Mont Thabor from the Chalets de Laval

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This is a very challenging and demanding hike because it is long (almost 20 km) with an elevation gain of 1,300 m and some exposed sections. You need to be well prepared. It is very beautiful

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Date of your route : Nov 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike, very demanding in terms of distance and elevation gain. It was the last chance to do it in hiking mode because of the snow, which nevertheless made it easier to cross the scree between points 8 and 9.
The route is very well marked when it is "easy" but much less so when it becomes rocky with sometimes complicated aerial passages. But it is really worth it with a splendid view at the summit. A total of 7½ hours of hiking, alone.

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Hello Michel,
I'm glad you enjoyed the route. It's certainly more physically demanding than the "classic" route starting from Vallée Etroite, but it's also more "mountainous" and the reward is always there with the magnificent views and the "Martian" atmosphere at the summit. It's a shame that the chapel is in such a worrying state... but for me, it's also an area I always enjoy coming back to.
Pascal

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Date of your route : Aug 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I knew the Thabor from the start of the "Vallée Etroite", but I find it more enjoyable to start from the Laval refuge.
It's still a wonderful route that requires stamina but offers magnificent rewards along the way and especially at the summit.
One downside: it's a shame that the Thabor chapel has been left abandoned.
I'll be back.
Michel

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Date of your route : Aug 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike, only to be attempted if you already have a good level of hiking experience.
The route is good, but we had difficulty finding our way from the Col de la Chapelle, especially on the way back in thick fog.
Be mindful of the weather conditions!
The view from the summit of Thabor and throughout the hike is well worth the effort.

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I couldn't do this hike: there was too much snow.
One of the people at the Drayères refuge advised me not to.

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Date of your route : Aug 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hiking, starting 5 km below the Laval chalets at 1,750 m, with a 1,600-metre elevation gain, very challenging on scree, Mont Thabor is superb.
It's physically demanding, so you have to enjoy pushing yourself to the limit.

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Date of your route : Aug 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, fairly long hike with a gradual climb, completed in 7 hours and 50 minutes including breaks.
Good stamina required but no particular difficulty.
Beautiful scenery and magnificent views at the summit.

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Date of your route : Aug 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This walk is quite long but absolutely beautiful, with the superb reward of a 360° view at the summit. The scree between 8 and 9 inevitably slows you down, but the stones don't move too much, so it's not that difficult. To do this walk, I took the bus at 7:30 am from Briançon station, which took me to the top of Névache at 8:15 am, before taking the shuttle bus to the Laval chalet. I did the same on the way back, but with the last bus leaving at 6:45 p.m. from the top of Névache, I had to pick up the pace a little on the way down to make it in time. In fact, 9 hours including breaks is a bit tight (and I'm a pretty good walker).

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Date of your route : Jul 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

significant snowfield after the Valmeinier pass
superb view at the summit

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Date of your route : Sep 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I tried and failed. I am a solo hiker, and the scree slope before the Col de la Chapelle dampened my enthusiasm (between 8 and 9).
However, it was a superb hike, which I will try again... with others.
https://youtu.be/KHfls-vvvvM

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Date of your route : Sep 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

My question was about the ridge crossing, which ultimately wasn't that difficult, but the subsequent walk across the scree is long and it can sometimes be difficult to find your bearings.
The hike as a whole is difficult but doable for "average" hikers.
Thank you for your information and to those who shared their experiences during their hike.
Dani

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Many thanks to Raton laveur for this development proposal, which has been in existence for many years. In fact, the CDRP05 trail markers responsible for this sector have:
- removed the markers from the route you took due to difficulties caused by the melting glacier,
- marked out the new route starting from the Col des Muandes.
This route is also mentioned in the description.
As for the route you suggest, it is undoubtedly feasible, provided that volunteers can be found who are willing to take care of it, but this would effectively be duplicating the work already done.
Enjoy your future hikes in this corner of the Claree Valley.

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Date of your route : Jul 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I confirm that this is a very difficult route, mainly due to the distance and the ridge crossing between the Col des Muandes and the Col de Valmeinier. The path is poorly marked on the Chardonnet rock ridges. Several paths marked by cairns seem possible, but it is difficult to find your way and we had to take passages that I consider a little tricky (hands and aerial passage) in some places.
Elsewhere, it's more a feeling of danger than actual danger. I'm quite sensitive to vertigo, but there's nothing too bad on this hike except, as I said, the passage along the ridges.
Would it not be possible to build a path on the slope of the Chardonnet rock itself? The slope does not seem any steeper than certain sections of the Col de la Chapelle.
For moderately trained hikers like us, Mont Thabor is well worth the effort! It took us 10½ hours there and back, and the large pile of rocks we had to cross and the ridge section undoubtedly slowed us down. I don't understand how they can say it takes 20 minutes between the Col de la Chapelle and the Col de Valmeinier.
But we're glad we did it!

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Thank you for these details!
Dani

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