A week's trek in the Cerces massif to do the Tour and the ascent of Mont Thabor: pretty, little-frequented variants, a myriad of mountain lakes, nights in comfortable refuges and marmot and ibex sightings!
On this 5-day trip, you'll hike partly on the GR 57 Tour du Mont Thabor and partly on less-frequented trails, for a close-up experience of these beautiful mountains.
The landscapes you'll cross are highly varied, with mineral landscapes, gentle pastures and numerous small lakes.
The ascent of Mont Thabor (3178m), the massif's highest peak, is a highlight of the trip, with an exceptional panorama of the highest peaks in the French and Italian Alps.
Program
Day 1, Monday July 17: Névache - refuge du Thabor via Le Vallon
+1450m, -450m, 15.5kms; 7h walk
From the village of Névache (1600m) we climb towards Le Vallon, a beautiful area to start this trek. We can sometimes see chamois watching us from the heights. We pass the Col du Vallon (2645m) and descend to the Vallon de la Tavernette, in the Vallée Etroite, which we climb to our Mont Thabor refuge (2480m).
Day 2, Tuesday, July 18: Refuge du Thabor - Mont Thabor - Terre Rouge
+900m, -1200m, 13.5 kms; 6h30 walking time
We're off to climb Mont Thabor today! We pass the Col de la Vallée Etroite, cross the Vallon du Peyron, pass between large rocky peaks in the style of the Italian Dolomites and climb to Mont Thabor (3178m).
The descent from Col de la Chapelle takes us into a world oscillating between mineral grey and alpine green, to our Terre Rouge refuge (2170m).
Day 3, Wednesday, July 19: Terre Rouge - Laval
+ 850m, -1000m, 18kms; 7h walk
A short trail takes us up to the Pas de Griffes (2554m) and across the heights to the Col de la Plagnette. Passing pretty Lac Rond and Lac du Grand Ban. From Lac de la Clarée, we follow the riverbed to the refuge de Drayères and then Laval, our stopover for the evening (2000m).
Day 4, Thursday July 20: Laval - Buffère via Col des Béraudes and Col de Buffère
+ 1350m, -1300m, 21 kms; 8h30 walking time
A big, beautiful day today on this penultimate day of the trek. From the Laval refuge we climb up to Lac des Béraudes, one of the prettiest lakes in the massif. We then continue along a steep path to the Col des Béraudes. It's not uncommon to see ibexes and the occasional chamois. Some sections are more exposed here. Cables and bars have been installed to ease our passage.
After descending from the col, we take a small path around the Tête de la Casille to reach the Col du Chardonnet Nord. Beautiful views of the high peaks of the Ecrins on one side and the pretty grassy Chardonnet valley on the other. We stay on the heights before joining the GR50 below, a balcony route to the heights of the Serre-Chevalier valley. Short ascent to the Col de Buffère and beautiful descent to our Buffère refuge (2070m).
Day 5 Friday July 21: Buffère Névache via Côte Rouge
+300m, -700m, 7 kms; 3h30 walk
A shorter half-day for a gentle finish. From the refuge, we take the Côte Rouge trail, which alternates between short climbs and short descents, staying on the heights of the Clarée valley. We cross the Cristol valley and finish with a section of the GR57, which takes us through the forest to Névache.
The group is limited to 10 participants to ensure a convivial stay.
What to bring for your stay:
Backpack, mountain clothing, hiking boots. A detailed checklist of your personal items will be sent to you when you register.
30% deposit on registration + 15€ administration fee
balance due D-30 days
The landscapes you'll cross are highly varied, with mineral landscapes, gentle pastures and numerous small lakes.
The ascent of Mont Thabor (3178m), the massif's highest peak, is a highlight of the trip, with an exceptional panorama of the highest peaks in the French and Italian Alps.
Program
Day 1, Monday July 17: Névache - refuge du Thabor via Le Vallon
+1450m, -450m, 15.5kms; 7h walk
From the village of Névache (1600m) we climb towards Le Vallon, a beautiful area to start this trek. We can sometimes see chamois watching us from the heights. We pass the Col du Vallon (2645m) and descend to the Vallon de la Tavernette, in the Vallée Etroite, which we climb to our Mont Thabor refuge (2480m).
Day 2, Tuesday, July 18: Refuge du Thabor - Mont Thabor - Terre Rouge
+900m, -1200m, 13.5 kms; 6h30 walking time
We're off to climb Mont Thabor today! We pass the Col de la Vallée Etroite, cross the Vallon du Peyron, pass between large rocky peaks in the style of the Italian Dolomites and climb to Mont Thabor (3178m).
The descent from Col de la Chapelle takes us into a world oscillating between mineral grey and alpine green, to our Terre Rouge refuge (2170m).
Day 3, Wednesday, July 19: Terre Rouge - Laval
+ 850m, -1000m, 18kms; 7h walk
A short trail takes us up to the Pas de Griffes (2554m) and across the heights to the Col de la Plagnette. Passing pretty Lac Rond and Lac du Grand Ban. From Lac de la Clarée, we follow the riverbed to the refuge de Drayères and then Laval, our stopover for the evening (2000m).
Day 4, Thursday July 20: Laval - Buffère via Col des Béraudes and Col de Buffère
+ 1350m, -1300m, 21 kms; 8h30 walking time
A big, beautiful day today on this penultimate day of the trek. From the Laval refuge we climb up to Lac des Béraudes, one of the prettiest lakes in the massif. We then continue along a steep path to the Col des Béraudes. It's not uncommon to see ibexes and the occasional chamois. Some sections are more exposed here. Cables and bars have been installed to ease our passage.
After descending from the col, we take a small path around the Tête de la Casille to reach the Col du Chardonnet Nord. Beautiful views of the high peaks of the Ecrins on one side and the pretty grassy Chardonnet valley on the other. We stay on the heights before joining the GR50 below, a balcony route to the heights of the Serre-Chevalier valley. Short ascent to the Col de Buffère and beautiful descent to our Buffère refuge (2070m).
Day 5 Friday July 21: Buffère Névache via Côte Rouge
+300m, -700m, 7 kms; 3h30 walk
A shorter half-day for a gentle finish. From the refuge, we take the Côte Rouge trail, which alternates between short climbs and short descents, staying on the heights of the Clarée valley. We cross the Cristol valley and finish with a section of the GR57, which takes us through the forest to Névache.
The group is limited to 10 participants to ensure a convivial stay.
What to bring for your stay:
Backpack, mountain clothing, hiking boots. A detailed checklist of your personal items will be sent to you when you register.
30% deposit on registration + 15€ administration fee
balance due D-30 days
Rates
Rates
From 20 June 2026 to 20 September 2026
From 20 June 2026 to 20 September 2026
Adult
€680.00
Payment methods
Payment methods
Payment methods
Check
Online payment
Credit transferGroups (Max capacity)
Groups (Max capacity)
- 4 Person (s) mini
- 10 Maximum number of people
Accepted customers
Accepted customers
- Level red – hard
- Walkers/hikers
Openings
Openings
From 20 June 2026 until 20 September 2026 - Open everyday
Subject to favorable weather
Subject to snow conditions
Location
Location
Contact Tour du Thabor in 5 days with Terres de Trek
- terresdetrek.addock.co
- terresdetrek.com
Spoken languages
Spoken languages
