Lac du Buet (Vallée de Bérard)
Tucked into the wild Vallée de Bérard just 5 km north of Le Tour near Vallorcine, the hike to Lac du Buet is one of the Chamonix valley's best-kept secrets — a trail that threads through a dramatic gorge, past thundering waterfalls and into a high cirque where a steel-blue lake reflects the Aiguille du Belvédère.
The Trail
The walk begins at the Bérard car park in Vallorcine (1,260 m) and follows the torrent de Bérard through the Réserve Naturelle des Aiguilles Rouges, a protected zone where ibex and chamois are regularly spotted on the rocky flanks above. The path is well-signed and gains around 700 m over 5 km, taking roughly 2.5 hours at a comfortable pace.
The highlight before the lake is the cascade de Bérard — a 20 m waterfall that crashes into a pool of improbable turquoise, fed by glacial meltwater. It is an excellent turnaround point for families with young children who cannot manage the full ascent.
The Lake & High Cirque
Lac du Buet sits at 1,924 m in a bowl of pale granite and late-lying snow, often completely calm in the early morning when its surface mirrors the surrounding peaks with mirror-perfect clarity. Bring a packed lunch and eat on the flat rocks at the water's edge — you may have the entire cirque to yourself on a weekday.
Strong walkers can continue a further hour to the Refuge de la Pierre à Bérard (2,040 m), a staffed CAF hut open in summer that serves hot drinks and simple meals, and acts as a base for the technical ascent of the Aiguille du Buet (3,096 m).
More of Le Tour
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Le Tour →
