Exceptional lakes in Écrins and Queyras (Hautes-Alpes)

Duration : 5 days

France, Southern Alps

Level : easy, for any hiker

from 575 € / p. from 4 to 10 persons

Description

From the high granitic summits of the Écrins to the large colored pastures of the Fonts of Cervières valley, while passing by the Freissinières valley, the Briançon region offers to the hiker a great variety of reliefs and landscapes to be visited.

It is this variety that I propose you to discover through five days of easy hiking, in five valleys with very different atmosphere. You will meet the highest peaks of Écrins, a hamlet at the end of the world, impressive glaciers and bucolic torrents, the Italian border and everywhere an exceptional flora and fauna in a preserved nature.

The accommodation takes place in the Vigneaux at the gateway to the Écrins Park in a comfortable and friendly cottage with good home made cooking!

If you want to discover differently this magnificent Queyras massif, I propose you several other treks:

Program

D1: Oule and Gardiole lakes.
Meet at Briançon train station at 9.30am.
A high departure will allow us to first climb to the top of the Gardiole at 2753 meters high to enjoy the magnificent view of the Écrins and the great glacier overlooking the Guisane valley. We will then descend on Oule and Barre lakes. On the way back we will cross a humid area of altitude, rich and surprising environment where we will be able to make beautiful naturalistic meetings!
Positive and negative altitude differences: 525 meters, 4 hours and a half of walking.

D2: The hamlet of Dormillouse and Fangeas Lake.
New day, new valley! Today, it is in the neighboring Freissinière valley that we go hiking. The program of the day: an impressive waterfall, a beautiful larch forest, an idyllic lake, a small secret path and the only inhabited hamlet of the Écrins Park. If we add a valley with a tumultuous history, the day looks too short!
D+ / D-: 600m, 5 hours of walking.

D3: The Orceyrette lake and the Ayes biological reserve.
In the middle of the week, it is always good to have a shorter day to rest your legs. Our day of rest will take us over Briançon to discover the beautiful Orceyrette lake and the biological reserve of Bois des Ayes. Listed site, the valley is a refuge for a large number of plants and animal species that we will take the time to discover and observe. Return to the cottage in the middle of the afternoon.
D+ / D-: 300m, 3 hours of walking.

D4: The White Glacier.
It is in the heart of the Écrins massif that we are going today. From the Pré de Madame Carle the atmosphere is in the high mountains: all the peaks around flirting with 4000 meters of altitude! We climb towards the White Glacier which descends from the Barre des Écrins, the highest of them with 4102 meters high. An ephemeral lake reflecting the surrounding peaks, low-level vegetation at high altitude and breathtaking views of the glacier. The ideal conditions for a nap in the sun.
D+ / D-: 550m, 4 hours and a half of walking.

D5: Black lake, Sarailles lake, Gignoux lake.
The Fonts de Cervières valley is unlike any other. The gentle and grassy relief rises gently until reaching the border ridge with Italy. Here, red, yellow and black rocks, low rock vegetation and dry grass compete with the multitude of small lakes dotting the slope. The valley is a geological curiosity visited by specialists from around the world: a real dive in the heart of the alpine ocean!
Return to Briançon station at 5pm.
D+ / D-: 450m, 4 hours and a half of walking.

Discovery level: you do not necessarily have experience in hiking or mountain but you have a physical fitness and you want an easy stay to enjoy the mountain. Hiking days from 4 to 5 hours of walking with a maximum positive elevation of 600 meters. The pace is quiet but continuous and good breaks are planned during the day. The routes are mainly on good mountain trails or off-trail without difficulty. A day of rest is usually scheduled in the week (half-day walk).

NB: The program is given as an indication. I remain the only judge of the program that I can modify at any time, for security reasons or according to weather conditions, or in relation to the physical and technical level of hikers. The indications for the climbing and stage times are given for information only.

The price includes

Supervision by the mountain leader.
Full board accommodation and reservation in lodge (picnic for lunch).
Bearing of meals and overnight stays of the mountain leader.
Roundtrip transfers to hiking departures.

The price does not include

Snacks.
Personal expenses: drinks, aperitif, etc.
Liability, repatriation and cancellation insurance.
Transport to and from the meeting place.
Anything not mentioned in "The price includes".

Accommodation

Accommodation in comfortable cottage in the Vigneaux.
Room from 4 to 6 people. Possibility of double room on request (with extra cost). Duvet provided. Hot shower.
Home cooked meals of quality and based on local products. Picnic for lunch.

Next departures :

No scheduled departure, but you can contact me to book your dates.