Self-guided hiking in the Clarée Valley

From the hotel, you'll set off into the pine forest towards the Tête Noire ridge, which overlooks the Thures plateau, a vast open alpine meadow stretching under the open sky to the Col des Thures (2194 m). Along the way, you'll discover Lake Chavillon and views of Mont Thabor. You can choose to add the ascent of the Aiguille Rouge (2545 m) along the way, which adds 2 hours of walking and 400 m of elevation gain.

After a short transfer up into the valley to the hamlet of Fontcouverte (1860 m), you first ascend to the Chardonnet refuge before reaching the fantastic hanging glacial valley that overlooks it. You can climb to the Col du Chardonnet, which offers a breathtaking panorama of the Écrins mountains.

Depending on how you're feeling that day, you can choose between the shorter or longer Cerces loop, starting from the Laval parking area (2030 m). For the shorter loop, from the hamlet of Laval (2030 m), you follow the Clarée River to its source, Lake Clarée, then cross into Savoie via the Seuil des Rochilles (2459 m) to complete a loop that passes by the Rochilles lakes and pass (2496 m), as well as Lake and pass des Cerces (2574 m). The shorter loop takes 5 to 6 hours to complete and involves 544 meters of elevation gain.

The grand tour of the Cerces begins with the ascent of the Col des Béraudes (2770 m), passing by the magnificent turquoise lake of the same name. The loop then takes you to the Col de la Ponsonnière (2613 m), then to the Lac des Cerces and the Col des Cerces (2574 m) before descending to the Lac des Rochilles and Lac de la Clarée, and then along the Clarée stream.

From Fontcouverte, follow the access road to the Ricou refuge, then the magnificent switchback trail that leads to the first lake, Laramon (2359 m). Lac du Serpent (2448 m) is very close by. A picture-postcard landscape awaits you, with the Écrins massif in the background. As an option, you can attempt the ascent of Pic du Lac Blanc (2980 m, with an elevation gain of over 450 m) via the Gardioles lakes. Similarly, on the return, you can choose to walk back to Névache along the Chemin de Ronde, a superb balcony path overlooking the valley.

Starting from Ville-Haute, follow the right bank of the Clarée River to the Pont de Rately (1749 m) to reach the Buffère valley and chalets (2090 m). Several options are available from the chalets: Lac de Privé (2304 m), Col de Buffère (2427 m), or Grand Aréa (2869 m). The return journey can also be made via another trail, the Côte Rouge trail. Depending on the chosen route, the hiking time is extended by 1.5 to 4 hours, and the elevation gain increases by 200 to 750 m.

Choose with us from: the ascent of Mount Thabor (3178 m), the Cristol valley, the Muandes valley...

The stay ends after the hike.