The start/finish point is in the hamlet of Les Prioux.
Four days in the Vanoise
This four-day summer circular route is designed for independent hikers who do not wish to stay in or near mountain huts. Consequently, the bivouac sites are located outside the Vanoise National Park and the Plan de Tuéda Nature Reserve.
Details
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
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Activity: Walking -
Distance: 33.67 mi -
Average duration: 4 days -
Difficulty: Difficult -
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Back to start: Yes -
Ascent: + 12,995 ft -
Descent: - 12,972 ft -
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Highest point: 9,534 ft -
Lowest point: 5,089 ft
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Country:
France
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City:
Pralognan-la-Vanoise (73710) -
Start/End: N 45.34681° / E 6.70134° -
Hour-by-hour weather
Photos
Stages of the route
This route needs several days, find the details below:
Notes
Reviews and comments
4.8 / 5
Based on 2 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
4.5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
5 / 5
User 29842067
Overall rating : 4.7 / 5
Date of your route : Jul 05, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No
A really lovely little hike!! We did it in early July 2026. We explored the valley in all its glory, with plenty of varied scenery, passing by numerous lakes and spotting loads of marmots and ibex. There were a few technical sections over scree and snowfields, but nothing insurmountable. We had no trouble finding a stream or spring to fill our water bottles. We’d brought a water filter, but given how clear the water was, we could have done without it. The route is fairly easy to follow if you have it on a watch or a map, but much harder if you’re just trying to follow the points of interest. Be careful if you’re planning to camp for half a night – the park boundaries aren’t very clear.
A big plus: the route is very quiet; we felt as though we were alone in the world
If you’re in good physical shape, the route can easily be done over a weekend; we set off on Friday at around 7 pm and by midday on Sunday we were at a restaurant, without pushing ourselves any harder than that 
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tzouintzouin
Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Jul 15, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Hello,
Thank you for this route! It’s a magnificent trek through the Vanoise. We set off on 15 July 2019 and enjoyed lovely weather throughout the four days. At that time of year, there were snowfields at the Col du Râteau, making the ascent slightly more challenging. Cairns and the orange markings make it easy to find your way through the scree.
Warning!!! The bivouac site for the second night is located outside the Vanoise National Park but within the Plan de Tueda Nature Reserve. Bivouacking in this area is prohibited (Decree No. 90-629 of 12 July 1990). Inspections are carried out in this area. As we were leaving the bivouac area, two people reminded us of the reserve’s rules 
. You should therefore opt to stay at the Saut refuge.
@Moderator: could you please update this route to reflect this point?
There are plenty of water sources along the route.
Enjoy your hike, everyone!
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