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Highlights
Spend one week trekking hut-to-hut in the majestic French Alps
Immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere of stunning French Alp’s villages like Arêches and Boudin.
Challenge yourself to reach lofty summits, unlocking breathtaking views over dazzling alpine lakes.
Witness the beauty of the Hauteluce Valley as you navigate thrilling passes to reach your remote mountain hut.
Take in the beauty of the Mont-Blanc massif as you ascend the narrow Col de Coin pass (2,398m).
Few adventures live up to the experience of spending one week trekking in the French Alps. The 7-day Self-Guided Beaufortain Loop Trek invites you to experience the wonders of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Savoie as you trek hut to hut in the French Alps. Start and end this mesmerizing loop route in Arêches, a charming ski-resort town nestled in Beaufort, Savoie.
Experience French mountain culture and come to know the remarkable landscapes that make this region of France world-famous. As you trek hut-to-hut each day, you’ll benefit from majestic viewpoints, taking in the lakes of Saint-Guérin (1,559m) and Roselend (1,557m) as well as on Mont Blanc (4,808m) and the famous Pierra Menta (2,714m ). Retire in authentic alpine huts where you’ll experience what it’s like to trek, eat, and sleep in the French Alps and visit charming mountain villages.
If you’ve always dreamed of a once in a lifetime type of trip, the Beaufortain Loop Trek is the perfect adventure to set your sights on!
Few adventures live up to the experience of spending one week trekking in the French Alps. The 7-day Self-Guided Beaufortain Loop Trek invites you to experience the wonders of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Savoie as you trek hut to hut in the French Alps. Start and end this mesmerizing loop route in Arêches, a charming ski-resort town nestled in Beaufort, Savoie.
Experience French mountain culture and come to know the remarkable landscapes that make this region of France world-famous. As you trek hut-to-hut each day, you’ll benefit from majestic viewpoints, taking in the lakes of Saint-Guérin (1,559m) and Roselend (1,557m) as well as on Mont Blanc (4,808m) and the famous Pierra Menta (2,714m ). Retire in authentic alpine huts where you’ll experience what it’s like to trek, eat, and sleep in the French Alps and visit charming mountain villages.
If you’ve always dreamed of a once in a lifetime type of trip, the Beaufortain Loop Trek is the perfect adventure to set your sights on!
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Beaufortain Loop Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Envers or Boudin village loop
Arrive at the hotel in Arêches where your adventure in the French Alps begins!
Depending on the time of your arrival in the village of Arêches, you’ll have several choices for your first hike. These include the Envers Loop, a visit to the village of Boudin, or the climb to Plan Villard (1,530m). Regardless of your choice today, you’ll discover beautiful mountain pastures and unforgettable panoramas on the Mont-Blanc massif.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Arêches
Distance: 2-5.5hours, 400-1150m of ascent
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 Ride Hike from Roche Pasture to La Coire Hut
Rise this morning and enjoy breakfast, then set out to transfer to the Col du Pré (1,703m). Via a botanical path, you’ll reach a stele in the forest (1,961m). This is the starting point for a magnificent “ridge” hike! You’ll then walk to the top of the Parstire rock (2,109m), then to the Mont des Acrays (2,173m) via the Passage de la Charmette (2,058m) and, finally, reaching the Passage de Miraillet which allows you to switch to Cormet d’Arêches (2,108m). Throughout the course, you will benefit from majestic viewpoints out over the lakes of Saint-Guérin (1,559m) and Roselend (1,557m) as well as on Mont-Blanc (4,808m) and the famous Pierra Menta (2,714m ). Today’s incredible hiking ends at La Coire Hut (2,059m) where you’ll enjoy some well-earned rest.
Overnight Location: Dormitory accommodation in La Coire Hut
Distance: 6hours, 950m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 3 Climb the Col de Coin Pass
This morning, you will climb up to the narrow Col du Coin pass (2,398m), from which there is a superb panorama of the Mont-Blanc massif. Descend to the Coin Valley via the Conchette chalets, under the Pierra Menta, an emblematic rock. Descend further to Treicol and then embark on an uphill stretch to the shores of the magnificent Lake Roselend, one of the largest water reservoirs in the Alpine Arc. Finish up with an easy walk from here to reach Plan-Mya Hut.
Overnight Location: Dormitory accommodation in Plan Mya Hut
Distance: 6hours, 600m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 4 Trek Plan Mya Hut to Col de la Croix du Bonhomme Hut
Today’s short day will have setting out to reach the Col de la Sausse pass (2,307m), located above the Cormet de Roselend and crossing the majestic Gittes crest to the refuge of the Croix-du-Bonhomme pass (2,433m), a key passage of the famous Tour Mont-Blanc. If you’re feeling up to it, tackle the northern head of Les Fours, an easy summit where the ibex chill in front of a sumptuous Mont-Blanc.
Overnight Location: Dormitory accommodation in Bonhomme Hut
Distance: 4hours, 700m of ascent with optional extension
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 5 Cross the Col de Bonhomme
Today you’ll rise early and enjoy a heart breakfast before setting out on your departure for the longest stage of the route. You’ll cross the Col du Bonhomme (2,329m) and descend to the Jovet chalets. You’ll begin a superb crossing. Climb to the Col de la Fenêtre pass (2,245m) and hike through the pastures to the Col du Joly pass (1,989m). From there, continue on a long traverse along the side of the mountain pastures of the Hauteluce Valley to reach the Col de Véry pass (1,962m) where the Croix-de-Pierre Hut is located.
Overnight Location: Dormitory accommodation in Croix de Pierre Hut
Distance: 6.5hours, 400m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 6 Return to Arêches
Your final day of trekking has you crossing to Mont Clocher (1,950m), then long descent on a winding path to reach the listed village of Hauteluce (1,100m). This is the occasion for a stop at the magnificent baroque church of Saint-Jacques-d’Assyrie with its famous onion bell tower and its trompe-l’oeil facade. You are almost at the end of this fabulous route in the heart of “little French Tyrol”.
Last efforts to reach Beaufort-sur-Doron and its dairy cooperative! A visit to the maturing cellars are included (in July and August only).
Overnight Location: Hotel in Arêches
Distance: 5hours, 150m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 7 Departure from Arêches
One magical week of trekking in the Alps comes to an end today! Enjoy a final breakfast in Arêches, then check out and depart.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Beaufortain Loop Tour Price and Dates
The pricing for this self-guided tour in French Alps depends on the size of your group. You also have an option to opt out of luggage transfers to reduce the tour price. All the prices below are per person sharing a double or a triple room where possible (note only dormitory rooms are available in huts) and those who need single rooms will have to pay a supplement.Self-guided Beaufortain Loop Tour Price without Luggage Transfers
- Self-guided Groups of 2: EUR750 per person
- Self-guided Groups of 3+: EUR720 per person
Self-guided Beaufortain Loop Tour Price with Luggage Transfers included in the price
- Groups of 2: EUR1150 per person
- Groups of 3: EUR995 per person
- Groups of 4: EUR920 per person
- Groups of 5: EUR875 per person
- Groups of 6+: EUR850 per person
Accommodation on Beaufortain Loop Trek
This tour is based in mountain huts and hotels. Hotels on this trip are 2-star and offer modern conveniences that can make this trip more pleasant. The accommodation in mountain huts is based in shared dormitory rooms.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
Rooms in the hotel are double and those willing to stay in a single room will have to pay a supplement (please enquire about the pricing). Please note that the single accommodations are not available in dormitory-style mountain huts, where all of the living spaces are shared with other trekkers.
What’s Included in the Beaufortain Loop Tour?
Meals
6 breakfasts and 6 dinners are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 6 nights are included.
Transportation during the Tour
This tour includes luggage transfers, as well as one personal transfer from Arêches to the trailhead. However other personal transfers are not included, and you will be in charge of organizing your own logistics, such as getting to the start of the tour. You can also exclude luggage transfers from your tour package to lower the price.
Also Included
- The roadbook (1 per 4 travellers)
- Support hotline 24/7
- Access to mobile application for GPS guidance
- Visit of the Cheese factory of Beaufort
Not included
- Lunches and any other meals not mentioned as ‘included’
- Showers in mountain huts
- Insurance
- Guide services
- Anything not mentioned as ‘included’
Optional Extras
- Extra night in Arêches before or after the tour
- How hard is the Beaufortain Loop Tour?
- Do I need a visa to travel to France?
- Are meals included on the Beaufortain Loop Tour?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Arêches to start this tour?
- Is the Beaufortain Loop Tour in English?
- Where does the Beaufortain Loop Tour end?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to France?
- Are there any travel restrictions for France?
We rate this tour as a 3 / 5. The distances and the elevation gain on this trek are moderate and this tour is suitable for fit beginners. Trekking in the Beaufortain region during June or early July is more challenging due to snow at higher elevations.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
6 breakfasts and 6 dinners are included.
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip, and your insurance should cover hiking. Get your Travel Insurance.
The closest airports to Arêches are Geneva and Turin, but due to limited transportation options it is more recommended to fly to Lyon Airport (LYS). From the airport, take the train towards Albertville where you’ll have to change to bus.
This tour is not guided, however, you’ll get all the necessary information provided to you in English.
The tour ends where it starts, in Arêches.
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
Customer Ratings
Allibert Trekking is a Tour Operator based in the French Alps, specializing in incredible trips for the active outdoor enthusiast. They cater to your specific wants to create an unforgettable adventure.
Allibert Trekking specializes in mountain sports adventures throughout the European Alps (France, Switzerland, Italy, and Austria). From the Dolomites to the Mediterranean coast, they create and organize hiking, mountaineering, ski touring, snowshoeing, and multi-sport trips throughout the Alps.
With 45 years of experience, Allibert offers both exceptional “ready-made” trip itineraries and customizable plans to make sure your experience is everything you want it to be.
Allibert places great importance on sustainable travel. Because of this, they focus on creating trips that make as little an impact as possible on the natural environment. Ethics, respect, and responsibility represent the cornerstones of their commitment to responsible tourism.
