Parc national de la Vanoise
Created in 1963 to save the last alpine ibex, the Vanoise is France's oldest national park — 535 km² of protected wilderness whose western gateway sits a short hike from Courchevel.
What the park gives you
The bouquetin sanctuary
~2,000 ibex · Year-round
The Vanoise exists because the alpine ibex nearly didn't — by 1963 fewer than 50 survived in France. Today around 2,000 roam the park, with the densest population on the cliffs above the Col de la Vanoise. Dawn and dusk are the prime sighting hours.
Lacs Merlet
From Courchevel · 3 h walk in
Two glacial lakes at 2,450 m, accessed from the Pralong or Le Praz via the Lac de la Rosière. Refuge des Lacs Merlet serves lunch; advance booking is essential in July and August.
Col de la Vanoise (2,517 m)
Classic crossing · Pralognan side
The historic pack-trail between the Tarentaise and Maurienne valleys, with the Refuge Félix Faure perched on the col. A long but achievable day from a Pralognan base — the most-walked path in the park.
Park rangers (gardes-moniteurs)
Free walks · July–August
Salaried park rangers run free guided walks in summer — wildlife, geology, alpine flora, glaciology. Programme published by the Parc national de la Vanoise each May; book through the Courchevel tourist office.
Refuges & multi-day routes
FFCAM · Booking required
Twelve manned refuges sit inside the park boundary. The 7-day Tour des Glaciers de la Vanoise is the great multi-day route; shorter 2–3 day options link Courchevel to Pralognan, Champagny and Termignon.
Frequently asked
Do you need a permit to enter the Vanoise National Park?
No. Access is free and unrestricted on the official trails. But the park rules apply — no dogs, no drones, no bicycles, no off-trail walking in fragile zones, no flower-picking, and absolute silence around wildlife.
What animals will I actually see?
Alpine ibex (bouquetin) and chamois are common in the upper valleys. Marmots are everywhere from June. Golden eagles and bearded vultures (gypaètes) are regular sightings. Wolves have returned to the area but are rarely seen by walkers.
Can you stay overnight inside the park?
Only in the twelve official manned refuges (open mid-June to mid-September) or in designated bivouac zones — and only between 7 PM and 9 AM, with a single small tent. Camping is otherwise forbidden inside the park boundary.
How do you get from Courchevel into the park?
On foot, in roughly 90 minutes from the top of the Saulire gondola. By road, via Bozel and Pralognan-la-Vanoise to the eastern park entrance — about 45 minutes' drive.