Circular walk from Valloire, with views of the Aiguille Noire, Mont Thabor and the Écrins

The route starts from Valloire, at the bottom of the Crêt de la Brive cable cars. Parking is available in the ski slope car parks.

(S/E) Pass under the cable cars and follow the signposted path towards Geneuil. You’ll arrive near a wayside shrine at l’Archaz.

(1) Turn right, heading south, then due east, and join the^GRP® Tour du Mont Thabor (alternative route).

(2) Turn left and walk for about 400 m to Geneuil. Walk through the hamlet.

(3) Turn right towards La Turraz, then Montissot. Pass under the Montissot chairlift and reach the foot of the Grand Plateau ski lift (slope-side refreshment bar closed in summer).

(4) Head up to the left of the ski lift via the Gerboise run to reach the top of the Grand Plateau and admire the Écrins peaks coming into view to the south between the nearer peaks.

(5) From the top of the ski lift, turn right and follow the ridge southwards, separating the Valloire and Valmeinier valleys, to the summit at an elevation of 2,615 metres.

(6) Views over the valleys, the Aiguilles d’Arves, Mont Thabor and the peaks of the Écrins. Continue southwards and descend to the Pas des Griffes.

(7) Turn right onto the^GRP®, heading towards the Valloire valley, following a path signposted ‘les Mérégers’. Further down, reach a junction at the Mont Jovet cross, situated at an elevation of 2,385 metres.

(8) Continue to the right, north-west, and reach a junction just before Les Mérégers (places to eat).

(9) First turn right then left, pass below the restaurant and take a small path leading to Les Selles.

(10) In the hamlet, follow the signposting on the right for “Montissot, Geneuil and Valloire”.

(11) Once in Pragautier, carry straight on, pass La Cléa, then go under the Montissot chairlift. Just before Geneuil, you’ll come to the junction you passed on the way there.

(2) Keep to the left and, taking the opposite route to the one you took on the way there, head towards Valloire and the car park for the Crêt de la Brive gondola lift (S/E).

The circular route follows easy hiking trails. Only the start and end are sheltered from the sun, so in summer it is best to set off early in the morning to avoid the heat and stay in the shade of the ridge for as long as possible. The path crosses numerous streams where you can cool off. In summer, the refreshment stands at the bottom of the trail are closed; only the Auberge des Mérégers (9) is open for food and drink.