Trail run around Mount Thabor

For the sporty, go on an adventure by doing the Tour du Thabor in one day. Enjoy a wild hike where the show is there.

Overview of the route

• Distance: 34 km
• Elevation gain: ~2,400 m
• Average trail time: 7 hours 30 minutes

Maximum altitude: 3,178 m (Summit of Mont Thabor)

A grand tour of the wild Alps between Savoie and Italy, this route offers a wide variety of landscapes: high-altitude lakes, rocky valleys, mountain chapels, and exceptional panoramic views of the Écrins and Vanoise massifs.

The mountain huts along the route provide a place to take a break, fill your water bottles, or grab a bite to eat.
From Valmeinier 1800, head for the Col des Marches in the direction of the Marches refuge. The trail crosses open high-altitude terrain before reaching the Col des Bataillères and then the Thabor refuge area. You will pass close to the Lac des Bataillères and several small high-altitude ponds.

The climb is wild, with a torrent at the start and a beautiful high-mountain atmosphere. Little by little, the silhouette of the Cheval Blanc appears, which you could already see from Mont Coburne.

From the lake area, head to the Mont Thabor refuge, which you will usually reach after about 3 hours 45 minutes to 4 hours of walking. It is an excellent place to take a short break and enjoy the view.

The route then continues slightly downhill towards the Col de la Vallée Étroite before crossing the slopes to reach Lac du Peyron, recognizable by its intense green color. The trail then gradually climbs back up towards the slopes of Mont Thabor in a spectacular, rocky environment.

You reach the Col des Méandes, which is often busier, then climb up to the Mont Thabor chapel via a path dotted with crosses. At the start of the season, there may still be some snowfields.

From the chapel, it takes about 15 minutes to reach the summit of Mont Thabor (3,178 m). The view is exceptional, overlooking the Écrins, Vanoise, and neighboring Italian mountain ranges.

The descent is on the other side of the mountain via a steep but passable trail. You then cross under the rock faces towards the Col de la Chapelle before beginning a long descent into a vast valley.

The start of the descent is technical and requires careful attention to the painted markings. There are several variations further down: pay particular attention at the Pierre du Déjeuner.

If you still have energy left, a short 5-minute detour will take you to the Glaciers lakes, remarkable for the color of their rocks.

Shortly before the finish, a 2-minute detour allows you to cool off at Lac Vert, where you can sometimes spot trout.

From the car park, there are two options: take the shuttle bus or walk back up to Valmeinier 1900 at a leisurely pace.