Activities - Walking in the French Alps
Walkers of all ages and levels of experience will be pleasantly rewarded in the Champsaur and Valgaudemar valleys. There really is something for everyone.
We have suggested a few of the classic walks (click on the boxes at the top of the page), but there are hundreds more to choose from.
There's plenty of wildlife to look out for, including butterflies, marmots, chamois, ibex, wild boar, golden eagles and other birds of prey. There are even wolves and lynx roaming the area. Have a look at our
wolf tracking trip. The flora is also beautiful, and we have over 60 species of orchid here.
For families we can recommend some great walks with easy paths, gentle gradients, spectacular views and plenty of good places for rests and picnics. Have a look at
Saut du Laire above.
For more experienced walkers we can suggest some brilliant long distance walks, classic alpine summits and more technical routes with a bit of scrambling and ridge walking or if you fancy going higher into the mountains some
mountaineering and alpinism. Have a look at our
Summits of the Southern Alps trip.
There are countless day walks taking in ridges, cols, lakes and peaks from either valley. Or, if you want to go for a longer journey why not utilise the network of long distance footpaths - GR routes (Grande Randonne), that criss cross the high mountains of the Ecrin National park and go off for a few days staying in mountain refuges along the way. The classic long distance route in the area is
the Tour du Vieux Chaillol. Have a look at our
holiday offer to do this walk with a guide or self-guided.
And if you really fancy a challenge, why not try an alpine summit. In the area there are some classic mountains like the Barre des Ecrins or the Olan and also some lesser known and quieter peaks like Les Rouies or le Sirac. Have a look at our
alpinism and mountaineering pages for more information or come on one of our
alpinism and mountaineering trips
Unusually for the Alps, there has never been any industry in these valleys, and as a result the area has become famous for its pure air and the diversity of flora and fauna that thrive on the mountainsides and in the valleys. Every season has its own special charm.
Conditions are great for walking all year round, however from November until May winter walking equipment may be needed - see our
Snowshoeing section.
We can organise a week of guided walks or simply advise you on good routes you can do by yourself. Have a look at our
Holiday Offers page for some of our guided group walks. Or you can include self guided or guided walking as part of a
multi activity holiday
All the guides we use are fully qualified and experienced accompagnateurs en montage (equivalent to mountain leader) or high mountain guides who are local to the valleys. We choose them because they love what they do and are passionate about the Champsaur and Valgaudemar valleys. Our guides won't just lead the way and keep you safe, they will show you where the wildlife is hiding out, tell you what plants are what, and explain the geology and history of the features you will see on your walks. They'll use their local knowledge and experience and a little ingenuity to find the most spectacular routes that will fit into your holiday.
