Stage 10: Tré-le-Champ → Flégère

6.8 km from Tré-le-Champ (1417 m) to Refuge de la Flégère (1877 m), with 787 m of ascent and 326 m of descent.

Walking time by fitness profile

Times computed with the RandoNav planning algorithm. Breaks not included.

On the trail

The shortest stage on the Tour and one of the most talked about, because of what is bolted to the rock twenty minutes above Tré-le-Champ. The ladders are a series of steel rungs, rails and short vertical steps fixed up the slabs of the Aiguilles Rouges: well maintained, not technically hard, and genuinely exposed. If you dislike heights, or the rock is wet, there is a signed alternative via the Col des Montets that costs about an hour and no dignity at all.

Above them the day changes completely. The trail comes out onto the Aiguilles Rouges balcony at Tête aux Vents and traverses towards La Flégère with the Drus, the Verte and the Mer de Glace directly across the valley the entire way. Only 7 km, but with 800 m of climbing and the Lac Blanc turning partway along — an hour's detour up to 2352 m for the most photographed reflection in the Alps. Take it if the sky is clear.

Start / end

Stops along the way

These places between the endpoints let you split the stage into shorter days:

About this stage

Stage 10 links Tré-le-Champ (1417 m) with Refuge de la Flégère (1877 m) over 6.8 km, climbing 787 m and descending 326 m. This stage is in the eastern half of the Tour, after Courmayeur — the Italian balcony, Switzerland, and the Aiguilles Rouges finale above Chamonix. 3 stops punctuate the route, so you can split this stage into shorter days. Water is available at every stop on this stage. Full resupply (shop) is possible at Argentière.