Guide
Beaufortain and Aravis Guide
Compare Beaufortain and the Aravis for pastoral valleys, cheese-country villages, scenic passes and a softer French Alps route.
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Quick facts
- Best time
- Pass outings require confirmed seasonal access; plan winter around a village stay
- Recommended duration
- 2 nights for one full day
- Budget range
- Low: 80-135 EUR/person/day · Mid: 150-280 EUR/person/day · Comfort: 350+ EUR/person/day
- With kids
- Yes
Orientation
Combine Beaufort and Roselend
Choose Beaufortain or the Aravis as a distinct base. La Clusaz and Le Grand-Bornand fit the Annecy side; Beaufort and Arêches suit travel towards Albertville or Tarentaise.
Budget bands are editorial base-cost estimates per person per day for two adults sharing a room, including meals and shared vehicle or local transport costs. Flights, mountain railways, boats, guided activities and hut nights require separate pricing.
For two nights I would stay within one mountain area. A village morning and a suitable scenic road offer more than collecting every pass.
Alex Travels · TravelHighlights.io
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Map
Guide map
- Beaufortain and Aravis Guide
Mini itinerary
- 1Day 1: arrive in Beaufort/Arêches or La Clusaz/Le Grand-Bornand.
- 2Day 2: Roselend with open access in Beaufortain, or an Aravis village day with a suitable Col des Aravis outing.
- 3Day 3: continue on a checked valley or pass connection.
Interactive packing list
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Planning notes
Avoid These Common Mistakes
Plan the shorter version honestly
Omit this chapter if only a transfer afternoon remains between Annecy and Chamonix.
Check the specific outing
Choose a village walk and a short drive with a set turning point. A reservoir is not automatically a swimming spot.
Travel planning answers
Planning questions
How much time does this plan allow?+
Choose Beaufortain or the Aravis as a distinct base. La Clusaz and Le Grand-Bornand fit the Annecy side; Beaufort and Arêches suit travel towards Albertville or Tarentaise.
What should be omitted with less time?+
Omit this chapter if only a transfer afternoon remains between Annecy and Chamonix.
What matters with children?+
Choose a village walk and a short drive with a set turning point. A reservoir is not automatically a swimming spot.
Worth it / Skip if
Worth it
Choose Beaufortain or the Aravis as a distinct base. La Clusaz and Le Grand-Bornand fit the Annecy side; Beaufort and Arêches suit travel towards Albertville or Tarentaise.
Skip if
Omit this chapter if only a transfer afternoon remains between Annecy and Chamonix.
With kids
Choose a village walk and a short drive with a set turning point. A reservoir is not automatically a swimming spot.
Budget range
Low
80-135 EUR/person/day
Mid
150-280 EUR/person/day
Comfort
350+ EUR/person/day
Guide details
Combine Beaufort and Roselend
Start with time in Beaufort before heading to Roselend. The tourist office describes access via Beaufort or from Bourg-Saint-Maurice over Cormet de Roselend; sections are narrow and winter access is unavailable. Check the current road bulletin. Swimming and independent water sports are prohibited on the reservoir.
Choose the Aravis from Annecy
La Clusaz and Le Grand-Bornand are alternative places to stay, not compulsory stops on one day. From La Clusaz, assess Col des Aravis as a separate road outing. In poor visibility, stay in the village and move the viewpoint plan rather than sending the whole next transfer onto smaller roads for a pass name.
Make the pass crossing visible in your transfer
A line towards Bourg-Saint-Maurice may represent a seasonal high road or a longer valley journey. Save the actual connection and an open alternative. Two nights provide one full day; a separate hiking day needs three. Cheese shopping and village time fit before departure more easily than after an already lengthy road circuit.
Sources and onward planning
Arêches-Beaufort Tourism · La Clusaz Tourism. Savoie and Haute-Savoie itinerary.
Sources & Last updated
Last updated: 2026-09-07
Sources
- Arêches-Beaufort Tourism: Specific visitor context used in the linked planning guidance; route allocation is editorial.(checked: 2026-09-07)
- La Clusaz Tourism: Specific visitor context used in the linked planning guidance; route allocation is editorial.(checked: 2026-09-07)
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