From Northern Alps at Pyrenees, From the French Alps to the Swiss Alps, roaming is back at the heart of summer activities. On foot, on a donkey or even on a moped, there are a number of different ways to discover the mountains, from major treks to family outings and more unusual experiences.
In the Chartreuse massif, some people choose to slow down the pace. Around Lac d'Aiguebelette or Lac de Paladru, there are moped tours covering between thirty and forty kilometres on secondary roads.
The routes take in villages, viewpoints and wilder areas, with breaks planned at local producers'. The machines, restored by enthusiasts, set a leisurely pace and offer a different view of the landscape.
On a different scale, the Grand Tour des Combins is aimed at experienced walkers. This nine-day itinerary links five valleys between Switzerland and Italy, at the foot of a massif culminating at over 4,000 metres.
Less popular than the Tour du Mont-Blanc, this route links passes, glaciers and high-altitude refuges, with passages close to 3,000 metres. A dedicated platform allows you to adapt the route according to your level and the time available.
Accessible, family-friendly routes
Other routes focus on accessibility. À Valloire, The hike to Lac des Cerces remains one of the most popular in summer. From Plan Lachat, the trail slopes gently for around eight kilometres round trip, with a difference in altitude of 450 metres.
The route crosses pastures and rocky areas before reaching a high-altitude lake at 2,410 metres. For more experienced walkers, there is a variant that links several lakes in a loop.
In the Hautes-Alpes, starting from’Orcières, In the Ecrins National Park, some people opt for holidays accompanied by donkeys. Over five or six days, participants walk while the animal carries their bags.
The stages will take in forests, mountain pastures and torrents, with overnight stays in gîtes or bivouacs. The organisers are talking about a format suited to families, with distances of around ten kilometres a day.
Roaming in mountain huts, between the Pyrenees and the Ecrins
In the Pyrenees, UCPA is offering a four-day holiday around the Néouvielle lakes, departing from Saint-Lary-Soulan. The route goes from hut to hut, with gradients of between 300 and 750 metres depending on the day. There is an optional ascent of Montpelat at the end of the tour.
Further north, in the Pays des Écrins, the Tour des refuges en Vallouise takes four to five days. Starting from the hamlet of Ailefroide, the route links a number of emblematic refuges, including those at Le Sélé and Glacier Blanc.
The stages vary from five to nine kilometres, with gradients that can exceed 1,000 metres. The route is accessible without special technical equipment, but requires a good level of fitness.