Discover the full range of summer adventures available in the Haute Maurienne, from alpine day walks and mountaineering routes on the rocky summits above Termignon and Val Cenis to via ferratas, rock climbing, mountain biking, road cycling, and multi-day walking tours. Bordered by the Vanoise National Park to the north and the Écrins to the south, this accessible French Alps valley offers an outstanding variety of mountain activities within easy reach of Modane and the TGV from Paris and Turin.

Suitable for families, groups of friends, and experienced mountaineers alike, this comprehensive Cicerone guidebook brings together 50 routes and activities across seven disciplines in and around the Haute Maurienne valley. Routes range from pretty alpine lake rambles accessible to the whole family to sustained mountaineering routes up to PD grade, with via ferratas, rock climbing crags, mountain bike circuits, classic road cycling cols, and three multi-day walking tours also described.

• Choose from 50 routes and activities across day walks, mountaineering, via ferratas, rock climbing, mountain biking, road cycling, and walking tours, covering the full range of the Haute Maurienne from Modane and Aussois in the west to the Col du Mont Cenis and the upper valley above Lanslebourg.
• Tackle the mountaineering routes of the Haute Maurienne, including the normal route on Dent Parrachée, the Matterhorn of the valley and the highest peak reachable without crossing a glacier, alongside ridge traverses, 3000m circuits, and summit routes throughout the range.
• Explore the via ferratas of the Haute Maurienne, including the dramatic Victor Emmanuel Fort complex at Aussois with five distinct via ferrata routes, the Le Pichet route at Lanslevillard, the Guy Favre at Balme Noir, and the Via Cordatta at the Col de la Madeleine.
• Ride the legendary road cycling cols of the Haute Maurienne, including the Col de l'Iseran, the Col du Galibier, the Col du Mont Cenis, and the Aussois Loop, alongside six mountain biking circuits ranging from the relaxed Sardières Monolith route to the demanding Mont Cenis Circuit.
• Navigate every route with confidence using sketch maps, topos, and profiles included for each activity, with IGN Top 25 1:25,000 mapping recommended for on-the-ground navigation and waymarked paths signed throughout the valley.
• Plan your Haute Maurienne multi-activity holiday with comprehensive practical information on accommodation in Termignon and Val Cenis, travel by TGV from Paris and Turin via Modane, weather, mountain refuges, insurance and rescue, and the best time to visit from late May to early October.

Take on the walks, climbs, via ferratas, and cols of the Haute Maurienne with confidence using this trusted Cicerone guidebook. From pretty alpine lakes to the summit of Dent Parrachée, this is the essential companion for a multi-activity summer holiday in one of the French Alps' most rewarding and accessible valleys.

Mountain Adventures in the Maurienne – Quick Facts

Location: France – Haute Maurienne, French Alps; between the Vanoise National Park to the north and the Écrins to the south
Routes covered: 50 routes across 7 disciplines
Activities covered: Day walks (10), mountaineering routes (12), via ferratas (9), rock climbing (6), mountain biking (6), road cycling (4), walking tours (3)
Difficulty: From easy family walks and cycle rides to sustained mountaineering routes up to PD grade; via ferratas and rock climbing routes graded separately; all activities graded for difficulty
Key centres: Termignon and Val Cenis; Modane as gateway to the upper valley; Lanslebourg largest village after Modane
Highlights: Dent Parrachée, Victor Emmanuel Fort via ferratas, Col de l'Iseran, Col du Galibier, Col du Mont Cenis, Tour of the Vanoise Glaciers, Hannibal's Crossing (Col Clapier), alpine lake walks, rock climbing crags at Aussois and Termignon
Navigation/mapping: Sketch maps, topos, and profiles included for all routes; IGN Top 25 1:25,000 maps recommended (3534OT, 3633ET, 3634OT); paths signed and waymarked throughout
Accommodation & logistics: Comprehensive notes on accommodation in Termignon and Val Cenis, mountain refuges, travel by TGV from Paris and Turin, insurance and rescue
Best time to go: Late May to early October; passes open in late May with the season lasting through to early October
Companion titles: Chamonix Mountain Adventures, Costa Blanca Mountain Adventures, Via Ferratas of the French Alps (all available from Cicerone)

Author Highlight

"The Vanoise massif is a beautiful range of mountains bounded by the valleys of the Maurienne and the Tarentaise. The Maurienne valley is over 60km long, towered over by peaks of staggering symmetry straight from a child’s drawing of mountains. Many figures from history and mountaineering legend have trod through its forests and along its ancient tracks; yet the valley is somehow forgotten by the British mountaineering fraternity, despite having been at the heart of the early days of Alpine exploration. Now is the time to rediscover the Maurienne.”

- Andy Hodges, author of Mountain Adventures in the Maurienne

Introduction           

Geography          
The Vanoise National Park          
Geology          
Wildlife          
Plants and flowers          
History          
Art and culture          
Travel          
When to go          
Accommodation          
Mountain refuges          
Language          
Insurance and rescue          
Maps and navigation          
Weather          
Clothing          
Wet weather alternatives          
Using this guide           

1 Day Walks            

Route 1            Lac de l’Arcelle          
Route 2            La Pierre aux Pieds          
Route 3            Lac Blanc and Plan des Eaux          
Route 4            Vallon de la Rocheure          
Route 5            Pointe de Lanserlia          
Route 6            Hannibal’s Crossing (Col Clapier)          
Route 7            Mont Froid          
Route 8            Pointe de Bellecombe          
Route 9            High Valley Walk          
Route 10            Pointe de l’Observatoire           

2 Mountaineering Routes           

Route 11            Pointe Droset          
Route 12            Crête de la Turra and Pointe du Grand Vallon          
Route 13            Pointe des Fours          
Route 14            3000ers Circuit          
Route 15            Lessières Traverse          
Route 16            Le Petit Vallon          
Route 17            Roche d’Etache          
Route 18            Traverse of Pointe de Cugne          
Route 19            North Ridge of Cime du Laro          
Route 20            Signal du Petit Mont Cenis          
Route 21            Arête de Léché          
Route 22            La Dent Parrachée           

3 Via Ferratas           

Route 23            Le Pichet, Lanslevillard          
Route 24            The Pinnacles, Aussois          
Route 25            Guy Favre, Balme Noir           

The Victor Emmanuel Fort Complex           

Route 26            Traversée des Anges          
Route 27            Montée au Ciel          
Route 28            Les Rois Mages          
Route 29            Descente aux Enfers          
Route 30            Remontée du Purgatoire           

Via Ferrata/Rock Climbing

Route 31            Via Cordatta, Col de la Madeleine           

4 Rock Climbing           

Route 32            Rocher des Amoureux          
Route 33            Sollières          
Route 34            Rocher de Termignon          
Route 35            Blocs de la Madeleine          
Route 36            Dalles du Mollard          
Route 37            Drailles Blanches           

5 Mountain Biking           

Bike hire and bike shops          
The routes                       

Route 38            Termignon and Sollières Circuit          
Route 39            La Girarde          
Route 40            Champions’ Loop          
Route 41            Chemin du Petit Bonheur          
Route 42            The Sardières Monolith          
Route 43            Mont Cenis Circuit           

6 Road Rides           

Route 44            Col du Mont Cenis          
Route 45            Aussois Loop          
Route 46            Col de l’Iseran          
Route 47            Col du Galibier           

7 Walking Tours           

Route 48            Tour of the Vanoise Glaciers          
Route 49            Tour of Méan Martin          
Route 50            Tour of Pointe de l’Echelle           

Appendix A            Route summary tables          
Appendix B            Useful contacts          
Appendix C            Useful phrases           

Seasons

passes open in late May with the season lasting through to early October

Centres

Termignon and Val Cenis

Difficulty

Routes range from short walks and cycle rides for the whole family to sustained or challenging mountain routes up to PD to reach the highest summits

Must See

rocky summits towering over small Alpine villages and the highest cols guarding the valley's approaches; follow in the (possible) footsteps of Hannibal; reach the summit of Dent Parrachée; two-wheeled and roped adventures add adrenalin sport opportunities for a 'mix and match' visit!

Maps and navigation

The French IGN ‘Top 25’ 1:25,000 maps are excellent. They identify the main paths in easy-to-see red, and more difficult sections are marked as red dots. They are sold at supermarkets and many other shops and cost around €9 each. Alternatively, they can be purchased online before you visit and there is now the option of a laminated version. (This isn’t available in France, just in the Aqua3 online map shop.) Termignon is one of those places that is on the join of three maps, so three maps are needed to cover the whole area. An alternative is the 1:50,000 map (the Carte de Randonnées A3: Alps Vanoise) which clearly identifies waymarked walking routes, climbing sites, via ferrata venues and mountain bike areas.

1:25,000 maps

• 3534OT Les Trois Vallées Modane
• 3633ET Tignes, Val d’Isère, Haute Maurienne
• 3634OT Val Cenis Charbonnel

The most recent editions of these maps show the extent of glacial retreat in a different colour.

If you are bringing a GPS, ensure it is programmed to datum WGS 84 and the grid system to UTM/UPS otherwise all grid references will be inaccurate. Don’t forget to reprogramme it to UK settings on your return or the same problems will occur back in the UK.

Unlike the UK, paths are waymarked and signed to a high degree. The signage usually gives information in times rather than distance, and these seem to be calculated with a similar formula to Naismith’s Rule of 5km per hour. The red-and-white flashes on rocks, walls and buildings will become familiar friends, and the small cycling symbols will also be a welcome aid to route finding.

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