Compagnie des Refuges Clarée Thabor
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The Haute-Route Thabor starting from Valfréjus

360° views of “le pays du Thabor”

step 1
1st stage: Valfréjus to Refuge du Mont Thabor (+900 m)

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Classic ascent:
From Valfréjus (1,600 m), head up the access road to Lavoir, watching out for skiers who use this route as a route back to the resort. Follow the summer route along the slopes of La Replanette and along Col de la Vallée Etroite. Refuge du Mont Thabor (2,502 m) is located to the west of the pass on a knoll (+900 m).
The shortest route:
You can also take the Valfréjus ski lifts to the Punta Bagna summit (2,730 m). Then descend the Jeu piste to reach the chalets of Fontaine Froide (2,050 m, -680 m). Cross the crest (2,290 m) to the west of Fontaine Froide to return to the classic ascent route (+450 m).
Access combined with a hike:
From the top of the Val Fréjus Punta Bagna pistes (2,730 m), head down to Col de Fréjus (2,530 m, -200 m). Climb the short but steep Argentier face (3,046 m, +516 m). Make your descent to Col de la Roue, then down its northern combe to the chalets of Fontaine Froide (2050 m, -996 m). Cross the crest (2,290 m) to the west of Fontaine Froide to return to the classic ascent route (+450 m). Good snow conditions are required.

Evening and overnight stay at Refuge du Mont Thabor.
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Refuge du Thabor

- 2502m

step 2
2nd stage: Refuge du Mont Thabor to Granges de la Vallée Etroite (+850 m, -1,550 m)

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From Refuge du Mont Thabor (2,502 m), head down to Col de la Vallée Etroite (2,434 m). Continue S-W for 2,350 metres (-150m), then head up to Lac du Peyron (2,430 m). Make your way around the large barrier of rock to the left (from the east) for Les Chances du Peyron and Col des Méandes (2,727 m). Continue N-W to reach the summit of Mont Thabor (3,178 m, +850 m).
For your descent, follow the same route until you reach Col des Méandes. Then bear right (South) into Vallon du Dîner. You’ll reach Granges de la Vallée Etroite (1,765 m, -1,400 m). Evening and overnight stay at Refuge I Re Magi or Refuge Terzo Alpini.
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Refuge I Re Magi

- 1760m

Refuge Terzo Alpini

- 1780m

step 3
3rd stage: Granges de la Vallée Etroite to Refuge Buffère (+1,380 m, -1,045 m)

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From Granges de la Vallée Etroite, head up the valley as far as Pont de la Fonderie (1920m). Pass around Tête du Chien heading north, and then south to join Col du Vallon (2,645 m, +880 m). Drop down to the combe of Vallon de Ville Haute (1,600 m, -1,045 m). Take the snow-covered Haute Vallée de la Clarée route as far as the Lacou chapels and bear left (South-West) at an altitude of 1,770 m towards Pont du Rately. Then walk up to Refuge Buffère (2,076 m) along a route that is generally well maintained, to enjoy refreshments at the refuge (+500 m). Evening and overnight stay at Refuge Buffère.
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Refuge Buffère

- 2076m

step 4
4th stage: Refuge Buffère to Refuge du Chardonnet (+885 m, -730 m)

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From Refuge Buffère (2,076 m), walk up to Crête de Baude (2,571 m, +500 m). Descend the north face in the direction of Bois de Suly until you reach La Souchère (1,845 m, -730 m), then walk up to Refuge du Chardonnet (2,230 m, +385 m) passing by the chalets de Larau. Evening and overnight stay at Refuge du Chardonnet.
For a less challenging option, follow the Baude descent via the refuge and the forest.
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Refuge du Chardonnet

- 2227m

step 5
5th stage: Refuge du Chardonnet to Refuge Ricou (+865 m, -1,000 m)

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From Refuge du Chardonnet (2,230 m), tour around the Massif du Queyrellin via Casse Blanche (2,844 m, +610 m). Head down along Couloir de la Replate, which runs E/S-E above the Rif Tord stream. This leads to the hamlet of Fontcouverte (1,857 m, -1,000 m). Climb to Refuge Ricou (2,115 m, +255 m). Evening and overnight stay at Refuge Ricou.
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Refuge de Ricou

- 2115m

step 6
6th stage: Refuge Ricou to Refuge des Drayères (+750 m, -685 m)

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From Refuge Ricou (2,115 m), climb the south-facing slope to Col de la Grande Tempête (or Crête des Muandes) (2,865 m, +750 m) (Option: The summit of Grande Tempête (3,002 m, +900 m)) and then down the west-facing slope to Refuge des Drayères (2,180 m, -685 m). Evening and overnight stay at Refuge des Drayères.
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Refuge des Drayères

- 2180m

step 7
7th stage: Refuge des Drayères to Valfréjus (+610 m, -1,480 m)

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From Refuge des Drayères (2,180 m), you will pass by the Lacs de la Madeleine (2,630 m) en route to Col de Névache (2,794 m, +610 m). Head over to the other side. Follow the route down to the Lacs des Glaciers (2,663 m, -130 m). Then make your ascent along the Pic du Thabor pass (2,952 m, +290 m), via Lac Source (2,726 m). Head north around Le Cheval Blanc via the Col du Cheval Blanc (2,791 m, -160 m) to reach Refuge du Mont Thabor (2,502 m, -290 m). To reach Valfréjus, take the classic route up via Vallée Etroite pass and Lavoir.
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for this hike
step 1
1st stage: Valfréjus to Refuge du Mont Thabor (+900 m)
Refuge du Thabor
step 2
2nd stage: Refuge du Mont Thabor to Granges de la Vallée Etroite (+850 m, -1,550 m)
Refuge I Re Magi
Refuge Terzo Alpini
step 3
3rd stage: Granges de la Vallée Etroite to Refuge Buffère (+1,380 m, -1,045 m)
Refuge Buffère
step 4
4th stage: Refuge Buffère to Refuge du Chardonnet (+885 m, -730 m)
Refuge du Chardonnet
step 5
5th stage: Refuge du Chardonnet to Refuge Ricou (+865 m, -1,000 m)
Refuge de Ricou
step 6
6th stage: Refuge Ricou to Refuge des Drayères (+750 m, -685 m)
Refuge des Drayères
step 7
7th stage: Refuge des Drayères to Valfréjus (+610 m, -1,480 m)
Departure arrival1600 m
Arrival altitude3178 m
Elevationde +610 à +1380m par jour selon les étapes
Seasonin winter