Hiking trails in an exceptional environment
There are hundreds of kilometers of hiking trails throughout the Alps. In this vast, untamed territory, the paths were naturally carved out by man to cross from one valley to another, to climb to the mountain pastures or to approach the summits. Most of these trails are open from May to October, provided you don't climb too high! Even in midsummer, it's not uncommon to encounter névés - patches of snow - at an altitude of 2,500 metres. Despite the excellent signposting and the modern means at our disposal - from helicopters to cell phones - the Alps remind us every year that we must always prepare a hike and take a few precautions: always say where you're 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 discover the Alpine environment better... 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 de l'Oisans et des Écrins, 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 du Queyras, a 128 km loop and one of the most famous trails in the Alps, with its 7,700 m vertical drop; the GR®52, which crosses the Alpes-Maritimes, revealing the engravings of the Vallée des Merveilles to hikers.
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, is now widely democratized. While climbing Mont Blanc is now within the reach of the greatest number of people - with a compulsory ascent permit as of this year - you should never neglect safety and never overestimate yourself before embarking on a race. The best way to protect yourself and enjoy the mountains is still to call on the specialists who enjoy them all year round. Never hesitate to contact your local mountain guide office before setting out on your adventure.
There are numerous climbing sites throughout the Alps. Some walls are steep and there are plenty of ledges to climb. But climbing is all about superb cliffs, not necessarily to be found in the Northern Alps, which are renowned for many other reasons. Climbers love the Vercors with its Presles routes, over 300 of which are renowned throughout France. Tourist offices and guide offices offer seasonal initiation and advanced courses for all those who want to test their mettle against the rock.
Via ferrata is the way to experience the first thrill of the void. With cables and rungs, the routes are equipped to make it easy for you to overcome each obstacle in optimum safety conditions, but with maximum sensations. It's essential to be well equipped - don't set off without a harness and helmet - and not to be afraid to face the void! Don't hesitate to ask at the guides' and guides' offices, as they are often the ones behind their development.
Skiing, back on the boards
The white season, with no ski lifts opening in the resorts, that we experienced in 2020-2021, brought to light another way of gliding on snow: ski touring. Previously reserved for lovers of the great outdoors, seasoned skiers and sports enthusiasts with a thorough knowledge of mountain hazards, mountain skiing - 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 (known as seal skins, but actually made of synthetic fibres or mohair) attached to the underside of the skis enable you to zigzag up the slopes, which are not too steep. All that's left to do is enjoy the view from the top and the pleasure of the descent. Another sport that doesn't require lifts, and which has enjoyed spectacular growth over the period, Nordic skiing is taking advantage of dream landscapes throughout the French Alps and the excellent results of our athletes to develop. Alpine skiing and all its modern variants - snowboarding, freestyle, 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 entails.
Getting laid in the Alps
Since the mountains of the Alps bring us closer to the sky, we might as well take to the skies! Paragliding - a rectangular glider with a seated pilot - was born in Haute-Savoie on the slopes of Mieussy. The Alps are a leading region for paragliding, thanks to their ideal aerology and suitable topography. Another mythical spot in the Alps is Saint-Hilaire-du-Touvet in the Chartreuse region, home to the famous Coupe Icare paragliding competition. Of course, other resorts have not stood idly by and watched these wings fly, and the resorts of the Southern Alps organize numerous competitions.
To take the thrills up a notch, you can practice parachuting, or free-fall, over the Alps. If you'd like to fly for a few minutes in the air of the great peaks before opening your canopy, head to the Gap-Tallard aerodrome in the Hautes-Alpes to jump in complete safety with the world's best parachutists. Another drop zone for tandem skydiving over the Alps is Grenoble Saint-Geoirs airport, in the company of seven-time world champion Franck Bernachot.
Another way to fly in the Alps is by glider, from Château-Arnoux in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Centre National de Vol à Voile, from Tallard in the Hautes-Alpes or from Habère-Poche (74), where you can fly over Lake Geneva in total peace and quiet. Last but not least, hot-air ballooning allows you to fly safely and silently over the mountains. One of the main take-off bases is 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.
