The departure point is approximately 9 km after Névache, at the Laval refuge, where you can park in the car park at the end of the D301T road.
(S) Follow the trail (GRP® du Tour du Mont Thabor) that climbs up the valley, continuing along the road, ignoring all the trailheads on either side, until you reach the Pont de Pierre bridge before the Drayères refuge.
(1) Just before the bridge, take the path (GR®57) heading north-east, which climbs up the left bank of the Brune torrent. After a slightly steep climb at the start, the path becomes less steep and joins Lac Rond.
(2) Go around the lake on the left. The trail (GR®57) follows the stream feeding the lake for a while, then turns left, passes to the right of point 2503 and joins the Muandes ravine. Cross it and continue on the right bank to the lake of the same name.
(3) Continue to follow the trail (GR®57) to the left of the lake, then follow the stream feeding it on the same side (Muandes ravine). When you reach a more mineral landscape, the trail crosses the stream (characterised by flat slabs lying against each other) and turns right towards the northeast until you reach the Col des Muandes.
(4) Descend from the pass via the same route, pass the flat section at the foot of the pass and continue downhill. When the slope levels out and you can see the Muandes ravine, leave the trail (GR®57).
(5) Head right, horizontally, off the trail, towards the north-west, using the Pointe de Névache as a landmark. N.B. If you continue too far down, you will reach the stream you crossed on the way up and will have to climb back up!
When you reach the stream, follow it for a few metres until you reach the first small lakes upstream at point 2705.
(6) Continue north-west and make a semi-circle, more or less in the centre of this "flat area", to continue south-west, which will allow you to discover the various small lakes. At the foot of Pointe de Névache and Crête de la Madeleine is the last of the lakes, the Grand Lac de la Madeleine (point 2629).
(7) Continue along the lake's spillway on the left bank, then when the slope becomes steeper, cross the stream and continue on the right bank along a faint path marked by a few small cairns. At the bottom of the slope, head towards Lac Rond, crossing the stream that flows from Lac de la Madeleine and the Muandes ravine just above the confluence of the various streams. Take the path (GR®57) uphill for a few metres to return to Lac Rond.
(2) Leave theGR®57and take the path on the right that goes around the lake at the bottom, then climb a little way up the scree and turn right towards the south-west, continuing almost horizontally.
At the end of the rocks, resume the descent on a well-marked trail, pass to the left of a small lake and join Lac Long below.
(8) Follow the path that goes around the lake on the right and continue the descent that starts at the spillway until you reach a crossroads on a flat section.
(9) Turn left, heading south, onto the gently sloping path that follows this flat section. Further on, the path hooks to the right to pass under a small rocky outcrop and then joins the track taken at the start, which you follow to the left until you reach the car park.