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Hello,

I'm planning our early-July itinerary for the Italian-French Alps ~10 day hike, and having trouble filling some gaps.

I think I need to get from Rifugio del Laus to Rifugio Soria-Elena in the best way (best landscapes, staying in decent rifugios along the way). I have 3-4 days to do it.

I would like to avoid Isola 2000 as I think we won't like it.

The reason I think it is possible, is because the following link mentions a way to avoid Isola 2000 by "staying in Italian refuges in beautiful settings that add a day of walking":
http://www.grfive.com/specific/Larche_Vesubie.htm#Lakes


Just FYI overall our itinerary looks like this so far:
d1 - arrive Nice 14:50, bus to St-Etienne-de-Tinnee
d2 - St Etienne de Tinnee to Refuge de Vens (possibly using bus/taxi for the start)
d3 - Refuge de Vens - Chemin de Energie - Refuge de Rabuons
d4 - Refuge de Rabuons - Pas de Colle Longue - Rifugio de Laus
d5 - Rifugio de Laus - Santa Anna (?)
d6 - ???
d7 - ???
d8 - ??? - Rifugio Soria Elena (?)
d9 - Rifugio Soria Elena - Col de Fenestre - Refuge la Madone de Fenestre
d10 - Refuge la Madone de Fenestre - Mont Clapier (???) - Refuge de Nice
d11 - Refuge de Nice - Valee des Merveilles - Refuge des Merveilles
d12 - Refuge des Merveilles - walk out to Casterino or similar - bus/taxi/walk to St Dalmas de Tende - train to Nice - flight out of Nice at 19:55

If I can save, say, day d7 by getting from de Laus to Soria Elena in 3 days) it would allow to do a rest day somewhere in the middle / at the end and would be even better.

We are not in a terribly great shape, but are training for it and did the GR55 from Modane to Bourg St Maurice 2 years ago without much trouble. ~6 hours of walking on average should be fine, 8 hours is OK on some days as long as others are a bit lighter. My gf isn't very fond of heights so avoiding dangerous portions would be good.

Advice will be much appreciated.

Hello friend, to avoid Isola 2000 is a good idea. It's not a nice place to stay, expecially in summer. From Rifugio del Laus on the way towards Rifugio Soria Ellena you can:

day 5 from Laus go to Sant'Anna Hut (Gite d'Etape)
day 6 from Sant'Anna there's not a direct path connecting it to another hut; you must walk on the road toward Colle della Lombarda, then follow on the left the path to Colle d'Orgials and then Laghi di Malinvern and Rif. Questa.
day 7 Froma Rif. Questa you can go to Rif Remondino
day 8 From Rif. Remondino to Rif. Soria Ellena
That's all.
all the best
Alberto

Alberto, grazie!

I was going to ask if it is realistic to do it in 3 days, but lookiing at the map even the Santa Anna -> Rifugio Questa piece looks quite tough.

I'm tempted to skip the Refuge de Vnes -> Refuge de Raubons route and split the Santa Anna -> Rifugio Questa day in half at Rifugio Malivern. Not sure what is better.