Adventures in the Haute Maurienne in the French Alps

ByTravesía Pirenaica
Tour de la Vanoise, Parc National de la Vanoise / Photo: Romaric Juvanon [CC BY-SA 4.0] Wikimedia Commons
Tour de la Vanoise, Parc National de la Vanoise / Photo: Romaric Juvanon [CC BY-SA 4.0] Wikimedia Commons

Easily accessible, with the National Park of Vanoise to the north and the Écrins south, Haute Maurienne is ideal for an adventure holiday.

The Vanoise massif is a beautiful mountain range bounded by the Maurienne and Tarentaise valleys. The Maurienne valley is more than 60 km long and is dominated by stunningly symmetrical peaks. Many figures of mountaineering history and legend have walked through its forests and along its ancient track, yet the valley is somewhat forgotten, despite having been at the heart of the early days of alpine exploration.

The Haute Maurienne valley is perfect for a wide range of alpine adventures and activities: day trips, mountaineering routes, via ferratas, rock climbing, mountain biking, road cycling and hiking for a multi-activity holiday in the Haute Maurienne in the French Alps.

Practical guide

When to go?

It opens at the end of May and the season runs until the beginning of October.

Cities & Services

Termignon and Val Cenis

Not to be missed

  • Rocky peaks rise above small alpine villages and the highest passes guarding the access to the valley.
  • Follow in Hannibal's (possible) footsteps
  • Reach the top of Dent Parrachée.
  • Mountain bike routes along the countless trails.
  • Get your adrenaline pumping with climbing routes and via ferrata.

Activities

Excursions

Excursions that allow you to reach summits from the valley in a day, with views of the highest giants in the distance.

  • Lac de l'Arcelle
  • La Pierre aux Pieds
  • Lac Blanc and Plan des Eaux
  • Vallon de la Rocheure
  • Pointe de Lanserlia
  • Hannibal's Crossing (Col Clapier)
  • Mont Froid
  • Pointe de Bellecombe
  • Walk in the upper valley
  • Pointe de l'Observatoire

Mountain routes

  • Pointe Droset
  • Crête de la Turra and Pointe du Grand Vallon
  • Pointe des Fours
  • 3000ers Circuit
  • Lessières Traverse
  • Le Petit Vallon
  • Roche d'Etache
  • Traverse de Pointe de Cugne
  • North ridge of Cime du Laro
  • Signal du Petit Mont Cenis
  • Arête de Léché
  • La Dent Parrachée

Via ferratas

The valley offers some of the best and most modern via ferratas in France, routes specifically designed for the sport, with reliable and well-maintained equipment that climb straight up the cliffs and into the deepest gorges.

  • Le Pichet, Lanslevillard
  • Pinnacles, Aussois
  • Guy Favre, Balme Noir
  • Traversée des Anges
  • Montée au Ciel
  • Les Rois Mages
  • Descente aux Enfers
  • Remontée du Purgatoire
  • Via Cordatta, Col de la Madeleine

Rock climbing

There are plenty of rock climbing sites for everyone, from V Diff to the highest E grades.

  • Rocher des Amoureux
  • Sollières
  • Rocher de Termignon
  • Blocs de la Madeleine
  • Dalles du Mollard
  • Drailles Blanches

Road cycling

Cyclists will find themselves surrounded by Alpine giants familiar to Tour de France fans, such as the Col ded l'Iseran, the Col du Galibier and the Col de la Croix de Fer.

  • Col du Mont Cenis
  • Return to Aussois
  • Col de l'Iseran
  • Col du Galibier

Btt

Mountain bikers won't be disappointed either, with marked trails through forests and ski lifts to avoid long climbs.

  • Termignon and Sollières Circuit
  • La Girarde
  • Champions League return
  • Chemin du Petit Bonheur
  • The Sardières Monolith
  • Circuit du Mont Cenis

Trekkings