How about trying cani-tourism?

Head to the heights of the Savoy resort of Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise and take part in a walk with the Greenland dogs.

“Hey everyone, I’m going to give you safety instructions and let you approach the dogs. Thomas Espitalier is a musher. He keeps his dogs at his Tanaka Camp farm in Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise, Savoie. “We have a Patoon, a dog from Greenland, we can clearly see his physiology, a big dog, pointed ears, a big muzzle is almost the same, but softer, sharper and lower.”

When the weather is nice, Thomas organizes cani-randos, hikes where you are tethered to the dog, thanks to a belt attached around the waist. “So the interest is to have assistance when walking. On the same principle as an electric bicycle, we produce an effort to move forward, we still have to walk. We will be able to walk faster with less fatigue. And therefore be able to go a little further than if we just walked, and then it is also the pleasure of contact with an animal.”

You must bring good hiking shoes and a water bottle. And remember the instructions: speak calmly to the dogs, don’t shout and don’t run next to them.

And right from the start, we are surprised by the speed and fluidity with which we ascend the first meters. The feeling of moving forward effortlessly. During the walk that takes us along the forest paths of the Tarentaise, we apply the guidelines with our furry companions: “So you have to say ‘up’ to start, ‘stop’ to stop.

Under the eye of Tarot, the musher St. Bernard who oversees the team! And on downhills, we feel like we’ll fly away when we trot at the same pace as a dog! Cardio is in full swing! “But you can’t go too fast or the dog will run and you’ll slide down.” Thomas warned.

Then a refreshing break by the river while the dogs drink water. The ride takes more than two hours. Refreshing… It ends with a cuddle with the Greenland dogs.

IN PRACTICE

Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise Tourist Office