Limestone massif of the Prealps, perched between Drôme and Isère, the Vercors (the largest Regional Natural Park in France), is a true paradise for hikers. Wide open valleys, vast forests of fir and spruce, but also beech and maple, paths in lookouts, everything calls for "resourcing"... The variety of landscapes amazes the hiker: medium mountain "classic", white walls of limestone, deep and mysterious gorges, caves and surprising resurgences, passages (called "pas") unsuspected in the cliffs, borrowed for centuries. A little further up, there is this immense desert of the Highlands (nature reserve), a veritable chaos of limestone and sheep pasture.
The average altitude, between 700 m and 1400 m, a climate neither too hot nor too cold: you feel good, the air is lively, the fauna and flora abound. The Vercors is also a mountain that has been able to remain alive, thanks to complementary activities: in addition to the breeding, the reception of children on the farm once, and today, a tourism that has been able to remain discreet. No concrete station, but small villages that have kept their strength and are happy to welcome you. Logging is still important, and large farms wich still produce meat, milk and cheese.
Dates | Status | Prices |
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7 days and 6 nights. From Sunday to Saturday
The price includes:
The price does not include:
Extra expense:
The price is all inclusive from departure to end point.
Personalised tour available
Contact us !Meeting point Saturday at 1.45pm in Autrans.
AUTRANS
Arrival in early afternoon in Autrans, dynamic village of Vercors. Our walk will take us in the middle of a secluded clearing on the plateau of Gève, surrounded by spruce forests.
Dinner and overnight in the refuge of Gève, in Autrans.
3 hour walk / Elevation: +250m
AUTRANS - RENCUREL
We will cross the "Pas" of Pertuson separating the Val d'Autrans Méaudre from the Val de Rencurel, small village, quiet and rural. Overnight on the heights of the village in lodging.
Dinner and overnight in the gite of Rencurel
5 to 6 hours walk / Elevation: +750m -850m
RENCUREL - CHRORANCHE ou PONT-EN-ROYANS
By the Pas du Ranc and the caves of Choranche. A day rich in exceptional sites: Choranche, an amazing circus of white cliffs, Choranche and its waterfalls. Dinner and night in Choranche or in Pont-en-Royans, a bustling large village, and its houses suspended above the river Bourne, a curiosity in the landscape.
Dinner and overnight in a gite in Choranche or Pont en Royans.
6h30 hours walk / Elevation: +300m -800m
CHRORANCHE ou PONT-EN-ROYANS - ST MARTIN EN VERCORS
Small transfer to the Mézelier pass. Climb on the Vercors Central by the Pas des Arches and the Grands Goulets. Superb panoramas over the entire massif, where we can distinguish perfectly the different parts of this limestone massif, notched with deep gorges. We cross the sumptuous mixed forest of the Allier, which will allow us to discover the valley of Saint-Martin-en-Vercors.
Dinner and overnight in a hotel at St Martin en Vercors or La Chapelle en Vercors
5 hours walk / Elevation: +850m -630m
TOURTRE - BOIS BARBU
Short transfer to Tourtre. Our hike of the day takes us to Bois Barbu, above Villard-de-Lans, by the Pas de St Martin then the plain of Herbouilly and the ruined village of Valchevrière.
Dinner and overnight in the gite Bois Barbu.
5 hours walk / Elevation: +900m -450m
BOIS BARBU - VILLARD-DE-LANS - LANS-EN-VERCORS
Quick transfer to the place called "les Pierres" above Villard de Lans. We will then reach Lans by the Gobert Trail, the Col Vert (and the Pic St Michel, as an option): amazing "ecological trail" where you will discover the typical flora of the Vercors Nord, balcony trail that dominates the entire valley of Villard. The Col de l'Arc is a superb easy access pass, offering a beautiful balcony on Belledonne and Oisans. The Pic St Michel is one of the peaks of the Vercors Nord; it offers a remarkable view of all the Alps and the Vercors Nord.
Dinner and night in hotel in Lans en Vercors or in hotel in Méaudre (for departures in June and July).
5 hours walk / Elevation: +700m -850m
LANS-EN-VERCORS or MEAUDRE - AUTRANS
For June and July departures :
Several routes are possible to reach the village of Autrans: via Vercors along the plain or by the hills of Claret that separate the 2 villages of Autrans and Méaudre and culminate at the top of the Olympic springboards overlooking Autrans. End of the stay in Autrans in the early afternoon.
3h walk/ Altitude difference: +150m (or + 400m by the Claret) -50m (or -300m by the Claret).
For August and September departures :
Short loop hike to the Bec de l'Aigle. Return to Lans en Vercors and end of the stay in the early afternoon.
3h walk/ Altitude difference: +250m, -250m.
End of the trek Friday around 1.00pm at Lans-en-Vercors (August and September departures) or Autrans (June and July departures).
The itinerary is established according to the latest information available, the possibility of unknown factors affecting this itinerary is possible including situations beyond our control which may change the route, timings etc.
Elevation: +/- 900m approximately per day.
Walking time: 5 to 7 hours per day.
Type of trek: this tour is not technically difficult.
5 nights in dormitory in gite or refuge ; 1 night in hotel
All accommodation has hot showers.
Breakfast and dinner are provided in each accommodation.
Picnics are included and are carefully prepared daily by your mountain leader, comprising a variety of a healthy salads and local products.
IGN 1/25 000 n°3235OT Autrans ; 3236OT Villard de Lans.
Meeting point at 1.45pm in Autrans.
BY TRAIN / BUS
Train to Grenoble (www.sncf-connect.com) then bus to Autrans.
Regular bus to Autrans (line T64 then T66), from the bus station, next to the train station : 04 26 16 38 38 ou www.carsisere.auvergnerhonealpes.fr/
BY CAR
Direction Valence (if you com from the south) or Grenoble (if you come from the north), tehn Villard-de-Lans.
Lans is 20 km away from Grenoble, Villard is 30 km away from Grenoble.
You can park your car at the Lans-en-Vercors tourist office and then take a bus to Autrans (line 5120).
CLOSEST AIRPORTS
Lyon (LYS)
1h by car to Grenoble, then train and bus to Lans-en-Vercors and Autrans.
End of the trek Friday around 1.00pm at Lans-en-Vercors (August and September departures) or Autrans (June and July departures).
In accordance with regulations, we are covered by Professional Liability Insurance. In no case can we be responsible for your own Personal Liability. If you chose to take out repatriation insurance with EUROP ASSISTANCE whom we propose, Altitude Mont Blanc will only serve as an intermediary between the client and the insurer. We cannot influence either party. We adhere to strict conditions of sale. You are responsible for compliance with the reporting procedures of any incident.
Before making any decision, contact EUROP ASSISTANCE.
If you are late please contact the agency as soon as possible: +33 (0)4 50 79 09 16 or +33 (0)6 42 49 76 07
Clothing
Other Equipment
Bring a comfortable backpack of 30 to 40 litres for your personal belongings for the day (warm clothes, waterproofs, water, plate and cutlery for your picnic, sunscreen and your identity papers) and please keep a little room to carry a picnic and snacks.
Your baggage will be transported daily ***NOTE DAYS NO BAGGAGE*** (except Day 1) between accommodation by our logistics vehicle. You are allowed 1 soft, sports type bag with all your possessions inside, no heavier than 12kg. Your bag has to be carried everyday by the driver, where access is not always easy, please think of their backs! Baggage which is too big and too heavy won't be accepted by the drivers!