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Moderate Tour du Mont Thabor - Including accommodation

Duration

Total 7 days

Average 7h 19min
Distance

Total 86.6 km

Average 17.3 km
Ascent

Total +5200 m

Average +1040 m
Descent

Total -5210 m

Average -1042 m

Overview
Itinerary
What's Included
FAQ
Reviews

> Enjoy the French and Italian cuisine in cozy huts
> Hike our 5-day Tour du Mont Thabor itinerary that will give you a fantastic Alpine challenge
> Accommodation in Névache before and after the trek is included

The Tour du Mont Thabor, the French Alps' best-kept secret. In Vallée de la Clarée you can find unspoiled Alpine scenery, away from the beaten track, the most hospitable gites and refuges, and to top it all off: The option for a family-friendly trek. Forget the Tour du Mont Blanc, the Walker's Haute Route, and the other big names. Around Mont Thabor you can enjoy quality mountain time without having to take too much time off and without breaking the bank. We wanted to keep it all for ourselves, but happiness is only real when shared. So, allez! Let's discover the Tour du Mont Thabor and the trails of Vallée de la Clarée together! On this 7-day tour, we have included the accommodation in Névache before and after the trek.

Grande Randonnée GR57 is better known as the Tour du Mont Thabor. This is a loop around the lesser known but still very prominent Mont Thabor, in Vallée de la Clarée in the Hautes-Alpes. Vallée de la Clarée is a sheltered, dead-end valley north of the fortified town of Briancon, on the border between France and Italy and forms part of the unspoilt Massif des Cerces. There are no ski slopes or other large-scale tourism, this valley is there only for hikers, cyclists, and other nature lovers. When doing the full circuit, you can expect a total distance of around 85 kilometers and more than 5,000 meters of elevation gain. You don't have to, though. Tour du Mont Thabor is easily broken up into pieces.

Itinerary

Day

1

Arrival in Las Salle Les Alpes

Bonjour! Welcome to France. Today you arrive in La Salle Les Alpes and are expected in a pleasant accommodation in the village. Your overnight stay includes breakfast. This hotel is a 40-minute drive from Névache, the starting point of your hike.

Le Grand Aigle Hotel & Spa (La Salle Les Alpes)

Info

Day

2

Névache to Refuge des Drayères

Duration: 06:50 h

Distance: 18.7 km

Ascent: 1060 m

Descent: 500 m

From Névache you follow the Clarée in a northwest direction. You follow a contour path all the way past Refuge de Ricou (coffee stop!) and Les Chaumes. Today offers a great warm-up for what's to come. Not too easy, not too hard, but it definitely gets the legs moving. You can also take an alternative route via Refuge de Laval, but if you want to do it properly, stay on the GR route.

Refuge des Drayères

Info

Day

3

Refuge des Drayères - Valmeinier

Duration: 08:30 h

Distance: 22.5 km

Ascent: 1030 m

Descent: 1410 m

This is a long and demanding mountain stage from Refuge des Drayères to Valmeinier, covering 22.5 km with 1,030 m of ascent and 1,410 m of descent. Allow 10 to 12 hours to complete it comfortably, and significantly more if conditions are wet or visibility is poor. The route has two major efforts: an early climb towards the lakes and Plagnette Pass, followed later by another climb and a long, steep final descent into the valley. Start early, keep a steady pace, and allow plenty of time.

From Refuge des Drayères, the route climbs through open alpine terrain towards Lac Clarée and Round Lake before reaching Plagnette Pass at 2,525 m. This first part gives you a high mountain start, with lakes, stony paths and wide views between the surrounding peaks. After the pass, the route continues across varied terrain and gradually works its way towards Lac Vert, the last major lake highlight of the stage.

The final part is long and should not be underestimated. After Lac Vert, the route descends steeply on narrow mountain path, losing nearly 1,000 m before reaching the valley floor, then climbs back up into Valmeinier. This last stretch is tiring at the end of a long day; take it slowly, use trekking poles if you have them, and pace yourself for the climb back up. Once you reach the village, you can settle into your accommodation and recover properly after one of the biggest stages of the trek.

Hôtel Club Les Carrettes (Valmeinier)

Info

Day

4

Valmeinier - Refuge du Mont Thabor

Duration: 07:45 h

Distance: 15.6 km

Ascent: 1490 m

Descent: 780 m

A tough day at the office today. With almost 1,800 meters vertical meters, your legs will get a good beating. This is because Col des Marches is on the schedule for today. Your long ascent will be rewarded with a quick dip to refuge, which has the same name. Here you can recharge your batteries for the next col; Col de Battalières. From the top you have fantastic views over de surrounding peaks and lakes of Sainte-Marguerite. Two hundred meters of elevation lie between you and the hospitable Refuge du Mont Thabor. Well done, grab a beer!

Refuge du Mont Thabor

Info

Day

5

Refuge du Mont Thabor - Les Granges de la Vallée Étroite

Duration: 07:15 h

Distance: 16.4 km

Ascent: 770 m

Descent: 1490 m

Today, you have the option to tag the peak of Mont Thabor, but this is not the goal of GR57. After all, it's a tour. The full stage, including the summit, takes around 7 hours in total. If you still have legs after yesterday’s hike, climbing Mont Thabor is definitely worth the effort, with endless views over the Vanoise and the Écrins. If you prefer to skip the summit and continue directly towards Les Granges de la Vallée Étroite, the route will be about 4 hours shorter.

Refuge Terzo Alpini

Info

Day

6

Granges de la Vallée Étroite to Névache

Duration: 06:15 h

Distance: 13.4 km

Ascent: 850 m

Descent: 1030 m

One last good hiking day on the Tour du Mont Thabor. From Granges, it is about 6 hours back to the starting point of the trek; Névache. You start with walking back for around 2 kilometers to get back on the route of Tour du Mont Thabor. On the way, you will still find a few fantastic highlights and you will of course get to see undulating views. One last push to Col du Vallon, and before you know it you are enjoying a well-deserved blonde beer in Névache.

Le Grand Aigle Hotel & Spa (La Salle Les Alpes)

Info

Day

7

Departure Day

After breakfast, you can check out. This is the end of your Tour du Mont Thabor adventure. We hope to see you again soon. Au Revoir!

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Contact our Trekking Expert

Daphne Hendriks

Included

Booking the huts

We will take care of arranging accommodation on the Tour du Mont Thabor for you. We will also provide you with a detailed itinerary for every stage and instructions on how to get to the trailhead.
Full travel guide

You’ll receive access to our trekking app, which serves as your complete digital travel guide for the Tour du Mont Thabor. Inside, you’ll find everything you need for your trek: route descriptions, hiking maps, navigation support, payment information, and all the key details specific to your journey.
Accommodation

During your Tour du Mont Thabor, you will spend your nights in mountain huts and a hotel. In the huts, you will stay in dormitories, as private rooms are not available. At the hotel, you will stay in a private room.
Accommodation before and after the tour

Accommodation before and after the trek is included. Breakfast is (if possible) part of your stay.
Meals (where possible)

In the mountain huts half-board (breakfast and dinner) is included. Breakfast (if possible) is included in the hotel and hostels along the way.
Navigation support

Our trekking app also includes built-in navigation support. With GPS-based maps and offline access, you can follow the trail confidently and stay on route even without mobile signal.

Excluded

Traveling to and from

You have to make your own way to the starting point. The total amount does not include personal transport.
Transfers

Should you need any form of (public) transport on location, this is not part of the trekking package. This includes the use of taxi, bus, cable cars, gondolas, ferries, etc.
Lunch

Half-board is included in the price of this trek. Lunch, however, is not. Many huts offer packed lunches, which can usually be requested the night before. Alternatively, you can stop for lunch at mountain huts along the way.
Travel Insurance

Your international travel insurance is your own responsibility. Discuss your itinerary with the insurance company before your trek.
Personal expenses

Personal expenses on such as souvenirs, drinks, and other similar expenses are for your own account.

FAQ

What Is the Best Season for The Tour du Mont Thabor?
Getting to Névache
What if the dates I want are not available?
If I book now, can I immediately arrange the rest of my trip?
How do I know if this trek is right for me?
Can meals be adapted to my dietary requirements?

How to Book

Booking
Availability
Cancellation policy

Moderate Tour du Mont Thabor - Including accommodation

Itinerary

Arrival in Las Salle Les Alpes

Le Grand Aigle Hotel & Spa (La Salle Les Alpes)

Névache to Refuge des Drayères

Refuge des Drayères

Refuge des Drayères - Valmeinier

Hôtel Club Les Carrettes (Valmeinier)

Valmeinier - Refuge du Mont Thabor

Refuge du Mont Thabor

Refuge du Mont Thabor - Les Granges de la Vallée Étroite

Refuge Terzo Alpini

Granges de la Vallée Étroite to Névache

Le Grand Aigle Hotel & Spa (La Salle Les Alpes)

Departure Day

Included

Booking the huts

Full travel guide

Accommodation

Accommodation before and after the tour

Meals (where possible)

Navigation support

Excluded

Traveling to and from

Transfers

Lunch

Travel Insurance

Personal expenses

FAQ

What Is the Best Season for The Tour du Mont Thabor?

Getting to Névache

What if the dates I want are not available?

If I book now, can I immediately arrange the rest of my trip?

How do I know if this trek is right for me?

Can meals be adapted to my dietary requirements?

How to Book

Booking

Availability

Cancellation policy

Just for You

Moderate Tour du Mont Thabor

Intermediate

Family Friendly Vallée de la Clarée - Including accommodation

Families

Family Friendly Vallée de la Clarée

Families

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