3 days (2 nights): Tour around Roi Mages, starting from Bardonecchia

9 km · 4 h · +560 m · 1312 m → 1760 m

Starting from Bardonecchia station (1,312 m), take Viale della Vittoria to Campo Smith (ski lifts). From here, take the track on the left of the chairlift towards Pian del Colle - Granges Hyppolites (1,550 m). Then take the track down to the Chapelle du Cognet (with 15th-century frescoes) and continue towards Mélezet as far as the ski lift car park (1,370 m). NB: you can avoid the climb to Pian del Colle by following the Vie du Viò path on the way to Pian de Colle, which also leads to Chapelle du Cognet. This path crosses at the 1400-metre mark. From the Pian del Colle campsite (1,445 m), take the main road and the trail for Vallée Etroite (not shown on the map). This path takes you along the left bank of the stream running through Vallée Etroite. At the bottom of the Paroi des Militaires plateau, at la Bergerie (1,711 m), cross the stream and continue along the path until you reach Granges de la Vallée Etroite (4 hrs).

There is an alternative route with a greater difference in elevation between Bardonecchia and Vallée Etroite, passing Punta Colomion and Passo della Mulattiera (+1,140 m/-960 m). Starting from Bardonecchia station (1,312 m), take Viale della Vittoria to Campo Smith (ski lifts). From here, take the track on the left of the chairlift towards Pian del Sole - Granges Hyppolites (1,550 m). Then follow the road as far as Punta Colomion (2,054 m) and continue along this military path as far as Passo della Mulattiera (2,412 m) and the Ancien Poste des Acles (2,292 m) to the east of Col des Acles. From here, take the GR5B towards Pian del Colle. Leave the GR route to take the path on the left bank of the Rio Curguas, going down to Granges Guiau (1,832 m) and then Pian del Colle (1,445 m). Cross the main road and, after the Pian del Colle campsite, take the footpath for Vallée Etroite (not shown on the map). This path takes you along the left bank of the stream running through Vallée Etroite. At the bottom of the Paroi des Militaires plateau, at la Bergerie (1,711 m), cross the stream and continue along the path until you reach Granges de la Vallée Etroite (8 hrs 30).

7 km · 4 h · +740 m · 1760 m → 2500 m

From Granges de la Vallée Etroite (1,760 m), follow the path to Col de la Vallée Etroite. About a kilometre further on, take the path to the right (heading east) and cross the Vallée Etroite stream. After the bridge, take the path that climbs straight up through the forest and takes 5 minutes to reach a small lake hidden by a few trees at the foot of the Rois Mages which have developed an attractive green hue as a result of algae. From here, you can take the track through the woods heading north to rejoin the main path at Pont de la Fonderie. Continue north to Col de la Vallée Etroite (2,434 m). From the pass, it takes 15 minutes to reach Refuge du Mont Thabor heading north-west (4 hrs).

18 km · 4 h · +300 m · −1,570 m · 2500 m → 1300 m

Head back to Col de Vallée Etroite (2,434 m). At the pass, take the classic route down from Refuge du Mont Thabor towards Modane along the GR5 (heading north) for 500 metres. Here you will find the GR57A which leads slightly uphill to Col de la Replanette (2,338 m) to the NW. Descend the steep slope into Vallon de Fontaine Froide (2,228 m). Climb the trail that runs steadily up to Col de la Roue (2,541 m) between Gran Bagna and Grand Argentier. Finally, descend to Bardonecchia, 1,300 m (4 hrs). The slope below Col de la Roue is steep for 150 metres and then eases, as the path passes Refuge de la Ruine at 2,131 m.