Travel book · Alpes du Nord

Dog-sledding taster in the Mont-Blanc region

By the AEC Collection team Updated on 28 May 2026 3 min read

The sleds depart from the Croix-Saint-Bernard plateau, above Le Bettex, in the Saint-Gervais sector. Direct view of the Mont-Blanc range: to the east, the Aiguille de Bionnassay and the Dôme du Goûter; to the west, Mont Joly and the Pointe Percée. Harnessed dogs await the musher’s brake. At 9am, the silence of the plateau is broken by the sharp crack of the trace ropes.

The dog-sledding taster in the Mont-Blanc region is one of the most sought-after off-piste activities in the French Northern Alps. Megève, Saint-Gervais and Les Contamines host half a dozen professional operators, some established since the 1990s, others more recently. The geography of the massif, with vast high-altitude plateaux and hard snow from January to March, is exceptionally well-suited to driving sled teams.

The dogs and the teams

The sled teams combine three major Nordic breeds. The Siberian husky, the best known, for its agility and endurance. The Alaskan malamute, more powerfully built, for heavy hauling. The Greenland Inuit dog, rarer in France, for robustness. A few mushers also use mixed-breed dogs of indeterminate pedigree known as Alaskan huskies: selected for performance rather than breed purity, these are the dogs of long-distance races like the Iditarod.

A taster sled team consists of six to eight dogs. The two at the front (leaders) know the course and anticipate voice commands. The two at the rear (wheelers) provide pulling power. The dogs in the middle (swing dogs) maintain the pace. A full team takes two to three years to train before commercial outings.

Available formats

Three formats are offered in the Mont-Blanc region.

The 30-minute introduction is accessible to children from four years old accompanied by an adult. Short loop on the plateau, moderate speed, introduction to the dogs on arrival. Budget €50 to €80 per passenger depending on the operator.

The 1.5-hour outing traverses high-altitude hamlets (Le Bettex, la Combe d’Olomont). Higher speed on flat sections, photo stop mid-route. The favourite format for adult enthusiasts. €90 to €140 per passenger.

The 3-hour half-day reaches a refuge or mountain hut (depending on the operator: Refuge du Truc, Refuge des Prés, hameau de Bionnassay), with lunch included in the package. Budget €200 to €320 per passenger.

Driving yourself

Some operators offer supervised independent sled driving: an experienced client drives their own sled whilst the professional musher follows alongside. Format reserved for adults who have completed a prior 30-minute theory session. Available for half-days, rarely for full days.

Megève

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What to wear

As a passenger: warm, stationary. The sled moves and cold rushes in. Three layers minimum, thick gloves, hat, sunglasses or goggles for downhill speeds. A fleece blanket is generally provided by the musher. Keep both feet warm (après-ski style ski boots work well).

As a driver: more mobile on the runners, you warm up quickly climbing. Three layers including one with a zip for ventilation. Technical gloves (finger sensitivity), removable fleece.

Practical information

Advance reservation recommended; school holidays sell out three weeks ahead. Weather: outings are cancelled in the event of storms, thick fog, or temperatures above 5°C (dog fatigue). Weather cancellation: full refund.

Season: 15 December to end of March, sometimes through to 15 April depending on snow conditions.