Tour des Glaciers de la Vanoise conditions

Last updated . Satellite imagery from 1 November 2026 to 1 November 2026.

Tour des Glaciers de la Vanoise: 67% snow-free as of 1 November 2026.

  • 67% of the line snow-free
  • 23.8 km still under snow
  • Snow line: 2,100 m
  • No change on last week.

The Tour des Glaciers de la Vanoise usually opens early July, once the high cols melt out and the huts open.

This year the line was first 95% snow-free on 17 July 2026, and autumn snow returned by 25 October 2026.

The latest satellite reading, from 1 November 2026, shows 67% snow-free.

Sentinel-2 satellite imagery from 1 November 2026 shows 67% of the Tour des Glaciers de la Vanoise line clear of snow, with about 24 km still under snow.

That is little change from the week before.

The snow line sits at about 2,100 m.

Snow remains on stages 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6; the rest of the route is clear or nearly clear.

Less snow than the same week in 2025, when the route was 34% snow-free.

What it means: Expect continuous snow from about 2,100 m. Micro-spikes and poles are recommended above that height, and an ice axe on steep north-facing traverses.

Stage by stage

StageSnow-freeUnder snowLowest snow
1. Pralognan to Col de la Vanoise74%3.2 km2,350 m
2. Col de la Vanoise to Arpont44%6.8 km2,450 m
3. Arpont to Dent Parrachée100%——
4. Dent Parrachée to Péclet-Polset58%8.6 km2,200 m
5. Péclet-Polset to Col de Chavière79%2.4 km2,300 m
6. Col de Chavière to Pralognan75%2.8 km2,500 m

Season by season

YearFirst 95% snow-freeAutumn snow backBest reading
202617 July25 October100% snow-free
202517 July27 September100% snow-free

Update log

  1. : 67% snow-free, snow line about 2,100 m.
  2. : 67% snow-free, snow line about 2,100 m.
  3. : 28% snow-free, snow line about 1,050 m.
  4. : 98% snow-free.
  5. : 100% snow-free.
  6. : 100% snow-free.
  7. : 100% snow-free.
  8. : 100% snow-free.
  9. : 99% snow-free.
  10. : 100% snow-free.
  11. : 99% snow-free.
  12. : 99% snow-free.
  13. : 99% snow-free.
  14. : 98% snow-free.
  15. : 98% snow-free.
  16. : 97% snow-free.
  17. : 96% snow-free.
  18. : 94% snow-free.
  19. : 89% snow-free, snow line about 2,700 m.
  20. : 82% snow-free, snow line about 2,450 m.
  21. : 72% snow-free, snow line about 2,200 m.
  22. : 67% snow-free, snow line about 2,100 m.
  23. : 53% snow-free, snow line about 1,700 m.
  24. : 45% snow-free, snow line about 1,050 m.
  25. : 39% snow-free, snow line about 1,050 m.
  26. : 19% snow-free, snow line about 1,050 m.
  27. : 15% snow-free, snow line about 1,050 m.
  28. : 34% snow-free, snow line about 1,050 m.
  29. : 16% snow-free, snow line about 1,050 m.
  30. : 99% snow-free.
  31. : 99% snow-free.
  32. : 97% snow-free, snow line about 2,750 m.
  33. : 63% snow-free, snow line about 2,000 m.
  34. : 70% snow-free, snow line about 2,150 m.
  35. : 99% snow-free.
  36. : 99% snow-free.
  37. : 99% snow-free.
  38. : 99% snow-free.
  39. : 100% snow-free.
  40. : 99% snow-free.
  41. : 99% snow-free.
  42. : 98% snow-free.
  43. : 99% snow-free.
  44. : 99% snow-free.
  45. : 93% snow-free, snow line about 2,650 m.
  46. : 93% snow-free, snow line about 2,600 m.
  47. : 91% snow-free, snow line about 2,600 m.
  48. : 84% snow-free, snow line about 2,500 m.
  49. : 66% snow-free, snow line about 2,050 m.
  50. : 53% snow-free, snow line about 1,500 m.
  51. : 53% snow-free, snow line about 1,500 m.
  52. : 31% snow-free, snow line about 1,050 m.
  53. : 43% snow-free, snow line about 1,050 m.
  54. : 35% snow-free, snow line about 1,050 m.
  55. : 28% snow-free, snow line about 1,050 m.

How this is measured

The route is sampled every 200 m along the classic stages. Each point uses its most recent cloud-free satellite view from the 10 days before the update.

A point counts as snow when Sentinel-2 classifies it as snow or its snow index (NDSI) is high. Cloud, shadow and no-data pixels are left out.

Imagery: Copernicus Sentinel-2 L2A (Earth Search STAC), 20 m. Elevation: Mapbox Terrain-DEM v1 (zoom 12).

Satellite snow cover is a planning aid, not a safety verdict. It cannot see snow under trees or thin new snow, and it says nothing about avalanche danger, cornices or ice. Check with huts, guides and local bulletins before you go.

Tour des Glaciers de la Vanoise route guide · Conditions on every route