From the Fond des Fours Refuge to the Col de la Vanoise Refuge

(S) From the Fond des Fours refuge, take the path that climbs towards the Col de la Rocheure (dotted line on the IGN map). At the fork, continue to the right.
Cross a first small pass to reach the superb glacial valley dominated by the Pointe de Méan Martin.
Follow the very well-marked path to cross the entire valley on almost level ground and take the footbridge to cross to the other side of the torrent.

(1) The path veers right and now climbs steeply (cairns all along the way). You’ll emerge onto a sort of small pass to discover a very rocky, almost lunar landscape with orange hues. Continue along the path, which remains well-marked and eventually leads to the Col de la Rocheure and its lake just below.

(2) From the pass, head left towards the Refuge de la Femma, beginning a long descent punctuated by numerous stream crossings. Reach the refuge.

(3) Continue along the path which descends gently into the valley floor towards the Refuge du Plan des Lacs. Follow the Rocheure torrent along its right bank. Reach the Chalet de la Rocheure.

(4) Here the path turns into a track. Cross the Rocheure torrent. Continue along the track, passing the Chapelle Saint-Jacques. Stay on the track on the left bank of the torrent until you reach the shuttle bus stop at the place known as Plume Fine on the IGN map.

(5) At the stop, keep to the right. The track becomes a tarmac road. Follow it to the shuttle bus terminus, which is located at the junction leading to the Refuge d’entre Deux Eaux.

(6) Leave the road to cross the Pont de la Renaudière (2043m) on the right, and head up the other side towards the Refuge d’Entre Deux Eaux.

(7) Pass beneath the refuge and continue along the Via Alpina towards the Refuge du Col de la Vanoise (signposted as a 4-hour walk from here).

(8) Turn left to cross the Pont de Croé Vie and rejoin the^GR®55.
One last push to tackle the steep climb leads, 300m higher up, to the valley housing the Refuge du Col de la Vanoise.

(9) At the junction marking the end of the climb, keep right on the^GR®®55, still heading towards the refuge. There is then a very gentle climb of about 3 km to reach the lakes.

(10) Lakes of the Col de la Vanoise, then Lac Rond.

(11) Passing through the Col de la Vanoise and finally the Col de la Vanoise refuge (E).

CAF Col de la Vanoise Mountain Hut
Telephone: 04 79 08 25 23

Note: There is just over 8 km of track/road between La Femma and Entre Deux Eaux; allow a good two hours.

For those who want more (provided you can walk at a minimum pace of 500m per hour), it is possible to attempt a detour via the Pointe de Méan Martin (3,300m).
This stunning route, which borders on mountaineering when crossing the ridges, is unmarked and requires a good sense of direction. This adds around 400m of elevation gain and, above all, time, which meant we were cutting it fine to arrive in time for dinner at the Col de la Vanoise despite a forced march from La Femma (3½ hours between the two refuges, arriving at 6.00 pm after setting off from Les Fours at 8.30 am).
Contact us for more information or to get the route map (or check with the warden at Fond des Fours).