Meet at 5.45pm at Chambéry-Challes les Eaux station (transfer booked on registration) or directly at the Hotel*** Le Beau Site (04 38 02 10 12) in St Pierre de Chartreuse in the late afternoon, if you are coming by bus or car. Presentation of the week by your guide, followed by dinner.

Participants meet in St Pierre d'Entremont, dressed in hiking clothes, with your rucksack ready, water in your bottle and hiking boots to hand.

For the first picnic together, and in addition to our preparations, it is appreciated if each participant brings one of the specialities from his or her region of origin, to start the hike with a fruitful cultural exchange. Depending on the weather and snow conditions, there are several possible routes to (re)familiarise yourself with the joys of snowshoe trekking. We climb the Col du Cucheron (1215 m), the gateway to the Désert d'Entremont plateau. The Italian side of Mont-Blanc can be seen through the gap in the Col du Granier. Overnight in the hamlet of Désert d'Entremont.

Difference in altitude: + 620 m, - 120 m Length: 9 km Time: 3 h 30 min

This day is devoted to discovering some of the many hamlets of St Pierre de Chartreuse. The commune is very large, with over fifty hamlets. We start by descending and crossing the valley of the Guiers Mort before climbing the slope leading to Mollard Bellet, ideally situated on its ridge. You will learn to recognise the typical Chartroussine architecture of the houses and barns. Via the hamlets of Gontière and Marchandière, we reach the church of St Hugues (880 m) for a visit. This collection of contemporary sacred art is unique in that a single artist, Arcabas, entirely decorated and fitted out the church, from the paintings, stained glass and sculptures to the candelabras and altar. We then climb up through the forest to reach Pierre Mesure (1080 m). We finish the hike on the small plateau of Martinière and La Diat before heading back up to St Pierre de Chartreuse.

Difference in altitude: + 560 m, - 560 m Length: 12 km Time: 4 h

We start from the Chalets du Charmant Som (1670 m). We'll be discovering the thousand and one secret facets of this well-known Chartreuse summit. After a short climb over the mountain pasture, we enter a beautiful coombe with exuberant vegetation. Then it's time for the real ascent via the Pré Batard mountain pasture. From Chamechine onwards, the scenery is breathtaking, with a mountain atmosphere: spectacular cliffs, views over the Guiers plain, discovery of the Grande Chartreuse monastery valley, etc. What's more, it's not unusual to spot a few chamois with binoculars, taking in this wild and little-travelled area.

The climb culminates at the summit of Charmant Som (1867 m). The 360-degree view is spectacular, with all the Chartreuse peaks, the Vercors, Oisans, Bauges and Mont Blanc on the horizon. We return to our starting point among the herds of peaceful Tarine cows that graze the mountain pastures in summer.

Difference in altitude: + 550 m, - 550 m Length: 7 km Time: 4 h

Well-being session at the end of the afternoon: Relaxing massage or facial treatment or half-hour scrub and sauna for the first group / Unlimited balneotherapy (sauna, outdoor hot tubs, rest under the yurt) for the second group.

We cross the Col du Cucheron separating the St Pierre de Chartreuse valley from the Vallée des Entremonts and climb to the Cirque de St Même (860 m). The Vallée des Entremonts is unique in that it straddles two départements: Isère and Savoie. This dates back to the time when the valley was divided between the Kingdom of France and the Duchy of Savoie: the Guiers Vif, which rises in the heart of the Cirque de St Même, marked the border. From one bank to the other, we'll make our way up the various waterfalls to the impressive Grotte du Guiers Vif. This is where the river rises after a long underground journey. During the day, you can visit the Tourist Office in La Vallée des Entremont, where the Chartreuse Regional Nature Park Relais is located, as well as a very interesting exhibition of local crafts. Before heading home, we'll take a look at the ruins of the Château du Gouvernement, the former residence of the Counts of Montbel and a magnificent viewpoint over the Entremonts Valley.

Difference in altitude: + 400 m, - 400 m Length: 9 km Time: 3 h 30 min

Well-being session at the end of the afternoon: unlimited balneotherapy for all (sauna, outdoor hot tubs, rest under the yurt).

On this final day, we'll be exploring a magnificent Espace Naturel Sensible (sensitive natural area) adjacent to the Hauts de Chartreuse nature reserve. This is a seasonal protection zone for the black grouse. As soon as we arrived at the Col du Coq (1434 m), we were in the mood, dominated by the impressive south face of the Dent de Crolles. But that won't be our objective for the day. We take a gentle path under the forest canopy to discover the mountain pasture and habert (sheepfold) at Pravouta (1605 m). We walk around the mountain pasture to reach the twin peaks of Roc d'Arguille (11,768 m) and Pravouta (1,760 m). These are magnificent vantage points overlooking the Dent de Crolles. We return via the Col des Ayes (1538 m) to our starting point. End of the trip in St Pierre de Chartreuse at 4pm or 5:30pm (transfer to Chambéry station booked in advance).

Difference in altitude: + 400 m, - 400 m Length: 10 km Time: 3 h 30 min