Do you have any hints about flying VFR around here?
As a 70hr PPL I'm not much in a position to offer good advice. What I would say FWIW, be extremely careful about the weather (remember the seven P's) and always leave yourself an out (plenty of aerodromes in the area, try to plan your route along them and be prepared to land in any of them if things don't look 100%. Make sure you have all the relevant VACs). If uncertain of position, back off immediately to your last known point and/or request vectors. Always file a flight plan to make the rescuers' lives easier when in spite of all your precautions you still end up trying to tunnel your way through the Alps. Come to think of it, it's no different than flying anywhere else.
Are there any tight valleys or high-passes to get through?
Not along the route we've taken. We've just followed the valley from Grenoble to Chambery which is plenty wide. Chambery visual departure via SW might be a bit of a tight climb depending on what you're flying. It required a Vx climb on our C172 departing from RWY 18 with 2POB + a full load of fuel + our camping gear.
Hope this helps.
/LH2