The Aiguille Percée from Tignes-le Lac

de fr

A lovely hike starting from Tignes-le Lac. Significant elevation gain, with a continuous climb to Aiguille Percée.
From the top, there is a beautiful view of the surrounding peaks. Mont Blanc can be seen if the sky is clear!

Details

n°353755
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.91 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 667 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 673 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,763 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,111 m
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

View of Tignes-le-Lac
The needle in profile
Aiguille Percée Tignes
South face of the Aiguille Percée under the snow

Description of the walk

From the resort car park, head to the foot of the Palafour chairlift.

(S/E) Head west on the trail that starts below the Palafour chairlift.

(1) At the first intersection with another trail, veer slightly left towards the Chardonnet ski lift. Follow it for 350 metres.

(2) The trail then turns right and climbs in switchbacks. Do not be distracted by the trails marked out in the mountain pastures, which may branch off to the right or left. Keep your eyes on the trail climbing straight ahead.

(3) When the trail meets the track, follow it for 180 metres.

(4) Leave the track and take the path that climbs to the right towards the avalanche barriers.
The path then climbs in switchbacks parallel to the track. Continue on this path without taking any of the other paths that climb towards the avalanche barriers or descend towards the track.

(5) At a crossroads, the path veers sharply to the right and winds upwards, leaving the avalanche barriers on your right. Continue straight ahead. You will soon see a slightly flatter section and the arrival point of the Palafour chairlift.
Continue until you reach the signs indicating the ski slopes in winter and the mountain bike trails in summer.

(6) At the Air de Palafour sign, a sign indicates the Aiguille Percée trail. Follow this trail ahead of you. Pass by a small lake and follow the trail on the right. You will leave the lake on your left.
From this point, keep the Aiguille Percée in your sights and continue the final climb up the scree slope. Climb the needle via the path that winds through the scree.

(7) The final ascent and descent on the other side of the peak require a bit of climbing. Once you have descended on the other side of the peak, follow the ridge eastwards and climb up to the orientation table when you see a sign on your right.

To descend, continue along the ridge and follow the signs for Tignes-le Lac to the right. The path is well marked. It descends quite steeply and arrives at a small, slightly sloping plateau.
Once past this plateau, you will constantly have Tignes-le Lac and the chairlifts in your sights, so stay on the main path.
After passing under the ski lift and then the Palafour chairlift, join a path. Cut across the path and turn left to rejoin the trail you took on the way up.

(1) Continue straight on to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 2,117 m - Palafour chairlift
  2. 1 : km 0.2 - alt. 2,162 m - Chardonnet ski lift
  3. 2 : km 0.66 - alt. 2,238 m - On the right
  4. 3 : km 1.03 - alt. 2,322 m - Palafour slope
  5. 4 : km 1.14 - alt. 2,333 m - Leave the track and turn right
  6. 5 : km 1.44 - alt. 2,406 m - Turn sharply to the right
  7. 6 : km 2.16 - alt. 2,548 m - Palafour area
  8. 7 : km 3.09 - alt. 2,704 m - Aiguille Percée
  9. S/E : km 6.91 - alt. 2,111 m - Palafour chairlift

Notes

The trail is well marked in the mountain pastures.
No markings.
To shorten the hike, you can take the Palafour chairlift at the start.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 18 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
User 23667768

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike. The first part is easy, but the second part is more difficult because of the rocks (slippery)

Machine-translated

fabien moretti
fabien moretti

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

An easy and enjoyable family hike.
- Crowded and no shade
+ Panoramic views, the Aiguille Percée rock formation, some snowfields in early August, marmots

Machine-translated

Zafonk
Zafonk

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route, even if it runs quite close to the ski lifts. You quickly feel like you're in another world as you gaze towards the summit. Beautiful views from the top, with a very rocky landscape and unusually shaped rocks.
It's fairly easy to get through the needle :-)
Quite strenuous if you do it "quickly" (2 hours 10 minutes from Val Claret). Trail runners can do almost the whole thing running, especially on the way down ;-)

Machine-translated

danielfr40
danielfr40

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

not very busy at the end of August, but probably much busier before that.
however, it is very popular with marmots
the Aiguille Percée is worth the detour and the path is easy
i didn't feel like crossing it, so I went back 50 metres to follow the signpost and went to see the other side of the needle. In the end, I could have climbed down on my bottom.
The return near the ridges is a bit airy.
very nice view of the needle and the orientation table on the glaciers and peaks.
thank you for this route

Machine-translated

babetteb25
babetteb25

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 02, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful, well-marked hike. Great to have done it

Machine-translated

tbetmont
tbetmont

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike.

Machine-translated

David025
David025

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike that allows you to discover a fascinating geological feature. The trail along the ridge is magnificent, although you must be careful not to slip. Definitely worth doing

Machine-translated

milo74
milo74

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb hike and magnificent view at the summit.
The end of the climb under the needle looks impressive but is not difficult.
Be careful, however, at the slightly tricky passage through the hole to get to the other side.

Machine-translated

paki1
paki1

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike. The Aiguille Percée is spectacular. The orientation table is very well done and the view is first-rate.

Machine-translated

PascaleB.
PascaleB.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A short hike that is very interesting for its splendid views (even though it remains largely close to the ski lifts), but done in reverse order in order to climb the most difficult trail (Chaudannes side) and descend the Palafour side via the easier and more pleasant trail.

Machine-translated

Nourserie
Nourserie

The trip to Tignes had to be postponed

Machine-translated

berry5
berry5

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very parish specific to Brittany hike, but more difficult than 'average'. The entire section around the ridge is very slippery and the slopes are steep. You therefore need to be extremely careful (and allow around 5 hours for the circuit instead of 3 hours 25 minutes).
Despite the difficulty, the view from the summit is exceptional (360° - Mont Blanc, Grande Motte, Grande Casse...) and well worth the effort.

Machine-translated

alsa281052
alsa281052

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello, everyone!
A beautiful hike accessible to "almost everyone". Magnificent view of the needle and the surrounding peaks once you pass the Palafour chairlift arrival point. This needle and all the small peaks that make up the ridge are magnificent!
Don't be intimidated by the final climb to the peak after leaving the mountain pasture; it's much easier than it looks from a distance. But be careful, this hike is not recommended in wet conditions or rain! The return trip along the ridges requires extra caution in some places.

Machine-translated

monal
monal

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Last hike of a three-week trip. The arrival and the start of the descent require caution, as the path is rocky and quite steep. A unique site that is well worth the effort, even if your legs ache a little.

Machine-translated

piday
piday

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike, very accessible. By setting off early, I had the mountain all to myself during the entire climb, which was a real treat.
On the way down, I had to slightly alter the route due to pastures whose boundaries change regularly. But with the GPS track, it was no problem finding my way back.
A very beautiful walk that I will definitely do again if I return to Tignes.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking Chardonnet Lakes going up via Parafour

Visorando member
Lacs du Chardonnet en montant par Parafour
↔5.33 km ↗+349 m ↘-349 m ◔2h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Tignes (Savoie)
Family hike in the hills above Tignes Le Lac, suitable for young hikers who already have 1 or 2 years of hiking experience. It allows you to discover the Lacs du Chardonnet on a loop rather than by ski lift as indicated by the tourist office. The Visorando app is recommended for the unmarked sections

Walking Loop at the bottom of the Aiguille Percée via the Condus and Parafour climbs

Visorando member
Boucle en bas de l'Aiguille Percée par la montée des Condus et Parafour
↔6.56 km ↗+506 m ↘-497 m ◔3h 20 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Tignes (Savoie)
This is a fairly challenging circular hike around the Aiguille Percée, but it offers breathtaking views.As the climb up Les Condus is tough (facing the slope for the entire first part of the hike), we chose to take two cross-country trails that climb more gently to make the hike more suitable for children.It is also possible to do it in reverse, climbing up via Parafour (the trail winds) and descending via Les Condus.The use of the app is strongly recommended.

Walking In search of the Lost Valley from Tignes 2100

Visorando member
À la recherche de la Vallée Perdue depuis Tignes 2100
↔9.80 km ↗+593 m ↘-584 m ◔4h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Tignes (Savoie)
The Vallée Perdue is a ravine carved out by a stream, which was dry when I visited, with impressive and fabulous walls and rocks. The path at the bottom is very well maintained, with a few bridges, beams and cable ramps. It is usually accessed from Val d'Isère La Daille, but I suggest starting from Tignes 2100, with the added bonus of Combefolle and the recommended Gouille de Salin.

Walking Tignes le Lac Discovery Trail and Botanical Trail

Visorando member
Sentier Découverte et Sentier Botanique de Tignes le Lac
↔5.20 km ↗+348 m ↘-346 m ◔2h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Tignes (Savoie)
Family hike starting from Tignes le Lac. On the recommendation of the tourist office, we started with the Sentier Découverte to avoid a steep and rocky section on the descent. However, it may also be advantageous to do this hike in the opposite direction to the one described here to avoid crossing the pass at the end.

Walking Waterfalls and Gouille de Salin from Tignes le Lac

Visorando member
Cascades et Gouille de Salin depuis Tignes le Lac
↔2.39 km ↗+276 m ↘-329 m ◔1h 30 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Tignes (Savoie)
Hike suitable for families (but with a significant elevation gain), starting from Tignes Lavachet, to see the magnificent Salin Waterfalls with a detour via the Gouille de Salin. There are a few wooden footbridges and several places where walking shoes are required.

Walking The Col de la Leisse from the arrival point of the Aéroski cable car

Visorando member
↔9.67 km ↗+261 m ↘-849 m ◔3h 30 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Tignes (Savoie)
A beautiful hike to admire the mountains around Tignes, with views as far as Mont Blanc. Lovely view of the Grande Motte glacier. Little elevation gain when taking the cable car.

Walking Walking along the Sassière to the lake

Visorando member
En longeant la Sassière jusqu'au Lac
↔6.93 km ↗+186 m ↘-187 m ◔2h 30 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Tignes (Savoie)
A family walk along a path following a small mountain river called the Sassière in the nature reserve of the same name. The walk ends at a small mountain dam that forms Lac de la Sassière. Keep your eyes peeled for marmots.

Walking Aiguille de la Grande Sassière

Visorando member
Aiguille de la Grande Sassière
↔10.57 km ↗+1,473 m ↘-1,467 m ◔7 hrs ▲Very difficult
⚑Departure from Tignes (Savoie)
While the Barrhorn (3,610 m) in Switzerland is the highest officially marked hike in Europe, the Aiguille de la Grande Sassière (3,747 m) hike takes you higher up on a path perfectly marked with cairns. It runs alongside a glacier that is unfortunately receding year after year. Magnificent view of the French and Italian peaks. Please read the recommendations in the practical information section carefully.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.