This hike is reserved for experienced and fit mountain walkers.
Country:
City:
Access:
From Bourg-Saint-Maurice, head towards Val d’Isère via the D902. Drive alongside Lac du Chevril. Stop at La Daille, 1 km before the Val d’Isère resort. Several car parks are available (see practical information).
(S/E) From the car park, follow Rue de la Daille (parallel to the D902, on the left-hand side towards Val d’Isère). Walk past the holiday homes and holiday lets. After about 200m, pass the small chapel on your left and continue to the crossroads after the waste bins.
(1) Turn left immediately. Pass the hiking trail sign. Take the path, which is grassy at first. After a few dozen metres, you’ll reach a hiking signpost. Continue straight on, following the Sentier Balcon la Daille (the path on the left leads to the start of the Via Ferrata de la Daille).
The path begins to climb more steeply in short switchbacks. There are several markings: oldGRP® Yellow/Red markings (which do not correspond to the IGN map) and Pink markings.
(2) At a small junction, continue straight up, heading east. Ignore the path on the left (return route from the Via Ferrata de la Daille) and the poorly marked path on the right.
Follow the balcony path heading north-east, which winds its way up in numerous hairpin bends.
Cross the small pass and then head down to the Creux de Picheru, where there is a large scree slope on the right.
There is little signposting, but the single-track path is clearly marked, leaving no room for confusion.
The trail curves west to go round the ridge, then heads east and comes out onto a flat area.
(3) Reach the Passage de Picheru (marked by a hiking signpost). Continue straight on towards Lac de la Sassière.
Pass beneath the distinctive Aiguille du Dôme on the right. Descend along the well-marked path (no signposts) with the Aiguille de la Grande Sassière towering over the entire valley in front of you.
(4) After about 1 km of descent, leave the path to the left and head across the small grassy areas. Head off in a north-westerly direction for about 200 m. Go over the hillock to reach the edge of the small Lac du Grand Creux (this is not visible at all from the path).
Head east again to rejoin the path. Continue downhill towards Lac de la Sassière.
(5) At the bottom of the descent, you’ll come out onto a wide gravel track. Continue left, slightly downhill, towards Lac de la Sassière.
At the edge of the lake, ignore the paths on the left and continue north-east towards the concrete dam. Continue to the northern end of the dam.
(6) At the “Lac de la Sassière” signpost (alt. 2,460m), turn right towards the Rhême-Golette Glacier. Follow the northern shore of the lake. The large valley is dominated by the Tsantéleina (3,602m) and the Aiguille de la Grande Sassière (3,747m).
You emerge into a meadow below the Tsantéleina (north-west face); the Rhêmes-Golette Glacier is visible at the back of the cirque. The path becomes steeper and runs along a ledge above the Sassière torrent. There are several moraines to cross. After a sustained climb, you reach the foot of the glacier. From the glacier’s front, the route is gentle (see practical information).
(7) Follow the edge of the glacier to reach Lac de Rhêmes-Golette. The lake consists of three distinct basins, interconnected and cascading down to a spillway, from which the Sassière torrent flows.
Turn back after strolling around the lake. Head back down to Lac de la Sassière.
When you reach the dam again, turn left towards the Col de la Bailletta.
(5) At the wide gravel track, continue left towards the Col de la Bailletta.
After about 500 m, this track turns into a path running mainly east-southeast. The path winds its way above the small Lac du Santel before reaching the Col de Bailletta after a long climb.
(8) The pass offers superb views across both valleys. It is marked by a large cairn on the right.
Descend to the right, heading towards Val d’Isère. Walk above Lac de la Bailletta. Yellow markings are occasionally present.
During the long descent, you will cross several streams.
For about 1.8 km, the descent heads south-east. From Le Couart Dessous, the path turns south-west, running along a ridge above the valley (the River Isère is visible below).
(9) After about 1.7 km on the balcony path, continue straight on towards Le Fornet. Yellow markings. Continue along this path.
(10) Arrive above Le Fornet. At the Fork in the road, turn right following the “Sentier Balcon”. Yellow and blue markings.
The path winds its way up the slopes, heading west, and arrives near the outskirts of Val d’Isère.
(11) At Les Barmettes, at the Fork in the road, continue straight on towards Daille via the Sentier Balcon. Yellow and blue markings.
The path gradually turns west-north-west. After 250m, ignore the two paths on either side of the trail and continue straight on.
Pass above the Val d'Isère resort. After about 1 km, reach a north-facing descent through the woods and arrive at the path just above the hamlet of Le Crêt.
(12) Leave the descent towards Le Crêt on your left and continue to the right towards the Passage de Picheru (hiking sign). Yellow and blue markings. Take the wide path.
(13) At the next junction, after about 250m, turn right towards Col de Picheru. Then immediately left towards La Daille. Follow the pasture fences.
As you approach the first houses, leave the path that heads off to the right and go down to the left between the houses to reach Rue de La Daille. Take this road to the right.
(1) Return to the crossroads near the chapel, then head back to the starting point (S/E).
Visorando Member
Difficult 
Easy 
Moderate 
