Compagnie des Refuges Clarée Thabor
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4 days (3 nights): Tour on snowshoes, starting from Névache

A tour between Buffère, Chardonnet and Laval
Starting from Névache, the tour includes Buffère, Chardonnet and Laval before looping back to Névache

step 1
From Névache Ville Haute to Refuge Buffère

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From the Ville Haute car park in Névache, on off-piste skis or snowshoes, follow the snow-covered road for 2 kilometres towards Haute Vallée de la Clarée. After passing Chapelle Bon Secours and then Chapelle St Barbe, about 100 metres further on, turn left (heading south) towards Pont du Rately, where you will cross the river Clarée.
After a steep ascent through a beautiful larch forest to the hamlet of Le Serre, where you can enjoy a wonderful view over the valley and the village of Névache, it takes just 15 minutes to reach Refuge Buffère (2 hrs).

Important to note: Never use the summer route along the right bank of the Clarée between Ville Haute and Pont du Rately, as there is a risk of avalanches.
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Refuge Buffère

- 2076m

step 2
Refuge Buffère to Refuge du Chardonnet

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Head due west, joining Bois de Sully at an altitude of 2,221 m and crossing below Crêtes de Baudes via Casse Pinière. Stay above the forest until you reach the foot of Grande Manche. From here, you continue to get to Refuge du Chardonnet, a little lower down (3 hrs 30).
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Refuge du Chardonnet

- 2227m

step 3
Refuge du Chardonnet to Refuge Laval

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Make your way down to Fontcouverte (1,857 m) via the chalets of Laraux and then climb up the valley towards Pont du Jadis. Just before the bridge, bear left along the right bank of the Clarée to the chalets of Roche Noire (1,976 metres). Cross the Clarée at an altitude of 1,980 metres over the small "scout" bridge at the chalets of Laval and continue on to reach Refuge Laval (1,010 m) hidden behind the rocks (4 hrs).
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Refuge Laval

- 2010m

step 4
From Refuge Laval to Névache

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Follow the snow-covered road to Fontcouverte and stay on the right bank of the Clarée until you reach Pont du Rately. From here, cross the bridge and climb back up the snow-covered road to complete the descent to the village. (4hrs 30)
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Gite la Decouverte

- 1595m
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for this hike
step 1
From Névache Ville Haute to Refuge Buffère
Refuge Buffère
step 2
Refuge Buffère to Refuge du Chardonnet
Refuge du Chardonnet
step 3
Refuge du Chardonnet to Refuge Laval
Refuge Laval
step 4
From Refuge Laval to Névache
Gite la Decouverte
Departure arrival1600 m
Timejour1: 2h - jour 2: 3h30 -jour 3: 4h - jour 4: 4h30
DifficultyDifficulty Medium
Seasonin winter