A short walk around Mont Thabor

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A hike packed with kilometres – both in distance and elevation gain!
A 360° viewpoint on Mont Thabor between the Vanoise and Écrins massifs.
Find all the reviews for this hike on the first stage’s page
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Details

n°30729971
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 24.52 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3 days 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 8,251 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 8,238 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 10,427 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5,266 ft

Photos

Descente du Thabor

Stages of the route

This route needs several days, find the details below:

  1. S
    De Grange Bernard au Refuge de Terre Rouge

    From Grange Bernard to the Refuge de Terre Rouge

    ↔5.14 mi ↗1,896 ft ↘33 ft
    First stage of the Petit tour du Mont Thabor hike
    View the route
  2. 2

    From the Terre Rouge Refuge to the Mont Thabor Refuge

    ↔8.39 mi ↗3,740 ft ↘2,651 ft
    Second stage of the short Mont Thabor circuit hike
    View the route
  3. E

    From the Mont Thabor Refuge to Grange Bernard

    ↔10.96 mi ↗2,671 ft ↘5,587 ft
    Third and final stage of the short Mont Thabor circuit hike.
    View the route

Notes

Starting from the hamlet of Combaz, Grange Bernard
This route, described in its entirety, can be completed in two days (rated ‘Very Difficult’ in this case) but is suggested here as a three-day trek. To do this, you can camp overnight – by the lakes, for example – or, for greater comfort, stay at the Terre Rouge and Mont Thabor mountain huts. It is also possible to split the final stage with a stop at the Refuge des Marches.

Plenty of water sources, except on Mont Thabor!

Accommodation is available at the Chapelle du Thabor (3,150 m).
Terre Rouge mountain hut
Mont Thabor mountain hut
Refuge des Marches

Standard kit, but high-top boots and plenty of water are essential.

Hike from June 2012, reworked into a multi-stage hike for 2023.

Find all the reviews for this hike on the first stage’s page
https://www.visorando.com/randonnee-peti...

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.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 3 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
User 27913176

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb 3-day hike

On the first day, we set off from the Valmeinier car park (which adds about 3 km to the total circular). We walked all day and camped about 2 km after the Terre Rouge refuge.

At the start of the second day, we set off again at around 8.30am. We followed the trail and arrived at the foot of the mountain; there was a lot of snow on the scree slopes. We climbed as best we could to 3,000 m, but decided not to continue because the conditions were not favourable: heavy fog, strong winds and snow up to our knees in places. So we descended to the Terre Rouge refuge to spend the night.

On the last day, we reached the car park in the morning.

Important points

To complete the entire circular loop, bring crampons and an ice axe, or even a rope if there are several of you.

There are no difficulties regarding water sources: rivers flow throughout the hike (we started using them from 2,200 metres).

Other than that, it's a very beautiful hike, best done in spring for greater comfort.

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User 9029452

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Great hike.
I completed this circuit in two days, climbing Mont Thabor on the first day as the weather was better then. I spent the night at the Mont Thabor refuge.
It's physically demanding over two days.
In my opinion, there is no better direction than the other. The only tricky part is the scree on Mont Thabor, where you have to dare to stray from the trail and follow the markers.

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Dany571
Dany571

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent walk, timeless yet very physically demanding. I completed it in a single day, due to a lack of time and changeable weather on 11 July 2024.

After Mont Thabor, on the way to the Terre-Rouge refuge, there are still plenty of snowfields on the path. You’ll need to follow the footprints in the snow to stay on course. You’ll also need sure-footedness to avoid slipping...

Enjoy the scenery and the wildlife. It’s a marmot’s paradise!

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Other walks in the area

Walking From Grange Bernard to the Refuge de Terre Rouge

Association / Club / Walk leader
De Grange Bernard au Refuge de Terre Rouge
↔5.14 mi ↗+1,896 ft ↘-33 ft ◔4h 00 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Valmeinier (Savoie)
First stage of the Petit tour du Mont Thabor hike

Walking The lakes of Curtalés, Rond, Cornu and Vert from Valmeinier

Visorando Member
Les lacs de Curtalés, Rond, Cornu et Vert depuis Valmeinier
↔9.91 mi ↗+2,690 ft ↘-2,684 ft ◔6h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Valmeinier (Savoie)
A lovely hike through the Neuvache valley to reach Lac Curtalés and the neighbouring lakes, with a detour to the beautifully coloured Lac Vert. The ascent follows a balcony path on the right bank of the Neuvache, offering superb views of the valley and the mountains. The return route, following the left bank along the stream, offers some pleasant shaded areas during hot weather. Yellow markings and signposts to help you find your way.

Walking Grands Lacs via the Terre Rouge refuge

Visorando Member
Grands Lacs par le refuge de Terre Rouge
↔8.66 mi ↗+2,559 ft ↘-2,559 ft ◔6h 15 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Valmeinier (Savoie)
This hike consists of two loops that meet at the Terre Rouge refuge. The lower loop allows you to admire the Neuvache valley from a balcony trail as you climb. On the descent, the route often runs alongside the torrent itself. The upper loop takes place in a more mineral environment at the base of the western slope of Mont Thabor. The markings for these loops are varied.

Walking Circular of the lakes in the Neuvache valley above Valmeinier

Visorando Member
↔11.89 mi ↗+3,343 ft ↘-3,323 ft ◔8h 25 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Valmeinier (Savoie)
A magnificent hike along the Neuvache river, which will take you to Lac des Glaciers in a magnificent alpine cirque dominated by Roche du Chardonnet, Pointe des Angelières, Mont Thabor and Pic du Thabor via Lac Vert, Lac Curtalès, Lac Rond, Lac Cornu, Lac Bri and an unnamed lake.The diversity of the environments, including forests, mountain pastures and mineral landscapes, is what makes this magnificent but demanding hike so interesting. It is aimed at experienced hikers who are used to long walks on varied terrain and are accustomed to navigating by map and visually, particularly between Lac Bri and Lac des Glaciers and at the start of the descent from the latter.Visorando app recommended.

Walking The Pain de Sucre at the start of Valloire

Visorando Member
Le Pain de Sucre au départ de Valloire
↔7.17 mi ↗+2,277 ft ↘-2,260 ft ◔5h 15 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Valloire (Savoie)
A classic hike around the Valloire ski resort. This is a circular starting and ending in Valloire. comment from a hiker on 02/08/2023 A sign after the hamlet of Poingt Ravier indicates that the return route from Albanette to Valloire is closed. At (10), only a pedestrian crossing remains. On arrival in Valloire, a municipal decree is displayed indicating that traffic on this road is prohibited, particularly for pedestrians, and that failure to comply with this decree may result in a fine.

Walking Valloire - Les Verneys par le Parcours Vert

Visorando Member
Valloire - Les Verneys par le Parcours Vert
↔4.40 mi ↗+1,161 ft ↘-1,155 ft ◔3h 00 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Valloire (Savoie)
This loop, with a reasonable elevation gain for the region, will take you along paths to discover the magnificent landscapes of Valloire.This hike is offered as a trail run by the Valloire Tourist Office.The Devil's Bridge is broken. However, a replacement footbridge has been put in place, allowing you to follow the original route.

Walking From the Terre Rouge Refuge to the Mont Thabor Refuge

Association / Club / Walk leader
↔8.39 mi ↗+3,740 ft ↘-2,651 ft ◔7h 05 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Valmeinier (Savoie)
Second stage of the short Mont Thabor circuit hike

Walking Refuge de Terre Rouge - Le Prec

Visorando Member
Refuge de Terre Rouge - Le Prec
↔8.76 mi ↗+2,165 ft ↘-3,848 ft ◔5h 55 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Valmeinier (Savoie)
This is the last stage of this three-day route, with one last beautiful climb. A final alpine pass, a few lakes, and the return via the Fenêtre du Prec to round off this lovely Tour du Thabor.

For more walks, use our search engine .

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