Haute Route ski touring in Vanoise

Entirely located in Savoie, the Vanoise massif is renowned for its huge glaciers making it a destination not to miss both in winter and summer. 


This large mountain set is located in Savoie, between the Tarentaise valley and the Maurienne valley. In the heart of this national park, we offer you to leave to discover h of this wide and magnificent playground, overcome by emblematic summits such as the Grand Casse or the Dent Parrachée.

Itinerary

  • Day 1 Gébroulaz pass - Peclet-Polset refuge

    We meet our guide early in the morning in Chamonix before leaving in a minibus to the Moutiers station from where we take the bus in direction of the Val Thorens ski resort.
    From there, we join the Thorens pass using chairlifts. We will dominate the Maurienne : the Aiguilles de Peclet (3564m) and de Polset (3528m) will contemplate us, and we'll follow the path in their direction. The passage at the Gébroulaz pass, between both peaks, is particularly incredible : we are between Tarentaise and Maurienne. We then toggle on the Gébroulaz glacier and the curves leads us to the Lac Blanc and finally to the Peclet-Polset refuge, where we'll spend the night.

    Positive difference in altitude : around 450m | Negative difference in altitude : around 1050m | Accommodation : Peclet Polset refuge

  • Day 2 Aussois pass - Parrachée refuge

    Today we leave to join the Rosoire slopes in front of us, leading us afterwards to the Aussois pass. We can climb a little more after that to reach the Observatory Peak at 3012m.
    Then comes the descent in the Fond d'Aussois valley until the refuge which has the same name. We'll have to put our skins back on for a few meters before reaching the Dent Parrachée refuge.

    Positive difference in altitude : around 880 | Negative difference in altitude : around 800m | Accommodation : Dent Parrachée refuge

  • Day 3 Labby pass - Arpont refuge

    Under the Dent Parrachée overcoming us, we'll start our day slowly climbing up the slopes of the Labby glacier until the pass at 3330m. Once more, we'll toggle on a valley that we must discover : the Mahure glacier is splendid, we'll have some fun making the most beautiful curves. Then, we'll cross the valley to join the Arpont glacier and the refuge with the same name.

    Positive difference in altitude : around 850m | Negative difference in altitude : around 1050m | Accommodation : Arpont refuge

  • Day 4 Chasseforêt Dome - Col de la Vanoise refuge

    Today is a big day on the domes, the most intense of our trip !
    After climbing up on the Arpont glacier, we'll arrive to the Chasseforêt pass at 3507m : a few meters left and we will reach the top at 3586m ! Between passes and domes, it is a succession of breathtaking panoramas and curves in the powdery and glistening white snow for a lot of sensations on a big descent, before reaching the Col de la Vanoise refuge.

    Positive difference in altitude : around 1400m | Negative difference in altitude : around 1200m | Accommodation : Col de la Vanoise refuge

  • Day 5 Grand Casse pass - Champagny

    Last day but not the least, we'll climb up the Grande Casse glacier, finishing on a really steep slope before arriving to the pass at 3091m : the landscape is incredible as we are under the Grande casse. We then start descending to Champagny, from where we'll hop back on the bus to rejoin Moutiers. A final minibus transfer to Chamonix, where we'll say goodbye !

    Positive difference in altitude : around 650m | Negative difference in altitude : around 1600m

ITINERARY CHANGE

Please note that although the itinerary presented here is the one we intend to follow, there is a high chance that changes may be necessary. Many factors can affect climbing in high mountains. Mountain adventures depend on weather conditions, individual member's abilities vary, as does their ability to assimilate the skills needed. The guide's main aim will be to ensure your safety and the success of the trip. Please use this outline itinerary as a guide to the types of roads / activities that you will attempt. For security reasons and to ensure a consistent level corresponding to the one announced, the organization board gets the right to discontinue your participation if your technical and / or physical conditions do not match those required. In no case the interruption shall give right to a refund or compensation payments.

Dates & prices

Departures for French-speaking groups:

No departure for now

Trip code: SRVANO

Included

The 30% deposit has to be paid when registering. The remaining balance will be paid 30 days before departure. 
  • The technical organisation of the trip
  • A high mountain guide's supervision
  • Accommodation in refuges full-board 
  • Planned transfers
  • Picnics 

Not included

  • Individual transportation assured by your personal vehicle
  • Individual technical equipment 
  • Skiing personal equipment
  • Safety equipment 
  • Transfers to the meeting and dispersion points
  • Registration fees
  • Drinks & personal expenses 
  • Snacks (cereal bars, dried fruits, chocolate bars, etc.) according to your own convenience
  • Insurance & assistance: cancellation, research and rescue by  helicopter in high mountain (in France, Italy and Switzerland) hospitalization and repatriation
  • Everything that isn't mentioned in the "included" section

International flights

If you wish, we can take care of booking your international flights to the closest airport of your destination. 

Terms and conditions

Subscription

Subscribe to one of our activities or travels means accepting general sales conditions. Each client must fill a subscription form, which will be accepted only after the payment of a deposit accounting for 30% of the travel’s price and according to the availability. If you subscribe less than 30 days before the trip, you must pay the whole price during the subscription. You can pay by bank transfer (SWIFT/IBAN) or with your credit card directly through our website (available soon). A booking confirmation will be sent to you be e-mail very soon. 

Invoice procedure

Once your booking is registered, we will send you an email containing the invoice. Full payment is required at least 30 days before your arrival. If the customer does not settle the payment of the travel price within the period agreed upon, Altaï Alpes has the right to cancel the booking free of charge. 

Cancellation policy

If for any reason, you decide to withdraw from a journey, the amount already paid will be refunded subject to the following exceptions:
  • More than 30 days before departure, you will be charged for the amount of 50€
  • From 30 to 21 days before departure, you will be charged for the amount of the deposit (30% of the trip’s price)
  • From 20 to 14 days before departure,  you will be charged for 50% of the trip’s price
  • From 13 to 7 days before departure,  you will be charged for 75% of the trip’s priceLess than 7 days before departure,  you will be charged for the whole trip’s price 

Particular case :

Whatever the cancellation or contract change date, the following fees will be added to the charges above:
  • Airline fixed costs: plane tickets are bought in advance to avoid too high airline prices, however they are non refundable in case of cancellation or plan changes. In that case, the charges above apply to the price of your trip without the plane ticket’s price
  • Ground fixed costs: you will be charged for the fees that were paid early
  • Insurance fees: Insurance fees will not be refunded if you have subscribed to a multi-risk or cancellation insurance. The specific conditions will be written on your subscription confirmationIf you have no choice but to cancel your trip before departure, you must inform Montagne Expeditions and your insurance provider with a written statement as soon as possible, you will get a receipt. 

The receipt date will be taken as the cancellation date to charge cancellation fees.  

If Montagne Expeditions has no choice but to cancel a group travel due to an insufficient number of participants, the decision will be taken and the clients informed at least 31 days before departure. Altaï Alpes can also cancel a departure due to exceptional events threatening participants safety (social events, strikes, weather conditions). In that case, the trip’s price will be fully refunded but the participants will not get any compensation.

Changes to travel contract

If any change in travel contract is made at the customer’s request, the customer shall pay any fee that might arise from this change. In any case, every request for changes shall be notified in writing. In case of external events that could not be foreseen, Altaï Alpes might change some aspects of the travel contract. We will inform you of any changes as quickly as possible.

Pricing

All group travel prices on our website have been calculated for the indicated number of participants for each trip. The price list is confirmed after the booking. If the number of participants is lower than expected, an additional payment charge might be applied. For each travel and program, we mention the price per person – valid for the minimum number of participants – and we provide you with detailed explanations about the services included or not. Any change in the exchange rates or in the price of travel services in particular regarding the cost of the fuel, might entail price revision.

Contract transfer

In case of contract transfer by the customer to an assignee, modification and cancellation conditions apply. 

Insurance

We recommend you to get your personal insurance before your departure to cover the activities undertaken by Altaï Alpes. If you have not purchased any of our insurances, we ask you to email us your insurance contract information (company, contract name, contract number, phone number) and bring those information with you on your trip. 

Practical info

Staff

This trip is supervised by a qualified High Mountain Guide whose main objective is to train you in basic technics and to enable you to complete a safe and successful trip.
The guide might have to change the program to ensure your safety according to weather conditions and to the level & physical conditions of the group.

Food

Meals
  • Lunch picnics
  • Diners : meals prepared by shelter keepers
  • Take some race food according to your own tastes (cereals bars, chocolate bars, dry fruits,…).

Drinks
  • Water is not for free in refuges (from 5 to 8 euros one bottle). We advise you to bring some water purification tablets (Aquatabs or Micropur) in order to drink tap water. 
  • Personal drinks are not included in the trip's price
  • Bring cash for coffees, fruit juices, coke or beers during breaks… Shelters usually don’t accept bank card payments and Euros.

Accommodation

  • Every refuges of this itinerary are comfortable and warm. Dormitories are equipped with blankets for the night (plan to bring your personal bed sheet for hygiene reasons). 
  • Slippers are at your disposal : no need to bring trainers. 
  • We advise you to bring protection against noise (ear plugs).
  • A few electrical plugs are available in refuges, but plan to bring an external battery to charge your camera and switch off your phone during the day. 

Transportation

We will carry our bags every day except on Day 2 as we will sleep in the same refuge for two nights. 

Budget & exchange

France is in the Eurozone. Therefore, the unit of the currency is the Euro.

Credit cards and debit cards are very useful for cash advances (but don’t forget to bring your PIN number!). 
Refuges often don’t have EPT (Electronic Payment Terminal): it is best to bring cash.
Be aware of the fees usually applied when purchasing products or services on a credit card. 

Always take more rather than less, as you don’t want to spend your trip constantly feeling short on funds. 

As currency exchange rates can often fluctuate, we recommend to check the following website for daily exchange rates: https://www.xe.com/

Tips

Clients usually pay for the guides’ drinks : you might find it practical to make a group kitty at the beginning of your stay (no obligation). 

Supplied equipment

  • Collective equipment (ropes)
  • Slippers and blankets while in refuges
  • Individual safety equipment (beacon, probe and shovel) : thank you for letting us know if you have your own

Vital equipment

Skis
  • 1 pair of ski touring skis, light and with adapted fixations as well as a break or safety strips, and sharpened
  • 1 pair of ski touring shoes with VIBRAM soles
  • 1 pair of adhesive seals skin adapted to your skis
  • Knifes adapted to fixations
  • Poles with large disks

Other
  • Safety equipment : beacon, probe and shovel
  • crampons with "Antibott" system
  • Ice axe
  • Harness and carabineers
  • Survival blanket
  • 1 headlamp with extra batteries and bulb
  • Pocket knife
  • Thermos

Material

Upper body : 
  • Windstopper bonnet
  • Hat or cap
  • Neck scarf
  • Sunscreen (high protection) for skin and lips
  • Sunglasses for glacier category 4 + ski goggles 
  • 2 technical breathable long sleeve underwear type "Carline" (no coton which dries too slowly)
  • 1 technical and breathable shirt to put under your jumper
  • 1 thick fleece jacket
  • 1 fuzz jacket
  • 1 wind stopper and waterproof jacket type Goretex
  • 1 pair of wind stopper mittens (fleece or wool) 
  • 1 pair of undergloves

Lower body : 
  • 1 technical and breathable pair of tights type "Carline"
  • 1 pair of comfortable mountain trousers
  • 1 pair of wind stopper and waterproof trousers type Goretex
  • 2 pairs of socks : 1 thin and 1 thick

Other : 
  • 1 bed sheet for refuges
  • 1 small toiletry bag with 1 fast drying towel
  • Cream for sunburns (Biafine)
  • Biodegradable toilet paper
  • 1 or 2 100L plastic bags and an overbag to protect your belongings and your bag
  • 1 waterproof pouch in which you will put your identity paper, your phone, your money and your insurance/assistance contract with all of your emergency numbers

Luggage

  • A comfortable 40L backpack with straps for your skis
  • A second bag which will stay at the hotel with your changing clothes

Medicine

Your guide has a pharmacy of first urgency.
Plan with your doctor your personal pharmacy:
  • Personal medicine
  • Pain reliever (preferably paracetamol)
  • Double skin
  • Elastoplast
  • Local disinfectant
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Antispasmodic
  • Anti-diarrheal
  • Anti-vomiting
  • Intestinal antiseptic
  • Eyewash
  • Light sleeping pills
  • Earplugs
  • Broad spectrum antibiotic
  • Vitamins C 
Non-exhaustive list.

Passport

Please make sure your passport and travel documents are valid.

Visa

  • Up to 90 days visit in France : citizens from most countries do not need a visa to visit France.
  • Over 90 days visit in France : non-EU or non-EFTA citizens must have a visa to visit France over 90 days.

For further information, please check the following website : https://france-visas.gouv.fr/

Identity card

For EU citizens, you can use your identity card to travel to France. 

Mandatory vaccines

There are no mandatory vaccines needed to travel to France. 

If your have any questions concerning a trip to France or if you’re wandering what vaccines you might need for your trip, take an appointment with your local clinic and travel doctor. You can call Passport Health at 1-888-499-7277.

Health information & recommendations

For this trip, you must be fit : you can train with other sports such as running, cycling, swimming or sportive walk. To have a reasonable chance of success, a high degree of fitness and stamina, some previous experience of altitude is highly recommended. 

Training advices to check with your general practionner : six months before departure, try to do at least 1 to 2 endurance sport sessions a week (each one must last at least one hour) and do a 6 hours trekking during the week-end with an elevation of 400m/hour during three hours. Three months before departure, try 2 to 3 endurance sport sessions a week and increase your trekking time during the week end from 7 to 8 hours.

Please inform us of any health issues : allergy, diabetes, asthma, or old strokes...

Weather

The weather in the French Alps varies up and down the mountain chain. It is a mountainous region between 800 and 4000 meters, so altitude plays a big part in the local weather. 
As you climb higher into the mountains it gets 1 degree cooler every 100 meters. It is the case all year around but other factors such as temperature inversions and winds influence the climate.  The sun plays a very important role too. In the winter, when the sun is lower in the sky, some lower or north facing valleys are blocked from the sun by mountains for a large part of the day and are colder.  

Keep in mind that weather conditions are unpredictable. Therefore, the trip organization can me modified for your safety. 

Electricity

There will be electricity in most places you will stay. If you are scared to run low on battery, we advise to bring an external battery charger.  

Power plugs in France have the particularity of being male and female at the same time : they have 2 prongs and a receptacle. If you need an adapter, please purchase if before departure.

In France the power plugs and sockets are of type E. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.

Local time

France is in the Central European Time Zone. Central European Standard Time (CET) is 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+1).

Like most states in Europe, Summer Time (Daylight-Saving) is observed in France, where the time is shifted forward by 1 hour; 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+2).
After the summer months, the time in France is shifted back by 1 hour to Central European Time (CET or GMT+1).

Sustainable tourism

We do our best to offer trips subscribed to the principles of responsible and sustainable tourism. Our aim is to allow visitors to discover the many facets of France by taking you off the beaten path and getting you in touch with its nature and residents, while ensuring that your visits do not have a negative effect on its natural environment and people.

  • Most of our accommodations are run by locals, thus ensuring that the largest part of the revenue generated through your trip will stay within the region.
  • France is known for its exquisite cuisine. The art of cooking and the joy of eating are part of everyday life. Each region has its particular foods and flavors which we would like you to explore and appreciate.
  • Water is a precious and rare good. Our team and those travelling with us are thus advised to use it with consideration and avoid excessive water use where possible.
  • Please try to recycle your waste whenever possible, even though recycling may not be a well-known concept in all areas.
  • Be cautious and respectful when hiking. Make sure to wear suitable footwear and avoid picking flowers, moving stones or lighting fires.  
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Region
France
Activity
Ski Ski-Touring
Duration
5 days
Group
4 to 5 people
Code
SRVANO
Price
From €1,095
Level
3/5
Comfort
2/5
Language(s)
French

Strengths

  • Europe's largest ice cap 
  • First national parc of France
  • Comfortable and warm refuges

Required level

Technique
This trip is addressed to experienced people which have already done ski-touring and freeride skiing. You have to be able to ski in every type of snow and on all type of terrain, and to be used to conversions for the ascent and the descent, as well as knowing how to ski with knives. You will also have to have the knowledge on glaciers : know how to ski roped, how to use and ice axe and crampons. 

Physical
You have to have and excellent physical condition to do this 5 days trip with 7 to 8 hours of ski touring a day with a difference in altitude up to 1500m. 

Commitment
Important commitment due to steep slopes when ascending and descending, and cracked glaciers to cross according to weather conditions in the mountains. 
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