Cirque du Grand Marchet – Traversée des Cirques

One of the legendary hikes in Pralognan, this journey takes you deep into the mountains and then leads you along a trail where views of the valley and the village are simply beyond compare.

Often used to cross the cirques, the Grand Marchet cirque is worth the trip in itself! In a remarkable valley, suspended halfway between the valley and the Vanoise glaciers, take time to observe the wild environment that surrounds you. Between rocks and waterfalls, streams and torrents, meadows and forests, plunge into the heart of an unforgettable itinerary where the succession of atmospheres won’t leave you indifferent.

Guidebook with maps/step-by-step :

1. From the Camping Municipal, take trails 18b and 19 to the Arcelin cirque.
2. In the cirque, turn right, then above the National Park boundary, continue right on the Col du Grand Marchet path. The path is steep, but always well marked, winding its way through the rugged terrain of the cirque du Dard before tackling a steep and tricky passage (snow at the start of the season) that leads to the col du Grand Marchet (path no. 25).
3. Descend into the bucolic Grand Marchet cirque (path no. 31).
4. Continue on the Pas de l’Âne path (path no. 30b), then on the Forêt d’Isertan path (path no. 30).
5. At the end of this path, turn right towards the Camping Municipal (path no. 34).

LOOP VARIANT : TRAVERSÉE DES CIRQUES PAR LE GRAND MARCHET (very difficult)
+8h, +1,480 m ascent, +18.5 km loop route
One of Pralognan-la-Vanoise’s legendary hikes, the traversée des cirques takes you on a journey through different atmospheres! The start of the itinerary gives the impression of going deep into the heart of the mountain, then follows a path offering incomparable views over the valley and the village, before finishing in the verdant Chavière valley.
Follow the previous itinerary to stage 3.
1. Walk along the mountainside (trail no. 32) to reach the Valette refuge, the highest point of this hike at 2,585 m, via the Tambour pass (tricky at the start of the season when snow-covered).
2. From the refuge, take the path (trail no. 38) to the hamlet of Les Prioux, passing through the Les Nants chalets and the Bévériers alder grove.
3. Cross the Prioux hamlet to reach the Pont de Gerlon (path no. 37).
4. Continue along the Chollière path (path no. 69) to reach the village center.