Opinel as seen by Fabrice Weber

Let’s meet Fabrice Weber, a hiking tour designer at Chamina Voyages.

For more than 40 years, Chamina Voyages has been designing hiking and cycling holidays across France and Europe, driven by one conviction: the best way to discover a region is to explore it at your own pace. Today, the agency is partnering with the Opinel Museum to offer a brand-new 4-day itinerary in the Maurienne Valley, combining hiking, local heritage and traditional expertise. The highlight of the trip is Opinel Day, an immersive experience that invites travellers to discover the history of the iconic Savoyard knife.

Could you introduce yourself in a few words?

My name is Fabrice Weber, and I’m 53 years old. I started my career as a mountain guide, and I’ve never really left the field.

What has always driven me: nature, sport and sharing experiences.

Tell us about your role at Chamina Voyages

I design hiking and cycling tours. In practical terms, I set out to find the best routes for exploring a region, and I select local partners who share our values: accommodation providers, guides and craftspeople. This is what guarantees our customers a high-quality experience, from the first trail to the last meal.

How did the idea for a holiday centred around the world of Opinel come about?

Our nature holidays are always enriched by the discovery of local heritage and craftsmanship. And, in my view, the Opinel is the quintessential hiking tool. We’re lucky that it originated in the Maurienne and is still made in Savoie: the guided day out at the Opinel museum fitted perfectly into this holiday.

If you had to sum up the Maurienne in three words?

Authentic: its peaks have retained their wild spirit and the valley remains true to its traditions.

Panoramic: whether from the meadows or the high mountain passes, there are always jagged peaks to admire.

Cycling: Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne is regarded as the capital of cycle touring, steeped in the history of the Tour de France.

What’s your fondest memory from putting this holiday together?

Delving into over a century of Opinel knife history and meeting Maxime Opinel, the museum’s director. When expertise has been passed down within the same family for so long, you can really sense it in the way they talk about it.

Why would you recommend this trip?

It’s a short break that’s easily accessible by train from Lyon or Paris, allowing you to spend a long weekend in the mountains, combining culture and physical activity. Not to mention the high-quality accommodation, because walking well starts with a good night’s sleep. Or vice versa.

What’s your favourite spot on the route?

More than just one spot, it’s the Aiguilles d’Arves: they come into view at various points along the route, and each time from a different angle. I never tire of them.

What’s your favourite Opinel?

The timeless pocket knife, a number 9 – sturdy and versatile. Ever since I was a child, I’ve had my Opinel in my rucksack for picnics in the mountains. Reliable, lightweight and full of memories.