Le Grand Tour du Pays de la Meije
This exceptional route will allow you to discover in just one week a
much of the wealth and landscapes of La Grave and Villar
of Arena.
much of the wealth and landscapes of La Grave and Villar
of Arena.
This large loop that alternates between alpine landscapes, high mountain atmosphere, mountain lakes, passes, valleys and plateaus, shade and light will satisfy the most demanding hikers. This tour that some "trail" specialists will one day want to cover in less than 24 hours can be done in about 5 days: at this pace, you can enjoy the landscapes of the accommodation and discover a territory that has many surprises in store.
Day 1 > La Grave – Alpe de Villar d’Arène refuge
(allow 4 to 5 hours).
A short warm-up day that ends in the heart of the Ecrins massif at the foot of the Montagne des Agneaux. La Grave, take the GR 54 of the “tour de l'oisans” to the Alpe refuge.
Day 2 > Alpe de Villar d'Arène refuge/Goléon refuge
(allow 7 to 8 hours)
Long stage, varied route with, along the way, the famous Lautaret pass, the delicious Pontet lake and an arrival at the edge of the Goléon lake. From the refuge, take the path from the day before in the opposite direction, then after about 20 minutes, turn right and follow the magnificent and impressive "Sentier des Crevasses" to the Lautaret pass. Cross the national road and reach the pass: at the foot of the road leading to the "alpine garden", locate the path that goes off to the left. Follow it in its entirety, pass close to the national road in a hairpin bend and go down towards the hamlet of Pied du Col. Just before reaching it, take the right track that leads to Les Cours on the right. Cross the national road again and go back up opposite towards Les Cours. From this hamlet, follow the Paul Louis Rousset path to Valfroide. After crossing the Maurian torrent, go back up the track on the right then follow the path (steep) to the Goléon refuge.
Day 3 > Round trip to the Aiguille du Goléon
(allow 6 hours from refuge to refuge)
Route to be reserved for experienced and well-equipped hikers or mountaineers which allows you to reach a summit (alt.3427m) offering one of the most beautiful panoramas in the Alps!
Day 4 > Goléon-Vallon de la Buffe refuge via the Cruq des Aiguilles
and the Signal de la Grave.
(allow 6 to 7 hours depending on the accommodation: Yurt des Bergers at the bottom of La Buffe or gîte at Chazelet).
Varied and wild route that allows you to reach the village of Chazelet and the valley of La Buffe via the ridges and mountain pastures. Go back up behind the refuge by taking the path in the opposite direction to the Cruq des Aiguilles (poorly marked path). Go back down on the other side and, having reached an altitude of 2400m, continue to cross horizontally; cross one of the small streams and at this point leave path 13 to gradually go up the side to the Signal de la Grave (alt.2446m). Go down by following the entire South-West ridge (path 12) until you reach the small pass located at the top of the Plagnes ski lift. Go down to the right along the ski lift then take the track that leads towards the bottom of the Vallon de Martignare. After crossing the
ski lift, Cross the Martignare torrent and go up slightly on the other side. Follow the path on the right side of the mountain that leads to the hamlets of Rivets. Take the good track on the right that follows the valley until you reach the Yourte des Bergers located at La Grande Buffe or the Pic du Mas de la Grave refuge (planned for completion in summer 2017). Depending on the accommodation chosen, you can go back down to Le Chazelet from the top of the Plagnes ski lift.
Day 5 > Peak of Mas de la Grave / Chalet du Fay
(allow 7 to 9 hours depending on the accommodation: Chazelet or Yurt des Bergers)
We discover the Emparis plateau after climbing the emblematic summit of the Pic du Mas de la Grave. From Chazelet or La Buffe, follow route No. 10 to the summit of the Pic du Mas de la Grave. On the way down, take the ascent path to a huge cairn and turn right towards the valley descending from the Col des Trente Combes. Follow this valley to reach the place called La Cabanotte located on route No. 15 of the tour of the Plateau d'Emparis. Follow this route to the Rif Tor torrent and from this point take the GR54 heading south to the Chalet du Fay.
Day 6 > Chalet du Fay, Chancel refuge via the plateau and the lakes
(allow 8 to 9 hours)
This day will take you across the Emparis plateau, its lakes (Cristallins, Noir and Lérié), to the hamlet of Fréaux located 1000 m lower, at the very bottom of the Malaval valley. From this point a long climb of 1100m of altitude difference through the larches will take you to the Chancel refuge perched on the north slope at an altitude of 2450m. From the Chalet du Fay follow in the opposite direction the path taken the day before to the torrent of Rif Tor. Leave the GR 54 and take the path on the right leading to the lakes. Pass by the Lac Noir then join the Lac Lérié; from there take the route N°11 in reverse to Chazelet. Then follow the Paul Louis Rousset path and when you arrive at Les Fréaux, cross the Romanche and go back up into the larches via route 7. Once you arrive at Pierre Farabo, follow the route on the right to the Chancel refuge.
Day 7 > Chancel-la Grave refuge via the breach or Col de Pacave.
(allow 5 hours)
This last stage completes the big loop by allowing you to discover the impressive north face of the Meije and the Râteau and their hanging glaciers. Alpine and mineral atmosphere guaranteed! From Chancel, follow route No. 17 in its entirety until La Grave where we reach the starting point of the Grand Tour of the Pays de la Meije.
Day 1 > La Grave – Alpe de Villar d’Arène refuge
(allow 4 to 5 hours).
A short warm-up day that ends in the heart of the Ecrins massif at the foot of the Montagne des Agneaux. La Grave, take the GR 54 of the “tour de l'oisans” to the Alpe refuge.
Day 2 > Alpe de Villar d'Arène refuge/Goléon refuge
(allow 7 to 8 hours)
Long stage, varied route with, along the way, the famous Lautaret pass, the delicious Pontet lake and an arrival at the edge of the Goléon lake. From the refuge, take the path from the day before in the opposite direction, then after about 20 minutes, turn right and follow the magnificent and impressive "Sentier des Crevasses" to the Lautaret pass. Cross the national road and reach the pass: at the foot of the road leading to the "alpine garden", locate the path that goes off to the left. Follow it in its entirety, pass close to the national road in a hairpin bend and go down towards the hamlet of Pied du Col. Just before reaching it, take the right track that leads to Les Cours on the right. Cross the national road again and go back up opposite towards Les Cours. From this hamlet, follow the Paul Louis Rousset path to Valfroide. After crossing the Maurian torrent, go back up the track on the right then follow the path (steep) to the Goléon refuge.
Day 3 > Round trip to the Aiguille du Goléon
(allow 6 hours from refuge to refuge)
Route to be reserved for experienced and well-equipped hikers or mountaineers which allows you to reach a summit (alt.3427m) offering one of the most beautiful panoramas in the Alps!
Day 4 > Goléon-Vallon de la Buffe refuge via the Cruq des Aiguilles
and the Signal de la Grave.
(allow 6 to 7 hours depending on the accommodation: Yurt des Bergers at the bottom of La Buffe or gîte at Chazelet).
Varied and wild route that allows you to reach the village of Chazelet and the valley of La Buffe via the ridges and mountain pastures. Go back up behind the refuge by taking the path in the opposite direction to the Cruq des Aiguilles (poorly marked path). Go back down on the other side and, having reached an altitude of 2400m, continue to cross horizontally; cross one of the small streams and at this point leave path 13 to gradually go up the side to the Signal de la Grave (alt.2446m). Go down by following the entire South-West ridge (path 12) until you reach the small pass located at the top of the Plagnes ski lift. Go down to the right along the ski lift then take the track that leads towards the bottom of the Vallon de Martignare. After crossing the
ski lift, Cross the Martignare torrent and go up slightly on the other side. Follow the path on the right side of the mountain that leads to the hamlets of Rivets. Take the good track on the right that follows the valley until you reach the Yourte des Bergers located at La Grande Buffe or the Pic du Mas de la Grave refuge (planned for completion in summer 2017). Depending on the accommodation chosen, you can go back down to Le Chazelet from the top of the Plagnes ski lift.
Day 5 > Peak of Mas de la Grave / Chalet du Fay
(allow 7 to 9 hours depending on the accommodation: Chazelet or Yurt des Bergers)
We discover the Emparis plateau after climbing the emblematic summit of the Pic du Mas de la Grave. From Chazelet or La Buffe, follow route No. 10 to the summit of the Pic du Mas de la Grave. On the way down, take the ascent path to a huge cairn and turn right towards the valley descending from the Col des Trente Combes. Follow this valley to reach the place called La Cabanotte located on route No. 15 of the tour of the Plateau d'Emparis. Follow this route to the Rif Tor torrent and from this point take the GR54 heading south to the Chalet du Fay.
Day 6 > Chalet du Fay, Chancel refuge via the plateau and the lakes
(allow 8 to 9 hours)
This day will take you across the Emparis plateau, its lakes (Cristallins, Noir and Lérié), to the hamlet of Fréaux located 1000 m lower, at the very bottom of the Malaval valley. From this point a long climb of 1100m of altitude difference through the larches will take you to the Chancel refuge perched on the north slope at an altitude of 2450m. From the Chalet du Fay follow in the opposite direction the path taken the day before to the torrent of Rif Tor. Leave the GR 54 and take the path on the right leading to the lakes. Pass by the Lac Noir then join the Lac Lérié; from there take the route N°11 in reverse to Chazelet. Then follow the Paul Louis Rousset path and when you arrive at Les Fréaux, cross the Romanche and go back up into the larches via route 7. Once you arrive at Pierre Farabo, follow the route on the right to the Chancel refuge.
Day 7 > Chancel-la Grave refuge via the breach or Col de Pacave.
(allow 5 hours)
This last stage completes the big loop by allowing you to discover the impressive north face of the Meije and the Râteau and their hanging glaciers. Alpine and mineral atmosphere guaranteed! From Chancel, follow route No. 17 in its entirety until La Grave where we reach the starting point of the Grand Tour of the Pays de la Meije.
