Multi-activity winter family stay (Vercors)

Duration : 6 days

France, Southern Alps

Level : for all from 6 years old

from 860 € / p. from 6 to 12 persons

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 1,000 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:

Program

Day 1: Vassieux-en-Vercors (1,100m).
Meet at Die station at 4pm (only if you booked the transfer when registering) or directly at the accommodation, the Ranch Pow Grayon in Vassieux-en-Vercors from 5pm. Reception and installation.
Night at the lodge in Vassieux.

Day 2: 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.
Back at the lodge, Damien passionately shows you his stable, his herd of horses and his job as a breeder.
Night at the lodge in Vassieux.
4 hours of walking, elevation gain and loss: 250 to 300 meters.

Day 3: Prehistory museum and "little trappers" activities.
We visit the prehistory museum, located on the site of a flint-cutting workshop abandoned 4,500 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.
Night at the lodge in Vassieux.
1 to 2 hours of walking, elevation gain and loss: approximately 100 meters.

Day 4: 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.
Night at the lodge in Vassieux.

Depending on the departure date, two options are possible for the last two days.

Option 1:

Day 5: Departure for a hut adventure...
We set off on a mini-adventure to the Vassieux refuge. Great atmosphere in the forest, where we watch out for animal tracks. Perhaps we'll see wolf tracks, which are very present in the Vercors massif. The octagonal hut is ideally situated in a large clearing. We contemplate the view from the nearby ridges and spend part of the afternoon building igloos. After a gourmet snack where we're sure to get the stove humming, it's time to head back down in the fading light. We equip ourselves with headlamps to finish the hike at night.
Night at the lodge in Vassieux.

Day 6: End of the stay.
Check-out at the lodge around 9am after breakfast.
Transfer to Die station for those who booked.

Option 2:

Day 5: On the way to the hut adventure in the Nature Reserve (1,365m).
Here we are on the way for a mini-expedition to the Hauts-Plateaux. We are very careful not to disturb the chamois or the small grouse, which are so fragile during the harsh winter. What if we were lucky enough to see traces of a wolf, back for several years? It is with the purring of the stove in the forest house that – so close to the stars – we fall asleep peacefully.
Night in a mountain hut.
3 to 4 hours of walking depending on snow conditions, elevation gain and loss: 200 to 400 meters depending on conditions.

Day 6: The Vercors Hauts-Plateaux conservation area.
Finally on the Hauts-Plateaux that we have dreamed of so much, we approach Grand-Veymont (2,341m), emblematic mountain and highest point of the Vercors. This time we are in the immensity of the largest reserve in mainland France. But we must already go back down to Vassieux and civilization, with the firm intention of returning to see spring bloom on this plateau.
Separation at the lodge around 4pm or at 5pm at Die station if you have booked the transfer.
3 to 5 hours of walking, elevation gain: 100 to 200 meters, elevation loss: 300 to 500 meters.

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.
Transfers 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 the mountain leader and by certified specialists for each activity.
Accommodation during the stay (5 nights in lodge).
Catering (breakfats, picnic lunch, dinner) during the stay.
Transfers schedulded in the program.
Entrance to the prehistory museum.
Loan of equipment for the different activities.
Adult rate: 995€.
Children aged 6 to 13: 860€.

The price does not include

Round-trip transportation to Vassieux-en-Vercors, about one hour and a half drive from Valence and 2 hours from Grenoble.
Return transfer from Die to Vassieux must be reserved upon registration and depending on availability: 30€ per person
Drinks.
Personal expenses.
Optional assistance/cancellation/interruption of stay insurance.
Anything not mentioned in "The price includes".

It is customary (but not mandatory), depending on your satisfaction at the end of your stay, to tip your guide.

Accommodation

5 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 will be 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.

For the version with one night in a mountain hut: the hut is only accessible by snowshoes. No showers that evening, basic comfort. The evening meal is prepared by the guide, a helping hand is welcome. Bring a sheet bag, blankets on site.

Next departures :

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