France
Day trip to the Lac du Lauvitel
A circular day hike to the Lac du Lauvitel at 1.515 near Les deux Alpes.
Hike to Lac du Lauvitel
The hike to Lac du Lauvitel is short, but don't underestimate it when it's warm and you carry a heavy backpack for a bivouac (overnight stay in tent). The road up the lake was much more crowded than in the Bérarde region, so also expect a lot of people around the lake as well. That being said, the Lac du Lauvitel is a stunning mountain lake, surrounded by the Écrin mountains. From the car park in the hamlet of La Danchère, take the path passing in front of the village café to find the GR54. At the end of the track there are two paths, one on each bank of the stream: either the one on the right which winds quietly up to the lake, more varied and gentler for the climb, or the one on the left, shadier but steeper, perfect for the descent and for making the loop. A footbridge allows you to change sides about halfway up. The most courageous will continue to the Col du Vallon, to the right of the lake, where a lake nestles in a wilder high mountain atmosphere. We had planned to stay the night, but the weather quickly turned and we weren't allowed to set up tent since bivouac is only permitted after 7 p.m. We hurried down the mountain again in de pouring rain and searched for a hotel to stay in, since the rain and thunder were really picking up. In short: Total lenght: 6,1 km Height gain: 560 m Total duration: 5 h round trip
Stay the night in Hotel De Milan
If you don't camp, Hotel de Milan is a great place to stay the night in Le Bourg-d'Oisans. Some cosy and authentically French restaurants can be found in the same street of the tiny village.
