Express Tour du Mont Thabor

Starting in Névache, the route first follows the Clarée through the lower valley, passing the Névache bridge and sections of woodland. Early on, you get views towards a waterfall beside the trail, and the route also passes Lac Bleu, a small lake close to the valley floor. The surroundings are still green and forested here, but the path is already rocky and uneven in places.

The route then begins a long and steady climb through larch forest and across the mountainside. The path is often narrow, with loose stones, exposed roots and rough sections that can slow your progress. As you gain elevation, the trees gradually become more scattered and the landscape opens into alpine slopes, with increasingly wide views across the Clarée valley and the surrounding peaks.

Higher up, the route continues across open and rocky mountain terrain. An out-and-back section leads to Lac Laramon, a mountain lake set below rugged slopes. After visiting the lake, you return along the same path and continue climbing across exposed plateaus and stony trails. The final section passes through a broad high-mountain landscape before descending towards Refuge des Drayères. With its length and more than 1,000 metres of ascent, this is a demanding first day, so an early start is strongly recommended.

From Refuge des Drayères, the route climbs steadily through the broad upper valley towards Lac Rond and Lac des Muandes, two mountain lakes surrounded by increasingly rocky terrain. Beyond the lakes, the path continues along the side of the mountain towards Col des Muandes, a high mountain pass with wide views across the surrounding peaks.

From the pass, the landscape becomes more barren and demanding. An out-and-back section leads to the summit of Mont Thabor, where a small chapel stands at more than 3,000 metres. The final climb crosses steep, loose and rocky ground, with scree and unstable stones in places, so progress can be slow and careful footing is required.

After returning to the main trail, you begin the long descent into Italy through rough high-mountain terrain, rocky slopes and uneven paths. Along the way, wide views open across the valleys and surrounding peaks. Lower down, the landscape gradually becomes greener, with meadows and denser sections of trees appearing as you enter the Valle Stretta, a broad mountain valley leading towards Refuge Terzo Alpini.

With more than 1,000 metres of ascent and a long descent, this is a demanding high-mountain day. Start early and allow plenty of time to complete the route.

The final day starts near Les Granges de la Vallée Étroite, following the valley through open meadows and scattered trees. After leaving the valley floor, the route passes Saint Michael Chapel, a small stone chapel set in the open mountain landscape, before the main climb begins.

The path then climbs steadily through forested terrain. Higher up, the trees gradually thin out and the surroundings become more open and rocky. The route continues across the mountainside towards Col du Vallon, a high mountain pass with wide views towards both the Italian and French sides of the massif.

From Col du Vallon, the long descent towards Névache begins through open, rocky high-mountain terrain. As you lose elevation, the landscape gradually becomes greener and the trail enters forested slopes. Near the end of the route, you cross a bridge over a mountain stream before continuing into Névache. With around 850 metres of ascent and more than 1,000 metres of descent, this remains a demanding final day and should not be underestimated.