Montana Skadi: Unveil Val-d'isère's Charms

Set off in search of the seven chapels that line this route and give you an insight into the rich religious past of Val d'Isère and its hamlets. A scenic circular trail through the high mountain pastures, with Vanoise National Park just beyond. Setting off from the Tourist Office, this trail gives you an insight into the rich religious past of Val d'Isère and its hamlets, through the seven chapels that you'll pass along the way. After reaching the hamlet of La Daille along the road, you'll make your way towards the Manchet valley via a mix of footpaths, quiet roads and tracks running through the mountain pastures. Once at the hamlet of Le Manchet, your route will take you back towards Val d'Isère and end at the gorgeous hamlet of Le Fornet. Do note that, between Val d'Isère and Le Fornet, the track is sometimes more technical and there may be lots of walkers out on the same route.Follow the green waymarks: les 7 Chapelles.E-bike rental shops and e-bike charging stations:Val E-BikeVal d'Isère TourismePlace Jacques Mouflier73155 Val d'IsèreVal E-BikeParc des Sports du Manchet73155 Val d'Isère+33 (0)4 79 06 06 60

A steady climb from the resort of Val d'Isère will take you to the highest road pass in the Alps at 2764 m altitude. On certain summer days, the road from Val d'Isère to the Col d’Iseran is closed to all traffic except cyclists, who get to enjoy the ascent and the scenery without having to think about cars.

Discover Rogo Mongo! Like its little brother Flower Power, but here the climbs and descents are steeper and more technical! The 2024 extension to Pont St Charles adds even more flavour to this E-Bike route!

Discover Into the wild! This is our second E-Bike ascent to the summit of Borsat! It’s a red, so you will need stamina, good technical ability and a fully charged battery! To get back down, you'll need to be comfortable on the blue DHs, at the very least!

Discover Petit Alaska! This track winds its way through the technical trails on the edge of Val d'Isère. You need to be a very good climber and an excellent downhill rider to be comfortable on this E-Bike trail. Few will make it without putting their foot down at least once!

Discover Flower Power! An E-Bike route (which can also be done with a classic mountain bike if you've got the legs for it!) around the base of the Solaise mountain, with some beautiful sections through the larch forest on the way to Le Fornet.

Discover DaïDaï! It's like Wood-e-Wood, but harder: the climb to reach the bottom of the Flow Jumper DH requires some real technical experience on an E-Bike: only the best riders with exceptional balance will make it to the end of this climb beneath the funicular without putting a foot down!

Discover Wood-E-Wood! This E-Bike route takes you through La Daille forest, and then back down via the end of the green Popeye DH!

A long-distance hike, all uphill, but with a rare landscape on arrival. From the Fornet cable car departure station, go back down the RD 902 for about 150 m. Take the only tarmac road that climbs steeply to the right. After passing the “tourne” (embankment followed by a ditch) follow the trail that gœs to the right. At each intersection, take the left junction until the Col de la Bailletta. The path has a flat-uphill profile after the crossing through the hamlet (about 1 km), the slope is accentuated between the entrance into the nature reserve (Rouvines stream) and the first plateau of Couart below (850 m). The trail winds up to the 2nd plateau of Couart above. Then cross a scree up to the Col de la Bailletta: follow the cairns in case of late snowfall. For a picnic, don’t hesitate to go down to the Bailletta lake as the pass is often windy...

This winter, discover Val d'Isère in a different way, on an electric FatBike in the snow! Enjoy pleasure, comfort, and breathtaking landscapes accessible to everyone with our guided tours. Perfect to share as a couple, with friends, or with family... an experience not to be missed. New this season: night outings. As soon as the après-ski ends, the resort transforms and gives way to the silence of nature. Once a week, the walk continues under the stars with a traditional fondue at the Heart of Fornet. A magical interlude not to be missed. Let yourself be guided by a passionate family team, attentive to your needs. Frederik Van Buynder, a former high-level athlete, and his Wattsup team offer guided hikes and unique experiences, combining fun, safety, and discovery. All our hikes include: accompaniment by a guide-instructor, electric fatbike, and helmet. Every day we offer: ✨ Panorama Hiking Tour (2-hour duration) 10:15 AM - 12:15 PM ✨ Panorama Hiking Tour (2-hour duration) 2:15 PM - 4:15 PM ✨ Après-Ski Hiking Tour (1.5-hour duration) 5:15 PM - 6:45 PM Private hikes on request (custom duration and start time) Seminars or large groups: information available by phone or email Age: From 2 years old for the youngest and from 1.15 m for children who wish to ride. ✨Panorama Tour Experience With our passionate instructors, discover the most beautiful spots in Val d'Isère in the heart of nature. By bike and on snow, cross our alpine valleys surrounded by magnificent landscapes. Two hours of fun and disconnection, enough to fully recharge in the mountains in an unusual way. ✨Family Experience (Private) A family hike dedicated to children, where with us the child is king! From 2 years old, they can share this unique experience with you. We are equipped with trailers, children's bikes, and child seats for the little ones. For older children who want to ride, we have balance mini-fat bikes or junior electric mountain bikes suitable from 1.15m (upon reservation and prior introductory course at the fatbike chalet). ✨Après-Ski Tour / Night Experience As night falls, dive into a unique nocturnal adventure on an electric Fat Bike. Accompanied by our experienced instructors, ride safely on the snowy trails. Our bikes are equipped with special lights to illuminate your path, ensuring a memorable experience under the stars. ✨"New" Fondue Experience Tour! (Every Thursday - Limited Spots...) At the end of the day, enjoy a convivial moment with friends or in a small group. Extend your electric Fat Bike experience on snow at sunset in an authentic setting. After the slopes close, set off on a night ride to reach the mythical hamlet of Fornet. Once there, gather around a fondue and savor the local flavors. In Les Crozets, the Bonnevie family delights you with their generous cuisine...

This refuge in the Vanoise National Park is located in the heart of the park. It welcomes visitors in summer and spring in a friendly atmosphere with generous and tasty food. The refuge is located on the GR5 variant route. The refuge will be open this year 2025, in spring from February 20 to April 28 and in summer from June 14 to September 14. The dormitory chalet: has 2 dormitories, one for 18 people and the other for 20 people. The beds are equipped with wool blankets from the Arpin spinning mill in Séez and duvets. To sleep, all you have to do is bring a "sheet-bag" or "meat bag", for hygiene! We also have a small guide dormitory. The refectory chalet: includes a beautiful dining room, in which we serve evening meals and breakfasts. There is a small library of books from the Vanoise National Park and the mountains (Guérin editions), as well as games, newspapers and mountain magazines, which are also at your disposal. The sanitary facilities of the refuge are adjacent to this building and include 2 traditional toilets, 2 toilet cubicles and 2 cold showers ONLY in summer! . To stay at the refuge or in a bivouac, you must ABSOLUTELY BOOK online on our website. Bivouac: capacity of 10 people maximum. In the heart of the Vanoise National Park, bivouacking is allowed in the summer, only on the dedicated pitches in the immediate vicinity of the refuge. Outside the guarding period, the refuge is open and provides: dormitory, blankets, heating and cooking equipment and crockery.

Overlookink a small mountain lake, this refuge of the Vanoise national park, on the GR5 and the Tour de la Vallaisonnay, proposes a great site seeing on the 3 highest peaks of Savoie.

Located at 2487 m, this refuge of the Vanoise National Park is located in the heart of the park on the route of the GR55 and Via Alpina. Its small lake, pastures and wildlife make it the ideal place for a relaxing stopover.

In the preserved site of the village of Bonneval, at the bottom of the upper valley of the Arc a traditional construction of 1985 for a comfortable and pleasant chalet. That our refuges contribute to allow the greatest number to reach in good conditions to the wonderful world of the altitude, it is our dearest wish. Let's meet up there!

Summer: high mountain, climbing, via-ferrata, canyoning, hiking... Winter: ice climbing, ski touring...

Located in the flower-filled La Rocheure valley, this Vanoise National Park refuge is a paradise for marmots and cows. Easy to reach in summer, it is the starting point for ski tours in spring. Dogs are forbidden in the heart of the Park. During the guarding period: access to a non-sack area. Bivouac: capacity for 15 people (7 tents). In the heart of the Vanoise National Park, bivouacs are only authorized during the summer months on dedicated sites in the immediate vicinity of the refuge, during the guarding period. You have to book your pitch in advance with the refuge. Outside the guarding period, the refuge is open and provides sleeping quarters, blankets, heating, cooking facilities and crockery.

The highest refuge in Savoy, ideal for acclimatization nights before going to Mont Blanc or Grand Paradis. A "solid" refuge on a large flat, near two lakes, but in a high mountain site with nearby glaciers, and facing the long border ridge of the Levanna. At an altitude of 2760m, in the wild setting of the Vanoise, the Carro refuge welcomes you, nestled between white lake and black lake, facing the glacial massif of Albaron. The guards welcome you for family hikes or climbs facing Gran Paradiso.

Located in the heart of the Parc de la Vanoise in an old sheepfold converted into a refuge, at an altitude of 2145m, it benefits from a protected environment in the heart of the alpine fauna and flora allowing the observation of large mammals and birds of prey. The refuge is privately run. It is located on the "Tarentaise" side of the Vanoise National Park, on the GR5, at the edge of the PLagne lake, source of the Ponthurin. You will go up between the Mont-Pourri massif, its glaciers and the waterfalls that flow down from it, and the Aliet massif. The GR 5 passes 10 minutes from the refuge and links it to the Col du Palet and Tignes. The refuge is open and guarded permanently from mid-June to mid-September. (no winter refuge). How to get there : - from Peisey-Nancroix and the Parc de Rosuel refuge-gate (car parks, shuttles from Landry - SNCF station and Peisey, refuge, catering, via ferrata), in 2h30 (average time) of walking on a good path on the left or right bank of the Ponthurin, - from Les Arcs and the Mont Pourri refuge (two hours), - from Tignes-le-Lac (3 hours via the Col du Palet refuge), - from the Martin refuge (via the Col de la Sachette or the Tourne), - from the Champagny-en-Vanoise valley (4 hours from the Plaisance refuge via the Plan Séry pass or the Aimes pass). This refuge has a capacity of 40 people and belongs to the commune of Landry. Francis, the muleteer, also offers you his donkeys for hire for your walks. Contact him, 2 km before the Rosuel car park. NB: Dogs, kept on a lead, are allowed from Rosuel to the refuge (but not beyond), provided they climb up the left bank of the Ponthurin. The refuge is ideally situated for mountain fishing enthusiasts, on the banks of the Lac de la Plagne, a beautiful torrent, ideal for fly fishing or fishing for trout and salmon. The hut is a depository for the day fishing cards of the Société de la Gaule de l'Ormente. Fishing is open on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and public holidays; fishing for dead or live fish is prohibited. Rates are different for holders of a fishing permit or not. Open from 19 June to 18 September 2022.

St Roch’s Chapel stands on the square, a stone’s throw from the church. For a long time, the headrace that brought water to the adjacent mill flowed right in front of the chapel! (You can still see a millstone standing on the side). St Roch, Joan of Arc and the vicar of Ars can be seen in the recesses (the old statues were stolen). This chapel is mentioned during the pastoral visit in 1633. In 1790, a lawyer in Turin by the name of Boch gave a donation to enable 51 services to be held a year, i.e. one every Friday (what did he fear for the community and for himself we might wonder?). Nowadays, this chapel is still used as a chapel of rest.Who was St Roch?St Roch’s feast day is celebrated on 16 August. He was a hermit who spent his time embarking on pilgrimages. Often associated with St Sebastian, St Roch is invoked against plague. Veneration of him began to spread across Savoie in the mid 15th century, swiftly gaining ground through the 16th and 17th centuries, before almost completely disappearing in the 18th century. Plague was a terrible disease. Its pandemics took a devastating toll on populations. Yersin’s bacillus, the vector of the disease, was not identified until the 19th century. Rats carried the bacillus, and fleas, moving from the rats to humans, contaminated the population. In our mountain communities, which were crawling with hawkers, mule-drivers, merchants and smugglers, it’s hardly surprising that the disease often blighted the local populations. All it took was for a flea carrying the bacillus to jump inside the lapel of a cloak and the disease was there…

Val E-BikeVal d'Isère Tourisme Place Jacques Mouflier 73155 Val d'Isère +33 (0)4 79 06 06 60There is also an e-bike charging station.

You’ll be able to recognise St Jean’s Chapel by the larch mission cross, erected in 1847. In the olden days, there was once a built-up spur behind the chapel (structure to protect against avalanches that could come down from Solaise via the Combe Martin). On striking the spur, they would split, lose speed and thus slow their destructive force. Built some 300m south of the church, the purpose of this chapel was to protect the village and its residents from avalanches. In 1790, four Masses, costing 12 sols (shillings) each, were celebrated a year. They were financed by an émigré who had moved to Val d’Isère, a merchant from Parma: Amédée Thovex. A procession would set off from the church with the reliquary in honour of St Innocent (21 July), the second patron saint of the Val church. With the reliquary perched on the shoulders of the male church members, banners, female church members covered in a white veil, vicars and clerics followed by believers would form this long procession that would head out along the road to Le Laisinant. On leaving the village, they would turn towards Le Rogoney to make their way back to St Jean’s Chapel where a blessing would take place before returning to the village: this was a day of celebration!Who was St John? A prominent figure of the New Testament, who can be found in a great many scenes, John, beloved disciple of Christ, has always been depicted in the iconography of the Western Church with young, and even effeminate features at times.

It all began back in 1888 when the first hotel opened in Val d'Isère. Skiing became fashionable from the 1930s, and Val d'Isère soon established itself as a leading destination (the ski school opened, its first ski lift opened and the Col de l'Iseran mountain pass road opened). Winter sports really took off after World War II and Val d’Isère became a world-class resort thanks to its unique ski area and the authentic charm of its village. In 1955 it launched the Criterium de la Première Neige, a mythical downhill ski race, followed by other renowned competitions. The traditional Savoyard architecture showcases local materials: stone, timber, metal and lauze slate. Although timber chalets are still the best-known mountain house, the architecture in Val d’Isère also features a range of other types. Most chalets in Val d'Isère have been built in keeping with the traditional style and the different hamlets across the resort (Le Joseray, Le Fornet, Le Crêt, etc.) all harbour architectural secrets that are well worth uncovering on outings. Guided tours of the resort are organised by the Tourist Office.

Built prior to 1633, during a pastoral visit, the bishop ordered the villagers to take care of the building by closing it to stop animals from straying inside! Thanks to the proceeds from a meadow behind the chapel, Anne-Marie Guiller enabled Mass to be held on the feast day of the patron saint. In the chapel, there used to be a painting of the Virgin and Child which, after being restored, has been placed on the Epistle wall in the church chancel. St Bartholomew is shown with his curved knife; the Virgin, breastfeeding, can be seen to the right in the middle ground. Who was St Bartholomew? The Patron Saint of butchers, tanners and binders, St Bartholomew is also revered by farmers. His feast day is 24 August. In iconography, Bartholomew carries his own skin as he was flayed alive. Sometimes he is depicted holding the large knife that was used for this torture. According to Arnold Van Gennep, "St Bartholomew is a time-honoured saint in all of the dioceses in Savoie."

This chapel in Le Joseray, named "our Lady of the Snows", overlooks Le Manchet Valley. Mentioned as far back as 1633, firstly under the name St Michel and then, in 1790, under the name Our Lady of Compassion, it is now referred to as Our Lady of the Snows. In our mountains, whenever the Virgin or Our Lady is described as being "of the Snows", she is called upon to protect from the snow or ward off avalanches. On 5 August, during the Saint’s feast day, Mass used to be held in the chapel after a procession had taken place. In May, Le Joseray’s procession marked the end of the Rogation Days, which were a period when prayers were offered for God’s attention on the fields and harvests, to protect them from bad weather and insects. The fifth Sunday after Easter was Rogation Sunday, after which the “Grand Tour” would begin: Monday in Le Fornet, Tuesday in La Daille. On Wednesday, the third and final day of the Rogation ceremonies, the procession would leave the church while the cleric rang the bells until the parishioners arrived in Le Joseray. At each cross or crossroads, the procession would stop for the vicar to bless the fields. Chapels and churches dedicated to St Michael all feature the same characteristics: they stand out from afar as they are always built on a rocky spur or hillock, overlooking the landscape and reminding us mere mortals that, when the time of death comes, our deeds will be judged! In many places, the livestock would be brought back down from the high mountain pastures on St Michael’s Day: this was known as the démontagnée date. From the early Middle Ages, St Michael’s Day was also an important legal date: payments were due and contracts were renewed. This chapel is the largest of all the rural chapels in Val d’Isère and has a long nave with a barrel vault, culminating in a plain rectangular apse.

This chapel in Le Joseray, named "our Lady of the Snows", overlooks Le Manchet Valley. Mentioned as far back as 1633, firstly under the name St Michel and then, in 1790, under the name Our Lady of Compassion, it is now referred to as Our Lady of the Snows. In our mountains, whenever the Virgin or Our Lady is described as being "of the Snows", she is called upon to protect from the snow or ward off avalanches. On 5 August, during the Saint’s feast day, Mass used to be held in the chapel after a procession had taken place. In May, Le Joseray’s procession marked the end of the Rogation Days, which were a period when prayers were offered for God’s attention on the fields and harvests, to protect them from bad weather and insects. The fifth Sunday after Easter was Rogation Sunday, after which the “Grand Tour” would begin: Monday in Le Fornet, Tuesday in La Daille. On Wednesday, the third and final day of the Rogation ceremonies, the procession would leave the church while the cleric rang the bells until the parishioners arrived in Le Joseray. At each cross or crossroads, the procession would stop for the vicar to bless the fields. Chapels and churches dedicated to St Michael all feature the same characteristics: they stand out from afar as they are always built on a rocky spur or hillock, overlooking the landscape and reminding us mere mortals that, when the time of death comes, our deeds will be judged! In many places, the livestock would be brought back down from the high mountain pastures on St Michael’s Day: this was known as the démontagnée date. From the early Middle Ages, St Michael’s Day was also an important legal date: payments were due and contracts were renewed. This chapel is the largest of all the rural chapels in Val d’Isère and has a long nave with a barrel vault, culminating in a plain rectangular apse.

At the time it was mentioned during the pastoral visit in 1633, this chapel was dedicated to St Francis of Assisi. The painting showing the stigmata of St Francis now hangs in St Roch’s Chapel. In the 18th century, it would be dedicated to St Lucy. In 1790, Mass was celebrated there for her feast day. The chapel was restored by Guy Turbil, who owned the house next door, in 1971. There were once several houses in the hamlet or village of Les Branges. This name refers to larch trees in local dialect.Who is St Lucy?Born into a very wealthy noble family from Syracuse, Lucy (who died between 303 and 310) lived with her mother Eutychia and venerated St Agatha. As her mother suffered from an inflammatory bowel syndrome and blood loss, one day Lucy decided to take her to Agatha’s tomb, in Catania, to ask for healing. The next day, Eutychia recovered. Following this healing, Lucy asked her mother’s permission to distribute to the poor everything that her father had left her. Both women then began giving all that they owned to the poor, a little each day. But Eutychia had promised Lucy’s hand in marriage to a young man who flew into a fit of rage when he heard that his fiancée wished to remain a virgin and was selling her fortune, which he had his eyes on, to give to the poor. So he denounced her to the Consul Pascasius, as an enemy of the deities of the Roman Empire. Refusing to give up her Christian faith, Lucy was sent to a brothel then martyred. Her name comes from the Latin word lux (which means light), and that is why she is associated with many festivals of light.

Val E-BikeParc des Sports du Manchet73150 Val d'Isère+33 (0)4 79 06 06 60There is also an e-bike charging station.

At the gateway to Vanoise National Park, in an unspoilt, open valley, come and have fun doing some of the wide array of sports and activities organised at Le Manchet Sports Park. Horse riding, fitness, football, tennis, skatepark, yoga, children's games… whether you're here with your family or friends, there'll be something for all of you to enjoy!There's also a bar & restaurant on-site if you're feeling peckish!

This high-altitude refuge welcomes you on foot or on skis for a stopover of one or more nights, or a simple lunch break. The wardens offer creative, home-cooked meals, and reservations are highly recommended. The highest refuge of Savoie. Ideal for acclimatization nights before going to do the Mont Blanc or the Grand Paradis. Except for the guarding, the refuge has a room permanently open in winter with 18 places. Summits : Levanna occidentale 3593 m - Very good hiker from mid-July. Col du Carro 3122 m. The new lakes : Montet lake, 3h from the refuge and the lake of the sources of the Arc.

In the heart of Vanoise National Park, the guardian welcomes you to an old sheepfold refurbished in 1985. Just above the refuge is the dry lake of Glière. Lots of marmots. Traditional mountain meal, lunchtime and dinner. Continuous food service: Tartiflette and green salad from the vegetable garden. (Only served with demi-pension) Lunch, "repas de la Glière": Raw ham, Beaufort cheese, potatoes, omelette, green salad. Throughout the day: Crêpes with blueberry jam, old-style tartlettes and white cheese.

After walking for about 1h45, you have the right to some refreshment! Hot and cold drinks Dishes designed... Delicacies of the refuge...

Hélène, the guardian of the Vallonbrun refuge, offers you light meals and daily specials. She passionately selects her ingredients locally, regionally, organically and enhances the flavors with spices.

At the gates of the Vanoise National Park, the refuge restaurant has been an unmissable eatery since 1963 both for mountain lovers and lovers of typical Savoyard gastronomy. In the heart of the valley of Champagny le Haut (listed as one of France's natural sites and monuments), under the Py waterfall and a few short strides from the entrance to the Vanoise National Park, the Laisonnay refuge brings together gastronomes and hikers in a unique and friendly atmosphere. Its unique location, where the road ends and the hiking trails begin, has seen the restaurant adapt to cater to the greatest number. The restaurant: Respect for tradition Savoyard gastronomy in the restaurant is mainly based on family recipes handed down by our parents, grandparents, great grandparents ... our goal is to rediscover the forgotten traditional gastronomy and the rich flavours of the valley. Although there's no electricity, the refuge still offers quality catering as part of the quality charter of the Academy of Taste and Culinary Traditions in Savoy, of which we are founding members. Forget any preconceived ideas, taste quality Savoyard cuisine. (Re) Discover authentic traditional dishes, regional cuisine prepared the old fashioned way with local products, dishes based on cheeses and also a selection of the best regional products. We are committed to promoting our cuisine through common sense: Good products thanks to the individual and personal knowledge of artisans, farmers, cheesemakers, breeders, winegrowers, brewers ... who supply most of our raw materials. Good recipes, mostly old and traditional, which have only changed a little or haven't changed at all for several generations and, of course, the fact that our recipes are homemade. Products used: from the local market. We select our products from local or regional suppliers who are experts in their fields. We prefer local arrangements, direct sales on the farm, etc. We, therefore, look for many products on the farms we work with. We do not deal with salespeople, but rather with the people who manufacture, cultivate, and process the produce. Apart from guaranteeing that we get premium products, it helps to maintain local agriculture and craftsmanship and becomes part of the mindset of sustainable development. Operation: The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, and we highly recommend that you book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Located directely on the slopes, the Chez Léon restaurant offers Savoyard specialities such as the tartiflette, the must-try. You will be welcomed on a large sunny terrace with a magnificent view over the Mont Pourri. Mélanie and Jérémy have taken over the family business and welcome you for a gourmet break, either indoors or on the sunny terrace. Enjoy home-made specialities with a breathtaking view of Mont Pourri. During a day on the slopes, come and enjoy homemade dishes that will warm your heart. New: à la carte pasta for a quick lunch

Bar and restaurant at the gateway to the Vanoise National Park. Homemade snacks, local or organic, ice creams, tarts, hot and cold drinks. Reservations are recommended, preferably in the evening.

Traditional Savoyard cooking à la carte or as a menu.

Come and enjoy our local specialities in the comfort of our wood-fired stove. A unique menu every day, Savoyard specialities on reservation. At any time, savory and sweet crepes, homemade desserts and tarts, local drinks... Refuge located at 2350m altitude, in the heart of the Vanoise National Park, 300m from the Bellecombe parking lot. We are the 3rd generation to bring this mountain pasture to life with passion! Traditional, warm and relaxed atmosphere.

In the heart of the Nordic area. At the foot of the beautiful north face of Bellecôte. Come and share some good moments near the fireplace and enjoy: daily specials, menus, pastries and mulled wine, you can also wait for your horse-drawn sleigh ride.

It is a charming little mountain campsite where silence is required. There's nothing like it to admire the fabulous setting available to you. The campsite "Les Richardes" is located in Val d'Isère, a renowned mountain resort, both for its magnificent winter ski area and for its fantastic summer setting. Indeed, Val d'Isère is located in the heart of the Alps, in the middle of the mountains with exceptional fauna and flora. In the morning you can enjoy the sunrise while having lunch, and in the evening, while having dinner, you will contemplate its sunset. The "Les Richardes" campsite is located one kilometer from the city center, far enough not to suffer from the inconveniences of the city, but close enough to quickly access its infrastructures. To get around the station, you can take a free bus service, which operates continuously all day. A supermarket is 400 meters from the campsite.

This refuge in the Vanoise National Park is located in the heart of the park. It welcomes visitors in summer and spring in a friendly atmosphere with generous and tasty food. The refuge is located on the GR5 variant route. The refuge will be open this year 2025, in spring from February 20 to April 28 and in summer from June 14 to September 14. The dormitory chalet: has 2 dormitories, one for 18 people and the other for 20 people. The beds are equipped with wool blankets from the Arpin spinning mill in Séez and duvets. To sleep, all you have to do is bring a "sheet-bag" or "meat bag", for hygiene! We also have a small guide dormitory. The refectory chalet: includes a beautiful dining room, in which we serve evening meals and breakfasts. There is a small library of books from the Vanoise National Park and the mountains (Guérin editions), as well as games, newspapers and mountain magazines, which are also at your disposal. The sanitary facilities of the refuge are adjacent to this building and include 2 traditional toilets, 2 toilet cubicles and 2 cold showers ONLY in summer! . To stay at the refuge or in a bivouac, you must ABSOLUTELY BOOK online on our website. Bivouac: capacity of 10 people maximum. In the heart of the Vanoise National Park, bivouacking is allowed in the summer, only on the dedicated pitches in the immediate vicinity of the refuge. Outside the guarding period, the refuge is open and provides: dormitory, blankets, heating and cooking equipment and crockery.

Located in the heart of the Vanoise National Park, in the hollow of the Prariond valley and upstream of the Malpasset gorges, this refuge will allow hikers, mountaineers and off-piste skiers to immerse themselves in a superb environment. The refuge was completely rehabilitated in spring 2020. During the guarding period: possible access to a picnic area. The refuge is also guarded in the spring for ski touring. Bivouac: capacity for 10 people or 10 tents. In the heart of the Vanoise National Park, bivouacking is permitted in the summer period, only on dedicated sites in the immediate vicinity of the refuge, during the guarding period. You have to book your site in advance with the refuge. Outside the guarding period, the refuge is open and provides: dormitory, blankets, heating and cooking facilities and dishes. The refuge is managed sustainably (waste management, renewable photovoltaic energy and pico hydroelectric power station, etc.) and contributes to raising public awareness in terms of sustainable development and nature protection.

"The Refuge de Prariond is a reception building with constraints specific to the isolated locations. The drinking water supply, more than 800 m in length, is piped from the opposite slope from which it must be conveyed by means of a cable work over Isère! Electricity is produced by photovoltaic panels and a pico-hydrœlectric power station that turbines a small portion of the stream located to the west of the refuge. The provision of food requires 2 to 3 helicopter rotations per year plus wood for heating and gas for cooking. ""Sobriety"" and ""public service"" are the key words for the management of this shelter."

A section of the GR®5 linking Lake Geneva to Menton, the Refuge du Col du Palet was originally used to house soldiers rather than hikers. It is a former military barracks built during the Second World War to counter a possible Italian invasion via the pass. It was transferred to the Vanoise National Park in 1965 and underwent various improvements, including the construction of a second building. A project to install a hydrogen fuel cell for power generation is currently in progress to provide the shelter with a self-sufficient energy supply.

A section of the GR®5 linking Lake Geneva to Menton, the Refuge du Col du Palet was originally used to house soldiers rather than hikers. It is a former military barracks built during the Second World War to counter a possible Italian invasion via the pass. It was transferred to the Vanoise National Park in 1965 and underwent various improvements, including the construction of a second building. A project to install a hydrogen fuel cell for power generation is currently in progress to provide the shelter with a self-sufficient energy supply.

Overlookink a small mountain lake, this refuge of the Vanoise national park, on the GR5 and the Tour de la Vallaisonnay, proposes a great site seeing on the 3 highest peaks of Savoie.

The three wooden chalets that make up the Refuge de la Leisse were built starting in 1970, on a glacial rock bar at 2,500 m in altitude. They are located under the Grande Motte glacier, which gives the landscape a wild and mineral character.

The three wooden chalets that make up the Refuge de la Leisse were built starting in 1970, on a glacial rock bar at 2,500 m in altitude. They are located under the Grande Motte glacier, which gives the landscape a wild and mineral character.