Tour du Vercors
A limestone massif in the Pre-Alps, perched between Drôme and Isère, the Vercors (France’s largest Regional Nature Park) is a veritable paradise for hikers. Deep valleys, large fir and spruce forests, beech and maple groves… everything takes you back to your roots.
A limestone massif in the Pre-Alps, perched between Drôme and Isère, the Vercors (France’s largest Regional Nature Park) is a veritable paradise for hikers. Deep valleys, large fir and spruce forests, beech and maple groves… everything takes you back to your roots.
The variety of landscapes will surprise the “classic” hiker: white limestone walls, deep and mysterious gorges, astonishing caves and resurgences, unsuspected passages (“pas”) in the cliffs. Further up are the Hauts Plateaux, a nature reserve of limestone chaos and sheep pastures.
At medium altitude, between 700m and 1400m, the weather is neither hot nor cold: you feel good, the air is crisp and the flora and fauna are abundant. The Vercors is also a mountain that remains alive, thanks to all its activities: in the past, it was agriculture, today it’s the farms that welcome children, and today tourism is discreet. No concrete resorts, but small villages that are happy to welcome you. The use of wood is still very important, and large farms with crenellated roofs still produce milk, cheese and meat.
Each season offers a new country, May, June and July: spring bursts forth with the freshness of streams, all the greenery is new, the beach leaves are wispy and the pleasant scent of hawthorn, but above all in its armfuls of flowers… August: the roundness of summer, warm sunshine, bees, yellow gentians and purple epilobiums, and…. raspberries, strawberries! The light is romantic and the colors intense. Autumn is king in our mountains: purple, gold and bronze, enhanced by the green of the spruce trees, it’s magical!
8-stage tour – luggage transport – Departure mid-June to early October
Program
Day 1
Lans en Vercors
You start your journey in the charming traditional village of Lans en Vercors. A first walk is possible depending on your arrival time.
Overnight in a beautiful *** hotel with swimming pool; half-board.
Day 2
Lans en Vercors – Autrans (5h30; +650 m)
The northern Vercors crests, via Pas de Bellecombe and Pas de l’Ours. On the Molière mountain pasture, a beautiful view of the Alps: 7 massifs including Mont Blanc. Beautiful descent to Autrans, through several hamlets. Overnight in a *** hotel with swimming pool; half-board.
Day 3
Autrans – Rencurel (5 hours; +400 m)
Pass through the Pas de Pertuzon and follow the GR path to the beautiful village of Rencurel. Overnight in a ** hotel with swimming pool; half-board.
Day 4
Rencurel – Pont en Royans (6h30; + 500 m)
Via the Pas du Ranc path and the Choranche caves. A beautiful day with exceptional sites: Choranche, its magnificent white corons, the Choranche waterfalls and also: the unique cave with thousands of stalactites. Continuation to Pont en Royans and its houses hanging over the Bourne. Alternatively, take the “Au fil de la bourne” trail along the splendid Gorges de la Bourne. Overnight in a *** hotel with swimming pool; half-board.
Day 5
Pont en Royans – La Chapelle en Vercors (5h00; +625 m)
Short transfer to Baraques en Vercors. Beautiful hike over the central Vercors via the Belvédère de Révoulat. Superb panoramic views over the whole massif, where you can perfectly distinguish the different parts of this limestone massif, cut by deep gorges. Stop at the village of La Chapelle en Vercors. Overnight in a ** hotel; half-board.
Day 6
La Chapelle en Vercors – Bois Barbu (5 hours; + 830 m)
Quick transfer to Saint Martin en Vercors, Bois Barbu, above Villard de Lans via the Pas de St Martin path and the Herbouilly valley, and the ancient village of Valchevrière. Overnight in a ** hotel, Ferme de Bois Barbu or Auberge des Montauds.
Day 7
Bois Barbu – Villard de Lans – Lans en Vercors (5 hours; + 350 m)
Quick transfer to “Conversaria”, above Villard de Lans. You’ll reach Lans en Vercors via the Sentier Gobert, the Col Vert (and the Pic St Michel, optional): a beautiful “ecological trail” where you’ll discover the typical flora of the northern Vercors, the trail is on a balcony and overlooks the entire Villard valley. The Col de l’Arc is a magnificent pass with easy access, offering a beautiful view of Belledone and Oisans. The Pic St Michel is the highest peak in the Vercors, offering breathtaking views of the Alps and northern Vercors. Overnight in a *** hotel with swimming pool; half-board.
Day 8
Lans en Vercors
End of the stay after breakfast.
Map
Practical information
Welcome: We can welcome you every day from 5:00 pm at the hotel in Lans en Vercors – You will receive your hiking guide.
Dismissal: End of stay after breakfast on Day 8 in Lans en Vercours
Supervision: hiking in freedom, without guide
Accommodation: 2 nights in a ** hotel, 3 nights in a *** hotel in Lans en Vercors, Autrans and Pont en Royan.
Luggage: During the day, all you need to carry is your small backpack with the valuables you’ll need for the hike. Your luggage will be transported by vehicle. 1 piece of luggage per person 15 kg max. If your bag exceeds the weight requested, there is an additional charge of €21/kg.
Carnet de route: We provide you with a digital travel pack that includes: access to our smartphone guide application, a list of your accommodations, any vouchers and all the information you need to make your stay a success. We can provide a paper version of the travel pack with maps, topo guide and travel pack, for a supplement of €30 per travel pack (1 per room maximum). For all requests for a paper travel file: the file will be available at the first hotel of your stay. We need this information at the time of booking.
Access: By car, Lyon-Grenoble freeway, Saint-Egrève shopping center exit, then Villard de Lans direction; stop at Lans en Vercors. by train: Train to Grenoble (TGV), then bus to Lans en Vercors by Cars Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. The bus station is right next to the train station.
Parking: If you come by car, you can leave your vehicle at the hotel in Lans en Vercors or near the hotel in the village (free).
Dates
Departures are possible from May 11 to October 08, 2024. High season: June 26 to September 03, 2024.
Prices
Below is the price list per person for 2024. Prices depend mainly on the number of nights required, the type of room and the season (high or low).
| Double, Twin or Triple Room | Single Room | |||
| 2-3 persons | 4 or more | 2-3 persons | 4 or more | |
| Low season | 830,00 € | 770,00 € | 1.005,00 € | 945,00 € |
| High season | 860,00 € | 790,00 € | 1.055,00 € | 985,00 € |
Possibility to ask for an extra night as an option
The price includes :
- Accommodation with half board at each stage
- Luggage transport
- Possible transfers
- A logbook (electronic version)
The price does not include :
- The drinks
- Picnics (optional €90.00 per person)
- Printed version of the travel folder
- Everything not mentioned in “Price includes”.
From
770,00 €
Highlights
In pictures
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Discovering the Mullerthal300,00 € -
Tour du Vercors770,00 € -
Tour du Mont Blanc960,00 € -
L’Echappée Jurassienne – Haut-Jura845,00 €
