Circular of the lakes in the Neuvache valley above Valmeinier

Head towards Valmeinier resort. Shortly before Valmeinier 1800, take the road on the right, leaving the D215a at a place called Les Déserts. The track passes in front of the snow clearance equipment hangar. Continue to the end of the track at the Chenalette car park, which is the starting point for the hike.

(S/E Head south to reach the Ordière crossroads.

(1) Stay on the right-hand path and then follow the right bank of the Neuvache. You will reach the Mathoset footbridge.

(2) Cross this footbridge and continue along the left bank of the Neuvache. When you reach another footbridge, do not cross it, but continue to the right to reach Lac Vert.

(3) Go back a few steps, then take the path on the right to the Arendiers crossroads, where you will rejoin the GRP® variant.

(4) Take this path opposite towards Chalet de la Vieille and Les Châteaux, overlooking the alpine meadows that follow the forest. Reach the intersection with the path coming from Refuge de Terre Rouge at the Carrefour des Barnettes crossroads.

(5) Continue straight ahead towards Plan du Fond to reach Lac de Curtalés.

(6) Continue to the left to follow the more rocky landscape past Lac Rond and Lac Cornu. Continue on to reach Lac Bri.

(7) Be careful here: the markings become much more random, so follow the GPS track carefully to reach a nameless lake due east, go around it on the right and continue along the path, trying to spot the hypothetical pink circles painted on the rocks. Keep climbing to reach Lac des Glaciers, the highest point of this outing, below Roche du Chardonnet.

(8) At the signpost, head towards Plan Borrel. Look for the path, which is marked on the map but not very clearly on the ground, to begin the descent. Stay on the left bank of the Neuvache to find the path descending from Mont Thabor below the Pierre du Déjeuner. A few cairns help you find your way through the rocky chaos of large boulders scattered along the route.
On this section, it is advisable tofollow the GPS trackclosely, but caution and vigilance are recommended, as you will sometimes have to navigate by sight, using the path descending from Thabor, visible on the right, as a reference point.
Arrive at the intersection with the path descending from Thabor.

(9) Take it on the left and follow it straight ahead to reach the Refuge de Terre Rouge.

(10) Continue to the right along the footbridge towards the Notre-Dame des Neiges chapel, visible further ahead on the left. Follow the long path to reach the Losa crossroads.

(11) Stay on the left-hand path, pass the Planay chalets and then return to the Ordière crossroads, which you took at the start of the hike.

(1) Take the path opposite to the one you took on the way up, on the right, to return to the La Chenalette car park (S/E).

(8) Lac des Glaciers: an almost obligatory stop at the edge of Lac des Glaciers, in a magnificent alpine cirque dominated by Roche du Chardonnet, Pointe des Angelières, Mont Thabor and Pic du Thabor.
(10) Refuge de Terre Rouge, where you can take a well-deserved break in the cool air.