Photo : Rémih / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Col de la Vanoise
The Col de la Vanoise marks the crossing point between Pralognan-la-Vanoise, in Tarentaise, and Termignon, in Maurienne, in the heart of the oldest national park in France. Perched at 2,517 metres, it is one of the most admired viewpoints of the massif, with the Vanoise glaciers and the massive silhouette of the Grande Casse as a backdrop.
Used by the GR 55, the pass is an integral part of the Tour des Glaciers de la Vanoise, a renowned multi-day hike that crosses preserved high-mountain landscapes over several days, among high-altitude lakes, snowfields and pastures. Ibex and chamois are frequently seen there, the park having been created in 1963 partly to protect their populations.
The climb is generally made on foot from Pralognan-la-Vanoise, over a demanding day's walk but accessible to trained hikers, preferably between July and September when the pass is clear of snow.
