Trekking at the Vanoise National Park
5 days hiking stay with Guide

Trip

At the Heart of the Vanoise National Park

Located between the high valleys of Maurienne and Tarentaise, the Vanoise National Park was the first National Park created in France in 1963.
Very rich in flora and fauna, the Vanoise Park borders 14 km of its limits with the Gran Paradiso National Park in Italy to form the largest natural reserve in Europe: the ibex and the bearded vulture are some of the species protected symbols of the two Parks.
We propose you a route that crosses the heart of the National Park, passing through easy passes, at the feet of the most beautiful glaciers, such as those of the Grande Casse (3855 mt), the Grande Motte and the Dôme de la Sache (3588m ). A wild route through some altitude passages which alternate with the vast Vanoise mountain pastures and the magical environment of its lakes.

Program

The Program of the Vanoise National Park Trekking Tour

DAY 1 
BOURG SAINT MAURICE - ROSUEL - REFUGE DU MONT POURRI

Vertical Drop: + 950 m and - 100 m
Walking time: 6 to 7 hours

Meeting point at the funicular station in Bourg Saint Maurice at 9.00 am, where you can park your car free of charge for the duration of the trek.

Departure for the Rosuel valley, one of the entrances to the Vanoise National Park. We'll be close to the Les Arcs and Peisey Vallandry ski areas, yet we'll feel far from the hustle and bustle. The views of the Mont Pourri and Dôme de Sache glaciers are superb.
We may come across a herd of sheep with their shepherd and patoos to protect them from wolf attacks.
We arrive at the refuge, where the team will settle us in.
It's a superb place to spend your first night in the mountains. This refuge is well known among hikers and mountaineers, who will be leaving earlier than us for the ascent of the Pourri to 3779 metres altitude, via the slopes and snowy ridges of the Geay glacier.

DAY 2 
REFUGE DU MONT POURRI - LAC DE LA PLAGNE - REFUGE DE PLAISANCE

Vertical Drop: + 750 m and - 900 m
Walking time: 5 to 6 hours

We set off along a balcony path beneath the glaciers and walls of Mont Pourri. After a few hours' walk, we'll have lunch near Lac de la Plagne, where the bravest can swim in fine weather. We then head up the Montagne de Vallaisonnay to the Plaisance refuge.
The hut wardens will welcome us to their hut, one of many in the Vanoise National Park. Perhaps a park guard will be there to explain to us what life is like in this area, which has been protected since 1960.

DAY 3 
REFUGE DE PLAISANCE - POINTE DES BOUQUETINS - REFUGE DE PLAISANCE

Vertical Drop: + 750 m and - 750 m
Walking time: 6 to 7 hours

After a restful night's sleep, we'll start the day with a lighter rucksack, as we'll be sleeping in the same refuge in the evening. Our aim is to arrive at a viewpoint where we can marvel at the Vanoise National Park and its splendid mountain pastures and mineral terrain. We'll have access to the highest peaks in Savoie. We'll return to the refuge to enjoy the last light of the day.

DAY 4 
REFUGE DE PLAISANCE - REFUGE DE LA GLIERE

Vertical Drop: + 750 m and - 900 m
Walking time: 5 to 6 hours

On this new day, we moved from the Vallaisonnay mountain to the cirque at the foot of the highest mountain in the Parc National de la Vanoise and Savoie region: the Grande Casse. We'll have its suffering glaciers and its impressive north face in front of us. Few mountaineers have dared to climb this summit from this side. We'll take the time to admire the high mountains and maybe even spot some animals around us.

DAY 5 
REFUGE DE LA GLIERE - ROSUEL - BOURG SAINT MAURICE

Vertical Drop: + 650 m and - 1100 m
Walking time: around 6 hours

We leave the refuge early enough in the morning to take advantage of the first rays of sunshine. The trail climbs gently to the Col de la Grassaz and from here the descent is continuous until the end of the day. We cross various valleys and discover some superb lakes on this side of the park. We are in the middle of an unspoilt and protected habitat where many wild animals have decided to make their home. Respect and curiosity are the keys to catching a glimpse of them. We will arrive in the Rosuel valley in the afternoon and return together to Bourg Saint Maurice.

Dispersal of the group at 5:00 pm at Bourg saint Maurice train station.

End of the trip: see you next time for a new adventure!

OUR TIP

On Saturday morning Bourg Saint Maurice hosts the Local Market where you can find lots of products from our mountains and neighboring countries like Italy! If you want to take advantage of it, here's a tip for the extra night: Base Camp Lodge.

Materiel

How to prepare your backpack for your trekking trip in France

The hiking backpack

If possible, take a bag that is light enough to be carried well, and no heavier than 1.5 kilos.

• Small : 45 litres max
• Large : 50 litres max

Your rucksack should have 10 to 15 litres of space for the food you will be carrying for lunch and sometimes the next day, which the mountain huts or guides will give you.

Kilos to carry - it's better to wash than to carry :

• Small : 5/6 kilos max, without water and food
• Large : 6/7 kilos max, without water and food

Allow 2 litres of water and 500 grams of food for the day.

Head-to-toe equipment for the trek:

• a cap or hat for the sun
• a hat for the cold
• a buff or choker (optional, but great in bad weather)
• a Gore Tex jacket or equivalent for bad weather
• a pair of gloves, waterproof if possible
• a small down jacket or fleece to withstand sub-zero temperatures
• two jumpers: one light and one warmer; if it's cold, we'll use all the layers
• two or three technical T-shirts
• 2 to 4 pairs of socks, which you can wash in the torrents near the refuges (use solid soap to wash)
• trousers
• tights
• shorts
• a bag cover for the rain
• a waterproof bag to keep a change of clothes dry
• a change of clothes for the refuge
• A pair of hiking boots with Vibram soles or good quality trail shoes from 20 July, if possible try them on before the trek.

Essential items:

• a sleeping sheet for the hut
• 2 telescopic walking poles
• Canteen or water bottle to provide at least 2 litres of water
• sun cream factor 30 to 50
• A pair of category 3 sunglasses
• a light headlamp
• small treats such as dried fruit and chocolate
• cash and your identity card or valid passport

Toiletries :

• a light, quick-drying towel, hiking style
• body soap
• toothbrush with toothpaste or solid toothpaste
• small shampoo (specialist shops sell small bottles that you can keep for the rest of your hiking life)
• a pair of earplugs to help you sleep at night in the refuge

Pharmacy & other items :

• your medication
• a light survival blanket
• nail clippers
• enough to make small dressings
• a few compresses and plasters or, better still, Strappal

Your guide will have a more comprehensive first-aid kit in case of a major accident.

A small book or card game (weighing less than 150 grams)...

Necessities for meals :

• an hermetic tupperware (approx. 400ml) for the picnic
• a light Opinel-type knife
• a fork and a spoon
• a local speciality to share with the rest of the team, liquid or solid.

Weight is the hiker's enemy, but a frozen or soaked hiker is a hiker without pleasure!

So take the time to prepare your rucksack well and weigh it before you set off, to check that without water or food your rucksack weighs 6 to 7 KG, but no more !

IMPORTANT: if a person is not properly equipped and dressed, the mountain guide may decide not to allow him/her to take part in the climb. We ask you to read carefully the equipment list provided in the programme PDF and to call us if you have any doubts.

Level

Technical Level  2/5

Quite easy mountain trekking, there can be dizzying passages where you have to be concentrated and if you don't feel dizzy it should be fine!
Learning how to start a mountain rescue and cartography.

Physical level 1/5

We are taking it easy, without health concerns, motivation is enough, it's initiation! Effort corresponding to approximately 500-600m of elevation gain in trekking.

Useful info

Insurance

Cancellation and repatriation insurance is mandatory, as is mountain search and rescue insurance (minimum cover of 10,000 Euros).

Esprit Montagne offers the following insurance: https://www.assurance-multi-sports.com.

How to reach bourg saint maurice 73700 

• By train, access by TGV to Bourg Saint Maurice station;
• By car from Albertville, access by expressway to Moutiers - Bourg Saint Maurice is 2.5 hours from Lyon.

Meeting on the first day

Meeting at the Funicular in Bourg Saint Maurice at 9.00am, you can park your car in a free parking for the duration of the trek.

End of the trip

Disappearance of the group on the last day at the Funicular Station in Bourg Saint Maurice at 5.00 pm. You can organise your transport from 5.15 pm.

Our trip

On Saturday morning Bourg Saint Maurice hosts the Local Market where you can find lots of products from our mountains and neighboring countries like Italy! If you want to take advantage of it, here's a tip for the extra night: Base Camp Lodge or Hôtel de l'Angival.

Car sharing

When you register online, you can choose whether or not you wish to take part in the car-sharing scheme to get to the starting point of your course. Once you have made your booking, you can log back into your Esprit Montagne account to access a section dedicated to carpooling. Here you will find the contacts of the other participants who are interested in car-sharing, so that you can contact them directly.