Transhumance festival in the southern Vercors

Description

For over 30 years, the Clairette de Die region has been celebrating the transhumance of its herds as they make their way up to the mountain pastures.

Accompanied by our pack donkeys and forming a small transhumance caravan, these 4 days are an opportunity to leave the Die valley and climb the Vercors mountain pastures. We also take part in the Fête de la Transhumance and its many events, which is an opportunity to discover the pretty medieval village of Châtillon-en-Diois. The program can also be extended over 2 days (please contact me).

Throughout the summer, I also offer:

• a 5-day family trek with donkeys in the Baronnies of Provence,
• a family trek with donkeys in the Vercors,
• a trekking with donkeys on transhumance trails in the Southern Alps or Ubaye and
• a 4-day trek with donkeys in the Baronnies.

Program

D1: Die - Châtillon-en-Diois.
Meet at Die station at 4pm or at Châtillon-en-Diois tourist office at 4.45pm.
We set up camp on the heights of Châtillon at the entrance to the Baïn valley. We meet the small troop of donkeys who are also making their transhumance to their summer pastures.
Overnight bivouac in Châtillon.

D2: Transhumance festival, Châtillon-en-Diois (560m) - Menée (631m).
We spend most of the day in Châtillon, discovering the medieval wine village recently voted "most beautiful village in France". We parade with the donkeys and the flock of ewes, and take advantage of the festival's activities: dog and shearing demonstrations, entertainment, tastings, conferences, exhibitions, meetings... In short, we'll learn all about pastoralism! At the end of the day, like the flock of ewes, we head for the Vercors plateaus. We set up camp in the hamlet of Menée, at the entrance to the Archiane valley.
Distance: 7.2km, positive altitude difference: 300 meters, negative altitude difference: 220 meters.
Overnight bivouac in Menée.

D3: Menée (631m) - vallon de Combeau (1400m).
Head for the village of Nonnières, following the Sareymond river before starting the "real" climb to the high plateau. At the Moutière meadow, we join the party for a picnic lunch. After a siesta, we set off again for the Combeau valley, bypassing the Serre de Beaupuy via the Col de la Lauzette. We reach this magnificent spot where our donkeys spend the summer in summer pasture. Here, the wide-open spaces of the Vercors Hauts-Plateaux open up, where shepherds and their flocks of sheep spend the summer months.
Distance: 12km, D+: 1000m, D-: 250m.
Overnight bivouac for the 5-day program.
→ End of 3-day program: return transfer and separation in Châtillon-en-Diois at 5.15pm or Die train station at 6pm.

D4: vallon de Combeau (1400 m) - col du Greuson - Chaumailloux (1665m).
We now enter the Hauts-Plateaux du Vercors Conservation Area (the largest in mainland France), a landscape of beautiful short-grass meadows carpeted with a myriad of flowers that give the Combeau valley its softness and beauty: Towards the Essaure hut, the marmots are on the lookout, then we cross the Chamousset mountain pastures before beginning the descent to the Chaumailloux huts, a splendid spot facing Mont Aiguille, the emblematic mountain of the Vercors.
Distance: 10km, D+: 500m, D-: 250m.
Overnight bivouac at Chaumailloux.

D5: Chaumailloux - Bergerie du Jardin du Roi - Combeau.
The caravan leaves this magical place on a wild route southwards across the Grande Fissole plain, leading to the Jardin du Roi mountain pastures. We pass ancient "jasses" and dry-stone enclosures, traces of pastoral farming in days gone by. We then skirt the Croix du Lautaret and, via the Pas de la Coche under the Montagnette, once again enter the Combeau valley. We discover an extraordinary view of the Belledonne, Dévoluy and Oisans massifs... Our itinerary ends at the park where our donkeys will spend their summer season. Last cuddles with our traveling companions, and it's back to civilization.
Distance: 12km, D+: 300m, D-: 550m.
Transfer to Châtillon-en-Diois at 5.30pm or Die train station at 6pm.

The price includes

• Supervision by the mountain leader.
• Full board accommodation.
• Donkeys rental.
• Tents and common camping equipment (cooking).
• First and last day tranfers.

The price does not include

• Return transport to Die, about one hour and a quarter drive from Valence and 2 hours from Grenoble.
• Drinks.
• Personal expenses.
• Cancellation and repatriation insurance.
• Visits and activities not planned in the program.
• Anything not mentioned in "The price includes".

Accommodation

Bivvy.

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