Tour of the Vanoise
Member Savings
Sign in to see which companies give additional
savings to Travelstride Members (it’s free)
Overview
Highlights
- Fascinating drive to Col de la Vanoise (8,255)from Pralognan-la-Vanoise along the ancient trading route
- Opportunity to see Mont Blanc on a clear day.
- Drive to refuge de l’Orgere we pass through hayfields in the valley de l’Orgere, so-called as oats were once grown in this sheltered valley
- Explore this 8-day trip takes us on a circular route through the heart of the Vanoise National Park, a wonderfully remote
What's this trip about?
Compare to similar trips
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Activities
Min Group Size
Max Group Size
Trip includes
- Group transfers to and from the Geneva Airport
- All accommodations
- All breakfasts, all Lunches and all Dinners
- Guides, great hiking and memories!
View Similar Trips
Itinerary
Early afternoon group transfer from the Geneva Airport to our hotel in Pralognan-la-Vanoise, headquater’s of the Vanoise National Park. A There will be time to explore the village before our area orientation meeting and welcome dinner.
A gentle day ascending to the Col de la Vanoise (8,255’) from Pralognan-la-Vanoise along the ancient trading route; the “Route du Sel et de la Fromage”. Walking through the village from the hotel we start climbing slowly between old stone houses. To our right is the w...
Early morning light accompanies us as we descend gently past small lakes. Immense scree slopes rise up to our left to the Grande Casse as we pass Lac Bond and the Lac du Col de la Vanoise. To our left the Pointe de la Rechasse marks the eastern extremity of the Glacie...
Today’s walking is dominated by La Dent Parrachee (12,129’) while opposite us we look across the valley of the Haute Maurienne and the Italian frontier. In summer the Col du Mont Cenis provides a road crossing into Italy and the town of Susa. AS we traverse the flanks...
Today we have a choice of either the “normal” route via the Col du Barbier or the high route via the Col de la Masse (9,590’). Either way the scenery is stunning. Dropping down from the “eagle’s nest” of the Dent Parrachee we reach the parting of the ways a short way ...
We turn our backs to the south and the Maurienne as we climb uphill. Again, we have two options today, either passing by the hamlet of Polset or passing the refuge de l’Orgere. If we pass the refuge de l’Orgere we pass through hayfields in the valley de l’Orgere, so-c...
Our final day is a long gentle descent alongside the tumbling waters of the Doran. The valley provides pastures for several herds of cows and a farm where there’s a chance to see cheese making in progress. Leaving the farm, we pass the luxurious Refuge du Roc de la Pe...
The trip will end after breakfast with a group transfer back to the Geneva Airport, arriving around 10am.
Want a tailor-made trip instead?
Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:
- You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
- Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Dates & Availability
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.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
Distant Journeys Reviews & Ratings
Other Distant Journeys Reviews
A fabulously run
A fabulously run tour company, offering top-notch cultural itineraries. We just...
It was awesome!
I just finished the guided Tour du Mont Blanc trip with 2 girlfriends, and it was awesome! Distant Journeys really knows how to package their TMB trek, an outstandin...
The trip absolutely wonderful
Distant Journeys organized an amazing 2-week trip for us around Mont Blanc, including multiple customizations. They made the preparation simple and easy, and they ma...
Travelers also viewed
Tour Operator
About Travelstride
Find your perfect trip
Save time
Save money
Travel confidently
Logistics
What's excluded
- Airfare
- Optional/individual transfers or excursions
- Items not on set dinner menu
- Beverages
- Insurance
- Tips to guides/leaders
- Items of a personal nature.
Accommodation
Hotels: For our 8-day Tour of the Vanoise, we spend 2 nights in typically French, family-run, comfortable hotel in Pralognan la Vanoise. Rooms are double occupancy with private baths. Single rooms are limited. All are friendly, family-run hotels that reflect the local character. Mark Tennent, our guide for this trip, has a well established relationship with the hotel, which assures a warm welcome.
Mountain Huts or Refuges: We spend 5 nights in mountain refuges. The refuges in France can be wonderfully rustic farms which have been converted to accommodate hikers. They call also be more modern refuges, purpose built by the French Alpine Club, or CAF. They all tend to have co-ed bunkrooms, called dortoirs. The bunk rooms vary in size each night. Some refuges have bunkrooms that sleep 6 other refuges have only larger bunkrooms that sleep 10 – 15. You should expect to share a bunk room for these nights. Private rooms are not available at the refuges.
All the refuges along our Tour of the Vanoise route are hosted by guardians, and their hard-working team, who pride themselves in providing good wholesome meals in a convivial atmosphere. Staying in a refuge allows you to experience that special feeling of being in the up in the mountains as the sun sets and the stars appear. The atmosphere in the refuges is friendly and jovial, as hikers from many countries gather to spend the night. We believe that staying in the huts offers a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the camaraderie of hikers from other parts of the world, experience something new and wonderful, and take part in the simple tradition of the European style of hiking hut-to-hut.
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.
7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches and 7 Dinners
Become a member
- Save up to $700 per person
- Access members-only specials
- Personalize trip recommendations