Vanoise National Park

Vanoise National Park is a stunning piece of the French Alps. Most people are more familiar with Val d’Isere or Tignes, two of the larger ski towns in France. Bordering Italy’s Gran Paradiso National Park, the Vanoise is more than just skiing, there’s also hiking, biking, climbing and trekking.

If you are planning a trip to France and you want to experience the wildness of the Alps, a trip to the Vanoise will be perfect for you. The Vanoise has long been a popular destination for downhill winter activities. With over 13 ski resorts boasting over 1118.5mi of downhill trails, more than 470 lifts, and numerous mountain refuges, the Vanoise is an ideal place for your winter ski break!

The infrastructure that has been created for winter is also slowly beginning to attract the summer outdoor enthusiasts. Using the lifts to skip significant amounts of the elevation gain and get straight to the beauty of hiking in the alpine is a huge benefit. In addition, summer is low season in most parts of the Alps, so crowds and prices tend to be lower in the ‘off season.’ What makes the Vanoise special is the relatively untouched interior of the park, where there are no ski lifts nor crowds.

One of our favourite experiences is staying in the mountain huts during the warmer seasons. This allow us to keep our packs light as well as enjoy incredible meals as we walk our way across the French Alps.

A trip to Vanoise National Park should always include a day wandering around one of the lovely villages in the park, particularly Bonneval - sur - Arc, voted the 6th most beautiful village in France. There are picturesque streets to meander, shops to peruse, and of course delicious food to be eaten.