• A preserved mountain area...
  ibex (bouquetins), chamois (mountain goats), marmottes, eagles, beautiful villages with traditional architecture, mountain flowers, alpine forests and a captivating history and geography.
• A precise schedule...
  either our set programme from 2 to 10 days, or a programme decided with you to suit your requirements
• A structure with experience and quality...
  On the border of the Vanoise National Park the CIS has a spacious interior and exterior a restaurant service, a transport service, a mountain guide service etc……
• Competent staff at your disposal...
  A coordinator for school trips, a team of mountain guides, a friendly and available administrative team.

A former centre for initiation in the environment, the CIS 'Maison de la Montagne' has specialized in welcoming school discovery and nature holidays on the edge of the Vanoise National Park for more than fifteen years.

Full board at the CIS

• Accommodation in 3 or 4 bedded rooms
• Suitable meals (cheese course and dessert, picnic on request)
• A classroom and equipment at your disposition
• A coordinator to organise your holiday

Optional activities

You can organise a schedule which suits your requirements. Take a look and choose from the possibilities described below as day activities or half day activities and we'll send you a quote.

Day activities

• Discover the Ibex (bouquetins)
• Hike in the National Park
• Hike in the Mont Cenis Pass and see the Mont Cenis lake
• Discover the villages in the high valley
• Discover the life in the prairies
• ...

Half day activities

• Discover the forest
• Learn about the manufacture of Beaufort cheese
• Learn to make home made bread
• Discover the bee kingdom
• Search for minerals
• Search for medicinal plants
• Visit the Baroque history exhibition
• Mountain bike on the 'Petit bonheur' path
• Climbing
• Orientation course
• ...

Half day sport

• Mountain biking on the path of "Petit-Bonheur"
• Rock climbing
• Orientation race
• Adventure park
• Canyoning
• Via ferrata

3 days/2 nights discovery holiday includes:

• A full day in the National Park with a picnic at a mountain hut…
• A visit to a village with traditional architecture
• A walk in the Mont Cenis forest with a study of the landscape

5 days discovery holiday

• Day 1 : a walk with an introduction to the mountain environment, the Lanslebourg forest and the 'Petit Bonheur' path with a study of the landscape.
• Day 2 : discover the fauna with the ibex (bouquetins) on the 'Plateau du Mauvais Berger'·
• Day 3 : visit to the dairy where Beaufort is manufactured; hike to a mountain hut in the National Park and evening and night in the hut.

• Day 4 : return to the Centre and initiation in rock climbing, slide show in the evening.
• Day 5 : discover the Mont Cenis pass and lake, the history, the life in the prairies and the flora of the Mont Cenis.

Sports programmes

• Climbing programme
  Discovery programme combined with 3 half days of rock climbing
• Hiking and mountain biking
  Discovery programme combined with mountain biking

Discovery programme with special themes

• The Olympics and the National Park
  Discovery programme in two locations: Albertville (for the Olympics) and Lanslebourg for the Vanoise National Park.
• Discovery programme plus the following modules :
  how to make bread, the bee kingdom, farm products, medicinal plants.

Special programmes for first school children

These programmes were conceived especially for the youngest school age children, they take into consideration the rhythm and special interests of this age group. You can opt for a three day /two night programme or 5 days / 4 nights

• a free invitation to visit the CIS for a day or a weekend (valid for two people)
• an information pack with all you require to organise the trip
• a CD-Rom with added information to help you
• assistance from our coordinator to plan your programme and organise the trip