Walking holidays in the French Alps
| country: | France |
| location: | French Alps |
| trip type: | Moderate walking holidays |
| departures: | Guided holiday set departure: 30 June 2010 This trip can also be tailor made as a self guided holiday any time between May and October. |
| price: | From €865 (8 days) excluding flights, based on itinerary below. Price includes accommodation and lunches. Self-guided options from €475 - €915 depending on group size, length of trip and whether or not transfers are included |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
This is a classic walk taking in the four valleys visible from Champsaur's highest mountain, the Vieux Chaillol. Each of the valleys; Champoleon, Champsaur, Valgaudemar and Molines have their own unique characteristics; from the deep steep dramatic valley of Valgaudemar to the open rural landscape of Champsaur.
There are two pairs of golden eagles in the area, chamois, ibex and lots of marmots. There are wolves and lynx in the vicinity but they are more difficult to spot! The flora is also spectacular, with 60 different species of orchid, wild orange lillies, wild daffodils, gentians and thousands of other flowers we don’t know the names of!
Most of the tour traverses along the valleys on the GR 50 and GR 54 long distance trekking paths, so the paths are easy and not too technical- but the days are long so you will need a reasonable level of fitness to do it comfortably. You cross one high mountain pass of 2607 metres which takes you from the Valgaudemar valley into the Champoleon valley. This is done over two days staying in the refuge Vallonpierre at 1534 metres but you will climb approximately 1150m in one day.
The route is five days long, so if you are planning a week's holiday, you have one rest day, with a day's travelling either side. You can either spend this resting or you can take in one of the many variations to go over another col or mountain pass or even take in the summit of the Vieux Chaillol!
There are two pairs of golden eagles in the area, chamois, ibex and lots of marmots. There are wolves and lynx in the vicinity but they are more difficult to spot! The flora is also spectacular, with 60 different species of orchid, wild orange lillies, wild daffodils, gentians and thousands of other flowers we don’t know the names of!
Most of the tour traverses along the valleys on the GR 50 and GR 54 long distance trekking paths, so the paths are easy and not too technical- but the days are long so you will need a reasonable level of fitness to do it comfortably. You cross one high mountain pass of 2607 metres which takes you from the Valgaudemar valley into the Champoleon valley. This is done over two days staying in the refuge Vallonpierre at 1534 metres but you will climb approximately 1150m in one day.
The route is five days long, so if you are planning a week's holiday, you have one rest day, with a day's travelling either side. You can either spend this resting or you can take in one of the many variations to go over another col or mountain pass or even take in the summit of the Vieux Chaillol!
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive in the valley. |
| Day 2: | From: Gite D'Etape Les Paris in St Jaques -Altitude 980 m To: Gite D'Etape Le Casset in La Chappelle - Altitude 1150. This is a beautiful long walk through the valley of Valgaudemar with a short climb up to the Oulles du Diable – a spectacular water fall walk. From here you can take a short diversion up to the old deserted village of Navette. Hours walking: 6-7 hours |
| Day 3: | From: Gite D'Etape Le Casset in La Chapelle - Altitude: 1150m To: Refuge Vallonpierre in the mountains - Altitude 1534. This is a long uphill walk but through one of the most beautiful ‘classic alpine’ valleys of the walk. The last section is quite steep and it is a welcome sight to see the sign saying refuge Vallonpierre 10mins when you get to the top! Take time to stop on your way up and look back over the views behind you. Hours Walking: 7h30 |
| Day 4: | From: Refuge Vallonpierre in the mountains - Altitude: 2273m To: Refuge du Pre De La Chaumette – Altitude: 1800m. This is a wild and dramatic walk over the col and through the valley on the other side. Look out for chamois and other animals. Hours walking: 4h30 |
| Day 5: | From: Refuge du Pre De La Chaumette – Altitude: 1800m To: Refuge du Tourond in the mountains - Altitude 1712m. A relatively easy and very pretty walk through the valley of Champoleon by the river. Lots of nice picnic stops and stream dipping opportunities! At the refuge there is a spectacular waterfall you can go and have a look at – about 20 mins from the refuge if you want to explore. Hours walking: 5h30 |
| Day 6: | Refuge du Tourond in the mountains - Altitude 1712m To: Gite D'Etape de Chaillol in Chaillol - Altitude 1425m via the Col de Vanasque. A beautiful and remote walk over the col de vanesque with spectacular views over the Champoleon and Champsaur valleys and lots of wildlife. There is the option of taking in the peak of the Vieux Chaillol 3163m on this day which would add another 4 hours onto the day and another 675m of ascent. This is a big day with a lot of ascent but a rewarding view at the top. |
| Day 7: | From: Gite D'Etape de Chaillol in Chaillol - Altitude 1425m To: Gite D'Etape les Paris in St Jaques - Altitude: 980m. Hours Walking: 7h30 |
| Day 8: | Return Home. |
best time to go
If you are interested in our tailor made options and like flowers, the best time to come is June when all the spring flowers are out. Walk through alpine meadows teaming with butterflies as they flutter amongst them. We have over 60 species of orchids, orange lilies and a huge diversity of other species for you to feast your eyes on! For Ibex spotting, the best time is spring – May or June when they are in the lower pastures making the most of the recent snowmelt! For peace and quiet and the place to yourself come in September when the weather is still hot but all the children have gone back to school. If you want a more sociable experience come in July or August when it is hotter – although not sweltering and walking at altitude is always cooler! The evenings are always cool enough to get a good night’s sleep! In July and August there will be families in the refuges so a mix of adults and children – it isn’t an activity reserved for the over 18s!
how this holiday makes a difference
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We are committed to sustainable tourism and the protection and preservation of the mountain habitat. As such we abide by and support local conservation projects and policies for the continued evolution and protection of the mountain environment and its inhabitants. And we choose to work with guides, companies and accommodation who share the same values.
Environment We respect and support local conservation / erosion projects by following guidelines issued by the Ecrins National Park and ensuring our clients are made aware of any specific guidelines that may affect them. E.g. carrying rubbish down from refuges / high mountain walks. All accommodation suppliers are vetted according to their professionalism and their approach to responsible tourism (using local produce, respect for the environment and promoting the culture of the region). Several of the gites have strong environmental criteria with regard to recycling and reducing their environmental impact. All our guides are fully trained in environmental sustainability as a part of their diplomas and they educate our clients about the mountain habitat during the activities. We don’t print brochures and keep paper use to a minimum in the office preferring electronic distribution as our main means of communication with clients. We provide detailed information on how to behave within the park such as carrying out all litter, no free camping and adhering to the rules of the park. Community The mountain refuges on this trip are a mix of club alpine francais (CAF) refuges and private refuges. The CAF refuges are maintained by the CAF but it is the guardians who keep the refuges clean, look after you and prepare all your food! They live in the refuges for the summer and make their living out of the food and drinks they sell to tourists. It is a hard life and is done out of a passion for the mountains rather than a desire to make any money. It is getting harder and harder for the guardians to make ends meet and to justify their summers in the mountains, especially in the refuges a little off the beaten track. The tour du Vieux Chaillol takes in some of the lesser known refuges to help maintain them and support the guardians who make their living there. The private refuges are old shepherd’s huts or farms that have been taken on and renovated by an individual who then makes his living like from tourists eating and staying in the refuges. On our guided trip of the self guided trip we take in one of my favourite private refuges, the Refuge Tourond to try and help support the guardian Stephan. Refuge Tourond, was an old shepherd’s hut in ruins and Stephan the guardian has spent the last twenty years gradually refurbishing it by hand. This was a huge commitment and no mean task as there is no road access so all the materials were brought in by donkeys or occasional helicopter drops. Stephan is a well traveled and passionate mountaineer and environmentalist and his refuge is greatly influenced by his trips to Nepal and South America with prayer flags and a very calm and tranquil ambiance. He recognized the need for a refuge in the remote Champoleon valley to provide a shelter for mountaineers wishing to explore the mountains in and around the valley – otherwise too far and too inaccessible to do in one day. He is an ambassador of nature and takes all ecological measures possible to protect the environment in and around the refuge whilst at the same time making it a welcome and comfortable refuge for tourists. There is a natural outside shower with solar powered hot water as well as a hot shower inside for colder evenings, a septic tank for sewage and a good recycling system for waste. Stephan will show you where the wildlife is hiding out and has sign posted short walks around the refuge to explore the area. You will eat well and taste local specialities that utilize the mountain herbs, berries and flowers as well as produce from the surrounding valleys, thus supporting local farmers. The refuge is a perfect example of a well run, ecologically friendly and informative mountain refuge. For our guided trip we use local guides and pay them the proper rate rather than importing ‘part time guides’ from abroad who have alternative means of income and do guiding for fun and not much money. These types of guides are able to reduce their rates significantly making it difficult for full time guides who have dedicated their lives to the mountains to be competitive and it is becoming a problem in the Alps. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |