VANOISE SKI TOUR
A ski tour in France’s oldest National Park
READY TO SKI ?
This tour is in the heart of the Vanoise National Park (Savoie), the first national park created in France in 1963. The park is adjacent to the Italian Gran Paradiso National Park, forming a large area originally dedicated to the protection of the Alpine ibex. The summits are so impressive that in 1859 the Englishman Alpinist William Matthews set off with his brother to summit the Mont Iseran which was shown on some maps as reaching 4400m. Once they arrived at the Col d’Iseran they saw no trace of a peak above!
There are however 40 summits above 3200m and we start our circuit on the glaciers of the Vanoise before continuing in the tortured heights behinds Val Thorens. During the week we will perhaps have a chance to see the ibex in these magnificent surroundings.
• Summit the Grande Casse (3855m)
• Spend the week within the Vanoise National Park
• Spot the Alpine ibex
GRADE : D2 : A2 : F2
see our grade coding here
BUDGET
1450€pp / 1250€pp short week
This price includes :
• 6 days guided ski touring with a qualified UIAGM high mountain guide
• 7 nights accommodation
• All dinners, breakfasts & picnic lunches
• Transfer from/to Moutiers (Salins Brides-les-Bains) train station
Extras:
• Lift passes
• Hire gear
BOOK NOW AT sian@pyrenees-mountains.com or +33(0)5 62 92 81 52
ITINERARY
DAY 1
Transfer from the train station of Moutiers - Salins - Brides-les-Bains to Pralognan-la-Vanoise (40 mins). Transport can be organised from Geneva also. Meet with the guide in our accommodation there to check gear, have a briefing and discussion of the week’s conditions before heading off to dinner.
DAY 2
We depart directly from Pralognan-la-Vanoise and use the lifts to head up to the small Barmettes Refuge at 2000m. From here we climb up to the Refuge du Col de la Vanoise at 2517m, and can then decide to continue on up to the Grande Casse pass at 3091m if conditions are good.
DAY 3
We have an alpine start and traverse the Vanoise glacier to the Dome des Nants at 3570m. It's a relatively long distance which is rewarded with a wonderful descent to the Refuge de l’Arpont at 2310m.
DAY 4
A new day and another ascent to the Labby Pass at 3328m. From here we continue to the Refuge de la Dent Parrachée at 2515m. We are now in the Maurienne valley.
DAY 5
A short ascent and short descent starts our day and we pass just next to the Refuge du Fond d’Aussois. From here we head up to the Aussois Pass (2916m) and we are then back in the Tarentaise Valley. For the 5 day tour we return to Pralognan from here. For the 7 day tour we continue, and depending on how we are feeling we have a couple of different options to reach the Refuge de Péclet Polset at 2450m.
DAY 6
We ascend the Dome de Polset (3326m) and have a great descent from there back to the refuge where we collect the remainder of our gear before descending further to Refuge du Roc de la Pêche at 1903m.
DAY 7
Return to Pralognan via the Vallonnet Pass (2653m). A last north facing descent takes us to the cross country ski pistes from where we can find our way home.
DAY 8
Transfer back to the train station at Moutiers for onward transport. Return transport can be organised to Geneva if necessary.