Self-guided · French Alps
A circuit of glaciers
in France's
first national park.
Six days around the Dômes de la Vanoise — a range of glaciers stretching twenty kilometres through the heart of France's oldest national park, with the Grande Casse, Savoie's highest summit, never far from view.
- Days
- 6
- Distance
- 93 km
- Ascent
- 5,450 m
- Grade
- Moderate to challenging
“An amazing and very memorable experience”Bhagyashree & Akhil · Tour du Mont Blanc
Read the reviewsTrip Essentials
The walk
Around the Dômes
de la Vanoise.
The Vanoise was the first national park created in France, established in 1963 to protect a stretch of the Alps between the Maurienne and Tarentaise valleys. Together with the Gran Paradiso across the Italian border, it forms the largest protected nature reserve in Europe — wide glaciated plateaux, rocky passes and pastures where ibex and chamois are a genuinely everyday sight.
This circuit works its way around the Dômes de la Vanoise, a range of glaciers running some twenty kilometres through the centre of the park, and crosses passes at the foot of the Grande Casse — at 3,855 m the highest summit in Savoie. Lakes, larch forest, high balcony trails and the working village of Pralognan-la-Vanoise punctuate a route that keeps the ice in sight for much of the week.
Everything is booked ahead of you: refuges and a hotel night, half-board each evening, a roadbook and IGN maps, with luggage transfer available on all but one day. You walk with a daypack and good boots. The rest is arranged.
The route, day by day.
A fixed self-guided package: every stage, every night's accommodation and every luggage transfer is arranged before you set off.
- 01
Plan du Lac refuge → Aiguilles de Lanserlia
5.5–7 h · +750–850 m / −750–850 m · 14–18 kmDeparture from Termignon with a bus transfer to the Bellecombe car park, or to the Plan du Lac refuge if you're using luggage transfer. A short walk into some of the most secret country in the Vanoise, up to the Lanserlia lake. A longer option crosses the wild Plateau du Turc and drops into the Vallon de la Rochure. Night in a refuge.
- 02
Vanoise Pass → Pralognan-la-Vanoise
6.5 h · +550 m / −1500 m · 17 kmCross the Leisse valley and climb to the Vanoise Pass, at the foot of the Grande Casse and its glacier. Descend to Pralognan-la-Vanoise past Lac Long and Lac des Vaches. Night in a hotel.
- 03
Petit Mont Blanc → Les Prioux
6 h · +1250 m / −950 m · 13 kmA climb to the Petit Mont Blanc, with a wide panorama over the Pralognan valley, the Grande Casse range and the Dômes de la Vanoise. Night in a refuge.
- 04
Col de Chavière → Refuge de l'Orgère
7 h · +1150 m / −900 m · 18 kmA gentle climb to the Péclet Polset refuge, then on to the lunar Col de Chavière at 2,896 m. Descend past the Partie lake and the Povaret valley to the Orgère refuge. Night in a refuge.
- 05
Barbier trail → Refuge de Plan Sec
5 h · +950 m / −550 m · 13 kmA long crossing on the nature discovery trail of the Vanoise park to the Col du Barbier, then down into the Aussois valley past its two wide lakes. A short detour to the Col de la Masse (2,923 m) is possible. Night at the Plan Sec refuge or the Dent Parrachée refuge, without luggage transfer.
- 06
Balcony trail of Génépy → Termignon
7 h · +780 m / −1800 m · 17 kmA long balcony trail overlooking the Maurienne valley and the Arc river, passing beneath the Dent Parrachée and the Arpont glacier. Descend to Termignon to finish. Trip ends in the afternoon.
Where you'll stay
A good bed at the end of every day.
A mix of mountain refuges and one hotel night in Pralognan-la-Vanoise. Classic accommodation is a two-person room in the hotel and dormitory nights in the refuges. Hot showers are available throughout, though access isn't guaranteed during dry periods.
Getting there
Nearest station: Modane, reached by train from Paris Gare de Lyon, with a bus onward to Termignon. By car, take the A41 to Chambéry, then the A43 towards Modane, following signs for Termignon, where there is free parking. Some névés can linger on north-facing sections until late June — high boots, gaiters and poles are recommended early in the season.
What's included?
A fixed self-guided package — accommodation, luggage transfer and route notes all taken care of before you arrive.
Five nights on a half-board basis, from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 6
A paper roadbook with IGN maps for the group, plus a digital version for each walker
Luggage transfer between accommodations, except on day 5 (optional add-on)
Booking fees
All planning, booking and support before and during the walk
Not included
- Tourist taxes, which some accommodation may ask you to pay locally
- Picnic lunches (pre-orderable at each accommodation)
- Shower tokens where required
- The day 1 bus transfer (approx. €6) or taxi transfer in June and September
- Personal expenses, drinks, cancellation insurance
- Guiding — this is a self-guided tour, you are responsible for your own safety
Reviews from walkers
What it's like to travel with us.
Every review here comes from someone who actually travelled with us — we only ask once the trip's over, and we don't edit what they say.
From walkers on our other trails.
Different routes, same team doing the planning, the bookings and the hand-holding — so these say a lot about what to expect here too.
“An amazing and very memorable experience”
We had a really wonderful experience and are very happy that we went ahead with the trek. It was challenging at times, but overall it was an amazing and very memorable experience. The scenery, the trails and the whole journey were absolutely beautiful. Bhagyashree did have some issues with her knee during the trek, which made a few sections difficult. We didn't let that stop us — we completed most of the trek and, wherever necessary, adapted our plans and took a bus or train for certain stretches rather than putting too much strain on her knee. Managing the trek despite the knee issue made the achievement feel even more special.
Thank you once again for all your help and guidance in planning the trek. Will definitely recommend Big Trail Adventures to all.
“Solo or in a group, I would do this again tomorrow!”
One of the best experiences I have had. I did this solo and felt supported all the way with the BigTrailAdventures team, especially in inclement weather. The vistas were incredible and overnight accommodation was faultlessly organised. Pushing myself during the day ( I ran rather than walked the trail), and then being fed and watered in a hotel in the evening was a treat.
The planning was exceptional and all details were covered.
There is a special time every day when you are overcome with the beauty of the nature that you are seeing, the sweeping vistas and the gratitude for being able to experience this. It rejuvenates your soul.
“Awesome support from start to finish”
The hike, which challenged me in different ways each day, was great. There was so much to see in every direction. The Highlands are simply stunning, clouds and all. The stays were good for the most part, some better than others (one night my room was above the kitchen so it was quite noisy until late into the night and the haunted Inn was a bit much for me :)). The Rowardennan Hotel and Craig Nevis guesthouse were my favorites. All of them offered great breakfasts and most had dinner options with good selections as well.
The planning was amazing. No glitches, except for one minor one at the start where the luggage van changed their drop off location without my knowledge. Thankfully Craig was there in the morning and quickly figured out where they were and even dropped off my luggage for me. Everything else was planned and executed perfectly; my itinerary for each day included great detail of what to expect. The app was awesome and my friends and family loved tracking me every day with the GPS. I had read that the West Highland Way is very popular in spring (when I initially had planned to go) and late summer. It took a lot of back and forth communication about potential dates but Craig very patiently worked it all out. All communication was prompt and thorough. I very much appreciate all the support I received prior and during my adventure!! Thank you Craig!
There are so many moments I will carry with me for a long time, like my first glimpse of the Highlands, all the water everywhere, the coos, day 2 along Loch Lomond when I wished I was a mountain goat and was grateful that it did not rain, arriving at Kingshouse after 19 miles, midges (haha), and so much more.
This route. These nights.
One clear price.
You are booking the itinerary above: your walking days, your overnight stays and the support that carries you between them.
Organising this trail for friends? Build a group trip with individual payments
- Free cancellation to 60 days
- Confirmation within 24 hrs
- ABTOT financially protected
We'll start planning your trip right away. Not happy with anything? We'll adjust it or refund you — no questions asked.
The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 for Big Trail Adventures (member 5690). Protection is provided for non-flight packages. Full details in our booking conditions.
Things walkers ask us.
Is it really self-guided? What if something goes wrong?
Yes — you walk without a guide, using a detailed roadbook and 1:25,000 IGN maps. You'll also have a contact for support before and during the trip in case of weather changes, injury or a booking issue. Big Trail Adventures is your first point of contact from the moment you enquire.
How fit do I need to be?
Level 3 out of 4. Expect five to seven hours of walking a day, with ascents and descents ranging from around 250 m to 1,350 m depending on the day, on marked mountain trails and gravel paths. Regular endurance training in the months beforehand — three to four hours a week of walking, running, swimming or cycling — will make the week easier.
Can I book for one person?
Yes. There's a single-person supplement — around €90 without luggage transfer or €180 with it (except day 5). Tell us on the enquiry form and we'll quote accordingly.
When can I start?
The season runs from 21 June to 6 September. Departures with luggage transfer are limited to Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays; without luggage transfer, you can choose your own start day. Give us a few preferred dates on the enquiry form and we'll come back with what's available.
Do you handle payments and refunds?
Yes. You book with Big Trail Adventures, pay us, and we handle the rest. Cancellation terms are set out in our booking conditions.
Is the Tour of the Vanoise Glaciers tour self-guided?
Yes. This is a self-guided trip: you walk the 93 km route independently, with no guide and no group. Accommodation for all 5 nights is booked for you, route notes and maps are provided, and there is local support in the region if anything goes wrong.
Do I need a guide or can I walk it alone?
No guide is needed. The route is walked on marked paths with the notes and mapping supplied in your pack. You choose your own start date within the season (21 June to 6 September) and walk each day at your own pace.
Who arranges the accommodation?
We do. A mix of mountain refuges and one hotel night in Pralognan-la-Vanoise. Classic accommodation is a two-person room in the hotel and dormitory nights in the refuges. Hot showers are available throughout, though access isn't guaranteed during dry periods.