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Departure from the Col de Bassachaux, accessible by car from Châtel (car park at the pass).
From Col de Bassachaux (S/E) to Col de Chésery (4), follow theGR®5, which is rarely marked in red and white. From Col de Chésery (4) to the refuge of the same name (5), there are a few red-white-red markings. More useful are the directional signs at major intersections.
(S/E) From Col de Bassachaux, head south-east on an alpine track towards Lac Vert. Climb gently and note the view of Lac de Montriond on the right. At the first fork (La Lambe), continue gently uphill on the right-hand track. At the second fork, below a chalet, also turn right.
(1) Cross a ski slope (snow cannons), descend slightly and pass under a chairlift line.
(2) At the Chaux Fleurie crossroads, cross a mountain bike trail and continue south-east towards the Col de Chésery and Lac Vert. Follow a mixed footpath and mountain bike trail and ignore a parallel path on the right. The path becomes stony and, still heading south-east, climbs up the side of the rocky foothills of Pointe de Chésery.
(3) At a fork (rock block with markers), take the path on the right (the one on the left is a mountain bike trail). After a short climb, ignore a mountain bike trail coming from the left and go around a small wetland on the right. Stay on the main trail, ignoring vague tracks on either side. Note the Dents Blanches massif in the background on the right and climb gently up to the Col de Chésery.
(4) Then take the path on the right towards the Refuge de Chésery and follow the winding, fairly flat path to reach the refuge, which is easily recognisable by a Swiss flag erected on a nearby hillock.
(5) Immediately on the right is Lac Vert (you can walk around it, not marked on the map).
(6) Return to the refuge.
(5) Leave the refuge on your left and follow the wide path north towards Lac de Chésery.
(7) At an intersection (viewpoint over the lake), turn right towards Sassex/Morgins. Descend the path through the pastures and reach Lac de Chésery.
(8) Climb back up the same path to the intersection.
(7) Then turn right towards Avoriaz/Montriond. At a fork, take the left and leave the alpine chalets on your right. Climb gently up to the Col de Chésery.
(4) Begin the descent towards Bassachaux by taking the path on the left (the one you took on the way up; on the right is the mountain bike trail).
(3) Back at the fork with the rock, take the path on the right (the parallel path on the left descends lower and then climbs again). At a triple fork (altitude 1860), take the middle path (signposted "Tour VTT"; ignore a vague path on the left and a path climbing towards Crête des Rochassons on the right).
(2) At the Chaux Fleurie crossroads, cross the mountain bike trail and head slightly uphill towards a chalet. Leave the chalet on your right and follow the alpine trail to the Col de Bassachaux (S/E).
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