Express Tour du Mont Thabor

Starting in the village of Névache, the path follows the Clarée upstream on a gentle track that winds between meadows and clusters of pine and spruce. The first part of the walk is calm and open, with the river close by, small bridges, and the sound of flowing water guiding you deeper into the valley. As you progress, the valley sides rise slowly, and the scenery widens to show the peaks surrounding the upper Clarée.

Further along, the trees thin out and the route enters broad alpine grasslands. Here the terrain feels more spacious, with smooth pastures, scattered rocks, and long views toward the high plateaus near Laval and Ricou. This middle section has a pleasant, steady rhythm: wide valley floor, bright light, and clear views toward the mountains that frame the natural amphitheater ahead.

After the meadows, the track moves through a short area of mixed woodland before opening suddenly onto the wide basin of the upper Clarée. The river splits into small channels, the valley becomes broader and flatter, and the landscape takes on a wilder feel. A final easy stretch brings you to Refuge des Drayères, set at the end of the valley among open plains, clear streams, and rugged slopes reaching toward the high passes.

From Refuge des Drayères, the trail gently rises through a wide, open high-valley. The beginning feels spacious and calm, with soft grassy hills, shallow streams, and pockets of alpine flowers scattered between the rocks. As the path climbs, the terrain gradually turns more rugged, and the mountains around you start to form a clear skyline. Step by step, the surroundings shift into a more dramatic, alpine environment.

Soon you reach a group of beautiful mountain lakes, among them the bright blue Lac Rond and the darker Lac des Muandes. These lakes sit in a stony mountain basin, surrounded by pale rock and gentle ridges. This part of the route feels peaceful and remote, with still water, open space, and big views in every direction. The track winds between the lakes before crossing a broad plateau that leads toward the upper slopes of Mont Thabor.

As the route approaches the summit area, the landscape becomes very bare and mineral. Vegetation disappears almost completely, replaced by pale scree, dusty paths, and gullies shaped by wind and meltwater. The setting feels wide and silent, a high, open world of rock and light. A final steady push brings you to the small chapel on the summit of Mont Thabor, a remarkable lookout point with sweeping views over both France and Italy.

The descent on the Italian side begins immediately and introduces a completely different mood. The slopes are softer in color, the valleys wider, and the overall atmosphere warmer. The trail drops across a mix of meadows and rocky terraces, with long sightlines into the upper Valle Stretta. As you continue downward, small streams appear again, patches of grass return, and old stone walls mark the entrance to the lower part of the valley.

The final stretch toward Refuge Terzo Alpini is easy and pleasant. The landscape becomes greener, trees reappear along the riverbanks, and the valley opens into broad pastures leading to the hut. It’s a rewarding finish to a varied day, from open alpine valley, to high lakes, to a summit chapel, and finally into a welcoming Italian mountain valley.

The final stage of the Tour du Mont Thabor begins in the quiet valley near Les Granges and Refuge Terzo Alpini. The first stretch follows an easy track through wide meadows, with scattered trees, old stone walls, and the clear mountain stream of the Vallée Étroite flowing beside you. It’s a gentle start, with open views and a peaceful early-morning atmosphere.

After passing the hamlets, the trail starts to climb steadily into a forested slope. A series of switchbacks leads you through a mix of pine and larch, with patches of sunlight filtering through the trees. The forest here is calm and sheltered, and from time to time the trees open up to reveal glimpses of the rocky cliffs and high ground above.

Higher up, the forest thins and the terrain becomes more open. The path crosses a broad hillside of pale, dry stone, a striking contrast to the green valley below. As you gain altitude, long views appear in both directions: back toward the Italian side and forward toward the French border. In the upper section, the route passes the small mountain lake Lac Chavillon, a quiet spot surrounded by light-brown grasslands and exposed ridges.

The approach to the Col du Vallon feels wide and airy, with soft slopes, open plateaus, and a clear sense of crossing into a new landscape. From the pass, the view opens suddenly across the French side of the mountains, revealing the deep Clarée valley and the peaks that frame the horizon. It’s a rewarding moment, a final high point before the descent back to Névache.

The long descent follows a well-defined path that zigzags down through forested hillsides. The scenery changes again: pine trees return, the air becomes warmer, and the sound of the river slowly grows as you lose altitude. You’ll pass open glades, rocky steps, and shaded stretches beneath thick woodland. As the valley widens, the rooftops of Névache begin to appear in the distance.

The final part of the route leads through the edge of the village, past old stone houses and quiet lanes, before ending in the heart of Névache. It’s a satisfying finish: a varied day with open plateaus, forest paths, a calm mountain lake, and one last panoramic viewpoint before returning to where the journey began.