The Tarentaise Valley

 The Village of Le Monal

 

District: Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise

Region: Tarentaise

Road access and parking: After the village of Ste-Foy, follow the Tignes-Val d'Isère road to the Tunnel de la Savinaz. Just before the tunnel, turn left onto the road to Le Chenal. Park in Le Chenal.

Total time, not including rest stops: 3hrs 45min

Maps: IGN Top 25 n° 3532 ET Les Arcs La Plagne

Start height: 1634 m

Highest point: 1874 m

Height difference: 240 m

Type of itinerary: (circuit, round trip): circuit

Best season: all year. Particularly spectacular in the autumn when the leaves on the larch trees start to change colour.

Description:

A perfect example of a Haute-Tarentaise village, Le Monal has long been a listed site. However, even this delightful collection of stone houses interspersed with larch trees on the edge of a small lake, cannot eclipse the breathtaking view of Mont Pourri, whose glaciers and rock walls rise majestically above the Isère Valley.

 

From the car park, follow the farm track to the second hairpin. Leave the track and continue straight on to the hamlet of La Combaz. A path climbs due east, past the foot of the cliffs, to Le Monal. After the chapel, turn right and continue up the farm track.

The Alpage de Ritort and the Refuge de Péclet Polset

 

District: Pralognan-la-Vanoise

Region: Tarentaise (Vanoise)

Road access and parking: From Pralognan, follow signs to the "Vallée de Chavière" and continue to the car park at the Pont de la Pêche.

Total time, not including rest stops: 5hrs 15min (2hrs there and back if you only go as far as the Alpage du Ritort)

Maps: IGN Top 25 n° 3534 OT Les Trois Vallées

Start height: 1760 m

Highest point: 2474 m

Height difference: 714 m

Type of itinerary: (circuit, round trip): round trip

Best season: from spring to summer, when snow free

Description:

This valley, entirely given over to grazing land, leads to the alpine meadows at Ritort, home to a family of shepherds and their workers for almost one hundred days a year. Here they produce "beaufort d'alpage", the prince of gruyere cheeses.

The path then takes you to the Refuge de Péclet Polset, in the heart of the Vanoise National Park, from where you can admire the Glaciers de la Vanoise, to the east, and the eternal snows of the Dôme de Polset, to the west.

Follow the farm track to the Refuge du Roc de la Pêche. Continue along the valley to the Alpage de Ritort (very easy access). The trail climbs gently upwards alongside the River Doron de Valpremont into the Vanoise National Park; however, the path gets steeper as you approach the Refuge de Péclet Polset.

 

Dogs are not allowed in the Vanoise National Park.

Lac de la Rosière and the Cascade des Poux

District: Courchevel 1650

Region: Tarentaise

Road access and parking: Turn left at the roundabout at the entrance to Courchevel 1650 and follow signs to the Lac de la Rosière. Park at the lake.

Total time, not including rest stops: 2 hrs

Maps and guides:  IGN Top 25 n° 3534 OT Les Trois Vallées

Start height: 1536 m

Highest point: 1686 m

Height difference: 150 m

Type of itinerary: (circuit, round trip): circuit

Best season: from spring to summer, when snow free

Description:

This very easy and shady walk follows the Ruisseau de la Rosière to the Cascade des Poux waterfall. Accompanied by the soothing bubbling of the stream, this is a relaxing outing through a beautiful forest.

 

After the cabin, cross the bridge and take the track on the right to the nature trail. The path climbs through a magnificent pine forest. Follow the path on the right back to the valley. Once back on the track, go up the valley on the left towards the Cascade des Poux. The return leg follows the stream to the lake.