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Park in the Notre-Dame de la Gorge car park at the end of Val Montjoie. Much of the route follows theGR®5andGR® Tour du Mont Blanc trails, so you can follow the red and white markings for most of the way.
(S) Opposite the chapel, cross the stream and take the Chemin Romain. This is a paved path, accessible to 4x4s, which starts off quite steeply. This section has little shade and is exposed to strong sunlight.
(1) Just before crossing the stream again at Pont de la Téna, look to your right for a curious sight: a natural bridge over the stream.
Continue along theGR®5on the carriage road.
(2) Pass the few houses of Nant Borrant and then the refuge of the same name.
(3). The path begins to climb again, this time through the forest. You will soon arrive at a wide valley covered with meadows. The path then levels out.
(4) Leave the houses of La Rollaz on your left. At the end of the valley, the path starts climbing again through the mountain pastures.
(5) Pass the Refuge de la Balme and continue, leaving two paths on your right. After the footbridge, take the second path on your left. You are now almost directly below a high-voltage power line and have left theGR®5.
(6) Follow the path to the first of the Jovet Lakes (2,174 m), which is quite large. In this last section, you will see the ruins of the Jovet chalets on your left.
(7) Continue to the second lake (2,194 m), which is slightly higher. You are now overlooked by Mont Tondu, which rises to an altitude of 3,196 m.
(8) Return to the first lake.
(7) Take the path that branches off to the right and join theGR®5at the footbridge or a little further on, crossing a ford (if the weather is stormy, use the footbridge instead). Descend to Notre Dame de la Gorge via the same route as on the way up (S/E).
Before the lakes fork, we had to take off our boots to cross the torrent. With all this rain, the water is overflowing everywhere! There's still snow at the lakes, which are completely thawed.
Visorando Member
Difficult 
Association / Club / Walk leader
