Le Sapey walk

An almost circular walk from Les Deux Alpes to Venosc via the delightful pastures in Le Sapey.

Distance: 15km
Ascent: 500m
Descent: 1100m
Sustenance: La Moliere early in the walk, and Venosc village at the end

Once a thriving farming community, the isolated hamlet of Le Sapey is typical of the alpage settlements in this region. Two hundred years ago, there were fifty full-time residents living in ten farmhouses. In summer, more farmers would bring their livestock to graze on the rich alpine pastures. Today, the village often stands empty, but a few dwellings are kept in good condition and their owners visit from time to time.

This walk takes you in a circular route around Pied Moutet, taking in woodland, pastures and Le Sapey itself. You pass through beautiful pastoral settings with great views of the surrounding peaks. The route takes you anti-clockwise from Les Deux Alpes to Venosc, from where you can take a gondola

back to the start. If you still have energy, you can finish with the steep path back up to Les Deux Alpes instead.

Le Sapey Itinerary

You can start on any of the various paths from Les Deux Alpes to La Moliere. I would usually go from the bottom of the Vallée Blanche chairlift. Alternatively, I might take the balcony path from the Flocon d’Or to the Kanata if I was starting at the Venosc end of the village. After La Moliere, the path continues across the steep slopes above Les Travers to a small bergerie (shepherd’s hut). Continue past this through woodland until you reach a junction. A left turn leads in a few minutes to the lovely pastures of Le Sapey.

After Le Sapey, the path gets a bit more challenging, with occasional fixed equipment (rungs and chains) to aid progress. You eventually join a signposted discovery trail which takes you into Venosc village. After exploring the quaint old old streets, and perhaps stopping for refreshments, wander down through the village to reach the gondola back to Venosc.

The gondola is open until 8 o’clock in the evening in summer, so you have plenty of time to do this walk. A return ticket costs six euros at the time of writing, and a single costs exactly the same.

This walk features on our summer programme of guided day-hikes around Les Deux Alpes. Please get in touch if you would like to walk it with a guided group.