The revisited tour of Queyras (Hautes-Alpes)

Duration : 6 days

France, Southern Alps, Italy, Alps

Level : good hiker

from 750 € / p. from 4 to 10 persons

Description

The tour of Queyras is today a classic trekking and as such, it deserves to be revisited. This is what I propose you with this tour of the upper Queyras in six days, which alternates the classic passages not to be missed and others still little known but superb.

From Saint-Véran, the highest village in Europe, we will move along the Italian border in the highest part of the massif. We will cross the border three times to discover the nearby valleys of Piedmont and even sleep in the amazing Conca del Pra!

The landscapes crossed are varied: beautiful panoramas of course but also many lakes, beautiful forests of old larches, mountain pastures as far as the eye can see, rocky peaks and bare ridges. The Queyras massif has a deserved reputation: what is beautiful in the mountains is the contrast, and this tour has a lot!

Medium level: You already have a mountain hiking experience, are in good shape and practice regular physical activity throughout the year. You are looking for a medium level stay with beautiful hiking sometimes accessible at the cost of a little effort. Hiking days of 5 to 7 hours of walking with a difference in altitude between 800 and 900 meters. Routes on good mountain trails with sometimes a few more technical passages or off-trail without difficulties. If the stay is itinerant you must be able to carry a backpack of about 8 kg.

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

Program

Day 1: Pic Traversier (2,882m) and pastures of the Blanche.
Meet in Ville-Vieille, commune of Château-Ville-Vieille in the center of Queyras. We will meet at 9.15am in the large parking lot opposite the Guilazur hotel on the left bank of Guil. Possibility of transfer from the train station Mont-Dauphin-Guillestre on request.
If you arrive by car you can park it in Aiguilles, parking at the exit of the village and we will pick you up.
We will leave the Aigue-Agnel valley to join Longet pass by the eponymous valley in a beautiful flowery atmosphere until late in the season. A short climb will allow us to reach the top of the Pic Traversier: first panorama of the week and beautiful view of the massif and the hikes of the coming days. We will then turn south over the old Clausis copper mine to cross the vast grassy circus of the Blanche and join the refuge nestled at the edge of a small lake.
Night at the Blanche hut.
Elevation gain: 950 meters, elevation loss: 500 meters, 6 hours of walking.

Day 2: Tour of the Tête des Toillies and Caramantran Peak (3,025m).
Above the Cirque de la Blanche, a sharp rocky peak marks the border between Queyras, Ubaye and the Italian high Varaita. This is the Tête des Toillies, "star" in occitan language, and we will turn around it today. We will start with the ascent of the Col de la Noire, then by a beautiful crossing near the lakes of Longet we will reach the Col de la Blanche. We will then follow the Italian border to the Caramantran Peak at 3,025 meters above sea level.
Elevation gain and loss: 900 meters, 6.5 hours of walking.

Day 3: Tour of Pain de Sucre and Bouchouse valley.
A route off the beaten track for this third day. A first pass will allow us to reach Italy then we will go up a beautiful wild and mineral valley to join the Asti pass from where we will have a fantastic view of Mount Viso nearby. We will then descend to Lake Asti lost in an ocean of rocks and finally reach the long Bouchouse valley and its lakes. Beautiful descent on the upper valley of Guil.
Night at Echalp where we will get our backpacks.
Elevation gain: 750 meters, elevation loss: 1,350 meters, 6.5 hours of walking.

Day 4: Lacroix pass and Praroussin summit.
The larch tree area above Echalp is dotted with impressive old trees some of which are classified. We will go up to the summit of Praroussin that we reach by a pretty ridge. Beautiful view of the Upper Guil, the Écrins and Val Pellice below. The descent will be done by an old cross-border mule track formerly very used until the Conca del Pra and its particular atmosphere. Here we are in Italy!
Night in Italy at the Jervis hut.
Elevation gain and loss: 1,000 meters, 5.5 hours of walking.

Day 5: Urine pass.
A last glance at the Conca del Pra and here we are in the long valley of Urine with the unique mineral atmosphere. We will go up to the pass of the same name, narrow passage under the vast rocky slopes of Pelvas. On the other side is a beautiful alp with open view, then a flowery and welcoming larch tree that will take us down to Abriès.
Night in Abriès.
Elevation gain: 800 meters, elevation loss: 1,000 meters, 6 hours of walking.

Day 6: The lakes of Malrif.
For this last day we will discover together the largest lake of Queyras: Grand Laus Lake. Perched at almost 2600 meters, it dominates the region and offers a superb panorama of the valleys and surrounding peaks. We will go down through the Lombard valley to Aiguilles, the capital of Queyras known for its amazing houses built by children of the country who made fortunes in the Americas.
Separation in Aiguilles at 4.30pm. Shuttle buses for Château-Ville-Vieille and Mont-Dauphin-Guillestre station (possibility of transfer on request).
Elevation gain: 1,000 meters, elevation loss: 1,100 meters, 6 hours of walking.

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 rise and stage times are given for information only.

The price includes

Supervision by the mountain leader.
Accommodation and reservation in lodge and mountain hut, with full board accomodation (picnic for lunch).
Bearing of meals and overnight stays of the mountain leader.

The price does not include

Return transport to Chateau-Ville-Vieille, one hour drive from Briançon and one hour and a half from Gap.
Snacks.
Personal expenses: drinks, aperitif, etc.
Liability, repatriation and cancellation insurance.
Anything not mentioned in "The price includes".

Accommodation

Accommodation in mountain huts and lodges.
Comfortable dorms, duvets or blankets provided, hot showers.
Meals based on local products.
Hearty and balanced dinners, with for example 5 courses at the Jervis refuge.
Picnic at lunchtime.

Next departures :

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