Les Chapelles walks

Lac de la Portette is a beautiful hiking destination in the Beaufortain, at the foot of the Grande Pareï cliff. And as I've always preferred loops to round trips, the Col du Mont Rosset and the return via the Balme refuge offer a nice bonus with views of the Pierra Menta, an iconic peak if ever there was one.

This is a circular loop that starts at 1,600 metres on the Versant du Soleil side of the Beaufortain massif, in a peaceful landscape of mountain pastures opposite the lively resorts of Tarentaise dominated by the Vanoise glaciers. At the beginning of summer, the herds are just beginning their summer grazing, leaving the colourful mountain pastures untouched for a little while longer. The silhouette of the nearby Pierra Menta remains inaccessible to hikers.

A lovely hike in the Beaufortain to discover the five lakes of Forclaz. This is an easy route with no navigation difficulties, so you can leave your map in your bag. At the start, you are still in the mountain pastures, then gradually the environment becomes more and more rocky.

The Chapelle des Vernettes is a highlight of Baroque religious art in the Tarentaise region and a must-see hike in the Peisey Valley. Its main advantage is its accessibility, which can become a problem in the height of summer when many cars make the trip.

A very pretty hike through the mountain pastures, without any great difficulty, which will allow you to discover two neighbouring peaks south of Beaufortin. You can admire the incredible 360° landscape from Crêt du Rey and also the curious jagged ridge of La Raïsse. Mont Pourri and its glaciers will be omnipresent throughout the day.

Another classic in the Peisey valley, with a bird's eye view of the village and a beautiful panorama of Mont Pourri. The route is steep and somewhat exposed, but it is possible to make a round trip via the descent route.

A lovely hike that allows you to enjoy very different terrains: forest, alpine pastures, rocks. Beautiful view of the Beaufortain, especially the Pierra Menta, and allows you to approach the menacing north face of Bellecôte. As a bonus, an easy 3000-metre peak.

This hike is not technically difficult and can be completed in half a day. It offers beautiful views, including two lookout points. The trails are sometimes difficult to see, so a GPS device may be useful, although the terrain is clear and the waypoints are visible from a distance at all times.You will pass through mountain pastures where cows may be present in season.

Mountain bike and/or electric mountain bike loop starting from the Plagne Montalbert resort, heading towards the charming little village of Notre-Dame du Pré. This ride takes you past two points of interest, including a climbing site and a waterfall.

This half-day hike is easy for most of the route but presents some difficulty during the (optional) ascent of the Roc du Diable. The rest of the route is mostly on paths prepared for mountain machinery, so there are no particular difficulties. There is a beautiful panoramic view from the top of the Roc du Diable (2,426 m). This hike is not signposted, so it is recommended that you use the app for certain sections.

Lac de la Plagne is a classic day hike in the Peisey Valley. It takes you right into the heart of the Vanoise National Park in a very mountainous setting. The normal route can be done without a map, as it is entirely on theGR®5, which is why I am suggesting a wilder route here, but also more challenging due to numerous stream crossings and some off-trail sections.

A very beautiful hike in the sublime setting of the Beaufortain, where you can admire the Pierra Menta and the impressive Brèche de Parozan up close.

Already offered in a (very) long version, this hike can be made a little more accessible to the general public. A hike in a splendid setting: the Roselend dam, the Pierra Menta, the Beaufortain, and a glimpse of Mont Blanc.

A beautiful hike in the heart of the Beaufortain, near the Roselend dam lake.

A beautiful hike with views of Lac de Roselend, crossings of mountain pastures and a wilder section towards Col de Bresson. The Presset refuge and its lake offer a chance to take a break in an exceptional landscape. After the Col de Grand Fond, Mont Blanc is visible for much of the return journey, directly opposite the path.

This 3rd stage of the Tour Mont Blanc (TMB) follows the Torrent des Glaciers up 900m to the Col de la Seigne. Climbing gently, at first, for just over 10km before dropping down 300m to Lex Blanche. Let's do it! The TMB is a classic long-distance footpath that goes around Mont Blanc, passing from France into Italy and through Switzerland before returning to France.

This is a moderate hike offering access to a magnificent viewpoint over Lac de Roselend after a walk through alpine pastures.

The Rocher du Vent is an impressive rock formation offering a bird's eye view of Lake Roselend, near the Cormet de Roselend. The route described here is unusual as it goes through a tunnel and then along a balcony path, so it is only suitable for walkers who are not afraid of heights or claustrophobia! Others can still discover the site by cutting across to the Lauze chalet.

This route runs above 1,800 metres, starting in the mountain pastures and skirting our military heritage; the Crête des Gittes trail was built and sometimes carved into the rock by the military.

You've seen some of it on foot, by bike, motorbike or car. If you're a keen walker, here's your chance to discover Lake Roselend, its dam and the alpine chalets that line its shores from different angles on an easy walk along a route that follows the lake's banks, with an elevation gain of around 400 metres. You will cross numerous streams via wooden footbridges before finally crossing the dam.

This hike is a circular one starting from Montgirod and leading to Villard. Along the way, you will take the Water Discovery Trail, which offers an immersion in nature and enchanting panoramas while enjoying the gentle murmur of streams and sparkling waterfalls. The return journey takes you along the Tarentaise balconies, offering breathtaking views of the valley and the surrounding mountains.

In the heart of the Beaufortain massif, a beautiful summit offering a wide and distant panorama.Although not difficult, the final climb to reach the Grand Mont requires a minimum of attention to find your way. (!) 4 August 2025: user report: > However, I would like to point out that the western shore of Lac de St Guerin is closed to hikers by municipal decree due to the risk of rockfalls. The hike must therefore start and end on the eastern shore of the lake.

A beautiful family hike that combines green mountain slopes with water flowing in small streams and waterfalls. At the end of the hike, there is a small lake with crystal clear water.

A beautiful walk with several stream crossings. But beware of snow at the beginning of the season.

A beautiful, easy and short walk with a passage over the Himalayan footbridge. Please note: a municipal by-law prohibits access to the left bank due to rockfalls. However, the Himalayan footbridge can be accessed from the right bank.

Magical: the Combe de la Nova and the Pierra Menta.

A magnificent circular if you don't have fog like we did.

Lake Gittaz and the Curé passage.

One of the first hikes to do when discovering the Champagny-le-Haut valley and a great way to pick up some cow's or goat's cheese for lunch. This hike can be extended to Froide Fontaine.

Hike starting from the Col du Petit Saint-Bernard, with a low elevation gain of 800 metres, beginning in the mountain pastures, then a well-marked section on schist before the last 250 metres on the grassy western slope, which is never exposed. High point: regular sightings of male ibex on a ridge. The detour via Lac sans Fond allows you to make a loop.

Alpine hike for experienced walkers on the wild left bank of the Doron de Champagny, with views of the chain of glaciers and rock faces stretching from the Grand Bec to the Grande Motte via the Grande Casse.

stage 3 of the TMB: from the Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme to the Elisabetta Refuge via the Col des Fours variant.

A magnificent hike starting from the Hospice du Petit Saint-Bernard to reach a high-altitude lake at the foot of the Lancebranlette summit.

A lovely walk on an accessible ridge, surrounded by flowers and with fantastic views of Lake Roselend and the snow-capped peaks.

This circuit in the Beaufortain offers abundant panoramic views, first of the Arêches valley, then of the heart of the Beaufortain. On the ridge path, let the Mont Blanc guide you.

Hike on the southern slope of Mont Jovet in a fairly wide loop, passing by the Belvédère de Grande Roche. The first part is in a shaded area in the Bois de la Cour, then the Bois des Roches. The route includes a slightly exposed section on the ridge of Mont Jovet. The return journey is on the other side, along a stream where you can stop to cool off. The entire hike offers a succession of varied panoramic views between the Tarentaise and Haute-Tarentaise valleys.

The proposed route allows you to climb Mont de la Guerre from Champagny-en-Vanoise and descend via the ski area. The route passes by the Champagny cable cars for those who wish to shorten the descent (please note that they are not operational on Saturdays). There are many alternatives for the descent; I have suggested this version to create a loop. Instead of going through the Bois des Génévriers, it is possible to descend via the forest track.

This route offers a loop around Champagny-en-Vanoise via Le Châtelard and La Duy, then descends via Les Combes d'en haut and Les Combes d'en bas, ending at La Traye. No particular difficulty.

A lovely loop starting from the Gittaz refuge, passing through the Passage du Curé in the Torrent de la Gittaz canyon, the Col de la Sauce, the north-east ridge of the Rocher du Vent, the Col de la Lauze and, above all, the Rocher du Vent tunnel.

One- or two-day hike through the pastures.

This is a circular walk based on trails 5 and 8 as promoted by the Arêches tourist board. For the most part it is well marked with yellow signs and paint flashes or markers for trail 5 & 8. There are good views over to Mont Blanc and of the Beaufortain Mountains.

This is a circular walk based on trail 5 as promoted by the Arêches tourist board. It is well marked with yellow signs and paint flashes or markers for trail 5. There are good views over to Mont Blanc, the Beaufortain Mountains and the lake, although small, is a nice place to eat your sandwiches.

The Col de la Seigne (2,516 m) is located on the Tour du Mont Blanc route, on the French-Italian border. On the way up, there is a beautiful view of the Glaciers glacier. The descent is opposite the Beaufortain massif.

A long hike at the bottom of the valley offering magnificent scenery. A classic route in the Champagny valley.

third stage of the Tour du Mont Blanc from the Mottets refuge (France) to the Maison Vieille refuge (Italy) via the Col de la Seigne.

A lovely hike starting from Tignes-le Lac. Significant elevation gain, with a continuous climb to Aiguille Percée. From the top, there is a beautiful view of the surrounding peaks. Mont Blanc can be seen if the sky is clear!

Family hike in the hills above Tignes Le Lac, suitable for young hikers who already have 1 or 2 years of hiking experience. It allows you to discover the Lacs du Chardonnet on a loop rather than by ski lift as indicated by the tourist office. The Visorando app is recommended for the unmarked sections

This is a fairly challenging circular hike around the Aiguille Percée, but it offers breathtaking views.As the climb up Les Condus is tough (facing the slope for the entire first part of the hike), we chose to take two cross-country trails that climb more gently to make the hike more suitable for children.It is also possible to do it in reverse, climbing up via Parafour (the trail winds) and descending via Les Condus.The use of the app is strongly recommended.