Multi-activity winter family stay (Vercors)
Duration : 6 days
France, Northern Alps, Southern Alps
Level : for all from 6 years old
from 760 € / p. from 6 to 12 persons
Infos & Booking
Description
I offer you a multi-activity winter family holiday in a unique natural setting, dominated by the Grand Veymont, the highest peak in the Vercors massif.
Starting out from a friendly lodge at an altitude of 1000 meters, near the village of Vassieux-en-Vercors, young and old alike will enjoy a cocktail of fun activities: snowshoeing, dog sledding, cross-country skiing, igloo building... With beautiful beech and fir forests, aerial ridges separating the high plateaus from the Diois country, the conservation area and its exceptional fauna (chamois, ibex, mountain hares, capercaillie , not forgetting the wolf which has made a comeback in recent years)... you'll enjoy winter with your family when the Vercors plateaus are decked out in their finest!
If you want to continue your winter discovery of the massif, I also offer:
- a snowshoeing holiday to discover the southern Vercors,
- a 6-day snowshoe traverse of the Vercors,
- a course combining snowshoeing and yoga in the southern Vercors,
- a 6-day snowshoe raid in the Vercors and
- a weekend of snowshoeing in the Vercors massif.
Program
D1: Vassieux-en-Vercors (1100m).
Meet at the Pow Grayon Ranch in Vassieux-en-Vercors at 5pm or later.
Welcome and installation in the lodge for the next 4 nights.
D2: Fun snowshoeing.
We set off for a day of snowshoeing punctuated by games and slides that will amuse young and old alike. Depending on the weather, we choose between the spectacular crests of the Font-d'Urle plateau and Puy de la Gagère, or the mysterious beech forests stretching beneath Montagne de Neve and But Saint-Genix.
Walking time: 4 hours, positive and negative altitude differences: 250 to 300 meters.
D3: Prehistory museum and "little trappers" activities.
We visit the prehistory museum, located on the site of a flint-cutting workshop abandoned 4500 years ago by craftsmen. The visit ends with a flintknapping demonstration. Then our "little trappers" will perfect their adaptation to mountain life by learning how to build an igloo and recognize animal tracks in the snow.
Walking time: 1 to 2 hours, D+ and D-: approx. 100m.
D4: Dog sledding or dog-hiking, followed by cross-country skiing or biathlon.
We're in for a unique adventure with sled dogs, sturdy and endearing travel companions! With the soul of a musher, we set off to conquer the vast wilderness of the Nordic region.
Duration: 2 hours.
The afternoon is devoted to discovering cross-country skiing or biathlon on the Vassieux plateau or biathlon stadium (depending on snow conditions). Skiing time: 2 hours.
D5: Departure for a hut adventure...
We're off on a mini-expedition to the high plateau. What if we were lucky enough to flush out the wolf, which has been back for a few years now? We're very careful not to disturb the chamois or the little grouse, so fragile during the harsh winter. We fall asleep to the purr of the wood-burning stove in the forest house.
Overnight in an unguarded refuge.
Walking time: 3 to 4 hours depending on snow conditions, D+: 200 to 400m depending on conditions.
D6: ...in the high plateau conservation area.
Finally on the high plateaus we've been dreaming of, we approach the Grand Veymont (2341m), the emblematic mountain and highest point of the Vercors. This time we're in the immensity of the largest nature reserve in mainland France. But we've already got to head back down to Vassieux and civilization, with the firm intention of returning to see spring bloom on this plateau.
End of the stay at the lodge around 4pm.
Walking time: 3 to 5 hours, D+: 100 to 200m, D-: 300 to 500m.
For reasons of organization, snow conditions and service providers' schedules, the order of the week's activities may be modified. In the event of poor snow conditions, activities are adapted as follows: hiking instead of snowshoeing, cani-hiking instead of sled dogs and biathlon instead of cross-country skiing.
Travel between activities is by 9-seater minibus driven by the activity leader. If the group is larger, I may ask a participant to use his/her car for short trips during the stay (compensation will be provided).
The price includes
- Supervision by specialists (state-certified) for each activity, including the mountain leader for snowshoeing.
- Accommodation during the stay (4 nights in lodge + 1 night in a refuge).
- Catering (breakfats, picnic lunch, dinner) during the stay.
- Transfers.
- Entrance to the prehistory museum.
- Loan of equipment for the different activities.
- Children aged 6 to 13: 750€.
Adult rate: 895€.
The price does not include
- Transport to and from Vassieux-en-Vercors, about one hour and a half drive from Valence and 2 hours from Grenoble;
- Drinks.
- Personal expenses.
- Optional assistance/cancellation/interruption of stay insurance.
- Anything not mentioned in "The price includes".
Accommodation
- 4 nights in the Ranch Pow Grayon cottage.
Karine and Damien welcome you to the warm, family atmosphere of their ranch, 2km south of the village of Vassieux-en-Vercors, in rooms for 2, 4 or 6 people. Bathed in country music, you're plunged into the world of trappers... Drawing their inspiration from local and foreign produce, they treat you to hearty, tasty cuisine. Saloon, video, sound system and private bar, Wifi access. - 1 night in a hut at the Pré Grandu forest house (or equivalent), accessible only on snowshoes. No showers this evening, basic comfort.