Local Itineraries

In and around Sainte Foy

You don’t need to travel very far afield from Sainte Foy Tarentaise in the summer to find an adventure to suit everyone of all ages. Local to Sainte Foy are enough activities to leave you wishing you could stay longer.

Plan d’eau: cycle, swim, picnic (or barbeque)

Visiting the Plan d’eau in Aime is a great day out for the family. There is a natural lake for swimming that has a cafe, sandpit, high ropes course and play ground. There are also barbeque areas and ready made barbeque pits.

The plan d’eau can be reached either by road or via the ‘no-cars’ cycle and foot path which follows the Isère river. Travel by car if you want to set up a picnic spot for the day at the Plan d’eau with a stop at the local supermarket in Bourg Saint Maurice to pick up charcoal or wood as well as your picnic food.

Alternatively the pretty cycle route alongside the Isère river is relatively flat and can be enjoyed by the whole family, including younger children. If you don’t have bikes you can hire them in Bourg Saint Maurice. The ride is about 12km each way and there are plenty of cafes along the route for those that don’t fancy the picnic or barbeque idea.

Whichever you choose, don’t forget swimming costumes and towels, as a cool off in the lake will be most welcome.

Monal: walk (or mountain bike) & picnic

Walking path from Monal to Sainte Foy Picnic beside the river Stunning Views from Monal

Walk or mountain bike from Sainte Foy the 5km up to the award winning village of Monal or take a car part of the way and walk the last 2km. A stunning summer paradise with fields of pretty wild flowers, rustic farm buildings, bubbling brooks and amazing views of the Mont Pourri glacier on the opposite side of the valley.

There are plenty of places alongside the river to lay out a blanket and soak up the mountain scenery whilst enjoying a picnic and perhaps a glass of wine or two. You can also visit the local fromagerie, buy locally made cheeses and see the process by which they are made. For those that don’t want to bother with a picnic there is a mountain refuge where you can buy a simple lunch of local produce.

There’s also a natural climbing wall for those that fancy taking up a harness and ropes.

Le Crot / Refuge du Ruitor: walk & lunch

Walking to the Ruitor Refuge Summer walking paths are marked mountain walks

A beautiful walk from the hamlet of Le Masure (you can drive to the start point) up through the valley to the tiny hamlet of Le Crot (a ski through destination in the winter months). This is under 3km walk, but it is worth going on up to the Refuge du Ruitor (another 5km) to have a drink and a snack and then return for a well earned lunch to the Restaurant at Le Crot. Sit at the garden tables and enjoy a rustic mountain lunch and listen to the sound of the river running by.

Bourg Saint Maurice: Water sports & local Market

Water sport on the river at Bourg Saint Maurice Hydrospeeding at Bourg Saint Maurice Visit the Market in Bourg Sainte Maurice

The home of rafting, canoeing & hydrospeed (swimming with flippers and a sturdy float). Travel down the Isère river the 15km to Aime with a professional watersports guide. They will supply wetsuits and all the necessary gear. Great fun for all the family. Then some relaxation and a well earned lunch at the rafting centre cafe. For those that don’t quite fancy the watersports, a visit to Bourg High Street for some retail therapy is recommended. If you are there on a Saturday there is the market with lots of local produce to be enjoyed.

Local & Iconic Cols for Cycling

Iconic Tour de France Routes are on our doorstep 3 to 4 of them within easy reach for a day trip. Beautiful, epic and definitely should be on your bucket list if you love road biking. Be warned though, once you’ve ridden these world class routes, your cycling experience will never be the same again. They are really special and all so very different. For more information see our Summer Day Trips Page as each col is a single day adventure.