Boucle des lacs – Hiking from Villard-Reculas

From the Villard-Reculas Tourist Office, take the Villarais chairlift. Once you've taken the Villarais chairlift, you'll need to walk slightly uphill towards the summit of Le Signal to reach the Signal telemix, which takes you back down to Alpe d'Huez.

On arrival, follow the path along the Route des Lacs to Chalet Besson. This first section is about 3.4 km long, with an average time of 1 hour 15 minutes and a climb of around 220 metres. Progress is steady and already offers fine panoramic views.

From Chalet Besson, take the Lakes Loop. This 6.5 km itinerary takes an average of 2h30 to complete, with a vertical drop of less than 200 meters depending on the chosen option. This loop takes in up to five high-altitude lakes in an unspoilt natural environment. Several trails allow you to adapt the hike to your level and the time you have available.

At the end of the loop, return to Chalet Besson, then take the same route back down to the Signal telemixte. From here, you can take the lifts back to Villard-Reculas.


Possible variations:

It is possible to shorten the itinerary by taking the Pic Blanc 1 gondola directly to the lakes area, up to "Jeux 2100", a 30-minute walk from Chalet Besson. This option avoids the climb from Le Signal.

You can also take the free shuttle bus (Lac Besson line), which departs from the piste traffic circle, just a 2-minute walk from the Signal arrival point. It runs on the days when the lifts are open and drops you off right next to Chalet Besson. This option also allows you to avoid the ascent from Le Signal.

Alternatively, you can take the gondola back from Alpette to Oz 3300, then take the Poutran gondola to Les Jeux 2100. Then take the Pic Blanc 1 gondola back down to Alpe d'Huez, before returning to Villard-Reculas via the Signal and Villarais chairlifts.

Welcome: In order to preserve the environment, it is essential to follow the trail markings and stay on the trails.
We invite you to anticipate the return journey and allow a safety margin so as to reach Villard-Reculas before 4pm.
For lift schedules, please refer to the Alpe d'Huez website and application.