Hiking Collection by Luc Gesell
Hike from Savoie to Vanoise – Hexatrek in France’s Northern Alps
25 days
2-10 h/day
387km
21,610m
19,950m
The route crosses famous passes and nature reserves, offers spectacular panoramas of internationally renowned peaks, and winds through dreamlike national parks: the Vanoise, the Ecrins and the Pyrenees National Park. These are landscapes that call for adventure.
But, enough dreaming. You need to be prepared to take on your Hexatrek. Firstly, this long-distance trail isn’t marked. Occasionally, it follows the GR, the GRP or black paths. So if you follow this itinerary, don’t be surprised that it leaves the GR at times. More often than not, you deviate to reach spectacular viewpoints that GR hikers don’t experience.
In this Collection, you hike 380 kilometres (236 mi) and rack up 22,500 metres (73,800 ft) of elevation gain from the shores of Lake Geneva to the Lautaret Pass. I propose dividing the route, with some detours through the Northern Alps, into 25 stages. Some legs are more ambitious and physically demanding than others. The idea is to make it as easy for you as possible and maximise sheltered nights, so that this Collection remains feasible, and even pleasant, in bad weather. If you prefer to camp, you can adjust the route as you like.
This epic alpine itinerary includes high altitude lakes, glaciers and spectacular remote areas such as Sixt-fer-à-cheval and Mont Blanc, which makes several appearances. You’ll also taste the refuges’ mountain atmosphere, meaning cheese, cheese and more cheese. Tommes, reblochon, beaufort… you won’t be short of occasions to use your Opinel knife. And while we’re on the subject of gastronomy, I should mention that it’s easy to stock up on provisions at the village stores. You won't have to carry more than two or three days' worth of food in your bag. Your shoulders will be grateful!
To save your feet, take time to think about the right shoes. Some people prefer the weight-technology ratio of a good rando-trail shoe: with mesh, Gore-Tex and a solid sole at the minimum. I recommend high-top hiking boots with good ankle support – some mountainous stages require them.
In order to give yourself the best chance for this incredible adventure, don’t plan to set off before the beginning of June. Also, make sure you finish before mid-September. Outside of the summer, you may face more complicated weather conditions. Winter might already have arrived on some passages with snow, torrents and freezing temperatures.
Most of the Tours are accessible by public transport. As there are train stations or bus stops in the start and finish towns, these stages are well suited to dividing the long-distance route into shorter sections. Many stages start and end in mountain refuges and often through a village station served by buses. Timetables can be found here: altibus.com/en/les-fiches-horaires
Finally, one last practical point: you can get to the start from all the major towns on Lake Geneva by ferry: cgn.ch/en/horaires-billets. From Le Lautaret, you can reach Briançon by bus. The TGV departs in all directions from there.
Visibility:
Anyone
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Steps of the North Alps of Hexatrek
384km
21,560m
19,890m
Last updated: October 29, 2024
Do it yourself!
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Plan your own version of this adventure in the multi-day planner based on the stages suggested in this Collection.
Activities
10.1km
02:37
60m
50m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
29.3km
08:29
910m
380m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
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19.7km
08:10
1,580m
980m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
13.2km
06:03
1,130m
800m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
13.7km
05:10
590m
450m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
17.4km
06:42
740m
980m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
17.9km
07:41
810m
1,640m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
12.0km
05:52
1,340m
350m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
18.9km
08:11
1,030m
980m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
13.8km
05:39
990m
680m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
13.1km
05:40
710m
920m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
13.9km
05:41
710m
1,280m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
14.2km
06:31
890m
1,240m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
17.3km
06:37
1,050m
1,000m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
23.4km
10:13
1,690m
800m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
10.4km
04:08
410m
370m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
15.1km
05:15
540m
1,140m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
18.9km
08:00
870m
1,710m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
14.7km
05:36
1,440m
10m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
14.6km
05:54
660m
1,000m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
16.4km
06:16
1,030m
660m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Collection Stats
Activities
25
Distance
387 km
Duration
151:54 h
Elevation
21,610 m
19,950 m
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