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Nature at Les Karellis, an undisputed queen
A green escape into nature
Relax in a larger-than-life playground. But beware: the Maurienne will not leave you unscathed. Climb the Pain de Sucre for the kind of walk we love, and admire the Cascade de l'Enfer along the way. Follow the ibex to the Grand Perron des Encombres for a hike with a panoramic view of Mont Blanc as your reward.
The Gros Melèze
Stroll through the great larch forests, and don't miss the doyen: the Gros Mélèze. It has watched over the commune of Montricher-Albanne for 600 years. Stroll through the large coniferous forests, which give the walk a taste of throat candy. In the Rival forest, you can spot hinds, deer, roe deer and foxes. There's nothing more to say about Les Karellis: we love nature in the valley!
Vanoise National Park
The resort of Les Karellis is about an hour from the Vanoise National Park, which links the Maurienne and Tarentaise valleys. It covers 55,300 hectares of prodigious geological wealth. Initially created to protect the Alpine ibex, the park now oversees the protection of numerous animal and plant species. 224 in all!
A Technicolor nature experience
The flora here dazzles with its 2860 plant species and 33 natural habitats. Venture along its marked trails and inhale scents you've never smelled before. Feel the caress of the tall grasses on your calves, listen to the crystalline song of the torrents tumbling down the glaciers, under the benevolent gaze of Grande Casse, which culminates at 3855 meters.
Need to reconnect with nature? If sight and smell aren't enough, follow mountain guide Thierry Bardagi on a 3-hour barefoot hike. Introduce yourself to Qi Gong with him, and reactivate your links with the forces of Gaia.
Nature at 360° in Les Karellis
If you're an experienced sportsman, take the opportunity to climb the Col de la Croix de Fer. From Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, the route is 28 km long. Not even scared? Well, we haven't told you everything: the positive altitude difference is 1,537 metres. At that price, we hope it's worth it. Spoiler: it is. From up there, you'll have the best vantage point for admiring the Aiguilles d'Arves reflected in the lakes. You'll never have seen paradise so close up. Among the glaciers in the Maurienne region is the Pic de l'Etendard, which rises to 3465 meters. While you're at the Col de la Croix de Fer, why not make a detour?
The lakes of the Maurienne
What would the valley be without its enchanting lakes? Lac du Mont-Cenis struts its stuff at an altitude of 2,000 metres, enveloped in a procession of endemic flowers. Lac des Cerces has also chosen a royal setting. It is crowned by the Aiguilles d'Arves, at an altitude of 2410 metres. Whether at the foot of the glaciers or just a stone's throw from the vacation village, if you're looking for lakes, you'll find them everywhere. The Pramol lake is popular with fishermen; for swimming, we recommend the Hurtières lake.
