Lac du Grande Estaris via Le Drouvet

A mountain, a lake, great views and a cable car ride to boot!

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START: Orcières-Merlette
FINISH: Orcières-Merlette

One of the greatest excitements of going to the Alps, be it to walk, cycle or ski, is going on a cable car. This walk gives you the chance to do so. Orcières-Merlette, a relatively small skiing village in the winter, looks over the Orcières valley and gives the otherwise tranquillity-seeking walker the ability to reach the alpine peak of Le Drouvet with minimal effort via the Telecabin system. 

To reach Le Drouvet, head to the telecabin station situated near the car park indiated as "car park three". At time of writing, Telecabin tickets cost €6.50 (for both the ascent and descent) and you can also choose to go up on a chairlift instead for the same price.

Just like changing trains, you will have to swap Telecabin half way up the mountain.

The video below gives you some idea of what its like:




The peak of Le Drouvet surely has something for everyone. There is a small café offering crepes and ice creams, whilst for the more discerning adrenalin junkie there is a zip wire which takes you from the top of Le Drouvet to the other side of the valley, near to the Lac du Grande Estaris itself.

The views themselves are spectacular. The spectacular Orcières valley is obviously a prominent feature. Meanwhile, although Le Drouvet is not in the Ecrins National Park itself, looking towards the north offers views of the snowcapped Ailefroide, one of the largest massifs the Ecrins has to offer.




To reach the beautiful Lac du Grande Estaris, take the signposted path to the north, along the steep grassy hillside. This path is dusty, slanted slightly and can be a little treacherous in some places, so make sure to bring adequate footwear. Also look out for marmots along this path, as they like the grassy hillsides this area offers.


View the route from Le Drouvet to the Lac de Grande Estaris then to the cable car station in a Larger Map


Within half an hour you will have reached the lake. If you have an hour and a half to spare, the Col de la Foseurl is recommended for further views into the Ecrins national park. Otherwise, sit and enjoy the lake's scenery or descend back towards the return cable car.

The Lac du Grande Estaris

The necessary descending path can be found to the south of the nearby refuge, and descends steeply onto a wide, vehicle-driven track, following signs for the Lac des Sirenes and, latterly, Orcières-Merlette.

After passing the lacs, and continuing further down the track, you will see the descending cable car station which, incidentally, ascends before it descends. You should not have to pay for a separate return ticket, so use your existing ticket to descend the mountain back to the village.

The village, as with many ski villages, can often be quite jumbled and higgledy-piggledy, so good luck finding your car at the end!

A great day out which offers a nice rest day if you're tired from slogging up so many mountains! A lovely walk.