“Difficulties are just things to overcome, after all”…… Ernest Shackleton, British polar explorer
Journey with us…
Rugged high mountain scree
The best way to enjoy the Alps is on foot, with friends and experts who know and love these spectacular mountains. Below are a superb selection of walks we have put together, covering a diverse range of trekking from one day easy walks for an introduction to walking in an alpine environment to more challenging and longer one day walks to multi day trips for the more experienced.
Lac Lauvitel
We take you on a shaded woodland circular walk, crisscrossing a wonderful, atmospheric mountain stream, ascending to an elevation of 1530m where you encounter the beauty of the largest natural lake in the Ecrins National Park. After lunch and maybe dipping your toes in the lake, we make our way down and can finish at one of the lovely tearooms in the tiny village of Danchère. Lac Lauvitel due to its immense beauty attracts a lot of interest by walkers at the height of the summer, we suggest visiting in spring or autumn to experience it at its quietest.
York Mallory Museum and trek (museum: http://www.allemont.com/musee-du-rivier-espace-york-mallory.html )
Drive to the museum at the village of Le Rivier d’Allemont which commemorates Air Chief Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory, younger brother of the legendry climber and mountaineer George Mallory who died on Everest in 1924. Trafford died with his wife and crew members in a plane crash on 14th November 1944. The historic accounts and the aviation archaeology are tastefully explained within the tiny museum.
We will then ascend on foot, further into the mountains, through a pine forest, to the alp where we see the tragic yet beautiful area where the plane came to rest.
The famous 21 bends
Trek from Villard Reculas to Alpe d’Heuz famous for its skiing and of course the 21 bends of “Le Tour de France.” You encounter panoramic views of Belledonne range, Les Grandes Rousses, the mighty bulk of the Cime de Cornillon (2475m) and across to Le Taillefer.
Col du Sabot:
A beautiful location reached by car which looks over the Lac de Grand Maison to the north and on a clear day the Mont Blanc Massif. See the marmots playing or witness the European bearded vultures circling overhead.
Vallée du Vénéon to La Bérarde
Excursion: Drive through the picturesque Vallée du Vénéon taking in a magnificent waterfall en route to Saint Christophe and the museum dedicated to alpinism “which is well worth a visit if you are interested in the history of alpinism in the Ecrins”.
Back on the road for another 11km to La Bérarde, the final stop quite literally as the road ends at the quintessential, alpine mountain village. There we can eat at a quiet café or restaurant to take in the peace and tranquility that is found in La Bérarde.
Trekking: From the village of La Bérarde there are many stunning walks for all levels and abilities from just a couple of hours along the valley floor to the refuge Le Carrelet to multi day treks staying in mountain refuges.
Experience a night in a mountain refuge:
For more demanding treks and multi day expeditions into the mountains we use mountain refuges to limit what we have to physically carry and to make less of an impact on the environment. (Please take time to read our company policy on the protection of “our” environment on the about page.)
We will walk to a guardian run mountain hut and return the next day.
Your trip will include:
Collection from your accommodation
Guided to the hut for our overnight stay and return
Your overnight accommodation*
Communal accommodation for the night: This is normally a sleeping platform within dormitories where we would all sleep. Sheets and blankets etc provided.
*The price of your food and accommodation will be paid directly to the guardian of the hut
Travelling light, a night under the stars!
If conditions are conducive there is no better way of spending a night(s) in the mountains than under the stars. Wild camping is an option in certain areas of the Ecrins National Park and outlying areas.
Travel as light as possible to a good location in the mountains where we would spend the night under the stars, sleeping on the ground with just a sleeping bag, sleeping mat and a bivi bag (a bivi bag is a waterproof bag in which you place your sleeping bag to keep off any unwanted moisture). It’s a great way to do something slightly different to normal.
Your trip will include:
Meeting you at your accommodation
Travel to the area
Guiding throughout the duration of the trip
Sample trekking itinerary:
Monday Alpette to La Villette, via Mont Frais
Tuesday Plateau des Lacs from the village of Oulles
Wednesday From Le Bourg d’Arud village to La Muzelle refuge staying overnight
Thursday Descend to Lac Lauvitel and the village of Danchère
Friday York
Mallory museum and trek
Sample excursion itinerary
Monday York Mallory museum and Lac de Grand Maison
Tuesday Vallée du Vénéon to La Bérarde
Wednesday Poutran to Alpette (plus 7€ lift pass operating in July and August)
Thursday 21 bends, La mines de Brandes and the Col de Sarenne
Friday Chateau Vizille and park
Saturday Bourg d’Oisans market plus……
