Sejour package
Self-guided star holiday - 2 to 7 days - L'Echaillon
20 km from Briançon, between the Vanoise and Ecrins Parks, in the Val Clarée, Névache or “the snowy valley” (1600m) is a little paradise in the Hautes Alpes, on the French-Italian border.
Sejour package
Self-guided star holiday - 2 to 7 days - L'Echaillon
There, in this wild and unusual setting, punctuated by chapels and alpine chalets, dotted with multiple lakes, ridges, passes and peaks all in harmony with each other, nature lovers will taste a total change of scenery.
Several routes run through this valley: we offer a stay of one week: 6 hikes described step by step and plotted on the maps. Each evening, you can chat with an attendant on the next day’s hike.
Fishing, mountain biking, climbing, kayaking are also a way to discover this harmonious valley and you can extend your stay to enjoy it.
Suggested program for a 6 day walk
Day 1 Welcome and installation
DM = elevation gain DD = elevation gain descent TM = walking time
Meet at the end of the afternoon at the accommodation in Névache. A complete file with maps and detailed itinerary will be given to you and you will have all the information for your hike.
Overnight at hotel in Névache.
Day 2 Névache - Côte Névachaise - Tour du Guion
We transfer you to the Col de l'Échelle (1779m) from where you climb the ridge of the Névaque coast to cross to the Col des Acles (2212m). Through the valley of Les Acles, you descend to Plampinet (1476m). It is a route full of history with a beautiful view over the valley and Italy. From Plampinet, you can walk back to the accommodation or call us for a transfer by car.
Overnight at hotel in Névache.
DM: 550 m DD: 850 m TM: 5 to 6 hours of walking
Day 3 Crossing of the Thures
From Névache (1600m), you walk through the Roubion combes to climb the plateau and the Thures pass (2200m), where the Chavillon lake is nestled. You then descend on the other side in a narrow valley (1765m). You can climb the summit of the Red Needle as an option (2545m), or take a short detour by Lake Bellety. This crossing in a huge open alpine pasture under the sky is a great classic of the valley.
Night in refuge to the barns of the narrow valley.
DM: 600 m (+ 350m for the red Aguille) DD: 450m (+ 350m) TM: 4 to 6h walk
Day 4 Etroite Valley - Laval Refuge
From the refuge of the barns, you go up the narrow valley, to reach the lake of Chardonnet by the Prat du Plan, then the col des Muandes (2828m). You reach the hamlet of Laval (2020 m) and its refuge by the valley of Muandes and its three lakes. On this day, it is possible to climb the optional Thabor (3178m) for the fittest.
Overnight at the Laval shelter.
DM: 1100m (or 1450m for the Thabor) DD: 850m (or 1200m) TM: 7 to 9h walk.
Day 5 Tour des Cerces
From Laval, you leave for a day of scale with superb landscapes: the tour of Cerces by the passes of Béraudes (2770m), Ponsonnière (2613m) and Cerces (2574m). Many lakes and viewpoints punctuate this memorable hike.
Return and overnight at the Laval shelter.
DM: 895m + 164m DD: 485m + 574m TM: 6 to 7h of walking.
Day 6 Laramon and Serpent Lakes - Refuge du Chardonnet
You leave from Laval on the Chemin de Ronde to reach the beautiful lakes Laramon (2359m) and Serpent. Then you descend on Fontcouverte (1850m) to regain a little courage and climb in the valley of Chardonnet until the refuge of Chardonnet (2230m), sublime circus between the Grande Manche and the Queyrellin.
Overnight at the Refuge du Chardonnet.
DM: 396m + 257m + 373m DD: 180m + 105m + 598m TM: 6 to 7 hours of walking.
Day 7 Col de Roche Noire - Cold du Buffère - Névache
From the refuge of Chardonnet, you go from Col de Roche Noire (2693m) to descend into the Vallon de La Moulette. By the way of the Roy in balcony above the valley of the Guisane, you go up on the pass of Buffère (2427m). Then it is a very beautiful bucolic descent in the pastures and along the Clarée to Névache (1600m).
End of your stay around 16/17 hours.
DM: 470m + 224m DD: 490m + 827m TM: 5 to 6h walk
WARNING: these programs may be changed at the beginning of the season or at the end of the season due to snow. There are many other routes to choose from.