Vallée de la Tarentaise walks

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.

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.

While the Barrhorn (3,610 m) in Switzerland is the highest officially marked hike in Europe, the Aiguille de la Grande Sassière (3,747 m) hike takes you higher up on a path perfectly marked with cairns. It runs alongside a glacier that is unfortunately receding year after year. Magnificent view of the French and Italian peaks. Please read the recommendations in the practical information section carefully.

A beautiful family hike with panoramic views of the Lauzière massif and Mont Blanc in a wild and unspoilt environment.

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.

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.

A beautiful loop on the trails of the Belleville Valley. Between mountain pastures, forests and ridges, you will discover magnificent panoramic views that unfold throughout the route. This hike is suitable for families with young hikers. There are numerous signs along the route to guide you.

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!

Discover a peak with a 360° view of the Savoie mountains.

A short circuit allowing you to discover the Morel Waterfall and the educational trail on the history of the torrent. The circuit follows the thematic trail in reverse, but the information panels explain the history of this torrent: the Morel devastated the Bellecombe plain for several centuries and was finally tamed at the beginning of the 20th century thanks to a dam, a large 80-metre waterfall and a series of small cascades.

A short family hike to discover a beautiful viewpoint overlooking the Belleville Valley. There are two other beautiful viewpoints with orientation tables, as well as the Coche reservoir. This well-marked circular trail is a discovery trail dotted with information panels and quizzes on mountain flora and fauna. At the summit, you can enjoy two orientation tables and a well-equipped area, as well as a small notebook where you can leave a few words.

A lovely hike in the Lauzière massif, with views of the peaks and glaciers of the Vanoise, not to mention the inevitable Mont Blanc. You will also recognise the characteristic silhouette of the Cheval Noir along the way.

Une très belle randonnée dans le vallon sauvage de la Louïe Blanche, avec comme objectif le Lac du Retour, miroir du Mont Pourri.

This easy hike in the Grande Sassière Reserve will take you to a high mountain environment, between lakes and glaciers.

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 route starting from the Thermes de la Léchère-les-Bains on a pretty path along the Isère river and up the banks of the Torrent du Morel with its waterfalls, once the scourge of the Aigueblanches valleys, now tamed by humans who have turned it into a peaceful mountain stream. After crossing the village of Saint-Oyen and returning with a view of the valley, you will reach the Thermes de la Léchère spa.

Certainly one of the most beautiful hikes in Haute-Tarentaise! A long but very beautiful route passing through the still wild valley of the Louïe Blanche, a short detour into Italy to the magnificent Bellacomba Lakes and the return via the Col du Tachuy and Lac du Petit, all dominated by the Pointes des Assaly with a breathtaking view of the Ruitor, Mont Pourri and the Aosta Valley side of the Mont Blanc massif.

A family walk along a path following a small mountain river called the Sassière in the nature reserve of the same name. The walk ends at a small mountain dam that forms Lac de la Sassière. Keep your eyes peeled for marmots.

Hiking in the south of the Beaufortain, an area criss-crossed by numerous trails and paths. Beautiful floral explosion in early summer.

Walk with your nose in the air, your eyes wide open, and let yourself be surprised! You will discover original and ephemeral Land'art creations in an exceptional and relaxing setting. This easy trail has many surprises in store for you! Unusual and most pleasant for its setting, the view it offers and the tranquillity of the place, it is populated by around forty original artistic creations made of straw, wood and stones using the Land Art technique!

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.

Courte randonnée pour accéder à un 3000 m, assez facile en l'absence de neige (comme pour sa voisine l'Aiguille Pers), et dans un environnement très vite minéral. Elle peut être très fréquentée du fait de son accès aisé, mais le panorama au sommet en vaut le détour.

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

This could be the last snowshoe outing of the season. Above all, it's an excuse to visit the new (2012) and elegant Refuge du Stream du Beurre at 2,080 metres. The old refuge is also full of charm.

A beautiful hike to admire the mountains around Tignes, with views as far as Mont Blanc. Lovely view of the Grande Motte glacier. Little elevation gain when taking the cable car.

Circular walk in the Vanoise National Park, outside the Val d'Isère ski area at the foot of Pointe de la Sana.

A beautiful summit offering extensive views of the Savoyard mountains, with a very pleasant ridge walk to begin the descent. A long hike, the ascent of which can be halved by using a cable car (see the alternative route in the practical information section).

The Vallée Perdue is a ravine carved out by a stream, which was dry when I visited, with impressive and fabulous walls and rocks. The path at the bottom is very well maintained, with a few bridges, beams and cable ramps. It is usually accessed from Val d'Isère La Daille, but I suggest starting from Tignes 2100, with the added bonus of Combefolle and the recommended Gouille de Salin.

This hike is a longer version of the one suggested by the La Plagne Tourist Office. You will see Les Inversens and the summit of Bellecôte as you pass by the Carroley mountain and its small lake. You will descend to Belle Plagne via the foot of Mont Saint-Jacques (2,407 m).

In autumn, around the hamlet of Monal, the larch trees set the valley ablaze, while on the opposite slope, the Mont Pourri glaciers sparkle in the sun. Higher up, it is the Balmes glaciers that steal the show. This hike to the lakes is a feast for the eyes.

Le Monal is one of the most beautiful examples of mountain pastures in the Tarentaise. Facing the Mont Pourri glaciers, this hike offers magnificent, colourful landscapes in every season.

A short hike starting from the Valmorel resort, with beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding mountains as far as Mont Blanc.

This is the ultimate family hike, offering cool shade in the forest via a superb balcony trail overlooking the Tarentaise Valley and Bourg-Saint-Maurice. As you leave the forest, you will be walking among blueberry bushes.

Whether seen from Nancroix or Les Vernettes, where it displays its impressive red cliff face, or from Le Rosuel, where it resembles a castle tower, the Aiguille Rousse is always impressive! However, it is only the chance of the relief that gives it this appearance of a watchtower over the valley. Its neighbour, the Aiguille Grive, is significantly higher, but also easier to access. Indeed, it is better not to be afraid of heights at the top of the Rousse!

A beautiful circular hike starting from the hamlet of Novallay, climbing to the Crève-Tête (2313m).

Starting from the pretty village of Feissons-sur-Salins, set off along beautiful forest paths towards the Chapel of Notre-Dame de la Salette and the Cross of Feissons and enjoy the panoramic views offered by the peaks of the Doron de Bozel valley. An easy hike, suitable for families, snowshoeing or mountain biking.

Hike mainly in the forest, easier clockwise. Yellow markings, yellow signs.

Courte randonnée pour accéder à un 3000 m assez facile avec un superbe panorama sur tous les hauts sommets du département. Idéale quand on a un timing serré pour faire une randonnée.

A short, easy walk with magnificent panoramic views of the Haute-Tarentaise, Mont Pourri, Col du Petit Saint-Bernard, Mont Blanc and much more.

The Roc de Bassagne is a double peak on the border ridge, at the junction of the Vanoise and Grand Paradis National Parks. There are many ibex here, as the valley leading to the peak is very quiet compared to the nearby Prariond trail.

Day2 of the Grande Casse circular route, from the Refuge de la Leisse to the Refuge du Col du Palet, following theGR®55via Val Claret.

Hike suitable for families (but with a significant elevation gain), starting from Tignes Lavachet, to see the magnificent Salin Waterfalls with a detour via the Gouille de Salin. There are a few wooden footbridges and several places where walking shoes are required.

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.

Pointe de Combe Bénite is a well-known summit and is easy to access.The view from the summit is panoramic, with Beaufortin to the north and east, Vanoise to the south, and Lauzière to the west.There are many possible routes to climb and descend, depending on your level and preferences...

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.

A beautiful, wild hike at the start of the season, with no one else on the route. Beautiful views of the western ridge of Comborsier, the Grand Mont d'Arêches and even Mont Blanc. Be careful to keep quiet, as this is black grouse territory.

An easy, well-marked hike that can be done in winter with snowshoes (or possibly just with small crampons) in a forest, far from the ski lifts, to the charming hamlet of Les Esserts, which is uninhabited in winter.The north-facing slope means that the route is in the shade of the mountain and the snow melts less quickly.The walk is signposted from the bridge with yellow signs.

Circular snowshoe in a wild cirque. Option to extend the circular to the bottom of the cirque or to Lac des Vacherins. Depending on snow conditions, you can climb the old Chavonne ski slope by following the winter trail.

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.