Walking Routes in Tignes — 11 of Our Favourites

One of your options is to start from the Tunnel du Brévières, which starts on some steep switch backs and works its way up. The other starts from Les Brévières village, crossing the D902 road and onto the trails.

The preferred route takes you, from either start point, towards a rocky outcrop on the hillside called the Claireière de la Croix du Bario.

On the way down from here follow signs for "Nazonde" and traverse the hillside crossing two streams as you go.

If you started from the parking spot, follow signs for the parking at "Chevril" otherwise keep descending back into Les Brévières village.

Starting from the car park at the lake, take the path up through Chevril village and onto some steep switchbacks. Continue to climb up towards the climbing school and onward to a ruined chalet.

Head north in the direction of Villaret des Brévières and onto a clearing which leads up to a small plateau with a three way intersection. Head right, signposted "Bergerie de la Davie", and climb a short distance before another fork in the path. From here you'll get a great view of the Grande Motte glacier at the limit of the treeline.

At the next signpost take a right in the direction of "Alpage de la Davie" where the path leaves the forest. You start to head downhill after you make it to the Bergerie, follow the signs for Villaret des Brévières until you see the first sign for the lac du Chevril.

From here carry onto the parking area, or turn right back on yourself in the direction of Les Brévières.

The trail will show you some of the beautiful views that Tignes has to offer as well as exploring some of the most untouched and interesting parts of Tignes.

There are two separate points from where you can begin this walk. From the Brevieres tunnel you take the path by the car park and turn left at the fork towards Nazonde. Keep following the signs to Nazonde and climb up to the EDF pylon. Alternatively, from Tignes les Brévières head towards Villaret des Brévières, once there turn left and then right onto a path.

The next part is the hardest bit with a steep and winding path follow the Nazonde direction. From both starting points once you reach the EDF pylon the walk gets a lot easier and more gentle it is just a little harder at the beginning. To continue follow a the path and after a forest section you will see a little village called Orisère. Continue along the path to the Nazonde taking in the scenery and natural habitat.

To head back, follow the signs to Villaret des Brévières where you will walk across a few fields and at the crossing take the left. You will then have a small climb and will be in an area with old mown pasture terraces, you will reach Villaret des Brévières and from here can either walk back to Tignes les Brévières or head towards 'Le Saut' to get back to the tunnel.

Starting near the Hotel Montana the route heads north along the path signposted for Tignes les Boisses. The path initially follows the curve of the mountain passing under the Télésiege de Chaudanne.

Staying above the road the path eventually leads you into the forest above Lac du Chevril. Once through the forest you will see Tignes 1800. From here follow the signposts to the tourist office, where you can catch a bus back to the start in Tiges le Lac or return via the same way to the starting point.

Starting from the top of the Télécabine de l'Aeroski at Tovière, the route first takes you south along a narrow ridge towards the top of the Fresse chairlift. 

Continue south towards the Col de Fresse from where you will be rewarded with great views of the Parc National de la Vanoise. Soon after the path heads west you will reach a fork. Here turn right and head back towards Tignes-le-Lac. 

The path continues downhill underneath the Télésiege Bollin-Fresse. When you reach the lift station keep on the right fork and remain on the uphill side of the chalets in Val Claret.

You then follow the road back along the west edge of the Lac des Tignes back to the town centre.

Leaving the centre of Tignes le Lac head uphill along side the Millonex draglift towards the 4x4 track. Follow the track to the south west where a small path leads off it taking you north west alongside the Chardonnet chairlift and past the Croix de Palafour. The trail is marked for Col de la Tourne, Aiguille Percée.

After you pass the top of the Chardonnet lift you continue north west along a series of large 4x4 tracks and smaller paths heading between two small lakes.

From here the path gets smaller and steeper as it climbs to the Col de la Tourne at 2,656m. From here you will have great views over Tignes le Lac and the surrounding mountains; Rochers Rouges to the north and Pointe du Chardonnet to the south.

Leaving the hamlet of Tignes Les Boisses, the path initially heads north west underneath the télécabine de la Sache towards the Vallon de la Sache. After a short while the path will enter the depths of the valley next to the trickling stream that makes its way down from the col.

Soon you will reach the Chalet de la Sache d'en Haut. From here the path continues towards the col which should be visible to the west. The trail steepens as it climbs towards the col.

From the top of the col you will be rewarded with uninterrupted views back down the Vallon de la Sache and the Rochers Rouge (3,002m) will be clearly visible to the south.

For the descent follow the same trail back down towards the starting point at Tignes Les Boisses.

Starting from behind the tallest building in the village called 'Tour du Lac' the route heads towards Bois de la Laye gradually descending through alpine grassland.

At the second fork in the path keep right towards Lac du Chevril. The path heads alongside the Gouille de Salin, a resurgence of the Lac de Tignes. The water filters through the limestone and reappears as a large spring that creates a waterfall. After this beautiful spot turn right and continue heading towards the Lac du Chevril. The steep and winding path descends sharply using stepping stones to help you avoid the wetter areas. After crossing a small wooden bridge the noise from running water increases until you cross another wooden bridge.

You arrive at the foot of a large waterfall that's a great place for a picnic. To return from the Lac towards Tignes you must cross the small river by the footbridge. Passing Les Combes and its 17th century chapel you continue west and soon reach the hamlet of La Legette, where you must cross a small footbridge and continue upstream towards the starting point.

Starting from the Millonex lift in Tignes le Lac the route is signposted 'Aiguille Percée - Lacs du Chardonnet'. The route heads west and passes the top of the Chardonnet chairlift after passing the Croix de Palafour. It then turns slightly south and follows the path that leads to the bottom of the Grand Huit chairlift and the lake.

You can return via the same way or descend via the GR5 which can be found on the other side of the lake.

Starting from the paravalanche tunnel on the Tignes le Lac side, you take the path on the uphill side heading south west. The route is signposted GR5 and continues for a short while towards the cross at Croix de Lognan. Here the path forks, continue west along the GR5 towards the Col du Palet.

The path steepens and passes under a chairlift before reaching the Col at 2,652m. After reaching the Col the path then dips back down where you will see the Refuge de Palet and the Lac du Grattaleu.

You can also take the left path when you reach the Col. This route will add a little more time onto your walk but will take you to the Col de la Croix des Fretes (2,647m). It's a short variation and will reward your effort with an impressive view of the north face of the Grande Casse. From here you can either head back to the Col or return to the refuge.

To return to the start of the walk, retrace your path back to the Paravalanche tunnel.

Starting from near the Palafour chairlift the route climbs gently to its start at a crossing of an access road and the old Bec Rouge shepherds huts used in the summer months. A steep and winding path between the draglift and chairlift takes you to the Croix de Palafour. The route then merges with the 4x4 track and continues until the fork: Col de la Tourne, Aiguille Percée.

Continue the route along the ridge until you reach the flat area at the top of the Palafour chairlift. From here the Aiguille Percée is clearly visible. Below the Aiguille take the path that stays on the ridge heading towards the Lac. The path meanders between the rocks and the rocky terrain of the Tignes nature reserve boundary. From here you can choose to take the detour to the viewpoint, be careful on the rocks towards the viewpoint.

When you arrive near the top of the l'Aiguille Rouge chairlift the path forks quickly to the right and the descent becomes steeper. After rejoining the Condus plateau and passing the avalanche barrier, you soon rejoin the 4x4 track and will arrive back at the starting point at the Parafour chairlift.