The Chardonnet Lakes above Tignes

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A circular route via the Lacs du Chardonnet starting from Tignes Val Claret.

Details

n°16038175
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.78 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 294 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 296 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,394 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,085 m
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Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the entrance to Val Claret.

(S/E) Turn left onto the path running parallel to the tunnel-style ski lift. Continue on to theGR®5junction.

(1) Turn left onto it for a few dozen metres and leave it at the next junction to continue straight ahead. Note: theGR®5is not signposted.
Continue the climb, which is initially straight before finishing with a few hairpin bends, to reach thefirst Lac du Chardonnet.

(2) Go round it on the right to reach thesecond lake. Continue along the track. Then begin the descent to reach, at the Chardonnet ski lift, a dome-shaped area with a wooden cross.

(3) Continue the descent to the Palafour chairlift departure station. Carry on to reach the footbridge at Lac de Tignes.

(4) Turn left onto the path that goes round the lake. Reach the junction with the path leading to Val Claret.

(5) Take this path to the left to easily return to the Val Claret car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 2,104 m - Val Claret car park
  2. 1 : km 0.55 - alt. 2,189 m - GR junction
  3. 2 : km 1.24 - alt. 2,386 m - Lacs de Chardonnet
  4. 3 : km 2.93 - alt. 2,226 m - Wooden cross
  5. 4 : km 3.9 - alt. 2,086 m - Footbridge - Lac de Tignes
  6. 5 : km 5.13 - alt. 2,087 m - Val Claret junction
  7. S/E : km 5.78 - alt. 2,104 m - Val Claret car park

Notes

The paths are not signposted, but the route is always clear.

Worth a visit

(2) Note here the presence of a mountain bar with a spherical structure. This sphere is visible from Tignes thanks to its white tarpaulin roof.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 5 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
User 14257524

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I continued on to the Col du Palet, following the ski tracks and then the GR trail, but there were no markings.

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User 23667768

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Nice little hike. The first climb is tough, but the second part is fairly easy (flat and downhill)

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sylvie couriol
sylvie couriol

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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 : Yes

The lakes are stunning, offering beautiful views of the surrounding peaks, particularly the Aiguille Percée, whose arch was much larger than we had imagined

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Elisarando
Elisarando

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Difficulty finding the start.
Tough climb: steep and very steep path
The end of the circular route is more relaxed on the ski runs. Poorly signposted. We got a bit lost due to a lack of signposts and there were several of us in the same situation
You can also go up via the ski slopes; it’s less strenuous, and in that case you do a return trip rather than a circular route
Stunning scenery!

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Lyndi
Lyndi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The climb at the start is tough, but once you reach the top, it’s definitely worth it! On the way down, be careful not to get lost on the mountain bike trails. A really lovely hike

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