Silent Hiking in the French Alps | Tour des Cerces

I originally planned to hike the Tour du Queyras, but due to off-season transportation issues, I couldn’t reach the starting point. Instead of cancelling the trip, I decided to adapt and hike the Tour du Massif des Cerces instead. Tour du Massif des Cerces 🇫🇷🏔️ A high-mountain loop for experienced, self-sufficient hikers. The physical commitment should not be underestimated. • Distance: ~48 km • Elevation gain: 3,000 m+ • Duration: 2–4 days • Difficulty: Hard (long days, altitude, sustained climbs) • Highest passes: 2,400–2,700 m Most stages involve daily ascents and descents often exceeding 1,000 m. Trails are generally well marked but demanding, with long climbs where altitude makes every effort heavier. This trek is a full immersion into a raw, mineral alpine landscape, famous for its exceptional concentration of lakes. Highlights along the route: – Vallée de la Clarée: classic start and finish, with larch forests and wide meadows – Lac des Béraudes: intense turquoise waters beneath the Paroi des Béraudes, with the Dôme de Neige des Écrins in the background – Seuil des Rochilles: a chain of lakes (Lac Rond, Lac du Grand Ban) and remains of the historic Maginot Line fort – High passes such as Col de la Ponsonnière, Col de la Tempête and Col des Béraudes, offering 360° views over the Écrins, Aiguilles d’Arves and Mont Thabor Wildlife is everywhere here. Marmots are almost guaranteed, and with patience, chamois and ibex can often be spotted. 🔁 Logistics note: I slightly modified the itinerary and started from Le Monêtier-les-Bains, using a bus connection from Briançon, and finished in Le Lauzet. That said, I’m sharing here the original route, which makes more sense overall for most people. There’s also a bus connection from Grenoble to Le Lauzet, which can be convenient depending on your arrival. 00:00 Intro 00:22 Arrival & Camp Before the Trek 00:44 Day 1 – Into the Mountains 04:06 Day 2 – Lakes & High Passes 08:11 Day 3 – Journey's End #TourDesCerces #FrenchAlps #Hiking #Backpacking #Trekking #MountainAdventure #wildcamping