Hiking in the Clarée Valley off the beaten track

We begin with a short 10-minute transfer to Ville-Haute and the Lacou glacial moraine. From the Sainte Barbe chapel, we take a winding path to reach the Biaune chalets nestled in the southern foothills. We then continue through a large valley, climbing off-trail to the Colette at 2597m, a small pass that allows us to descend to the north-facing slope into the Vallon, an area favored by chamois, which we will be watching for. The descent leads us to the small Lac Noir, then along the Vallon stream back to the village.

From the hotel, we set off on foot along the Clarée River to reach the start of the trail that climbs into the Oule Valley through a beautiful larch forest on the north-facing slope. After a 600-meter ascent, the larch forest opens onto the Oule Valley alpine pasture. We follow the stream bed to reach two pretty lakes, then, off-trail, we reach the ridge leading to the Pic du Longet (which we can hike as an out-and-back). From there, we descend into the Cristol Valley. The stunning Lake Cristol offers us a contemplative break in the afternoon before we descend back into the valley.

From the end of the road in the upper valley (30-minute transfer to the Laval parking lot), we head towards the ridge that closes off the valley and separates us from the Maurienne valley. We cross alpine pastures, little frequented by hikers but often grazed by sheep during the grazing season, to reach, off-trail, the small Lac Biron, a true reward offering a unique view of the valley. We then continue along the ridge towards the Pointe de Rochachille, where the view opens up to Savoie. We explore this border area off-trail to enjoy the panoramas before returning to the banks of the Clarée River.

On foot from the hotel, we follow the Clarée River in the opposite direction to descend into the Bois des Arras forest. We then begin the steep ascent of Sapé and Rocher de l'Olive, where the army built a fort at the end of the 19th century to monitor the border with Italy. The site is well worth a visit and offers a magnificent panorama. We then climb to the ridge to find another, smaller fort, which will be our highest point. The descent is off-trail through the Creuzet valley, where we keep a sharp eye out for local wildlife. This loop can also be done in the opposite direction.

From Fontcouverte, we reach the Raisin valley, above the Chardonnet refuge, to reach the ridge that separates the Clarée and Guisane valleys. From the Col du Raisin (2691 m) to the summit of Pic Ombière, we enjoy magnificent views on both sides, with the high peaks of the Écrins massif taking center stage.

End of stay after breakfast.