Le Sapey and the Tour du Pied Moutet hike

The route takes you on a circuit around Pied Moutet – the rocky peak that dominates the smaller Vallée Blanche side of the resort. Start at the bottom of the Vallée Blanche chairlift (see map above) and take the path leading into the trees to the right (as you look uphill).

When this meets a gravel track, cross over and follow the path marked ‘La Moliere’. Keep following this until you arrive at the La Moliere restaurant. There are a number of paths which criss-cross in the forest, so keep looking out for the signposts. If you stray too low and find yourself on a metal road, just follow this to the restaurant. If you find yourself climbing the hillside on a zigzag path you have gone too high, so retrace your steps.

From La Moliere, follow the path beyond the restaurant towards Les Travers and Le Sapey. A steadily rising traverse takes you across a hillside studded with pockets of trees. Make sure you avoid the path on the right which descends to Les Travers, and climb to the bergerie (shepherd’s hut) at 1,710m.

If you want a more challenging start to the walk, you can begin at the foot of the Super Venosc chairlift. From here, a steep path climbs the mountainside directly to the Col de Mais. If you want to take in the peak of Pied Moutet, a path to the left leads to the summit. This path has some steep scrambling and sections are equipped with wires and rungs for aid. Return to the Col de Mais by the same route. From the col, continue north-west to descend on the far side. Bear left at the fork and you will reach the bergerie to join the route described above.

From the bergerie, the path continues through woodland for a little over two kilometres. At any junction, take the more well-trodden route. After a while you will arrive at a flat area of open pasture land on the shoulder of Pied Moutet. A good path leads to the ancient farming hamlet of Le Sapey. The twelve houses here were home to over seventy permanent residents at the end of the nineteenth century. The good state of repair of much of the houses shows that they are still used from time to time by locals, even if there is no longer a resident population.

Continue through Sapey and take the path which winds high along the steep sides of the Veneon valley. This part has some tricky sections where care is needed. It is not suitable for small children or those who suffer from vertigo. Short passages are protected with wires, and there is potential for a long fall in a few places.

The path becomes easier as you approach Venosc and find yourself ones more in deep woodland. When you reach the ruined hamlet of Ferarret you have two options. You can keep to the main path and descend via the old Venosc village to the lift station. The gondola will return you to Les Deux Alpes in a quick ten-minute ride. Alternatively, you can turn left at Ferarret to climb uphill for a few metres. Turning right at the next junction will take you on a well-marked discovery trail footpath to the top of Venosc village. A steep climb takes you from here to Les Deux Alpes in a little under an hour.