Refuge de Temple-Écrins walks

Stage11 of this route. One of the most beautiful and challenging stages of the route, featuring the Aup Martin pass at 2,700 metres and the Pas de la Cavale, the highest point ofthe GR® 54. This stage demands the utmost vigilance and experience of high-mountain hiking. The views are absolutely stunning and incredibly wild. We took the shuttle bus to avoid the 8 km of tarmac road to the car park at Entre-les-Aigues.

A beautiful and challenging hike in the hills, varied with some unexpected sections. Stunning views. Be careful, there are many tricky and slippery sections. Avoid in wet weather.

Stage9 of this route links the Refuge de l’Alpe de Villar-d’Arêne to Monêtier-les-Bains, taking a short detour to the Lac du Glacier d’Arsine, surrounded by the Pics de Chamoissière, d’Arsine, de Neige Cordier, the Pointe Cézanne and the Montagne des Agneaux. Unfortunately, the Arsine Glacier is suffering from global warming. The section starting from the pass along the Petit Tabuc stream in the valley, known as the Réou d'Arsine, is magnificent and very wild.

Stage2 of the Tour du Combeynot: From the Romanche to the Guisane Valley via the Col d'Arsine, this stage takes place at the foot of the Agneaux

From the Vallonpierre refuge, the hike takes you to the Rif du Sap chapel, then to the charming village of La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar, where you can stop for refreshments at a local grocery store. The route then crosses the Valgaudémar National Forest before reaching the magnificent lakes of Pétarel and Sebeyras.

Here we are at the final stage of this 13-day route around the magnificent Écrins National Park. A downhill stage that takes you to La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar, where this journey began 13 days earlier. A splendid start to the stage, all the way down to the glacial torrents. The panorama is breathtaking, surrounded by the most beautiful peaks of the southern part of the Écrins, already leaving us with a sense of nostalgia for the past 13 days. A route with no technical difficulty.

Thefirst stage begins with a variant ofthe GR® 54 and takes you to the Refuge des Souffles via the Col de Colombes, Lac Lautier and the Col des Clochettes, avoiding the route through Villar-Loubière. A challenging route with a 1,400-metre climb and steep gradients right from the start. A good way to get your legs going for thefirst stage and a good warm-up for the rest of the route. The scenery is already exceptional, promising some fabulous stages ahead.

A very challenging 180 km route with 12,000 metres of elevation gain, requiring excellent physical fitness. Stages offering spectacular scenery, steep mountains, passes, wildlife, flora and colours. The most beautifulGR® route we have ever done. We completed the route in August, the ideal time to tackle the most difficult passes, which are likely to be snow-covered early in the season, such as La Muzelle, l’Aup Martin, the Pas de la Cavale, de la Valette, Vallonpierre and de La Vaurze.

The hike begins with the ascent of the Pas de la Cavale, which rises to an altitude of 2,735 metres. After this climb, you will reach the Pré de la Chaumette refuge. From there, another climb will take you along the imposing Sirac, passing through the Vallette, Gouiran and Vallonpierre passes. The route ends at the Vallonpierre refuge.

Stage1 of the Tour du Combeynot: From the Col du Lautaret to the Alpe de Villar-d'Arêne refuge via the schistose crevasse trail overlooking the Romanche valley. Unique view of the Écrins and Meije peaks.