PROPOSED BY THE GUIDE
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Trekking to the Santa Margherita Lakes from Rifugio Terzo Alpini – Alpine gems in the Valle Stretta

Les Grandes De La Vallée Etroite, Alte Alpi · Francia•1 day•Hiking · 2,540 m
Experience
Day hikes
Difficulty ?
EASY
Where?
Alte Alpi, Francia
On your own?
No problem
Points
+19
Trekking to the Santa Margherita Lakes from Rifugio Terzo Alpini – Alpine gems in the Valle Stretta
Community photos
See all photos
Overview
The experience
Difficulty
What's included
Itinerary
Carpooling
What to bring
Your guide
Reviews
Questions
WHY THIS HIKE

The Santa Margherita lakes in Valle Stretta

Trekking to the Santa Margherita Lakes in the Valle Stretta, starting from the Rifugio Terzo Alpini above Bardonecchia (province of Turin, Piedmont), is one of those experiences that Guidders choose when they want to get off the beaten path and immerse themselves in an authentic alpine environment.

Group chat a couple of days before
Come alone, leave with new friends

The experience

We are on the border between Italy and France, in a wide and spectacular valley dominated by limestone walls and high-altitude pastures. From the refuge, you immediately enter an open and bright setting, with the path gently ascending through meadows, streams, and initial panoramic views.

As you climb, the landscape becomes wilder until you reach the Santa Margherita Lakes, small alpine pools nestled among rocks and silence. A perfect place to stop, disconnect, and experience the mountains unfiltered.

The Valle Stretta has a very strong identity: open landscapes, French atmosphere, silences, and nature that is still sparsely humanized.

The Santa Margherita Lakes are not enormous or “Instagram iconic”, but for this very reason, they maintain an authentic and intimate charm. It is a perfect trek for those looking for quality of experience rather than a famous destination.

If you are looking for a different kind of trekking, this is your place. Come with the Guidders to discover the Santa Margherita Lakes: sharing, nature, and zero chaos. Book your place and experience the mountains as a community.

GOOD TO KNOW
Group chat
It opens a couple of days before: that's where the meeting point is confirmed and carpooling is arranged.
Free cancellation up to 3 days before
You pay nothing when you book.
Guiddy accident insurance
Included in the price.
+19 Guiddy points
Your points grow with every outing, level you up and unlock discounts, exclusive outings and goodies.
Dog friendly
Your dog can come: add them when you book.

How hard is it, really

Guiddy scale
EASY
F
F+
I
I+
D
D+
939 m D+ · 12 km · 8h30
Exposure and exposed sections
NONE
No exposed sections reported on the route.
VERTIGO RISK
WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE YOU GO
✓
BEFORE YOU GO
Go to bed early, have a good breakfast and drink before you set off: you've got 8h30 and 939 m of ascent ahead, an easy pace, suitable for beginners
✓
IN YOUR BACKPACK
Hiking shoes, 1.5 litres of water, a snack and a windproof jacket. Always with you: a plaster, an antiseptic wipe and a small bag for rubbish

What's included in the price

✓INCLUDED
✓Certified Guide
✓Guiddy accident insurance
✕NOT INCLUDED
✕Meals
✕Transport
To get there, there's Guiddy carpooling, below.

Itinerary

One day, approximate times. The final details come in the group chat.

Elevation gain
939 m
Max altitude
2,540 m
Distance
12 km
Duration
8h30
Day
12 km · D+ 939 m · 8h30
Map
The stops · 12 km
Meeting point 8:30approximate
Rifugio 3° Alpini: Your Gateway to Alpine Adventure, 3 Les Grandes De La Vallée Etroite, 05100 Névache, Francia. The exact time is confirmed in the group chat. We usually meet a little earlier for breakfast together, when possible.
HOW TO GET THERE
08:30MOUNTAIN HUT
Rifugio 3° Alpini: Your Gateway to Alpine Adventure
Activity: Meet-up at the parking area. Gear check (water, layered clothing, sun protection). Short briefing.
11:00SUMMIT
Under the Summit
Trail follows the main path. The first section winds through larch woodlands, then the trail opens onto alpine meadows. We'll pass the "Tadpole Pond" and traverse the scenic Tavernette plateau. Maintain a steady pace. The trail gets steeper after Pian della Fonderia. Take care on the "Grosse Somme" section: uneven ground, proceed with caution. Short break at the Valle Stretta Pass (2434 m / 7985 ft) for a drink and to get our bearings.
13:00WATER
Reaching the Lakes
Final push towards the Santa Margherita Lakes! The trail skirts the slopes of Mount Thabor and reaches the Refuge du Thabor (2496 m). A short walk further brings you to the alpine lakes at 2850 m. These are two crystalline pools nestled in a rocky basin, with spectacular views of Mount Thabor (3178 m) and the French peaks beyond. We'll stop for a packed lunch and photo opportunities. Regarding the refuge: if it's open, you can buy hot drinks (cash recommended).
16:30RETURN
Bringing it all back home.
Descend with the mountain in your soul. The way back feels lighter. Your legs remember the path. When you see the old farmhouses again, your eyes hold the blue of the lakes, and your heart, the silence of the Valle Stretta.

How do you get to Les Grandes De La Vallée Etroite? By carpooling.

You say so when booking, then you get organised in the Telegram group. Contacts and costs are agreed between you: a seat isn't guaranteed.

WHO'S ALREADY GOING
Offering a seat Looking for a seat
Cars are added in the last few days, once the group is confirmed.

What to bring

A list made for this hike. No technical gear: just good shoes and a well-packed backpack.

Backpack
REQUIRED
Trekking boots
REQUIRED
Trekking poles
REQUIRED
Water supply
REQUIRED
First aid kit
REQUIRED
Waterproof shell
REQUIRED
Food supply
REQUIRED
Cap
RECOMMENDED
Sunscreen
RECOMMENDED
Light fleece
RECOMMENDED

Your guide

VS
Vittorio S.
We'll email you when they have a new outing on the calendar.

Hi Guidders! 🧡 I'm Vittorio, a hiking guide and nature leader. After 28 years as a scout leader I decided to start again, turning my passion for the mountains into a profession. Twenty-eight years with young people teach you two things you need out there every time: watch the group, and don't rush. I bring experience, attention and team spirit to the trail, and I love sharing nature genuinely, with respect and proper care for safety. Step by step, together. 🥾 See you in the mountains, Guidders!

Italiano
Inglese
Francese
Spagnolo
Guida Ambientale Escursionistica

Reviews

Only from people who completed the outing.
—
no reviews yet
Itinerary—
Organisation—
Overall experience—
Ibex
The first reviews come after the outing
We only ask for feedback from people who were really there.

You'll be among the first to share your story.

Questions?

I've only done easy trails, can I come?
⌄
Paths, mule tracks or wide trails requiring little physical preparation. You need to be fit enough to walk for 8h30 with 939 m of ascent. If in doubt, message Ibex on WhatsApp.
Can I join on my own?
⌄
How does carpooling work?
⌄
What happens if the weather is bad?
⌄
What if the group doesn't reach the minimum?
⌄
Until when can I cancel?
⌄
Book now, pay only if it goes ahead
MOST POPULAR
✓No charge now: the amount is only held on your card
✓Free cancellation up to 3 days before
✓You're only charged once the group is confirmed, at 7 pm the evening before departure
✓Minimum not reached? No charge, nothing to do
Or pay straight away by card, PayPal, Satispay or Revolut. With Klarna you can also pay in interest-free instalments.
Ibex
Still have questions? Message Ibex
Ibex is Guiddy's virtual ibex: it answers everything, 24/7. In two messages it tells you whether this outing is for you, how to get there and what to pack.
Message Ibex on WhatsApp
No commitment: we're happy to answer even just for advice.
Trekking to the Santa Margherita Lakes from Rifugio Terzo Alpini – Alpine gems in the Valle Stretta

Trekking to the Santa Margherita Lakes from Rifugio Terzo Alpini – Alpine gems in the Valle Stretta

Les Grandes De La Vallée Etroite, Névache (05) · Francia
1 day · Hiking · 2,540 m
New: you'll be among the first Guidders to do it
Elevation gain
939 m
Max altitude
2,540 m
Distance
12 km
Exposed sections
None
Duration
8h30
Guiddy points
+19
6 photos
+2 photos
WHY THIS HIKE

The Santa Margherita lakes in Valle Stretta

Trekking to the Santa Margherita Lakes in the Valle Stretta, starting from the Rifugio Terzo Alpini above Bardonecchia (province of Turin, Piedmont), is one of those experiences that Guidders choose when they want to get off the beaten path and immerse themselves in an authentic alpine environment.

Come alone, leave with new friends

The experience

We are on the border between Italy and France, in a wide and spectacular valley dominated by limestone walls and high-altitude pastures. From the refuge, you immediately enter an open and bright setting, with the path gently ascending through meadows, streams, and initial panoramic views.

As you climb, the landscape becomes wilder until you reach the Santa Margherita Lakes, small alpine pools nestled among rocks and silence. A perfect place to stop, disconnect, and experience the mountains unfiltered.

The Valle Stretta has a very strong identity: open landscapes, French atmosphere, silences, and nature that is still sparsely humanized.

The Santa Margherita Lakes are not enormous or “Instagram iconic”, but for this very reason, they maintain an authentic and intimate charm. It is a perfect trek for those looking for quality of experience rather than a famous destination.

If you are looking for a different kind of trekking, this is your place. Come with the Guidders to discover the Santa Margherita Lakes: sharing, nature, and zero chaos. Book your place and experience the mountains as a community.

How hard is it

Guiddy scale
EASY
F
F+
I
I+
D
D+
939 m D+ · 12 km · 8h30
WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE YOU GO
✓
BEFORE YOU GO
Go to bed early, have a good breakfast and drink before you set off: you've got 8h30 and 939 m of ascent ahead, an easy pace, suitable for beginners
✓
IN YOUR BACKPACK
Hiking shoes, 1.5 litres of water, a snack and a windproof jacket. Always with you: a plaster, an antiseptic wipe and a small bag for rubbish

What's included

INCLUDED
✓Certified Guide
✓Guiddy accident insurance
NOT INCLUDED
✕Meals
✕Transport

Itinerary

Day · approximate times
Map
Stops · 12 km
Meeting point 8:30Rifugio 3° Alpini: Your Gateway to Alpine Adventure
We usually meet a little earlier for breakfast together, when possible.
08:30MOUNTAIN HUT
Rifugio 3° Alpini: Your Gateway to Alpine Adventure
Activity: Meet-up at the parking area. Gear check (water, layered clothing, sun protection). Short briefing.
11:00SUMMIT
Under the Summit
Trail follows the main path. The first section winds through larch woodlands, then the trail opens onto alpine meadows. We'll pass the "Tadpole Pond" and traverse the scenic Tavernette plateau. Maintain a steady pace. The trail gets steeper after Pian della Fonderia. Take care on the "Grosse Somme" section: uneven ground, proceed with caution. Short break at the Valle Stretta Pass (2434 m / 7985 ft) for a drink and to get our bearings.
13:00WATER
Reaching the Lakes
Final push towards the Santa Margherita Lakes! The trail skirts the slopes of Mount Thabor and reaches the Refuge du Thabor (2496 m). A short walk further brings you to the alpine lakes at 2850 m. These are two crystalline pools nestled in a rocky basin, with spectacular views of Mount Thabor (3178 m) and the French peaks beyond. We'll stop for a packed lunch and photo opportunities. Regarding the refuge: if it's open, you can buy hot drinks (cash recommended).
16:30RETURN
Bringing it all back home.
Descend with the mountain in your soul. The way back feels lighter. Your legs remember the path. When you see the old farmhouses again, your eyes hold the blue of the lakes, and your heart, the silence of the Valle Stretta.

How do you get to Les Grandes De La Vallée Etroite? By carpooling.

You say so when booking, then you get organised in the Telegram group.

WHO'S ALREADY GOING
Offering a seat Looking for a seat
Cars are added in the last few days, once the group is confirmed.

What to bring

A list made for this hike.
Backpack
REQUIRED
Trekking boots
REQUIRED
Trekking poles
REQUIRED
Water supply
REQUIRED
First aid kit
REQUIRED
Waterproof shell
REQUIRED
Food supply
REQUIRED
Cap
RECOMMENDED
Sunscreen
RECOMMENDED
Light fleece
RECOMMENDED

Your guide

VS
Vittorio S.
Guida Ambientale Escursionistica

Hi Guidders! 🧡 I'm Vittorio, a hiking guide and nature leader. After 28 years as a scout leader I decided to start again, turning my passion for the mountains into a profession. Twenty-eight years with young people teach you two things you need out there every time: watch the group, and don't rush. I bring experience, attention and team spirit to the trail, and I love sharing nature genuinely, with respect and proper care for safety. Step by step, together. 🥾 See you in the mountains, Guidders!

We'll email you when they have a new outing on the calendar.

Reviews

— · none yet
Ibex
The first reviews come after the outing
Only from people who were really there.

You'll be among the first to share your story.

Questions?

I've only done easy trails, can I come?
⌄
Paths, mule tracks or wide trails requiring little physical preparation. You need to be fit enough to walk for 8h30 with 939 m of ascent. If in doubt, message Ibex on WhatsApp.
Can I join on my own?
⌄
How does carpooling work?
⌄
What happens if the weather is bad?
⌄
What if the group doesn't reach the minimum?
⌄
Until when can I cancel?
⌄
Ibex
Still unsure? Message Ibex on WhatsApp →
No date
€24.90
per person
Book now →
Pay only if confirmed