To the end of the world... and beyond

As Hugues Aufray sings:
Get up, guys, wake up, we've got to get going, we're going to the end of the world...
Walkers who are not afraid of heights, or are able to overcome their fear, will be rewarded with sublime views.

Technical sheet

5655
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.92 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 844 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 835 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,692 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 936 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the Cirque du Fer à Cheval car park (signposted route).

(S/E) At the end of the car park, take the path on the left which joins the Chemin de Griffanant via a wooden footbridge, and follow the path to the right until you reach the Chalet de Prazon.

(1) Take the path on the left towards Pas du Boret. The climb is very steep and runs along the side of the cliff (some "tricky" sections are secured by a cable attached to the rock). At the top, continue to Chalet du Boret.

(2) To the left of the chalet, take the path towards the Vogealle refuge until you reach the cross.

(3) Return to the chalet via the same route.

(2) Once back at the Chalet du Boret, take the path on the left that will take you to the Fond de la Combe, passing first in front of the Vogealle waterfall.

(4) Continue along the top of the cliff, making a sharp turn at Bouit du Monde.
From Fond de la Combe, return to the Chalet de Prazon.

(5) When you reach a suspension bridge, you can choose to follow the right or left side of the Giffre. If you follow the right side, cross at the Chalet de Prazon and take a small path on the left. (This route joins the route that follows the left side of the Giffre). Then follow the path that will take you back to the car park via the Chalets de Frénalay. On the way, admire the view of the Cirque du Fer à Cheval. (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 937 m - Cirque du Fer à Cheval car park - Giffre (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 2.4 - alt. 1,023 m - Chalet du Prazon
  3. 2 : km 3.52 - alt. 1,388 m - Chalet du Boret
  4. 3 : km 4.65 - alt. 1,692 m - La Pierre du Dard
  5. 4 : km 6.01 - alt. 1,385 m - Cascade de la Vogealle
  6. 5 : km 8.91 - alt. 1,057 m - Suspension bridge
  7. S/E : km 12.92 - alt. 937 m - Cirque car park - Le Fer à Cheval

Practical information

Refreshments available at the Chalet du Boret.
Hiking boots are essential... to avoid ending up like some of the "walkers" we encountered at the top of the cliff wearing sandals :-(

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 39 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Cop74
Cop74

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

The climb up to the Boret chalet is really quite high up.

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LaMiaDoRé
LaMiaDoRé

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A beautiful loop on a very busy route at the start (and in August), which becomes more secluded in the aerial cable sections.

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Vieux débris toxique
Vieux débris toxique

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Too many people in summer at the end of the world. Going to the refuge is a great walk to avoid the tourists. No technical difficulties except for the fairly strenuous physical effort. Bring plenty of water

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Ludo1009
Ludo1009

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Thank you for this beautiful route. Personally, after the Dard, I pushed on to Lake Vogealle. As already mentioned, it's best to start early in the morning. There are a few slippery sections between the Boret chalet and the cirque, especially when leaving the forest. The last part towards the Cirque du Fer à Cheval is very busy, especially with families, and less interesting. But I really enjoyed this hike.

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Fk
Fk

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

We thoroughly enjoyed this hike on 21 August. There were lots and lots of people on the trail along the stream. There were fewer people near the Boret chalet. We also continued on to the refuge and Lac de la Vogealle from the Boret chalet, which is also a beautiful place!

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babetteb25
babetteb25

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

We loved this hike, and this year, with all the rain that fell and the snow melting, there was a lot of water in the waterfalls. It was a superb day, but very crowded. However, the path along the snowfields is closed because it is too dangerous this year.

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Txss
Txss

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

I went there for the first time in October 2022 and found the trail very accessible! I continued the hike on a longer route, heading higher up (a multi-day hike), where you need to take more precautions, as it is not suitable for a family outing. However, the end of the world is not difficult to reach but is very busy.

BEWARE, I went there in June 2023, just for the end of the world, and with heavy rain it's less accessible. You have to cross rivers, and some passages are no longer accessible. It's not difficult to find your way around, but you still need to be careful.
It's still very busy in the afternoon and is a popular family outing.

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Christelle51
Christelle51

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

The site is magnificent and the hike is fairly accessible, although a little more difficult before you reach the "end of the world"! However, there are breathtaking views of the waterfalls and the Sixt Fer à Cheval cirque!
Be careful though if you decide to go further, as the hikes are long and relatively difficult!!!

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Licorne40
Licorne40
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

.............. .............

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stéphanie balthazar
stéphanie balthazar

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Magnificent, very busy at the start but most people don't do the whole loop.

The climb was very challenging and we worked up a sweat. The Chalet du Boret was very colourful and exotic. We went as far as Lake Vogeale, which is well worth the detour. We loved it.

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Nadine 38
Nadine 38

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very beautiful hike, easy and refreshing. Be careful when crossing rivers so you don't slip on the rocks. Hiking poles can help you keep your balance. * * *

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SE VE RI NE
SE VE RI NE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

magical! The Boret Pass is technically challenging, but if you take it slowly, you'll get through it. The view at the end of the world is truly exceptional. We were glad we waited until the end of the holidays because there weren't many people there. Given the size of the car parks, I can imagine how crowded it must be in summer

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vercorcris
vercorcris

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

to get to Lake Vogealle, these 1,400 metres of elevation gain at the start of the hike are not particularly difficult for the most motivated hikers. You have to go to the Pas au Taureau pass (2,555 metres, 2,000 metres of elevation gain), which offers a beautiful view of Mont Blanc

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zyme16
zyme16

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A quick addition to the messages already posted: for the return trip to Lake Vogealle, add an extra 4.5 km and a little over 200 m of elevation gain to the initial route description.
A beautiful hike with the advantage of being a tourist site: well-marked and signposted, with well-equipped paths, but on the downside, it can get very busy, especially at the bottom of the valley.

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zenesia-bijoux-aixlesbains
zenesia-bijoux-aixlesbains
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

We left at 9:30 a.m. from the Pelly campsite where we spent the night. I highly recommend it; it's very well located and very quiet. We started the hike at Pas Du Boret. Be careful, it's steep, and sometimes you have to climb a little. It's best to do it in the morning, otherwise it gets too sunny. When you arrive, you'll be rewarded with the Boret refreshment bar. Continue towards Le Dard, and I really recommend continuing on to Lac de la Vogealle, or at least to the Refuge de la Vogealle. It's a steep climb (walking sticks recommended), but the Pas du Boret is definitely the most difficult part of the hike in terms of elevation.
The lake is at an altitude of 2,000 metres, a climb of around 1,000 metres from the Cirque, but it's a gradual ascent and perfectly doable. for the descent, you can vary the route by passing to the right of the Refuge de la Vogealle (ask the guides or refuge staff) on a very pretty path through the mountain pastures, but then there is a very steep and slippery descent on scree. Return via the Bout du Monde, a magnificent spot at the bottom of the valley with waterfalls on all sides.
In summary: a nice hike with breathtaking scenery and a good challenge for intermediate hikers (not recommended for beginners; good shoes and walking sticks recommended)

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