Grande Traversee Des Alps
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Overview
Highlights
- Explore Pralognan, experience hiking all the way to the Med
- Enjoy the hike passes by Lac Mirror and Lac St. Anne, surrounded by the rocky mountains of Pic Heuvieres
- Visit Chateau Ville Vieille Queyras is situated just outside of the Parc Naturel Regional du Queyras
- Amazing hike through lush meadows to the Col du Tricot (6,995′) with spectacular views of the Aiguille du Bionnassay
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Trip includes
- Group transfers
- All accommodations
- All Breakfasts, most Dinners
- All group transfers on vans, buses, trains and ski lifts as described in the itinerary
- Luggage transfer for one medium-sized duffel bag from your starting point to Pralognan and from Pralognan to Menton
- Great hiking and memories!
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Itinerary
Arrive Geneva, Cointrin International Airport. Group transfer at 1:00 pm to Chamonix, France. Welcome dinner and orientation. Chamonix is home a dazzling array of many of the highest peaks in the Alps, including Mont Blanc (15,860′).
Short transfer by bus to Les Houches and cable car to Bellevue (5,610′). Here we begin today’s hike by passing by the foot of the huge Glacier de Bionnassay, then up through lush meadows to the Col du Tricot (6,995′) with spectacular views of the Aiguille du Bionnassay, Dome du Gouter and the entire Chamonix Valley. After our steep descent from the Col, we arrive at our refuge.
Departing from Les Contamines in mid-morning, we hike up the Mont Joie Valley, past a 15th-century mountain church, Notre Dame de la Gorge, cross a small ancient Roman bridge and continue up this broad alpine valley to our overnight stop.
We begin a steady climb to the Croix de la Bonhomme (8,200′). The route from the Refuge de la Croix Bonhomme follows the narrow ridge of the Crete des Gittes, built by the French Military, and then drops down to the Col de Sauce and to the Plan de la Lai (6,000′) and up to the Refuge Mya. Views of Mont Pourri dominate the scenery.
Our hike today leads us high above the Roseland Dam to the Col Bresson, flanked by dolomite-like arretes and aiguilles including the bold Pierra Menta. From here, our hike down to the refuge is spectacular. This simple refuge has a calm and remote setting.
Our day will begin with a long, gradual descent down the valley floor to the village of Valezan. A short bus transfer will take us from Valezan to Peisey-Nancroix and on to the Chalet Refuge de Rosuel, located at the entrance to the Parc National Vanoise. After a rest...
Entre le Lac to Val Claret. The morning part of the hike climbs up to the col du Palet (8,750′). The ever-widening valley is flanked by the Dome de Platieres and the tapered peak of Aliet. Up ahead lies the Grande Motte (12,500′), draped with huge glaciers. In the ear...
Today we leave the GR 5 and pick up the high mountain route of the GR 55, which cuts into the heart of the Vanoise. Hiking out of the ski area the route contours up the Rochers de la Petit Balme and to the col de Fresse (8,300′). From here the route climbs through the...
From the refuge we climb to a high, broad valley lined by several mountain lakes and mountain peaks of Pointe Mathews (12,334′) and La Grande Casse (12,721′). The trail then rises to the col de la Vanoise (8,300′) and the Refuge du col de la Vanoise. From here there a...
For those hiking all the way to the Med, today is a rest day. For those departing there will be a group transfer to the Geneva Airport departing about 9:00 am and arriving at the Geneva Airport at about 11:00 am. We will rendezvous with those joining the trip at the Geneva Airport at 11:00 am for a group transfer to Pralognan. Please contact us before firming up any travel plans.
Leaving Pralognan in the morning, a short transfer by bus takes us to the edge of the park, where we begin our hike in the Vallon du Doron to the col de Chaviere. This col is the highest col of any of France’s long-distance routes (9,230′) and offers an impressive vie...
From Chateau Queyras we climb though forests and wide meadows offering dramatic 360-degree views. Above us tower the twin peaks of Pointe de la Selle and Point de Rasis. This path soon takes us over the open and barren pass at the Col du Fromage (7,600′), and yes, “fr...
The first part of our hike passes by Lac Mirror and Lac St. Anne, surrounded by the rocky mountains of Pic Heuvieres. This area has a very remote feeling as we cross Col Girardin (8,900′) and descend into the quiet Ubaye Valley to our gite at Maljasset.
We will start with a morning hike to St Paul Ubaye, where we will have lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch we will meet our van and transfer to St. Etienne, where we will spend the night at a gite d’etape located a short walking distance to the village.
Today’s hike is spectacular and probably a favorite because of the remoteness, the changing scenery and the welcoming gite at the end of a good day. After a a short transfer, we hike through larch forests along the Sellevielle River and through a huge cirque up to the...
Today’s hike is filled with contrast. The first part of the day leads us through a wonderful, high, open meadow. The second part of the day leads through hamlets, villages and by ancient churches. We end the hike in Roure. This village sits on a hillside and is known ...
Morning transfer from Rimplas to our trail head. From our overnight stop we hike south round the Terres Rouges and to our ending point at Point Trois Commune – l’Authion. As with all our days, this hike is varied as our route includes forest roads, pleasant paths that...
It’s never over ’til it’s over, and we’re not out of the mountains yet. From Sospel we climb through an amazingly dense forest before the route opens up at the Col Razet, where we have our first view of Menton. It looks very close, but today’s hike is a long one. The ...
The trip will end at the hotel in Menton.
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Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Distant Journeys.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
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Logistics
What's excluded
- Airfare
- Lunches
- optional/individual transfers or excursions
- Dinners in Tignes or Pralognan
- Items not on set dinner menu
- Tips to guides/leaders
- Beverages
- Insurance
- Excess baggage charge
- Items of a personal nature.
Accommodation
Should you find it necessary to cancel, a cancellation fee will apply based on the date we receive written notice:
Over 60 days prior to departure —$200 fee
60-30 days prior to departure—50% of land costs
Less than 30 days or failure to show—no refund
There will be no refunds or credits for unused portions or uncompleted tours for any reason whatsoever.
Please note that a few of our trips have payment schedules and cancellation fees that are more stringent. These exceptions are clearly indicated in the detailed itineraries, printed separately for each trip.
Distant Journeys, Inc. reserves the right to cancel any trip prior to departure for any reason whatsoever, including insufficient registrations. Generally, a cancellation would be made more than 45 days in advance of the departure date. If we find it necessary to cancel a trip, all payments made to Distant Journeys, Inc. will be refunded immediately. However, Distant Journeys, Inc. shall not be responsible or liable for other expenses incurred by the participant as a result of such a cancellation.
All Breakfasts and most Dinners
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