l’Aiguille Percee

A popular classic walk to a panoramic viewpoint high above Tignes.

• Location: Tignes – Le Lac
• Distance: 9km
• Level: Intermediate
• Vertical Gain: 705m
• Typical Duration: 4 hours

Starting from Tignes Le Lac, or from the top of the Palafour Chairlift, this walk involves a small climb up a rock and offers amazing panoramas of Tignes and the surrounding area.

Starting from the bottom of the Palafour chairlift, the route climbs gently to start, crossing the access road and the old Bec Rouge shepherds huts used in the summer months. A steep and winding path between the draglift and chairlift takes you to the Croix de Palafour. The route then merges with the 4×4 track and continues until the fork: Col de la Tourne, Aiguille Percee.

Continue the route along the ridge until you reach the flat area at the top of the Palafour chairlift. From here the Aiguille Percee (“eye of the needle” in English”) is clearly visible. Below the Aiguille take the path that stays on the ridge heading towards the lake. The path meanders between the rocks and the rocky terrain of the Tignes nature reserve boundary. From here you can choose to take the detour to the viewpoint. Be careful on the rocks towards the viewpoint as they can be loose under foot.

For the way back down, head to the top of the l’Aiguille Rouge Chairlift and then take the path that forks quickly to the right where the descent becomes steeper. After rejoining the Condus plateau and passing the avalanche barriers, you soon rejoin the 4×4 track and will eventually arrive back at your starting point at the Parafour chairlift.

Worth knowing…

Do not climb to the top of the peak. Make sure you adhere to the Tignes-Champagny nature reserve regulations.

What to bring…

The route can found on IGN map 3633ET Tignes/ Val d’Isere and in the ‘Les Sentiers de L’Ete’ booklet available from the Maison de Tignes Tourist Office for €10.