The Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc

The Grande Odyssée Savoie-Mont Blanc is the world’s most challenging international dog sled race. It brings together each year 20 of the best mushers on the planet. Through the Savoie and Haute-Savoie, these cold weather athletes travel 1,000km in 9 stages and achieve over 30,000m of altitude thanks to 300 exceptional dogs (huskies from Siberia and Alaska).

On foot, snowshoes or skis, spectators watch the passing of the teams by day and by night. They can also follow the mushers on screens or live on the event’s official website. But the Grande Odyssée is also an opportunity to attend events in a magical polar atmosphere in the 22 resorts and villages participating in the celebration.

The programme of this 15th edition, in each of the 12 stations:

Saturday 12 January - To Samoens
After a busy morning in the villages, the mushers will make a tour on the side of Morillon and across its beautiful blue lake, before arriving to fireworks in Samoëns in the evening.

Sunday 13 January - Stage 1 at Praz de Lys Sommand and Montagnes du Giffres
Departure at 10.15am from the Praz de Lys de Sommand station, traversing the Col de la Ramaz and returning to Praz by the start of the afternoon. On site will be the initial prizegiving and a children’s odyssey.

Monday 14 January - Stage 2 at Giffre Mountains and the Grand Massif
A stage mostly concentrated in Morillon and in the Nordic centre of Agy, with an eventual arrival at Samoens Les Saix for the awards ceremony.

Tuesday 15 January - Step 3 in Les Gets
Departure from the village of Les Gets, passing the Perys, taking in the coast of the snow front and arriving on the resort’s snow front for the awards ceremony.

Wednesday 16 January - Stage 4 in Megève
Departure from the Place de la Resistance in Megève village, continuing on the paths of the Golf, next to the hamlet of Le Lait and the Chalet de la Livraz, before finishing at Cote 2000.

Thursday 17 January - Stage 5 in Pralognan la Vanoise
Departure from the centre of the village of Pralognan la Vanoise. The sledges will pass the Nordic Plateau, the Vacanciel Bridge, the Fontanettes, the Alpine Snow Front and Mount Bochor, before returning to the starting point for the awards ceremony.

Savoie Mont Blanc