Hiking through French Alps

Whether you want a quiet stroll with the family or a trek lasting several days, the French Alps will satisfy your desire for adventure and discovery in the heart of wild nature.
The French Alps are also home to some of the most famous ski areas in the world, such as Chamonix, Courchevel, Val d'Isère and Les Deux Alpes. In winter, ski resorts attract thousands of tourists in search of dizzying descents and snowy landscapes. In summer, the Alps transform into a paradise for hikers and nature lovers, with marked trails, mountain huts and breathtaking panoramas.

What to visit in the French Alps?

Whatever the length of your stay, here are some ideas for destinations suitable for hiking, skiing or snowshoeing to include in your trip.
Queyras Regional Natural Park: Located in the Hautes-Alpes, Queyras is a true paradise for hikers. The Queyras Regional Natural Park is home to isolated valleys, Alpine peaks and picturesque villages. The Queyras hiking trails offer a multitude of options for discovering the wild beauty of the Alps, with hiking, skiing or snowshoeing routes adapted to every level of experience. Whether you opt for a family day hike through the mountain pastures or a multi-day trek through the mountain passes, Queyras promises you an unforgettable experience in the great outdoors.
Vanoise National Park: This park in the northern Alps offers a multitude of hiking trails through unspoilt alpine landscapes, from green valleys to steep peaks. You can also spot a variety of wildlife there, including ibexes and marmots.
Écrins Massif: This massif is home to the Écrins National Park, renowned for its imposing peaks, glaciers and high-altitude lakes. There you will find hiking, skiing and snowshoeing trails adapted to each level, as well as mountain refuges to spend your nights surrounded by nature.
Chamonix and the Aiguille du Midi Valley: Chamonix is an emblematic destination in the northern Alps for mountain lovers, offering breathtaking views of Mont Blanc. You can take the Aiguille du Midi cable car to enjoy spectacular panoramas of the valley and access high-altitude hiking trails.
Mont Blanc Massif: The Tour du Mont Blanc is one of the most famous hikes in the world, offering a multi-day loop through France, Italy and Switzerland. This hike will allow you to discover some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the northern Alps, with views of iconic peaks such as the Aiguille du Midi and the Dômes de Miage.
Chartreuse Massif: The Chartreuse massif in the northern Alps is a true paradise for hikers, with its wild and unspoilt landscapes, dense forests, rocky ridges and panoramic views of the Alps. You can choose from a variety of marked trails in the Chartreuse, whether on foot, on skis or on snowshoes.

What type of trip is offered?

The departures of our stays are scheduled regularly throughout the year. Trip prices vary depending on the length of stay, level of comfort and options chosen. Whether you prefer a star stay, with each hike departing from your accommodation, or a traveling stay with nights in different accommodations, we have options adapted to the desired trip.
On our trips, it is possible to choose two roaming options:
Star:
The star stay takes place from a central lodge, refuge or hotel where you spend your nights in the same room. The hotel, lodge or refuge is often more comfortable and the weight of the bag is limited to the things needed during the day. The departure takes place in a loop every day.
While roaming:
During the traveling stay, your nights spend in a different lodge, hotel, or refuge. On these stays which require a more committed physical level, we take care of the transfer of your luggage from hotel to hotel. Since the physical level is more demanding, it is possible that the high altitude refuges are not accessible by car (Refuge de la Blanche, refuge de Furfande and refuge du Viso) and that you will have to carry a bag for several days.
For your trip, you can choose a group departure with a guide or on your own.
The journey in freedom:
Going on a self-guided stay allows you to go on the trails alone, with family or friends on the dates of your choice. The self-guided stay allows you to choose your departure date, the duration of your stay, who you wish to go with, for a trip personalized to your wishes and in the type of accommodation of your choice. We take care of reserving your accommodation for your nights in a hotel, refuge or gîte as well as your meals. You will not be accompanied by a guide but we will provide you with travel documents, IGN maps, a roadbook and a guide application. To guide you during each hike and accompany you throughout your stay, we provide you with detailed maps of the region. This way, you can explore the trails freely to your hotel, following the itinerary provided.
Group travel with a guide:
The group trip brings together several participants on one trip. You are accompanied by a guide who leads you on the trails and tells you all the details of the country. Going in a group means living a shared experience with participants you don't know before leaving. It also means being supervised on the route by a local mountain guide, who will pass on all his knowledge of the region to you.

What are the most beautiful hikes to do in the French Alps?

Here are some of the best hikes to do in the French Alps, with details on walking level, elevation gain and walking time:

Mont Blanc Tour:
Walking level: Difficult
Elevation gain: Approximately 10,000 meters in total
Duration of walking: Approximately 7 to 10 days
Description: The Tour du Mont Blanc is one of the most famous walking tours in the world, offering breathtaking views of Alpine peaks, glaciers and lush green valleys. This multi-day trek takes you through France, Italy and Switzerland, allowing you to discover the diversity of Alpine landscapes and enjoy the hospitality of mountain huts along the trail.

Lac Blanc from Flégère:
Walking level: Moderate
Elevation gain: Approximately 700 meters
Walking time: Approximately 3 to 4 hours round trip
Description: This popular walking tour departing from the Chamonix valley offers magnificent views of the Mont Blanc massif and Lac Blanc, nestled in the heart of the mountains. The trail winds through pine forests and flowering mountain pastures, offering impressive panoramas at every turn. Once you arrive at Lac Blanc, you can relax and enjoy the tranquility of this idyllic setting.

The Refuge de la Balme from the Col des Montets:
Walking level: Easy to moderate
Elevation gain: Around 300 meters
Walking time: Approximately 2 to 3 hours round trip
Description: This hike in the northern Alps offers a beautiful introduction to Alpine landscapes, with panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and the Chamonix valley. The trail passes through alpine meadows dotted with wildflowers and offers the chance to spot marmots and other wildlife. The Balme refuge is a picturesque place to take a break while admiring the view of the Mont Blanc massif.

Lake Serre-Ponçon from Col de la Coupa:
Walking level: Moderate
Elevation gain: Approximately 500 meters
Walking time: Approximately 4 to 5 hours round trip
Description: The hiking trail takes you through wild and preserved landscapes to the magnificent Lake Serre-Ponçon, one of the largest artificial lakes in Europe. The hiking trail offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and allows you to relax on the banks of the lake while enjoying the tranquility of this secluded location.

Hike to the Col de la Ruchère from the Col du Granier
Walking level: Moderate
Elevation gain: Approximately 400 meters
Walking time: Approximately 3 to 4 hours round trip
Description: This snowshoe hike begins at Col du Granier, a popular starting point for many excursions in the Chartreuse. The trail passes through a snow-covered fir forest, offering a magical and peaceful atmosphere. You will then progress on a well-marked path to the Col de la Ruchère, where you will be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the surrounding peaks and the valley below. Be sure to take a break to admire the panorama and enjoy the calm of this preserved place. Then you can go back down the same path to the starting point.

Going on a trip with La Vie Sauvage guarantees you:
To experience a stay where each accommodation is selected for its qualities by paying a hotel at the right price.
Our hiking trips are supervised by experienced and passionate local mountain guides who will guide you through the trails, sharing with you their knowledge of the region and their love for nature. They will be there to help you fully enjoy your group hiking experience.
By choosing La Vie Sauvage for your stay in the Alps, you will be able to enjoy all the advantages of an organized stay, without having to worry about logistics. We'll take care of all the details, including hotel, transfers, meals and hiking routes, so you can relax and enjoy every moment of your stay in France. We will do everything we can to ensure that you can have an unforgettable experience in France, whether you choose to hike with a guide or on your own.
Explore the French Alps with La Vie Sauvage, specialist in adventure travel and hiking in the Alps. Set off to discover emblematic destinations such as the Mont Blanc massif, the Clarée Valley, the Queyras Regional Natural Park and the Chartreuse Massif. Whether you prefer snowshoe hiking, ski touring or a mountain trek, we can offer you a stay adapted to your walking level and at all prices. Contact us today to plan your discovery trip to the French Alps.