Lanslevillard walks

A short circuit accessible to children. You cross streams where they can play. The part in the forest is very pleasant, especially when it's hot. What's more, they can find wild strawberries and raspberries. The route is dotted with information panels about village life.

A lovely day’s hike, starting from the centre of Lanslevillard. The flora of the Vanoise, marmots, perhaps even the bearded vulture, and magnificent panoramic views await you on this hike, which includes a stop at the refuge, where the wardens are very friendly.

We did this hike on the north-facing slope of Val Cenis, starting with the aptly named Chemin du Petit Bonheur, then climbed up through the forest to Pierre des Saints and reached the small Lac de l'Arcelle via a veritable balcony overlooking Haute Maurienne and Vanoise, before finally descending in the footsteps of skiers. A breath of fresh air and a day of absolute happiness.

An easy walk through varied landscapes; it climbs a little at the start.

A half-day hike for intermediate walkers. You'll walk through different settings that offer a large range of Vanoise flora, while benefiting from an extraordinary view over the summits of Maurienne and the Ecrins national park.

This is a circular hike passing by the Old Fort of La Turra before crossing the Pas de la Beccia at 2,717 m and descending with a beautiful view of Lake Mont-Cenis and its dam.

This circular route, which is mostly above 2,000 m, takes you to both French and Italian military heritage sites. It also offers beautiful views, particularly of the Vanoise and Lac du Mont Cenis. Marked by directional signs but also by numerous paint marks of all shapes and colours. However, look out for the blue stars on a white background. From (3) to (6), the route is not very busy.

A lovely hike from Lake Mont Cenis to the small clear lake. The route offers beautiful views of Lac de Mont-Cenis (although it was cloudy the day we did it). A fairly family-friendly hike.

An easy hike above 2,000 metres. It starts near the Col du Mont-Cenis, a pass known since ancient times for crossing the Alps. Starting from the superb Lac du Mont-Cenis, it leads to the modest Lac Clair at the foot of what remains of the Lamet Glacier.

This is a lovely, easy hike in the Vanoise. It is also a lake circuit dominated by the Vanoise glaciers between the Dent Parrachée and the Grande Casse. From Lac Blanc to the Plan du Lac refuge, the route is neither mapped nor marked.

On the edge of the Haute Maurienne valley lies a world apart, a haven of tranquillity and light nestled in its mountain setting: the vast Ribon valley, which rises gently and in a straight line up to the Rochemelon glacier. It is very easy to reach from Bessans, and the hours you spend there will be unforgettable.

This is a wild hike where you won't encounter anyone except chamois and marmots before arriving near the three magnificent Lanserlia Lakes. It will test your sense of direction, as part of the route is off-trail. This is ademanding hike, reserved for experienced hikers. GPS tracking is recommended.

A wild hike is possible in Vanoise: the first part, which leads to the lakes and the Pointe de Lanserlia, is well marked, even if it is not signposted. The rest of the route to the Plateau du Turc is away from the main paths that criss-cross the massif and includes a tricky section between (8) and (9), which is why it is classified as difficult.

A hike for experienced walkers that takes you to an altitude of 3,500 metres – one of the highest in France – without the need for specialist kit. No major difficulties apart from the elevation gain and the narrow corridor leading out of the steep slopes, but at the summit, if you’re lucky enough to avoid the nebbia, you’ll be rewarded with a magnificent view (Rochemelon, Charbonnel, Pointe de Ronce, Giusalet...).

Second day of this mini trek around Tignes-Val d'Isère, three legendary passes in the Vanoise with magnificent views of the neighbouring glaciers. A long day with a few technical sections, particularly at Tunnel 3000 (7).

Starting from La Goulaz in Bessans, just above the cross-country ski trails and at the foot of “Tièrce”, you can take a short circular route partly along the Chemin du Petit Bonheur. It follows the botanical trail, dotted with small signs giving the names of the flowers and their uses.

This is a short, easy and pleasant hike, ideal for a family outing. At the start, the village of Villaron is typical and well worth a visit, and at the end, the Cirque du Vallon is very bucolic. Along the way, you may see some wild animals (marmots, chamois, vultures, sparrowhawks, etc.).

A family-friendly walk along the banks of the Arc, which is virtually flat and presents no difficulty. The flora is particularly abundant in spring and early summer (troll’s-head, martagon lily, red campion, bird’s-eye lily, etc.), as are the dry-stone huts typical of the region. The presence of rock paintings is also of interest.

Route following the hypothetical passage of Hannibal and his elephants across the Alps. At the end of the wild and long valley lies the superb and large Lake Savine, at the foot of the Dents D'Ambin. A little further on, the Clapier border pass offers a magnificent view. On the way back, take a short detour to the Perrin Lakes.

This6th stage is a variation on the route starting from the Refuge de l'Arpont. We decided to spend two days on this hike to explore the Lacs de l'Arpont and its magnificent glacier. An exceptional hike that will allow you to get as close as possible to this glacier. The lakes are splendid. If you’re feeling brave, don’t hesitate to take a very refreshing dip.

Stage7 of this journey takes you from the Refuge de l’Arpont to the very welcoming Refuge de la Fournache. This stage skirts around the Dent Parrachée. This is the last time you will see the Vanoise glaciers. This trail, which is at times technical and challenging due to its elevation gain, overlooks the Maurienne Valley, Val Cénis and, on the other side, Italy. You will also catch a glimpse of the Thabor, before arriving at the bottom of Aussois, with its two lakes and the Aussois dam.

This tenth stage completes the crossing of the Vanoise massif. From the Refuge de l’Arpont, the GR®5 descends to the hamlet of Le Mont, crosses the Combe d’Enfer, climbs the flank of the Crête de Belle Place and crosses the valley of the Ruisseau de Bonne Nuit to reach the ruins of the hamlet of La Loza. It follows the contour of a rocky ridge like a balcony and descends via a few hairpin bends towards a ravine, then continues almost level through the Bellecôte valley. The path passes beneath the chairlifts of the Aussois ski resort and runs alongside the Plan Sec and La Fournache mountain huts. It skirts around Lac du Plan d’Amont and runs along the upper edge of Lac du Plan d’Aval before crossing the Col du Barbier. It climbs towards the Barbier chalets and descends to the hamlet of l’Orgère to reach the Refuge de l’Orgère.

Less well-known than its neighbour, Lac d’Ambin or Lac Bleu, Lac Noir, nestled at the foot of the summit of Petit Vallon, is well worth a visit to this peaceful and very pleasant spot.

A beautiful circular route in the Haute-Maurienne via the Etache Valley and the Bramanette Valley. Steep gradients.

This short hike is the starting point for a magnificent three-day trek between Haute Maurienne and Val de Suze (Italy), with beautiful lakes and numerous small glaciers.But the setting and the welcome at the Refuge de Bramanette are such that they alone justify spending the night there and descending back down to the valley the next day!