Want to discover the best outdoor activities in Val Cenis? Here are some of the best, selected for you by Generation Voyage.
Val Cenis is a winter sports resort with three different ski areas. This jewel in Savoie’s Haute-Maurienne valley stretches around the Col du Mont-Cenis, close to the Italian border.
Famous for its ski area, which attracts countless winter sports fans every year, Val Cenis offers a colossal range of winter and summer activities. Some of the fastest ski lifts in the country put the mountains in the spotlight.
There’s no shortage of leisure activities to satisfy a wide range of visitors who come to enjoy the best the Alps have to offer. Thanks to its privileged geographical location and excellent road network, tourists flock to this pretty corner of France from all over Europe.
Once you’re there, you’re wondering what are the best outdoor activities to do in Val Cenis? Follow the guide, we’ll tell you all about it!
Summer
Mountaineering
There’s no doubt about it, as far as we’re concerned, this outdoor activity in Val-Cenis is one of the most interesting in the area. And we’re not the only ones who think so!
The Val Cenis guide bureau has its work cut out for it, it has to be said, given the specific topography of the area. Savoie is the second most mountainous département in France, and many mythical mountains are in the immediate vicinity of the resort.
The Albaron (3,637 m), the Dôme de Chasseforêt (3,586 m), and the famous Grande Casse (3,852 m) are well-known tourist must-sees for mountaineers. Ready to take them on?
Expect to pay around €100 for this activity.
Via ferrata
OK, so it’s not the only one on the market in this tourist resort. But if the via ferrata is one of the best outdoor activities in Val Cenis, it’s not for nothing!
The via ferrata du Diable combines seven sections of varying difficulty, from easy to very difficult. Supervised by a qualified instructor, you’ll need just one afternoon to complete the 3,760 m route.
Of course, there are also escape routes to avoid the most difficult passages. Ready, set, go!
Expect to pay between €30 and €40 for this activity.
Paragliding
If you’re looking for a thrill, we’ve got you covered. Here’s the Holy Grail of the best outdoor activities in Val Cenis: paragliding! If you’re looking to caress the dream ofIcarus, you’ve come to the right place.
Tandem flights are organized on the heights of the resort, offering a bird’s eye view of Val Cenis. Comfortably seated in the harness, the protagonists of this aerial adventure can simply enjoy their tandem flight to the full.
Special mention: flights are also available for people with reduced mobility. The whole of the Vanoise stretches out before you: a unique experience to be enjoyed without moderation!
Canyoning
Perfect for a stay with friends, we present one of the best outdoor activities to do in Val Cenis from this selection.
Canyoning consists of descending a riverbed, abseiling, jumping and sliding down natural slides.
In this case, the Écot canyon, carved out by glacial meltwater, is the natural playground. Considered by many to be the most beautiful canyon in the Alps, it offers several routes to choose from, each with its own level of difficulty.
Whether you come with family, friends or as a couple, fun is guaranteed!
Expect to pay around €20 for this activity.
Climbing
Whether or not you decide to discover all that the area has to offer, there’s no doubt that this outdoor activity in Val Cenis will appeal to you as much as it does to us.
Climbing in Val Cenis is not done on a natural rock face, but on an artificial outdoor climbing structure. This is located in the Glières leisure park.
You’ll learn all about vertical evolution. The instructors will be happy to give you tips and tricks to make a sunny morning a unique experience: come and try!
Expect to pay between €40 and €230 for a climbing trip.
MOUNTAIN BIKING
Set in splendid surroundings, it’s sure to be one of the best outdoor activities in Val Cenis. And as soon as you arrive, you’ll quickly realize why: marked trailheads are everywhere in the resort!
Cross-country, enduro, downhill or touring… It doesn’t matter as long as you’ve got a bike. And if you don’t, there are several rental agencies in the heart of the resort.
Our advice? We’re in 2020, so don’t take any chances and go electric! With electric bikes, you’re guaranteed to get the maximum thrills without getting tired.
Rafting
Laughs, splashes and a great group outing: what better way to have fun with friends and family than rafting?
This activity involves paddling down a river in an inflatable boat with a dozen or so people and an experienced guide.
Rafting down the Arc from Termignon to Bramans is a six-kilometre journey through the rapids! If you can swim, rafting is a great way to spend a refreshing afternoon in splendid natural surroundings. Don’t hesitate!
Paddle
Are you looking for a more leisurely way of doing sport, a world away from the extreme sports that are the hallmark of the high mountains?
In this remarkable Savoyard town, this outdoor activity in Val Cenis is a must for any self-respecting visitor.
Lac de Bessans, in the heart of the Vanoise, lends itself perfectly to stand-up paddling! Equipment is available for hire if you don’t already own it.
We recommend that you visit Lac de Bessans between 3pm and 7pm: the temperature is optimal and the light at the end of the day is enchanting…
Winter
Snow sports
Just a few statistics for this outstanding outdoor activity in Val Cenis: 125 km of marked trails, 62 runs including 16 green, 19 blue, 22 red and 5 black. And 28 high-speed lifts: what’s life like in Val Cenis?
In winter, the ski area attracts many novice and experienced skiers. Snowboarders and freestyle enthusiasts are also catered for, with an exceptional snowpark.
The high quality snow cover promises great sessions all year round: so, are you tempted?
Expect to pay between €20 and €70 for this service.
Snakegliss
There’s no doubt about it: this is one of the best outdoor activities in Val Cenis, and you’ll soon see why. Snakegliss consists of hurtling down the slopes on a toboggan track: you’ll go down the Chamois blue run at top speed.
Fun and thrills guaranteed! Held every evening when the slopes close, this activity takes place under the supervision of an instructor, who will make sure you don’t send your little group flying off the slopes…
Meet at the foot of the Vieux Moulin gondola lift, where the last cabin will be reserved for you. Equipped with helmet and sled, participants will enjoy 45 minutes of guaranteed thrills and laughter!
Airboard
We could have just told you about classic getaways, but we’ve decided to share our favorite with you. This is undoubtedly one of the best outdoor activities in Val Cenis.
The airboard is a kind of inflatable sled for hurtling down snow-covered slopes… on your stomach and head first! Adrenalin guaranteed on the green and blue runs, with a vertical drop of 650m.
Will you dare to try it?
Expect to pay around €25 for an airboard ride.
Ice diving
Generation Voyage was won over by this unique adventure, which stands out from all the rest. That’s why we’ve included it in our list of the best outdoor activities to do in Val Cenis.
It’s an ice diving experience in the heart of the Vanoise National Park. If you’re over twelve years old and enjoy extreme sensations, this is for you!
Accessible from the age of twelve, you can admire the enchanting lights just a few meters from the frozen surface of the lake. Pure beauty, we tell you!
Expect to pay around €100 for an afternoon of ice diving.
Nordic skiing
The Val d’Ambin Nordic ski area in Val Cenis offers 29 km of marked trails dedicated entirely to this sport. With free access, you can enjoy cross-country skiing in the middle of the wild Planay valley.
Dotted with larch and fir trees, it boasts beautiful natural lookouts offering splendid views of the Vanoise National Park, its glaciers and snow-capped mountains.
Nordic skiing is a great way to discover the surrounding countryside in a different way: make the most of it during your stay!
Snowshoeing
Do you really want to visit without taking advantage of one of the best outdoor activities in Val Cenis? Wouldn’t that be a shame? Like cross-country skiing, snowshoeing is an opportunity to take your time and devote it to contemplation.
If you wish, we can offer you a unique itinerary: after enjoying an authentic meal in a high-altitude chalet in the company of our mountain guides, you’ll head back down to the village in the moonlight.
In addition to the silence, you’ll be able to spot the tracks of local animals and learn all about the nocturnal life of fascinating endemic species. A true experience!
Icefall
Book your stay here quickly: one of the best outdoor activities in Val Cenis is waiting for you, and many people have set their sights on it.
To climb an icefall is to progress over a beautiful spray of icy water, clinging to it with crampons, ice axes and harness, all secured by pitons planted in the ice.
What’s in it for you? Share a unique experience with your family and friends, and feel like a seasoned himalayist… reassured, of course, by the presence of a state-certified instructor!
Prices for an ice climbing trip range from 170€ to 340€.
Sled dogs
Lapland is far away. AndAlaska, even more so: don’t worry, head for Val Cenis!
You’ll have the opportunity to experience a unique moment in the comfort of a sled steered by an experienced pilot (the famous musher).
Traction is provided by a pack of eight to ten Nordic dogs, who will be delighted to guide you through the snowy Vanoise landscape. How about it?