Bourg-Saint-Maurice – An Active Holiday Guide

Active things to do in Bourg-Saint-Maurice

Mountain Biking

Bourg-Saint-Maurice. With plenty of winding mountain trails to suit all level of rider, mountain biking in Bourg-Saint-Maurice is a popular pastime. Take on the Traversee du Beaufortain which entails a 60km ride ending in Albertville. Enjoy a shorter 29km, relatively flat ride around the Balcon de Tarentaise where you can enjoy lush greenery and a pretty lake. Experienced riders should take on the Pass of the Petit Saint Bernard, which has one of the steepest passes to climb at more than 2000m of altitude!

Les Arcs Bike Park

Beginners to mountain biking should start with the fun trail in the Mille8 centre at the bottom of the Les Villard’s telecabin in Arc 1800. Here you can enjoy forest and meadow trails for a fun ride. Endurance riders can tackle one of 5 endurance routes amounting to 68km in distance. Other routes include; 8 downhill rides, 2 cross country circuits, 1 fun trail and 7 links. A freestyle zone can be found in Arc 1600 alongside 7 practice parks from beginner to advanced.

Route 66 – One of the world’s longest enduro trails

Strap on your back pack and spend the whole day riding the 30km trail of Route 66. Here you will pass through the pastures of the Arc Valley, travel alongside the resort of Arc 1950, continue downhill through the forest at the edge of the Hauts de Villaroger nature reserve, travel along the Isere and tackle a steep climb before arriving in Bourg-Saint-Maurice.

Beaufortain

Mountain biking doesn’t get more exciting than on the trails of Beaufortain. 400km of tracks snake through the mountain ranges, alongside 100 km of enduro trails and 12 slopes of challenging descents for levels green to black. 300 km of cross-country routes and marked hiking trails make this area one of the most prolific in the mountain biker community.

Rafting

Rafting in Bourg-Saint-Maurice is an electrifying experience for all levels of ability. Start at basecamp on the famous Isere River situated in the Valley of the Tarentaise in the Savoie. Choose from an epic 5 day adventure or shorter half day, whole day or weekend. The Doron de Bozel is accessible in the summer months due to the melting of the glaciers which run into the river.

The Val d’Aoste and the Dora Balte are also popular rivers to raft. Choose to experience a range of watersport activities including; the canoe-raft, hydrospeed or kayak and various levels of course amongst wild and beautiful landscapes.

Skiing and snowboarding

Head to Paradiski, to experience some of the largest and most famous ski areas in the world. 70% of the ski runs are over 2000 metres long and a world class artificial snow system is on offer. Being the gateway to the Vanoise National Park, Paradiski enjoys a panoramic backdrop of the stunning peaks of Mont Blanc and Pierra Menta.

Hop on the funicular railway to ride between the slopes of the vast Paradiski area. The Vanoise Express (world’s largest cable car), rides between the massifs of the three resorts in just four minutes in a luxury, spacious cabin with glass bottomed views.

Rock Climbing

Le Monal

Aim to visit here in the best conditions between April-June and September-November. The scenery is picture perfect with alpine chalets, craggy stone walls, tiny lakes and gold leafed larch trees scattered about.

Rochefleur

Best visited between May and October, the terrain here is challenging ranging from vertical slabs, overhangs and dihedral points. Check out the climbing school at Arcs 1600 for help with equipment and stunning views over the valley.

Falaise de Versondane

Located next to the small hamlet of Le Villaret, climbing the Falaise de Versondane is best between April-June and September-November. Enjoy slabs and vertical points around challenging climbs.

Pont de Bourg-Saint-Maurice

Tackle slabs and vertical points over 10 and 25 routes from 6a and 6b. Avid climbers will love these craggy routes and certainly get a sweat on.

Via Ferrata

Via Ferrata des Rochers du Vent. For a real challenge, take a whole day to conquer the Via Ferrata des Rochers du Vent. Climb through difficult terrain while enjoying views of the Mont Blanc and Roseland Lake. Jump onto the Nepalese Bridge, descend into a canyon and discover a tunnel dug before the war.

Hiking

Choose from 31 hiking trails in Bourg-Saint-Maurice, ranging from easy family walks to challenging, high-exertion hikes. Experience a range of terrain from mountain pasture, rocky outcrops, high mountains and lush woodland.

An experienced walker would love the Col de L’Ouillon walk which is 5 hours one way along border with Italy. You’ll enjoy stunning views of the Haute Tarentaise Valley, the resort of Les Arcs, the Bellecote Massif, Aiguille du Clapet, Roc de Belleface and Mont Miravadi.

A bit more accessible is the hike up to the Col du Breuil (2879m) from the Pont de Chezari (2047m) car park. It’s a straightforward 8.5 km walk up to the Italian border and back. You’ll experience some spectacular high-mountain scenery and stunning views back down to the valley below.

If you’re looking for a loop to do with the family, try the Circuit des Lacs in Arc 2000. You can park next to the Club Med and follow the Circuit des Lacs waymarked trail. The walk takes in 3 lakes – lac de l’Homme, lac Marloup and lac de Moutons, and takes about 3 hours. Throughout, you’ll have breathtaking views of the mountains, including the Bellecôte range, the Aiguille Rouge (3227 m) and the Italian side of the Mont-Blanc.

For guided walks and greater insights into the local area you can join a walking tour with the Guides at de Haute Montagne. And remember, you’re in the Vanoise National Park, so there’s a chance you’ll spot wildlife like marmottes, black grouse and chamois.

Paragliding

Bourg-Saint-Maurice has plenty of places to paraglide in and around the area. Whether you are experienced or a complete beginner you will be able to enjoy the sensation of flight. Beginners should hook up with one of the many paragliding schools to experience a tandem paragliding session with an experienced instructor.

Beginners to advanced paraglider’s can develop their skills at the Arcs en Ciel Paragliding School in Bourg-Saint-Maurice, in the heart of the Haute Tarenteise Valley. If you’re paragliding on your own, make sure you check the signs at each take off point, due to some spots being closed at certain times of the year due to weather conditions.