Hiking trails in an exceptional environment
All the Alps are covered with hundreds of kilometres of hiking trails. On this vast wild territory, the paths have been naturally traced by men to go from one valley to another, to go up to the mountain pastures or to approach the summits. Most of these paths are practicable from May to October, as long as you don't climb too high! Even in the middle of summer, it is not uncommon to find snow patches at an altitude of 2,500 m. Despite the excellent signposting and the modern means available - from the helicopter to the mobile phone - the Alps remind us every year that we must always prepare a hike and take a few precautions: always say where we are going, be in good physical condition, have suitable equipment (especially shoes), water, sunglasses and effective sun cream, get information from the weather services and ask for advice from the tourist office, or go with a guide to better discover the Alpine environment... The most beautiful paths in the Alps are yours!
Alpine trails, the great march
Among the great hiking trails of the Alps: the superb GR®5, with the GTA (Grande Traversée des Alpes) which traces a route from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean; the GR® TMB (Tour du Mont-Blanc), a mythical 215 km trail in a high mountain atmosphere; the GR®54, the tour of Oisans and Ecrins, one of the longest, 184 km, and most difficult trails in the Alps; the GTV, the Grandes Traversées du Vercors, with a complete 350 km tour for walkers in search of solitude on the high plateaus; the GR®58, the tour of the Queyras, a 128 km loop and one of the most famous trails in the Alps with its 7,700 m difference in altitude; the GR®52 which crosses the Alpes-Maritimes revealing the engravings of the Vallée des Merveilles to walkers.
Running is in the nature of the Alps
Runners have taken to the mountains by the paths. Until now, we only talked about hikers on the trails. Now, we meet runners, called trailers, taking marked trails to make nice loops in the middle of sublime landscapes. But if the landscapes are breathtaking, the differences in altitude are even more so! A trail run is therefore expressed in kilometres, but also in D+ and - (positive and negative difference in altitude). To do a trail in the best conditions, the Petit Futé recommends the trail resorts: Les Saisies, Val d'Isère, Chartreuse, Oisans Huez, Vercors Villard-de-Lans, Pays des Ecrins, Vésubie.
Cyclists take on the mountain passes and reach the summit
Since the opening of the great Alpine passes, cyclists have always tried to follow in the footsteps of the giants of the Tour de France by crossing mythical names: Galibier, Lautaret, Izoard, Iseran, Taillefer, Granon, Croix de Fer... Not forgetting the mythical Alpe d'Huez climb, with its 21 bends and 13.8 km at an average of 7.9%! All of these passes are said to be "out of category" because of their steepness. But cycling, even on tarmac roads, can now also be done with an electrically assisted bicycle (VAE), which allows you to climb even the steepest slopes with ease. Between the pleasure of the sport effort and the pleasure of riding in the Alps, all cyclists are welcome.
Mountain biking, downhill and fun on two wheels
The mountain bike has been in the Alps for many years now and allows both top sportsmen and nature lovers to enjoy routes that take you further and further up. Mountain biking, which has also become electric, can be enjoyed by the whole family. However, this sport requires a good physical condition and the wearing of a helmet is highly recommended, if not obligatory on certain areas. A system of coloured routes allows mountain bike enthusiasts to avoid venturing onto circuits that are too difficult for them. The resorts, which are very keen on this growing sport, have made their ski lifts available for downhill mountain biking and have created dedicated areas, with modules for jumping and doing acrobatic figures, called Bike Park. Among the best equipped resorts: Châtel, Les Saisies, l'Alpe d'Huez, Les 2 Alpes, Les Gets, Pra Loup.
Climbing in the Alps: mountaineering, climbing and via ferrata
Mountaineering, an extreme discipline once reserved for well-trained specialists, has become widely democratized. If climbing the Mont Blanc is now within the reach of the greatest number of people - with a compulsory climbing permit since this year - one should never neglect safety and not overestimate oneself before doing a race. The best way to protect yourself and to enjoy the mountain is still to call on specialists who practice it all year round. Never hesitate to contact the guide office of your resort before going on an adventure.
There are many climbing sites throughout the Alps. Some walls are steep and there are plenty of ledges to climb. But climbing is satisfied with superb cliffs that are not necessarily found in the Northern Alps, which are renowned for many other reasons. Climbers love the Vercors with the Presles routes, over 300 routes renowned throughout France. The tourist offices and the guide offices offer in season initiations or confirmations for all those who want to test themselves against the rock.
The via ferrata is the path by which you can experience the first thrill of the void. Cables, rungs, the routes are equipped to make it easier for you to cross each obstacle in optimal safety conditions but with maximum sensations. It is imperative to be well equipped - do not leave without a harness and a helmet -, and not to be afraid to face the void! Don't hesitate to ask for information from the guides' offices, as they are often the ones who set up the routes.
Skiing, back on the boards
The white season, without ski lifts opening in the resorts, that we went through in 2020-2021, has highlighted another practice of snow sliding: ski touring. Until then reserved for lovers of wide open spaces, skiers and seasoned sportsmen, who knew the risks of the mountain, ski touring - another name for ski touring - has been a great success. An ancient practice facilitated by modern equipment, a little more expensive than traditional skiing. A walking position and skins (called seal skins but which are actually made of synthetic fibres or mohair) fixed under the skis allow to climb the slopes, not too steep, while zigzagging. All that's left to do is enjoy the view from the top and the pleasure of the descent. Another practice that does not require a lift, and which has experienced a spectacular boom during the period, Nordic skiing takes advantage of the dream landscapes in all the French Alps and the excellent results of our athletes to develop. Alpine skiing and all its modern variants - snowboarding, free style, extreme skiing... - continue to be widely practiced on the slopes and, increasingly, off-piste, in snowparks or off-piste with all the risks and dangers that this entails.
Getting laid in the Alps
Since the mountains of the Alps bring us closer to the sky, we might as well take off in the air! Paragliding
- a rectangular wing with the pilot in a seated position - was born in Haute-Savoie on the slopes of Mieussy. A very favourable aerology for the practice of this activity as well as a very appropriate relief make the Alps a leading region in this field. Another mythical place in the Alps is Saint-Hilaire-du-Touvet in Chartreuse where the famous Coupe Icare of free flight takes place. Of course, the other resorts have not remained idle to watch these wings fly and the resorts of the Southern Alps organize numerous competitions.To take the excitement up a notch, you can practice skydiving, or free fall, over the Alps. If you want to fly for a few minutes in the air of the great summits before opening your canopy, go to the Gap-Tallard aerodrome in the Hautes-Alpes to jump in complete safety with the best skydivers in the world. Another drop zone
to jump in tandem over the Alps, the Grenoble Saint-Geoirs airport in the company of a seven-time world champion: Franck Bernachot. Another way to fly in the Alps is to glide from the Château-Arnoux site in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, National Gliding Centre, from the Tallard site in the Hautes-Alpes or from the Habère-Poche site (74) to fly over Lake Geneva in complete peace. Finally, hot-air ballooning allows you to fly in safety and silence over the mountains. Among the main flight bases, Praz-sur-Arly where the Montgolfiades Internationales take place every year.Whitewater
In the air, on land, on snow and on water, the Alps can be enjoyed on all terrains! If it is possible to sail or water ski on the large Alpine lakes, you may prefer more challenging water activities. Canyoning is a very physical discipline with abseils in waterfalls, jumps in pools, breaststroke in bubbling water. It is an invigorating activity, accessible to all as long as you like water and know how to swim, which consists in descending a river in its entirety in its most vertical part. Today, only mountain professionals approved for canyoning are authorised to supervise you. Somewhere between swimming and canyoning, hydrospeed allows you to set off on the white waters of mountain streams, protected by a real shell to protect you from the rocks as well as from the temperature of the water, which rarely exceeds 10°C. Rafting is the most popular and accessible whitewater sport in the Alps. From the two-seater "hot dog" that reminds you of the inflatable boat of your childhood to the big inflatable that can carry eight people, you will still have to paddle to avoid the natural obstacles in your way. The classification of the rivers ranges from 1 to 4, knowing that the last level is only accessible to a well-trained elite. The most beautiful sites are on the Isère - Bourg-Saint-Maurice has an international white water base -, on the Guisane in the Serre-Chevalier valley, on the Vénéon, on the Giffre in Samoëns, on the Chéran in the Bauges or on the Rabioux not far from the Durance and on the Verdon which welcomes all white water disciplines.
