Sept Laux

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
We completed this hike over two days on 4 and 5 August, so there was absolutely no snow (which must make the passage over the Col de la Vache through the scree slopes more difficult). We did it in reverse order (Day 2 then Day 1) as Day 2 is much less interesting, with a large part of it taking place within the resort. Furthermore, as Day 1 is easier (11.6 km and 500 metres of elevation gain), we extended it with a few extra sections (a detour via Lac Blanc near the Refuge des Sept Laux and a return trip to Lac de la Sagne, which, in our opinion, is the most beautiful of the lakes: a total of 17 km and 770 metres of elevation gain).
P.S.: The Cul de la Vieille is closed; you’ll need to take the GR 738 (a slight detour).

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Date of your route : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike completed in two and a half days with bivouacking in the opposite direction. Some very difficult and steep sections. As beginners to hiking, we struggled quite a bit on the more difficult stages, such as the climb to the refuge and the Col de la Vache, but we much preferred doing it in this direction! We walked for two hours on the first day, nine hours on the second, and eight hours on the third to complete the circular hike.

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

You can read my detailed comments on days 1 and 2. Overall, this two-day trek will remain a very fond memory.
It was a bit crowded at the start, but then it calmed down and the scenery was magnificent until halfway through the second day.
The end of the trek, on ski slopes and roads, is not the most interesting, but we had already seen enough beautiful things that it didn't bother us.
At the end of May, despite the very hot sun, there was a lot of snow and be careful, the Col de la Vache is completely covered in snow on both sides.
Plan your route on GPS because the snow covers many of the markings.
There is no need to carry too much water, as there are many streams and rivers along the route on both days.

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Date of your route : Jul 17, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, at least at the beginning!
An incredible start, with stunning scenery and not too many people. Another big snowfield to reach the Col de la Vache and another to descend (which is best done on your bum).
After that, things took a turn for the worse. I have no doubt about the beauty of the lakes, but unfortunately we found ourselves in the clouds... The descent is cool, as is the slight incline that follows. The end of the hike is less enjoyable as you find yourself on the ski slopes, but the previous kilometres are well worth it!
You might see some ibex, which is great! They may have faded by now, but there are many orchids along the route, such as vanilla orchids.
Note that the beginning is not too busy, but the descent following the lakes is much busier.
Finally, an important point: we completed the hike in 9 hours and 15 minutes, but it might have taken us 10 hours if there had been fewer clouds. In any case, it's doable in a day if you climb well at the start.
Thank you for sharing this route!

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Date of your route : Jul 18, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A two-day hike, with just under 10 hours of walking in total (including 4 km off-trail, which was not planned).
The first day was uneventful, with fog and having to take off our shoes twice to cross the river (the water was freezing, haha).
We camped before starting the big climb to the 7 Laux refuge.
The second day was more challenging, with the climb to the 7 Laux refuge, an incredible sight! (See photos) Then it was time to tackle the Col de la Vache, a challenging climb, with a short section in the middle of a snowfield, then over rocky terrain. Most of the descent was done on our backsides, as we didn't have walking sticks and had to follow the path over the snowfield!
There are lots of water sources at the moment (mid-July 2021), so don't forget your filter straw if you have one
All in all, 32 km, 2,200 m of elevation gain, 14 kg on our backs, a real treat for the eyes and the soul! Thank you for sharing this, reliable GPX track (used with a Garmin).

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Date of your route : Jun 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Thank you very much for sharing this, we thoroughly enjoyed it!
Between a snowy stretch at the Col de la Vache, a threatening storm, chamois, ibex and a myriad of marmots, I can only recommend this route at this time of year!

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Date of your route : Sep 19, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant two-day hike starting from Prapoutel, a ghost ski resort out of season. Arrival at Sept Laux in 6 hours with a 12-kilo backpack, bivouac in the fishermen's shelter next to Lake Motte. No particular difficulties except for the scree at the Col de la Vache, but that's only 500 metres of walking over large rocks.
Day 2: Descent to Prapoutel in less than 6 hours but at a brisk pace because the end of the route is not very interesting, or at least I hate walking on ski slopes.

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Date of your route : Aug 03, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

First two-day camping trip for a couple who are fairly athletic but new to hiking. A sunny weekend in August. Backpack weights within acceptable limits (13 and 10 kg), including 6 litres of water per day, which was very welcome!

A simply magnificent hike: Day 1 started in the mountain pastures with moderate climbs to the highest point at Col de la Vache, which was quite difficult technically as it was very steep and rocky. What a pleasure it was to catch a glimpse of these beautiful lakes once we reached the pass! It was an exhausting day, but arriving at the lakes was invigorating.

We camped on the shores of Lake Cottepens, a peaceful spot. Most hikers choose to pitch their tents near the refuge, but space is limited (one spot = a flat area without rocks).

The second day is quite tough with a long, steep descent after the refuge, as well as sections in the middle of ski slopes in full sun, particularly the one leading to the Col de l'Oudis. The landscape is still stunning, with a magnificent view of the Chartreuse! There are small waterfalls and lakes where you can dip your feet (and more if you like ice-cold water).

Walking time: Day 1: 9 hours - Day 2: 10 hours. A difficult hike but perfectly doable at a leisurely pace, taking advantage of the breaks!

I highly recommend it!

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Good evening, Lionel and Abdou,

First of all, thank you for your feedback on this magnificent hike.
It's a shame that you set off with such a heavy load (25 kg) for an itinerant route of this length, which must have spoiled the fun a little.
the first rule of long-distance hiking (a rule you can easily find online) is to have a rucksack that weighs no more than 20% of the wearer's body weight.
I am well trained, I weigh 70 kg and on the GR20, I had a 16 kg rucksack at the start, which was the maximum weight!
Then, when I read your description, I realise that you deviated from the initial route, via Le Pleynet, the Pipay chalet and Prapoutel, making for a longer route with even more elevation gain. (Hats off to you!)
But when you love something, you don't count the cost
All the best and, above all, enjoy your hike,
Pat

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Date of your route : Jul 21, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Yesterday we returned from this hike, which we completed as a pair in four days and three nights, completely self-sufficient and camping in bivouacs. It was made very difficult by our very heavy rucksacks (25kg) and the particularly steep gradient.

A first climb to warm up to Habert d'Aiguebelle, then a second, much steeper climb to try to reach the Col de la Vache, which we were unable to reach that evening due to fatigue.
A very pleasant bivouac in the Roches Jaunes, surrounded by ibex, near the Pic du Pin.

The next day, the climb up the Col de la Vache, between scree and hard but slippery snow, proved to be very challenging.
The descent to the lakes (7 Laux) was easier despite the snowfields still being very present, and the view was spectacular.
We camped opposite Lac du Cos for the second night, with the colours on the lakes changing until nightfall.

The third day is a struggle, starting with the descent from the 7 Laux dam to Le Pleynet, which is very rough and traumatic in its first part, and very long and hot in its second.
Our rucksacks still weigh around 20kg. Exhausted, we are nevertheless forced to resume the ascent from Le Pleynet to the Pipay chalet, between a tarmac road and a wide path, so that the fourth day's route is not too long. This is a 2½-hour climb under a scorching sun, at the end of our strength, to arrive at a new landscape of green mountain pastures, less rugged, for a third and final night, facing the Chartreuse Massif and Lake Bourget.
The last day is a gentle but long descent, 7 kilometres first to Prapoutel, then another 7 kilometres through the forest to return to the starting point. Be sure to bring water for this last stage, as it is difficult to find any along the way.
A magnificent hike, a complete change of scenery, but you really need to reconsider the weight you carry on your back, which caused bruising and
burns on our shoulders.
In the end, four days of walking and 3.5 kg lighter. We don't need "Comme j'aime" (I love it), we love the mountains!
Lionel and Abdou

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Date of your route : Jul 04, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Having done this in early July 2018 (a year with very heavy snowfall), there was a lot of water and torrents along the entire route. This created a superb atmosphere, but you had to be quite agile to get through certain places without getting your feet wet.
We did this hike over two nights, camping near Lac de la Coche (where the water is swimmable ) and Lac Blanc, where icebergs were still floating.
We crossed the Col de la Vache, which was still completely covered in snow. It wasn't easy at all!
My best memory was probably going for a beer at the refuge 2 km from Lac Blanc to listen to the quarter-final between France and Argentina on a tiny radio that was over 40 years old (and where we won after an unbearable suspense). Then we returned to our camp at Lac Blanc to watch the sunset while cooking our black pudding with apples. At the same time, on the mountain on the other side of the lake, there were maybe 40 ibexes wandering around!
In short, what an exciting time we had at this campsite.

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Hello,

On the western shore of Lac de la Motte there is a fisherman's shelter where you can camp.

There are also camping options in the Lac du Pas de la Coche area.

Enjoy your hike!

Pat

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Hello,

I would like to go on a 3-day camping trip. Any advice on where to stop to camp? (preferably near a lake if possible)
Thank you for your help.

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Date of your route : Sep 04, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

We did this route in three days instead of two, camping rather than staying in mountain huts, and it was clearly the right decision: in the end, it took us almost 20 hours of walking instead of the 13 hours announced (the 13kg each of us were carrying slowed us down considerably, but even so, the route is really difficult)
Be careful on the scree slope, which becomes slippery in rainy mist and is clearly difficult to see (thanks to the hikers for the piles of stones that guided us )
But hey, because humans are masochistic... the scenery is magnificent, the isolation in September is almost total on the second day, and the pride at the end of the route is always just as enjoyable

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Date of your route : Aug 14, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Great hike! Lots of people out and about on this August weekend.

We camped between Lake Cottepens and Lake Carré. The route crosses numerous streams and lakes, so there's no problem getting water.

In terms of difficulty, the scree slope (first day) is a bit long and tiring. On the second day, it's harder to find your way (turn left before the Pra chalet) and there are no more markings.

Thank you to the author for this hike!

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