Snowshoeing stay in the southern Vercors
Duration : 6 days
France, Northern Alps, Southern Alps
Level : from intermediate to advanced
from 895 € / p. from 4 to 8 persons
Infos & Booking
Description
Starting out from a comfortable and friendly lodge, I offer you an original snowshoeing program that allows you to explore the most beautiful snow-covered areas of the southern Vercors every day. From the far north ambience of Font d'Urle to the icy crests of Vassieux and the peaceful beauty of the Lente forest, the scenery is grandiose and the views breathtaking.
The advantages of this stay:
- a cosy gîte conveniently located for exploring the Vercors plateau,
- a best-of list of spectacular hikes,
- a small group limited to 8 people,
- supervision by a mountain leader specializing in the region.
If you'd like to continue exploring the region, I also offer:
- a weekend of snowshoeing in the Vercors,
- crossing the Vercors plateau on snowshoes,
- a snowshoe raid in the Vercors massif,
- a yoga and snowshoeing course in the southern Vercors,
- New Year's Eve and snowshoeing in the Vercors Highlands,
- and a multi-activity winter break in the Vercors for families.
Program
D1: Arrival and welcome.
Meet at 5pm at Die station or at 6pm directly at the lodge in Saint-Agnan-en-Vercors.
Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes drive from Valence and 2 hours from Grenoble.
Installation and presentation of the week.
D2: Snowshoeing to Font d'Urle.
Discover the karst plateau of Font d'Urle, with its spectacular ice-covered reliefs sculpted by the wind. A ridge trail offers splendid views over the Quint valley, and the ascent of Puy de la Gagère provides a view over the Vassieux plain. Option to visit the Resistance Memorial (extra charge).
4 and a half hours of walking, positive and negative altitude difference: 300 meters.
D3: Pré Peyret and the high plateaus conservarion area.
From the Col de Rousset ski resort, we set off for a beautiful incursion into the southern part of the Vercors high plateaux conservation area, with its breathtaking panoramas! Passing the Pré Peyret hut, we approach the Grand Veymont, which at 2341 metres of altitude, overlooks the vast forests and snow-covered meadows.
5 hours of walking, D+/D-: 400m.
D4: Ridges of Vassieux-en-Vercors.
Via the Col de Chironne, we climb to the crests overlooking the Diois region, the home of Clairette. Depending on fitness, mood and weather conditions, we can aim to reach the But de l'Aiglette or even the But Saint-Genix. The panorama opens up and takes us all the way to the famous Mont Ventoux.
5 and a half hours of walking, D+/D- : 450m.
D5: Herbouilly and Darbounouse, the Vercors of the pastures.
From the Nordic site of Herbouilly, we discover new landscapes: the open ambience of the great plains, the intimate wooded ridges of La Sambue and Coinchette. We're in a secret Vercors, where animals watch us from the thickets, while cross-country skiers glide stealthily by.
5 hours of walking, D+/D-: 400m.
D6: Lente forest
Last day of snowshoeing in the western part of the massif. Starting from the Col de La Chau, we explore the most intimate corners of the Lente forest, home to roe deer and chamois. Bushy areas alternate with open clearings with a very particular geology, such as circular pots and a few "greenhouses" offering beautiful views towards the Grand Veymont.
4 hours of walking, D+/D-: 350m.
Check-out around 3pm at the gîte or 4pm at Die station.
For organizational or weather-related reasons, this week's hiking schedule is subject to change. If there's no snow, I'll still be on the trailheads, because we're hikers first and foremost, and the high plateaus landscapes are still splendid in the winter light. In that case, you'll have to carry snowshoes for a while, or do without them sometimes... So make sure you have walking shoes in very good condition. A 9-seater minibus will take you to the start of the hikes.
The price includes
- Supervision by mountain leader.
- Full-board accommodation.
- Transfers to the start of the hikes.
- Transport to and from the Die train station to the lodge.
- Loan of snowshoes and hiking poles.
The price does not include
- Transport to and from Die or to the lodge.
- Drinks and personal expenses.
- Cancellation and repatriation insurance.
- Entry to the Resistance Memorial.
- Optional on site:
- Sauna access: 10€/person.
- Energy harmonization: 50€ for 1 hour.
- Massage: 60€ for 1 hour.
- Anything not mentioned in "The price includes".
Accommodation
- Comfortable, well-equipped lodge located at 800 meters altitude in a beautiful natural environment.
- Rooms for 2 or 3 people.
- 100% home cooking! Most of the food is organic and the menus are vegetarian-oriented.
- At lunchtime, picnics prepared either by the guide or by the lodge.