6 days (5 nights): Tour around Thabor starting from Névache

5 km · 1 h 30 · +500 m · 1600 m → 2076 m

Take the path on the right bank of the Clarée to Pont du Rately. A little further on, turn right onto the path that continues towards Fontcouverte and walk up to Refuge Buffère (1 hr 30). BONUS: For a round trip from the refuge, head up Col de Buffère and take the sometimes steep path to the left that leads to Grand Area (2,869 m, 2 hrs). Enjoy magnificent panoramic views of the Cerces and Oisans.

Option: From Névache, turn left shortly after Pont de l'Outre and walk up to Lac de Cristol. Come back to the start of the valley, then follow the Côte Rouge path halfway up the north face of l’Echaillon to reach Refuge Buffère (4 hrs).

5 km · 2 h 30 · +400 m · −250 m · 2076 m → 2230 m

From Refuge Buffère, follow the path down towards La Souchère. On reaching the bottom of the valley, stay on the good trail running along the right bank. 500 metres further on, look out for a track that climbs to the left towards Refuge du Chardonnet (signposted). This joins the path leading up from Fontcouverte to the chalets of Laraux (1,954 m). Follow the path through to Refuge du Chardonnet (2 hrs 30).

Option: From Refuge Buffère, walk up Col de Buffère and follow the path to the right marked “la sente des grimpeurs” that joins Vallon de la Moulette without dropping down onto Chemin du Roy. Head up Vallon de la Moulette to Col de Rochenoire at 2,693 m (with some steep sections). Then walk down to Refuge du Chardonnet (3hrs 45). BONUS: from Col de Buffère, a round trip to the summit of Grand Area, (2,869 m, 2 hrs), with a stunning 360° panorama.

4 km · 2 h · +250 m · −350 m · 2230 m → 2115 m

From Refuge du Chardonnet, cross the flat area to the west of the refuge to join the path leading down to Fontcouverte via the chalets of Queyrellin. Pass by La Fruitière restaurant (meals and refreshments) and cross the Clarée. The track leading up to Ricou turns left 20 metres after the bridge.

BONUS: From Refuge du Chardonnet, you can make a round trip to Col du Chardonnet at 2,638 m (+400 m, 3 hrs), before returning to Refuge de Ricou.

9 km · 3 h 45 · +450 m · −350 m · 2115 m → 2180 m

From Refuge Ricou, climb up to Chemin de Ronde (GR57A) (to the footpath junction, 2,291 m). Head north on Chemin de Ronde, which offers a magnificent vista of the Cerces range on the opposite bank. You pass beneath Lac de la Cula, then after a small pass (2,400 m), head back down to the hamlet of Laval (3 hrs 30) from where you can either reach Refuge Laval within 10 mins or Refuge des Drayères within 45 mins.

BONUS: from Chemin de Ronde climb to Lac Laramon and Lac du Serpent, 2,448 m (+1 hr 30).

15 km · 7 h 30 · 2030 m → 1780 m

From Refuge Laval or Refuge des Drayères, follow the GR57 up past Lac Rond and Lac des Muandes and over Col des Muandes, 2828m (2 hrs). Follow the ridge of Roche du Chardonnet, cross Col de Valmeinier and pass under the north face of Roc de Valmeinier on the Maurienne side to reach Col de la Chapelle. From here a fairly steep track leads to the south face of the Thabor, where you join the normal route, which you follow to the summit, 3178m (3 hrs). From the summit, head down towards Col des Méandes along the normal route. - For Refuge du Mont Thabor: at Col de Méandes (2727m), keep to the left (north) of Grand Séru to head down towards Lac du Perron (2450m) and, roughly following the contour line, reach Col de Vallée Étroite (2434m), then Refuge du Mont Thabor (2 hrs 30 from the summit). - For Granges de la Vallée Etroite: from Col des Méandes, reach Refuge I Re Magi or Refuge Terzo Alpini by passing south of Grand Séru via the Vallon du Dîner.

NB: at the start of the season, the north-facing section between Col de Valmeinier and the summit of Mont Thabor can be dangerous if there is still snow (with icy, steep sections). Option: You can shorten this leg by heading straight down to Vallée Étroite and the refuges of I Re Magi or Terzo Alpini from Col des Muandes ( a little-used path up to the footbridge, and then a busier one thereafter).

17 km · 1780 m → 1600 m

- From Refuge du Mont Thabor, head To Col de Vallée Etroite and cross To the left To join the GR57. Go down into Vallée Etroite over easy grassy slopes, then a steeper, gullied section, followed by fairly flat stretches. Shortly after Pont de la Fonderie, veer up to the right. Then, turn left just before the Maison du Chamois along a path that is steep at first and leads around the Tête du Chien to reach Col du Vallon (2,645 m) on a good path. Come down the long yet little valley of Vallon towards Névache (6hrs 30). From the Granges de la Vallée Etroite, take a beautiful, easy path up to the Col des Thures (2194m), then head down to Névache via the gently sloping grassy valley at the top and along the well-trodden winding path by the Clarée (Cheminées de Fée). You’ll then reach Roubion (3 hrs 30). In summer, you can take the free shuttle bus back to Névache.