depending on the itinerary chosen. Between verdant alpine meadows, high-altitude lakes, wild mountain passes and eternal snow, this balcony tour between the Maurienne and Tarentaise valleys offers spectacular panoramas.
From Haute Maurienne Vanoise, several access routes are available:
- On foot from Modane station to l'Orgère (1h30 to 2h walk)
- By bus from Modane to l'Orgère, Aussois or Val Cenis-Termignon (Bellecombe via free bus in summer), ideal starting points for a day-long hut adventure.
► Download the guidebook for the Tour des Glaciers de la Vanoise
"Vanoise Getaway: A Short Hiking Trip Through the Heart of the National Park"
Starting at €795.00*
Hanging glaciers, high-altitude trails, and the tranquility of the great outdoors: experience the Vanoise at your own pace during an unforgettable getaway.
* The all-inclusive week.
The GR5 and its variants
One of the most popular long-distance hiking trails in France and Europe, the GR5 links the North Sea to the Mediterranean through the Alps. In Haute Maurienne Vanoise, it offers one of its most beautiful passages, between high altitude passes, glacial valleys and unspoilt villages.
Coming from the north, the main GR5 route reaches Val Cenis via Entre-Deux-Eaux, in the heart of the Vanoise National Park, and then continues on to Valfréjus via Aussois and Modane.
It's also possible to take different routes, via l'Orgère from Pralognan La Vanoise, via Bonneval sur Arc from Tignes... It's up to you to choose the one that suits you best!
A mythical itinerary to experience one of the greatest alpine treks.
"Alpine Delights: A Week in Step with the Alpine Pastures, at the Gateway to the Vanoise"
Starting at €818.00*
At the gateway to the Vanoise National Park, let yourself be enveloped by the tranquility of the alpine pastures and experience the mountains at your own pace.
* The all-inclusive week.
3. 2- to 3-day family hiking trips
Tour de la Roche d'Etache
23 km, 1300 m D+.
This loop around the majestic Roche d'Étache is a little-known nugget, perfect for a family's first experience of itinerant hiking. Away from the crowds, this 2 or 3-day tour, depending on your mood or fitness level, offers total immersion in nature, with authentic stopovers in refuges. Children will be delighted to observe the local wildlife, especially the marmots that whistle as you pass.
Details of the 2-day itinerary or the 3-day version.
How to find us :
- Departure from Refuge du Suffet in Bramans, accessible by car or shuttle bus from Modane station.
- Parking is available at Le Planay, just a minute's walk from the refuge.
Tour of Lake Mont Cenis
38km, 1430 m D+ (altitude gain)
In two days, the Tour du lac du Mont-Cenis offers an immersion into the heart of an exceptional Alpine landscape. The route winds through mountain pastures and passes, with panoramic views of 3000-metre peaks, the immense Mont Cenis lake and remarkable old French and Italian forts.
Please note: at the end of the route, a handrail (a cable fixed to the rock to hold you on short, delicate passages) requires extra vigilance, but the hike remains accessible to all as soon as the snow melts.
How to find us :
- From Val Cenis-Lanslebourg, take the D1006 to the Col du Mont-Cenis.
Le chemin du petit bonheur
50 km, 939 m D+ climb
Would you like to try an itinerant hike accessible to all, with beautiful scenery, comfortable nights and easy mountain immersion? Le chemin du petit bonheur is for you!
Over 2 to 3 days, this itinerary follows the valley floor of Haute Maurienne Vanoise, between flower-filled meadows and typical villages. The trail is well-marked, so you can walk lightly and stay in hotels or B&Bs along the way. The trail is punctuated by special facilities for a break or family fun: a forest of swings, XXL picnic tables, giant solariums...
How to find us :
- From Modane station, follow the specific yellow "le chemin du petit bonheur" signs.
- From La Norma: Take the bus from the Modane train station or use the free covered parking lot at the entrance to the resort, then follow the yellow trail markers labeled “Le Chemin du Petit Bonheur.”
Protect high-altitude lakes: avoid swimming
You'll come across many high-altitude lakes on your itinerant hikes. In midsummer, after several hours' walking in the sunshine, it can be tempting to take a dip in the clear, cool (and sometimes very cool!) water.
🛈 It’s up to you to resist the temptation! High-altitude lakes are fragile, and swimming is strongly discouraged: sunscreen and bacteria can harm the aquatic environment.
4. A 3- to 4-day family backpacking trip
Le Tour de Méan Martin
69 km, 3010 m D+ (4-day route) / 37 km and 1325 D+ (3-day route)
An immersion in the high mountains, accessible to families with children who are good walkers. Moderately long stages with no technical difficulties and unusual accommodation in refuges. This tour allows you to discover awe-inspiring landscapes without requiring advanced alpine experience. Panoramic views of emblematic peaks such as the Pointe de Méan Martin (3,330 m) and frequent encounters with alpine fauna, notably marmots and chamois, enrich this adventure.
How to find us :
- Departure from the Bellecombe parking lot in Val Cenis-Termignon, accessible by shuttle bus from Modane station.
- Return to Villaron (Bessans) possible, with bus connection or carpooling.
“Tour de Méan Martin” Trip: A Hike to a Mountain Hut in the Heart of Vanoise National Park
Starting at €795.00*
Four mountain huts, five days of hiking, and an unforgettable trek: set out to explore the Tour de Méan Martin, one of the most pristine trails in the Vanoise.
* The all-inclusive week.
5. A 2-day backpacking trip up to 3,000 meters
The Thabor summit from Modane station
23 km 1498 m D+ climb
Would you like to reach a peak of over 3,000 m on a "classic" hike? Mont Thabor (3,178 m), above Valfréjus, is an ideal destination for seasoned hikers. From the Modane train station, head for the Mont Thabor refuge (2,502 m), nestled between lakes and mountain pastures. The next day, head for the summit of Le Thabor, on the border between Savoie, Hautes-Alpes and Italy!
Perfect for a wild, mineral-filled weekend, where you can experience the high mountains in complete freedom and climb to over 3,000 metres in altitude!
How to find us :
- Departure from Modane station: climb on foot (GR5) or by bus to Valfréjus.
- By car: Lavoir parking lot in Valfréjus.
6. Where should you stay during your backpacking trips in the high mountains?
More than 20 mountain huts welcome you from June through September for overnight stays with or without half-board. The communal dinners in the dining hall are highlights that are an integral part of the adventure during a trek in the Alps! You’ll spend the night in a dormitory. Bring a sleeping bag liner and a sleeping bag. Book in advance and remember to bring cash or a checkbook for payments.
Good to know: Most mountain huts offer packed lunches. Perfect for a midday break on your next leg of the hike—it saves you from having to pack and carry food for the entire trip!
In Haute Maurienne Vanoise , bivouacs are only permitted in the vicinity of certain refuges (reservation required for refuges in the Vanoise National Park). Even in the mountains, most of the land is private. It is therefore not possible to pitch a tent (even for one night!) without the owner's permission.
Meeting a Patou: what are the right things to do?
The Vanoise Glacier Tour
