Tour des glaciers de la Vanoise (Pralognan-la-Vanoise, Savoie, France)
Our take
The Tour des Glaciers de la Vanoise offers an exhilarating adventure through the heart of the French Alps, captivating hikers with its breathtaking scenery and vibrant ecosystems. This iconic multi-day hike, often hailed as one of the most remarkable in Savoie, invites outdoor enthusiasts to immerse themselves in nature’s wonders. As travelers seek unique experiences, this trek presents an exciting opportunity to connect with both the environment and fellow adventurers, much like those who shared their journeys in pieces like 3 Days & Nights In Barcelona, Spain and My trip to Tallinn & Narva🇪🇪.
Over the course of seven days, hikers traverse varied landscapes—lush meadows, crystalline lakes, and towering peaks that exceed 3,000 meters. The experience is enhanced by the presence of wildlife, such as ibexes and mountain goats, which reflect the successful conservation efforts within Vanoise National Park. This connection to nature is not only awe-inspiring but also serves as a reminder of our responsibility to preserve such environments. The trail’s accessibility, coupled with comfortable shelters that offer delicious picnics, makes it an inviting choice for both seasoned trekkers and novices. The ease of the hike, especially after the first day, allows participants to focus on the beauty around them, rather than the physical challenges often associated with multi-day treks.
The hike's structure and regulations, including the prohibition of wild camping and the necessity for shelter reservations, underscore the importance of responsible tourism. These guidelines help protect the delicate ecosystems while ensuring that future generations can enjoy the same stunning vistas. For those planning to participate, the recommendation to bring a “Sac à Viande” for meals is an innovative twist on traditional hiking practices, promoting both convenience and sustainability. As outdoor adventures become increasingly popular, understanding and respecting the landscapes we explore will be crucial to maintain their integrity.
Looking ahead, the Tour des Glaciers de la Vanoise exemplifies a growing trend in travel where adventure and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. As people increasingly seek experiences that enrich their lives, hiking in places like Pralognan-la-Vanoise not only satisfies that desire for adventure but also fosters a deeper appreciation for nature. This shift in mindset may propel more travelers toward ecotourism and responsible travel practices, encouraging them to dream big in their exploration of the world.
For those contemplating their next summer adventure, the allure of the French Alps is hard to resist. As we embrace the spirit of exploration and camaraderie, it’s a perfect time to ask ourselves: how can we make our adventures not only unforgettable but also beneficial to the places we love? The journey is just beginning, and with every step, we have the opportunity to make memories that last a lifetime while nurturing our planet.
| | Hello everyone! Welcome Back! Time for the most ICONIC multiday hike of Pralognan-la-Vanoise and possibly of Savoie. The Tour des Glaciers de la Vanoise, 7 days, around the largest glacier in continental Europe. There are many versions of this hike, in 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 days. Honestly I could never recommend it enough, without a doubt 7 of the most incredible days of my life, deep in the moutains of the french alps, sourrounded by wildlife and >3000m summits. Overall beautiful landscapes, grass, lakes and trees everywhere for you to really feel the magic of it all. On top of that I got to see a ton of ibexes, moutain goats and groundhogs, since the trail is entirely through the heart Vanoise National Park, so first of all there are a lots in the area thanks to the preservation policies but I guess they also got used to hikers so they get really close which feels absolutely unreal. As for the hike itself, it's something on another level, you're all the way through, deep in the mountains, close to 13 km long glaciers, almost always above 2500 meters, with trails that feel really comfortable, not too mineral which gives this light refreshing feeling. Overall it's not that hard of a hike technically speaking given that apart from the first day there isn't that much elevation gain. The shelters are quite frequent, amazingly comfortable and with a charming atmosphere. Adding to that is that you don't really need a very heavy bag since the shelters offer picnics, and unless you're sleeping in you tent (regulations later) you'll pretty much only need a Sac à Viande (~Meat Bag~) The daily steps to the trail are : (7 day version) Day 1 : Pralognan-la-Vanoise (1400 m) – Refuge du Col de la Vanoise (2517m). Day 2 : Refuge du Col de la Vanoise (2517 m) – l’Arpont (2309 m) Day 3 : Refuge de l’Arpont (2309 m) – any of the 5 shelters in the Plan d'Amont sector Day 4 : Plan d’Amont (2206 m) – Refuge de l’Orgère (1985 m) Day 5 : Refuge de l’Orgère (1900 m) – Refuge de Péclet-Polset (2471 m) Day 6 : Refuge de Péclet-Polset (2474 m) – Refuge de la Valette (2590 m) Day 7 : Refuge de la Valette (2590 m) – Pralognan la Vanoise. However, if you do go there please keep in mind, you are in a national parc so there are regulation such as no wild camping in the National Park. you can sleep in a tent and Bivouac but only close to the shelters on dedicated spaces. Shelters need reservations and payement wether you're sleeping inside the hut or in your tent (of course the price changes). But not all shelters accept campers so you'll have to look into it beforehand. And also its costumary and very highly recommended to bring a Sac a Viande if you're sleeping in the shelter. If you need any more information on the hike it's all on Pralognan-la-Vanoise's website I think that's it, if any of you have any questions just ask, hope you liked the post, the trail and maybe it'll inspire you for this summer. Have a nice day and see you around. Godspeed [link] [comments] |
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- 3 Cols Trek (Pralognan-la-Vanoise, Savoie, France)Hi everyone, welcome back. So last week I posted on the Vanoise National Park and I thought you might be interested by a few specific hikes in the area. So here's one I did last year that's truly amazing. This trek is the 3 Cols trek starting from Pralognan-la-Vanoise (Savoie, France), an amazing 3 day hike of about 34 km with 2000m elevation gain and goes all the way up to 2800m. It passes right in the middle of the National Park, through mountain passes (the name translates to 3 Mountain Passes). You quickly find yourself wandering calmly in between majestic +3000 peaks among high altitude prairies full of grass, lots of lakes and a trail that gets very close to the glaciers, we even got to see a few ibexes (I put in a few photos of them) and groundhogs that are just every here. I found this hike on Pralognan-la-Vanoise's website which is why I started from there and that's what I would recommend. This is a hut to hut hike, if you need I can give you the link to the GPX and to the shelters. And i'll go over the rules for overnight hiking in the Vanoise (since there are some special circumstances) Here are the steps for each day: Day 1 : Pont de la Pêche to refuge de Péclet-Polset (~3h) Day 2 : Refuge de Péclet Polset to Refuge du Saut (~4h30) Day 3 : Refuge du Saut to Pont de la Pêche (~6h) But please, if you do go there, please follow Park regulation, you can't do any wild camping in the park. Huts need a reservation and payement, you can sleep in tent outside the hut and it's less expensive (a couple euros) but still needs a reservation. However some shelters like Peclet-Polset don't accept tents so look out for that You can also find the Hike's description on the Pralognan-la-Vanoise Tourism Office's website. I have a few other ones coming up that you might like , so keep a lookout. Have a very nice day everyone, I wish you all the best and see you in a bit. Godspeed submitted by /u/Alternative_Bed8942 [link] [comments]
- Vanoise National Parks (Pralognan-la-Vanoise, Savoie, France)Hi everyone, back for seconds. A couple weeks ago, I posted about Pralognan-la-Vanoise, a small really nice villagein the heart of Savoie. And I mentionned the Vanoise National Park inside of which Pralognan-la-Vanoise is situated. I figured I should also post on the National Park. I put in the pictures I believe to be the best I took there, but they not all taken at the same period of time, some pictures have more snow of more yellowish grass because I took them earlier of later in the summer season (spring and fall). All of them, I took on a hike. There are so many hikes there, the park is really big and you can hike all over the place but even staying in Pralognan-la-Vanoise you have a lot of options (>80 recognised and official trails). And it's just paradise, finding yourself in there between the moutains, and the grass, the trees, the glaciers, the ibexes is something I could never recommend enough. As for a lot of national parcs the preservation of wildlife and of it's environment is crazy. The parc was created to prevent ibexes for going extinct in the region in the 1960's nowadays the ibex population grew a lot, it's far from uncommon to see, they're everywhere. on top of that the parc has the biggest glacier in europe, and guess what, you can go hike on it too (although you do need a guide for this one). Everywhere you look is green, cliff, ice or chalets. Just, such a wild nature experience, France has a lot to offer and especially in the alps but I don't think I have ever seen anything quite like the Vanoise. So I wanted to recommend this to you guys, hope you get to go there (and I get to hear all about it). I mostly talked about summer but if you're into ski touring and mountaineering you'll love winter there. But if you do go there, please follow park recgulations, I can send the "rulebook" if you like. Thanks and godspeed submitted by /u/Alternative_Bed8942 [link] [comments]
- Pralognan-la-Vanoise (Trip report and opinions, with of bit of information for you)Hello, everyone, how are you doing? first post on this community but I've got a little something that you might be interested in. It's a beautiful little village in the middle of Savoie (France) I go to sometimes called Pralognan-la-Vanoise. It's calm and peaceful, I feel like i'm in another world when I'm there. In a place like France where I thought everything had been seen, it's very surprisings. This village is incredibly authentic, châlets everywhere, pastures in the middle of town, I feel like I'm in a side of France you rarely get to see anymore, that few people even know still exists. Mountains everywhere just shooting out of the ground going all the way up to over 3000 meters high. The whole valley is full of cliffs, trees and grass, every is green, and then you go outside with this amazing view, a big blue sky and singing birds. Not only that but overall wildlife preservation around it is exceptionnal, the village is almost entirely inside the Vanoise National Park, the first national park in all of France, filled with ibexes, mountain goats, groundhogs edelweisses and glaciers. Now's not exactly the season (April), but hiking is a really big thing here. They have a whole lot of hikes, whether they are day hikes or multiday hikes. It's very family friendly, I've seen young and rather eldery people really enjoying themselves in this little paradise. There is always something to do. If anyone needs more information it's all on Pralognan-la-Vanoise's Tourism Office if you need, I might also be able to answer some questions too. I put in a few of what I believe are my best pictures including some of La fête de l'alpe et des guides an amazing event focused Alpine and Savoie tradition, shows just how authentic the village is. There is also La fête du Barioz a few weeks earlier. Really amazing discovery this year the dates are 19/07 (La fête du Barioz) and 8/08-9/08 (La fête de l'alpe et des guides) if you're ever interested. submitted by /u/Alternative_Bed8942 [link] [comments]