Grenoble’s Belledonne mountain range – hike the 7 Laux Lakes Tour

If you enjoy walking among 3,000-metre (9,842 ft) summits, admiring their reflections in crystal clear lakes and following incredible paths traced onto rock, then the 7 Laux Lakes Tour in France is for you. This GR route invites you to discover a part of the Belledonne, a mountain range in Grenoble which isn’t crossed by any road. The region is wild with extremely varied geology. The Belledonne area is made up of three massifs: the Allevard, the Belledonne, and finally the 7 Laux. In this Collection, you explore the last one.

From Prapoutel resort, you meet the highest peaks of the chain and discover a myriad of spectacular landscapes. The 7 Laux massif is dominated by the 2,927-metre (9,603 ft) high Rocher Blanc. There are a number of peaks that are higher than 2,000 metres (6,560 ft) as well as impressive rocky combes and vast screes. The mineral landscapes are interrupted by countless glacial lakes. This is a refreshing hike – literally and figuratively.

I have divided the itinerary into three stages that are ideal for a long weekend. If you have a little more stamina and less time, you can easily combine stages 2 and 3. Each stage ends at a refuge. Bivouac bags are also allowed along the entire route. At the end of the first stage, don't hesitate to ask the refuge keepers along the Tour where you can pitch your tent.

To reach the start of the route in Prapoutel from Grenoble, you can hop on a bus. Line 407 takes you from the city centre to the ‘Parking Navettes’ stop in Prapoutel where the route starts. You can find more information about the timetable and other routes to Prapoutel here: les7laux.com/summer. Grenoble is easily accessible by train from Paris, Lyon, Chambéry, Annecy and Valence, among others.

To avoid encountering snow at high elevations, I advise hiking the 7 Laux between early July and late September.

Enjoy this incredible itinerary and, if you want more, why not return to do the high crossing of Belledonne? Known as the GR 738, this hike has been officially retraced and marked out over the last few years.