GR®55 - Tour de la Vanoise
The place
The Tour de la Vanoise (GTV – Grande Traversée de la Vanoise) is a circuit of 10 to 13 stages covering around 160 km at the heart of the first national park established in France. Starting from Modane or Pralognan-la-Vanoise, it circles the granite massif of the Vanoise, passing the glaciers of the Grande Casse (3,855 m), passes between 2,500 and 2,800 m, and a dense network of park refuges. The trail alternates between flower-filled valleys, nesting areas of the bearded vulture, high-altitude lakes with translucent waters, and panoramic views of the Alpine giants (Mont Blanc, Aiguilles d'Arves, Grandes Jorasses). Suitable for regular hikers, with no major exposed sections.
Why go
Grande Motte glacier viewed from the Col de la Leisse. Lac Blanc and Lac des Vaches. Refuge du Fond des Fours. Pralognan-la-Vanoise, a historic hub of French mountaineering. Ibex, chamois, and marmots everywhere. The limestone lapiaz formations of the Rosolin plateau.
A bit of history
The Vanoise National Park, created in 1963 (the first in France), marked out the Grande Traversée to showcase its territory starting in the 1970s. The route has been progressively expanded to connect the refuges of the Northern Alps, today forming a coherent circuit crossing the park's two key massifs: Grande Casse and Grande Motte.
Getting there
Modane: TGV station (Paris–Turin). Pralognan-la-Vanoise: accessible by bus from Moûtiers (regular service in summer). By car from Lyon or Grenoble via the A43 (Fréjus Tunnel for the Italian variant).
Recommended gear
High hiking boots. Warm and waterproof clothing. Lightweight sleeping bag (staffed refuges with meals). Trekking poles. Gloves and a beanie for nights at altitude. Sunglasses.
Best season
Mid-June to late September. Refuge du Plan du Lac open from late June to late September. Residual snow on the passes in June. Best period is July–August. Refuge reservations essential during peak season.