Hiking and well-being stay in the southern Vercors

Duration : 6 days

France, Northern Alps, Southern Alps

Level : moderate: reasonable altitude differences, good physical fitness

from 985 € / p. from 4 to 8 persons

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Description

I propose you a selection of the most beautiful hikes of Upper Diois and southern Vercors regions: the sumptuous circus of Archiane and the bucolic valley of Combeau, the amazing Sucettes ("lollipops") of Borne, the high plateaus and their conservation area and finally the Trièves with the spectacular Mont Aiguille.

During this stay, you will discover a very endearing region away from major tourist routes: lavender scents and pine forests, typical villages, unknown but worthwhile vineyards, and a well preserved flora and fauna thanks to the creation of a conservation area.

You will be accommodated at ** Mont Barral Hotel admirably situated on the foothills of the plateau and offering a large swimming pool, sauna, pool table, tennis, massages and fine dining. All meals are homemade with local and seasonal products.

If you would like to continue your discovery of this beautiful region, I also offer :

Program

D1: Die - Valcroissant - Les Nonnières (850m).
Welcome at Die station at 11am.
On the way to the Upper Diois, we stop off at the Cistercian abbey of Valcroissant, founded in the 12th century, before hiking the "Balcons du Paradis".
Transfer to Les Nonnières and check into the Mont Barral hotel for 5 nights.
3-hour hike, positive and negative altitude difference: 350 meters.

D2: Circus of Archiane (1100m).
Warm-up day in the circus of Archiane. Discovery of this fabulous place (popular for rock climbing of the 1960s and classified site) where ibexes were reintroduced in 1989. We hike on an educational trail, visit waterfalls, caves of Tournières, observe the nests of vultures and golden eagles...
4-hour hike, D+/-: 400m.

D3: Mont Barral (1903m).
Today we climb on the Mont Barral dominating the town and giving its name to our hotel. The views are beautiful on the massifs of Oisans and Dévoluy. The route takes place on the ridge that separates the Drôme de l'Isère. We go down by the crest and the neck of Jiboui in beautiful pastures flower and occupied by transhumance sheep.
5-hour hike, climb and descent of 500m.

D4: Combeau valley (1951m).
The Combeau valley is especially famous for its exceptional flora. In any season, it is good to walk there and it is at the same time traversed by the families in search of a beautiful place of picnic as by the experienced hikers who want to discover the particular atmosphere of the high-plateaux of Vercors . We will probably go up to Tête Chevalière, spectacular lookout on the Mont Aiguille, emblematic summit of the Vercors.
We then visit a goat farm and taste the cheese made by Michel Orand, a passionate breeder.
5 to 6-hour hike, D+/-: 600m.

D5: Font d'Urle plateau (1651m).
We are moving away this time from our base camp to discover the western part of the Vercors massif.
1 and a half hour tranfer to Vassieux-en-Vercors.
We hike on the plateau of Font d'Urle, a vast karst plateau. We make a partial tour of the interpretation trail on the theme of geology and ascent of Puy de la Gagère overlooking the valley of Quint and Diois, and home to chamois and mouflons.
You can, as an option, visit the Museum of Resistance.
Return to the Nonnières via Die for the visit of the Jaillance wineryand and a tasting of the Clairette de Die.
4-hour hike, D+/-: 400m.

D6: Sucettes de Borne (Borne's lollipops).
Today we go hiking to the Sucettes de Borne, geological curiosities, and the refuge of the Tower, beautiful place at the foot of the Montagne de Bellemotte.
We then have a guided tour of the medieval village of Châtillon-en-Diois by a "country guide" and a biodynamic wine tasting at the Domaine de Maupas.
4-hour hike, D+/-: 500m.
Return to Die station and separation at 5pm.

The price includes

  • Supervision by the mountain leader.
  • Half-board accommodation (double room basis) at Mont Barral Hotel.
  • Access to the hotel's wellness facilities.
  • Picnics prepared by the mountain leader.
  • Transfers by minibus.
  • The visit of Châtillon-en-Diois by a "country guide".
  • The visits and tastings of the winery Jaillance (Clairette) in Die and the Domaine de Maupas (vineyard of Jérôme Cayol) in Châtillon-en-Diois.

The price does not include

  • Transport to and from Mont Barral hotel, about one and half hour drive from Valence or Grenoble.
  • Drinks.
  • Assistance / cancellation / interruption of stay insurance.
  • Any massages offered by the Mont Barral Hotel.
  • Other museum visits (Resistance, Prehistory, Die ...).
  • Anything not mentioned in "The price includes".

Accommodation

Next departures :
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Infos & Booking