The Tour des Glaciers de la Vanoise is an incredible adventure, but sometimes things don’t go as planned—and that’s okay! Whether you need a quick escape, a shortcut to save time, or a smoother way to navigate the logistics, this guide has you covered. From transport tips to exit points, you’ll always have a way to adjust your journey without missing out on the experience.
For detailed information on how to get to Pralognan-la-Vanosie the starting point for the Tour des Glaciers de la Vanoise please see here: Getting To Your Adventure: Tour des Glaciers de la Vanoise
Public transport / shortcut options
Village shuttle to La Fontanette (Day 1):
A local shuttle bus runs several times a day from the centre of Pralognan-la-Vanoise to the La Fontanette parking area. This allows you to bypass the very steep uphill section at the start of Day 1, saving roughly 270 m of elevation gain and a fair bit of knee strain.
Timetable and details:Â https://mairiepralognan.fr/transports-navettes/
Télésiège du Génépi chairlift (Day 1):
From the Parking des Fontanettes, you can take the Génépi chairlift, which saves approximately 370 m of ascent. This is a popular option for hikers looking to shorten the first climb or conserve energy for later days.
Operating period: variable during summer, usually late June to early September, with continuous daily operation in peak season.
Opening hours: 08:30–12:45 and 13:30–17:00
Price: €18.00 per uphill ride
Always check daily opening status, as lift operations are weather-dependent.
Emergency exit via Aussois (Day 3):
In the event of emergency, it is possible to descend using the Grand Jeu chairlift down to the village of Aussois. From Aussois, the regional S52 bus provides regular connections to Modane, which has a major train station on the international rail line (connections toward Chambéry, Turin, and beyond).
This is one of the easiest and most reliable exit points from the route.
Bus access to Refuge de l’Orgère (Day 4):
The Refuge de l’Orgère is accessible by public bus during peak summer season, which can be useful for shortening stages, starting late, or exiting early.
Line 1 operates daily from July 1st to August 31st on the route Modane – Valfréjus – La Norma – Polset – Orgère.
Fare: €2.50 one way / €4.00 return
Schedules:Â https://hmvt.download/SitesWeb/hmv-guide-mobilite-ete.pdf
Taxis can also reach the refuge, though prices are high and availability can be limited in high season.
Shuttle bus from Les Prioux to Pralognan-la-Vanoise (Day 6):
At the end of the route, there is the option to take a shuttle bus from Les Prioux back to Pralognan-la-Vanoise instead of walking the final valley section. This is a convenient way to avoid a long, low-interest road walk at the end of the trek.
Distance saved: approximately 5 km / 300 m descent / around 1.5 hours of walking.
Information and schedules: https://www.pralognan.com/en/prestataire/summer-shuttle-buses-les-prioux-and-les-fontanettes-654027/
Taxi Suppliers:
