The Vieux Chaillol tour (Écrins, Hautes-Alpes)
Duration : 6 days
France, Southern Alps
Level : good hiker
from 840 € / p. from 4 to 8 persons
Infos & Booking
Description
The Vieux Chaillol hiking tour is one of those Alpine routes where every step seems to reveal a different facet of the Écrins massif. Located in the Hautes-Alpes department, this trek is renowned for its diverse landscapes and beautiful mountain scenery, offering hikers a complete immersion in a preserved environment. The tour, which usually takes five to six days, skirts the imposing silhouette of Vieux Chaillol, rising to 3,163 meters, a veritable mineral beacon dominating the Champsaur valley.
From the very first steps, the trail climbs through deciduous forests where the tinkling of herds echoes. The gentle slopes and the scent of larch trees give a soothing character to the start of the hike, and you can already glimpse the high peaks of the massif in the distance. The climb to the Vallonpierre refuge marks the entrance to the high mountains at the foot of the Sirac. The colors change depending on the time of day: ochre in the morning, silvery as the sun rises, then warm and golden in the late afternoon and it is not uncommon to spot a few chamois moving with disarming ease. The passage through the Col de la Valette is often one of the highlights of the circuit, offering a new view of the Vieux Chaillol. The last part of the tour gradually descends towards the Champsaur valley on gentler trails, winding between meadows and birch groves.
The Vieux Chaillol tour is not only a 94 km long-distance hiking route with an elevation gain of almost 5,000 meters: it also offers a slow and immersive discovery of a rich, luminous, and peaceful territory. Each stage tells a part of the history of the mountains, and anyone who completes the tour returns transformed, their eyes still filled with its magnificent panoramas.
This hike is for walkers who are able to walk for around 8 hours a day.
Departures are in small groups of 4 to 8 people maximum for a more friendly atmosphere and better support for participants.
I also offer several hiking trips to discover other places in the Southern Alps:
- the Valgaudemar valley tour,
- the Merveilles valley tour in the Alpes-Maritimes,
- the Dévoluy tour between Hautes-Alpes and Drôme,
- a discover of Luberon
- and a 4-day Clarée valley tour.
Program
Day 1: Les Paris - La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar.
Following the Herbeys canal and then the Séveraisse torrent, this first stage takes you up the Valgaudemar valley, offering multiple views of the Olan.
The Valgaudemar will fascinate you with its alpine character and the immensity of its glacial sites. Although life here can sometimes be difficult, it is an expression of the deep attachment of all the inhabitants to their valley. A few encounters with them will be enough to convince you.
Elevation gain: 350 meters, elevation loss: 200 meters, distance: 17.7 km.
Day 2: La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar - Vallonpierre hut.
During this climb to the Gioberney glacial cirque and then on to the Vallonpierre refuge, keep your eyes peeled: chamois, martagon lilies, and other orange lilies await you!
The significant elevation gain on this alpine stage is offset by the passage through numerous hamlets featuring the characteristic architecture of Valgaudemar. It ends on a high note at the Vallonpierre hut, which borders a charming little mountain lake.
Elevation gain: 1,250 meters, elevation loss: 50 meters, distance: 13.5 km.
Day 3: Vallonpierre hut - Pré de la Chaumette hut.
A beautiful mountain stage lies ahead, crossing the three passes of Vallonpierre, Gouiran, and La Vallette before reaching the Champoléon valley.
The mountain atmosphere begins at the foot of the majestic Sirac and continues to the highest point of this tour, the Col de la Valette. Today, the Champsaur and Valgaudemar valleys merge to offer landscapes as varied as they are unique.
Elevation gain: 700 meters, elevation loss: 1,150 meters, distance: 10.9 km.
Day 4: Pré de la Chaumette hut - Tourond hut.
This stage joins the Drac and its gravel bed to continue towards landscapes dotted with flowers and frequented by ibex. The trail follows the river to the fork towards the Tourond valley, where biodiversity reigns supreme. On the right bank, sandstone and limestone cliffs dominate the north-facing forest, while on the opposite side, ibex roam the grasslands and moors.
Elevation gain: 500 meters, elevation loss: 600 meters, distance: 14.5 km.
Day 5: Tourond hut - Chaillol (optional ascent of Vieux Chaillol at an altitude of 3,163 meters).
Most of the stage is off-trail towards the Col de Riou Berou to reach the Cabane des Parisiens. The more adventurous can climb Vieux Chaillol (an additional 450 meters of elevation gain and loss over 2.7 km).
The descent to Chaillol is first through alpine pastures and then through a larch forest. To prolong this contrast, it ends on a high note with views of the Gapençais hills, the Champsaurin bocage, and the Dévoluy massif.
Elevation gain: 1,000 meters, elevation loss: 1,300 meters, distance: 12.7 km.
Day 6: Chaillol - Les Paris.
After a climb through the larch forest, hikers are rewarded with beautiful views of the Champsaur valley and the Dévoluy mountain range.
In Champsaur, the biological diversity is extraordinary and the population dense. This scattered settlement pattern, with hamlets located away from large towns such as Saint-Bonnet, is the result of a turbulent past. Religion has left its mark on this area with its fervent crosses and chapels. It was the subject of many struggles between Catholics and Protestants, who rallied around the Duke of Lesdiguières.
Elevation gain: 600 meters, elevation loss: 1,250 meters, distance: 22.1 km.
The price includes
- Supervision by the mountain leader.
- 5 nights half board (mountain hut, nights in dormitories).
- Meals from the evening of day 1 to the afternoon of day 6 (dinners, breakfasts, picnics).
- Logistical organization of the trip.
The price does not include
- Return transport to the village of Aubessagne, 30 minutes drive from Gap.
- Day 1 picnic lunch.
- Personal expenses (drinks or other purchases).
- Cancellation insurance (optional).
- Anything not mentioned in "The price includes".
Accommodation
In huts (dormitories).