The trip

LEVEL ****              

Elevation gain: +/- 900m on average per day
Walking time: 5 to 7 hours per day
Type of hike: Mountain route with some steep sections. There is an exposed section on day 4, secured with cables. Some parts of the route are off-trail and cross scree fields. Good hiking boots are required.

It is necessary to be in good physical condition and have the mental ability for long efforts. Regular endurance exercise, such as walking, running, or cycling, 6 to 8 hours per week, is recommended. Your physical preparation will make your trip easier and help you enjoy it even more. To learn more about hiking levels, click here: hiking levels.

GUIDING

Number in a group between 6 -14 people supervised by a qualified professional mountain leader. As a thank you, you can give a tip to your guide at the end of the hike, based on your satisfaction. This is not mandatory but is greatly appreciated.

ACCOMMODATION

5 nights in a dormitory in a refuge and 1 night in a shared room, in a hotel or guesthouse. All accommodation is equipped with hot showers. However, due to increasingly recurrent periods of drought, access to showers is not guaranteed.

LUGGAGE TRANSFER

With partial luggage transfer: your luggage is delivered to your accommodation on days 2 and 5.

MEALS

Breakfast and dinner are provided in each accommodation. Picnics are included and are carefully prepared daily by your mountain leader, comprising a variety of a healthy salads and local products. Please inform us about your food allergies and special diets at the time of booking. We do our best to accommodate special diets (gluten-free, vegetarian, etc.). However, we encourage you to bring some additional products for your own picnics.

MAPS

IGN Top 25 - 3532 ET - les Arcs, la Plagne and Top 25
3633 ET - Tignes, Val d’Isère (1/25 000)
Istituto Geografico Centrale: map 102 Valsavarenche, Val di Rhêmes, Valgrisenche

Practical information

ACCESS TO DEPARTURE POINT

Meet Sunday at 8:30 at Bourg Saint Maurice train station. Transfer to departure point.
If you drive, meet at 9:30am at Fenil parking, near Ste Foy Tarentaise.

BY TRAIN
Paris Gare de Lyon > Bourg Saint Maurice. Timetables should must be checked on https://www.oui.sncf/

BY CAR
A430 highway to Albertville, then N90 national road to Bourg-Saint-Maurice. Head towards Tignes - Val d'Isère. Pass the village of Sainte Foy Tarentaise, then the hamlet of La Thuile. Continue for 4.5 km, then take a small road on the left before the avalanche barrier, direction Le Monal, Le Fenil. Park at the hiker’s parking lot in the hamlet of Le Chenal, the meeting point with the group.

End point in Tignes at 3pm, transfer to Bourg St. Maurice arrive at 4pm.

ACCOMMODATION BEFORE AND AFTER

Hotel Arolla, in the center of Bourg Saint Maurice
Hotel l'Angival, in the center of Bourg Saint Maurice
Bourg-Saint-Maurice Tourist Office: +33 (0)4 79 07 12 57
Hotel du Dôme in Tignes les Boisses, next to the lake

TO CONTACT US

If you are late, please contact the agency as soon as possible +33 (0)4 50 79 09 16 or +33 (0)6 42 49 76 07

Equipment & luggage

EQUIPMENT LIST

Clothing

• Hiking trousers
• Shorts (1 swimming costume just in case)
• Breathable" or merino wool T-shirts
• Breathable" or merino wool long johns
• Fleece or jumper
• Windbreaker or Goretex jacket
• Rain cape + gaiters or Goretex trousers + a bag cape
• Lightweight down jacket
• A pair of gloves and a light hat
• Hat or cap
• Hiking socks (double layer, with loops...1 pair per day)
• Hiking shoes already broken in and with well-spiked soles
• 1 change of clothes for the evening
• A change of shoes for the evening

Miscellaneous equipment

• Toilet bag
• Towel (quick-drying, available in specialist shops)
• Sunglasses and sun cream
• Water bottle or thermos (1.5 litre minimum)
• Knife and cutlery
• An airtight plastic box as a plate for your picnics
• Coffee cup
• Small personal first aid kit (painkillers, bandages, etc.)
• Survival blanket
• Headlamp or torch
• Two telescopic poles (highly recommended)
• Valid identity card or passport

BACKPACK

Bring a comfortable backpack of 30 to 40 litres for your personal belongings for the day (warm clothes, waterproofs, water, plate and cutlery for your picnic, sunscreen and your identity papers) and please keep a little room to carry a picnic and snacks.

LUGGAGE TRANSFER

You are allowed 1 soft, sports type bag, with all your possessions inside, of 10kg maximum per person. Your luggage will be delivered at your accommodation on days 2 and 5, by our logistics vehicle where access is not always easy.
Baggage which is too heavy won't be accepted by the drivers, please think of their backs! 

YOUR BACKPACK FOR YOUR NIGHTS WITHOUT LUGGAGE TRANSFER

Here are the things to bring with you (about 2 kilos are enough!):

• small toiletries bag
• sleeping bag liner sheet
• change of clothes for the day after (bare necessities!) and comfortable for the evening.