Villar-d'Arêne walks

Le Pontet is a magnificent turquoise lake above the hamlet of Les Cours, near Villar d'Arêne. You can get close to it by car, but the walk from Les Cours is very pleasant and, depending on the season, you may see edelweiss and marmots.

A 360° view of La Meije and its neighbours and the discovery of Lac du Goléon, one of the most beautiful lakes in the Alps. ⚠️ 30/07/2025: modification to (4) to follow the Tour des Aiguilles d'Arves and avoid private property.

A relatively low-altitude foray into a high mountain landscape where the Romanche river rises in the scree following the Plate des Agneaux glacier.

This hike is accessible to all without any particular difficulty and allows you to walk with the magnificent panorama of the Meije glaciers as a backdrop. What's more, the remarkable exposure of the circuit and its relatively modest altitude mean that this loop can be completed as soon as the snow melts. Moderator's note added on 26/07/2021: please note that part of this circuit is no longer passable. See reviews for an alternative route

Mountain hike ending at the glacial lake of Goléon, superb balcony views of the Meije massif and discovery of typical mountain hamlets.

Hiking in the Ecrins massif towards glacial lakes.

A somewhat long but magnificent hike with the Meije glaciers in the background. Message from the moderator: You are in a Sensitive Natural Area (Natura 2000) which is subject to specific regulations (see practical information).

Hike facing the majestic panorama offered by La Meije, one of the queens of the Ecrins. Message from the moderator: You are in a Sensitive Natural Area (Natura 2000) which is subject to specific regulations (see practical information).

The most popular ski summit in the Alps, offering breathtaking 360° views of the great peaks of the Écrins massif, the Cerces, the Vanoise and Mont Blanc.

Hike to a 3,000-metre peak offering a complete 360° panorama of the Écrins, the Grandes Rousses, Savoie, Mont Blanc and the Aiguilles d'Arves.To take this route, you will need a high-clearance vehicle. (!) User comment on 2 September 2025: >Very beautiful hike, but in my opinion the route should be revised. The track from Le Chazelet is closed to traffic( reserved for authorised persons and alpine farmers only).

Near the Grand Galibier, another beautiful peak in the Cerces massif with an exceptional 360° panorama of the Ecrins, the Thabor, the Aiguilles d'Arves, Mont Blanc, the Viso, etc. A summit that takes effort to reach but is definitely worth the detour. An absolutely magnificent hike with a surprise at the summit that encourages meditation.

This legendary summit offers spectacular views of the Écrins mountains dominated by La Barre and La Meije, Goléon, the Aiguilles d'Arves, Mont Blanc, Viso, Queyras and the Swiss Valais, where Liskamm and Monte Rosa rise up. It is also a popular area for ibex.

A fantastic hike which, when the weather is fine, allows you to contemplate magnificent landscapes dotted with lakes in infinite shades of blue.

20 minutes from the town of Monêtier-les-Bains. A beautiful day hike with a magnificent view at the end. View of the Grand Lac and the Écrins massif. Return to the car park via the same route.

The Guisane, which waters the entire valley from the Col du Lautaret, crosses the villages of Serre Chevalier, Le Monêtier-les-Bains, La Salle-les-Alpes and Chantemerle before joining the Durance in Briançon. This easy climb follows the old Lautaret road to the pass, before turning left to reach the source of the Guisane.

Hike to a high-altitude lake nestled in a glacial basin at the foot of the Pics de Combeynot.

This is a route best enjoyed in a group of hikers or with your family, as the elevation gain is relatively low. However, it is a walk that will allow you to admire the scenery and walk along the edge of the crevasse. Be careful though, you are in the mountains and there are no safety barriers, so caution is advised. Discover edelweiss, marmots and gentian flowers and enjoy the immensely beautiful landscape! For the more adventurous, you can start from the village of Besse on theGR®54to arrive at the same starting point. Message from the moderator: You are in a sensitive natural area (Natura 2000) which is subject to specific regulations (see practical information).

This is a particularly pleasant hike, allowing you to discover the great cirque formed by these three Savoyard peaks, with the added bonus of a stop at the very friendly Refuge des Aiguilles.

This is a beautiful hike with a wide variety of landscapes ranging from pastures to glaciers that can be admired on the northern slope of the Écrins. Message from the moderator: You are in a Sensitive Natural Area (Natura 2000) which is subject to specific regulations (see practical information).

A classic family hike. Most of the trail is in the forest, sheltered from the sun, except at the end of the trail to reach the lake. The trail runs alongside the Parc des Écrins and enters it in places. Please note the National Park regulations, in particular the ban on dogs, even on a leash (see the notice at the start of the trail).

The Lac d'Arsine, which has been split in two for several years, nestles in the cirque formed by the Agneaux and Neige Cordier mountains and is a real gem.

A superb hike in a magnificent setting at the foot of the Aiguilles d'Arves. The coolness of the torrent, the landscape ravaged by erosion, flower-filled mountain pastures, the whistling of marmots and shy chamois complete the picture. A comfortable walk has been created passing through (1) and (2).

A pleasant walk above the large village of Monêtier, famous for its hot springs and ski resort.

A high-mountain route leading along the edge of a moraine ridge with breathtaking views of the high peaks of the Écrins.

Hike in a high mountain setting overlooking the Glacier Blanc and the surrounding peaks.

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.

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.

This route takes you to Lac de l'Eychauda, looping back via the pass of the same name, then Pas de l'Âne and finally Col des Grangettes. The view of the lake from Col des Grangettes is panoramic.

In the Crête des Grangettes cirque, there is a particularly famous mountain lake at 2,514 metres, called the Eychauda.