Tour des Glaciers de la Vanoise

A high circuit around France's first national park

The Tour des Glaciers de la Vanoise circles the high valleys of the national park, linking refuges, passes and wide glacier views between Pralognan, Aussois and the Tarentaise.

54 km · 2,445 m ascent · 6 stages · 5–8 days · · France

Glaciers and high trails in the Vanoise

About the Tour des Glaciers de la Vanoise

The circuit moves around the Vanoise high country through Pralognan, the Col de la Vanoise, the Dent Parrachée side and the Col de Chavière, with some of the best glacier panoramas in the French Alps.

The route sits in a sweet spot between accessible hut-to-hut walking and real high-mountain terrain. There are no compulsory glacier crossings on the standard circuit, but snow, steep passes and storm exposure still make the day-by-day conditions important.

Most parties take five to eight days. The short distance is deceptive: refuges are separated by high cols and rough paths, and the route repeatedly climbs back above the tree line after each valley turn.

Treat the park as a connected weather system. A blue morning in Pralognan does not remove the need to check the next pass, the refuge opening and the line of retreat.

The 6 classic stages

  1. Stage 1: Pralognan to Col de la Vanoise

    Pralognan-la-Vanoise to Col de la Vanoise · 9.2 km · 415.65 m ascent · 590.07 m descent

    Climb from the valley into the first high refuge country, with the Grande Casse and its glaciers setting the scale.

  2. Stage 2: Col de la Vanoise to Arpont

    Col de la Vanoise to Refuge de l'Arpont · 9.2 km · 415.65 m ascent · 590.07 m descent

    Traverse the northern balcony above the Tarentaise, keeping the Vanoise glaciers in view across the valley.

  3. Stage 3: Arpont to Dent Parrachée

    Refuge de l'Arpont to Dent Parrachée · 9.2 km · 415.65 m ascent · 590.07 m descent

    Turn east into the Aussois side of the park, where high passes and glacier viewpoints break the long traverse.

  4. Stage 4: Dent Parrachée to Péclet-Polset

    Dent Parrachée to Refuge de Péclet-Polset · 9.2 km · 415.65 m ascent · 590.07 m descent

    Return across the high country toward the southern valleys and the next refuge beneath the glaciers.

  5. Stage 5: Péclet-Polset to Col de Chavière

    Refuge de Péclet-Polset to Col de Chavière · 8.6 km · 391.2 m ascent · 555.36 m descent

    Climb toward the high closing pass, with rough ground and changing weather at the centre of the day.

  6. Stage 6: Col de Chavière to Pralognan

    Col de Chavière to Pralognan-la-Vanoise · 8.6 km · 391.2 m ascent · 555.36 m descent

    Drop back into Pralognan and close the Vanoise circuit through the last valley section.

Refuges, gîtes and huts on the circuit

  • km 3.1 — Refuge des Barmettes, 2,010 m (stage 1)
  • km 7.3 — Refuge du Col de la Vanoise, 2,518 m, 129 beds (stage 1)
  • km 17.2 — Refuge de la Leisse, 2,487 m (stage 2)
  • km 50.5 — Refuge Le Repoju, — (stage 5)
  • km 53.3 — Refuge du Roc de la Pêche, 1,911 m (stage 5)
  • km 58.8 — Refuge de Péclet-Polset, 2,479 m, 84 beds (stage 5)

Cols on the classic line

    Know before you go

    • The high season is usually mid-June to September. Confirm snow on the cols and the operating dates of refuges before leaving.
    • The circuit stays near glaciated terrain even when the walking line is non-glacial. Do not add mountaineering variants without the right skills and equipment.
    • Refuges can be the only practical overnight option on the high sections. Reserve them before locking in your dates.
    • The national park has specific rules for dogs, camping, fires and wildlife. Check the current park guidance.
    • Plan an exit for every stage: the road network is close in places, but not always quickly reachable from a high refuge.

    Frequently asked questions

    How long is the Tour des Glaciers de la Vanoise?

    The stored line is about 54 km. Most hikers take five to eight days because the circuit is high and refuge stages are shaped by the passes.

    Does the route cross glaciers?

    The standard walking circuit is planned as a non-glacial hut-to-hut route, but it stays close to glaciers and can hold snow. Check current conditions before departure.

    Where does the Tour des Glaciers de la Vanoise start?

    Pralognan-la-Vanoise is a common access point, with other trailheads possible around the park depending on the chosen direction.

    When should you walk it?

    Mid-June to September is typical, subject to pass conditions, refuge opening dates and the year's snowpack.

    More multi-day routes

    Sources and provenance

    Stage metrics, tracks, huts and passes come from the Traverse route database. Conditions change: verify refuge opening, pass conditions and transport before you go.

    Page reviewed .