Gourmet Alpine Walking Holiday In The Alps

Embark on your Gourmet Alpine walking adventure!

We'll pick you up from Gap train station at 17H00 and transport you to your initial accommodation for this journey, where a delightful evening meal awaits!

The provided itinerary serves as an illustration of the planned walks for the trip, but it's subject to adjustments based on local conditions. The guides will adapt accordingly, ensuring a selection of high-quality walks, breathtaking views, and encounters with wildlife!

Experience a remarkable and captivating trek commencing in the secluded village of Prapic, the final inhabited village of the Champsaur valley before it becomes secluded by the mountains. Often isolated from the main valley in winter due to avalanches and severe winter conditions, Prapic is home to only four families year-round. The village's charm is evident upon arrival, with its closely clustered Alpine houses providing shelter from the wind. Preserving ancient Alpine architecture, it showcases the traditional way of life where animals resided on the ground floor, people on the first floor, benefiting from the rising heat of the animals, and the loft served as hay storage for insulation.

The journey from the hamlet leads to a picturesque plateau overlooking a rapidly flowing mountain stream, culminating at the dramatic Saut du Laire waterfall. Translating to 'The Jump of the thief,' your guide will share the story behind this peculiar name for the waterfall.

This valley is renowned for its numerous marmots, whistling their greetings as you traverse the valley. Keep an eye out for chamois grazing and lounging around the cliffs.

Starting altitude: 1568 meters

Maximum altitude: 2059 meters

Ascent: 496 meters

Distance: 10km

In July and August, you'll have the option to partake in a shorter walk and dine in a fabulous rustic auberge celebrated for its local lamb dishes. It's an authentic taste of the Alps with recipes passed down through generations of local inhabitants. Post-lunch, there's an opportunity for a leisurely stroll to aid digestion before returning to the farmhouse. For other months, today's agenda includes a mountain picnic!

Ascend to the col just before the ultimate climb to the summit of Vieux Chaillol, the highest mountain in the Champsaur Valley, on this outstanding trek.

Commencing in the charming ski village of Chaillol, your journey winds through enchanting mixed deciduous and larch forests, eventually traversing an open mountainside to reach the initial mountain pass, Col de La Pisse.

From there, pass beneath the Pic du Tourond and follow the remnants of the Canal du Macros, constructed by Napoleon's men in the late 1800s. This canal diverted water from the former Macros glacier (now a lake) to irrigate the Champsaur valley. The Col de Côte Longue, where the cabin for the workers still stands, provides a perfect spot for a picnic with breathtaking panoramic views. The return follows the same route.

Starting altitude: 1702 meters

Maximum altitude: 2698 meters

Ascent: 996 meters

Distance: 16km

Take a day to unwind and relax in your accommodation, embark on a self-guided stroll, or explore other activities in the area. Whether it's rock climbing, testing your heights on a via ferrata, refreshing canyoning, or soaring over the valley through paragliding, the choice is yours. Most activities are half-day, leaving you ample time to enjoy the facilities at your accommodation. Additional activities can be arranged in advance or on-site, and note that they may incur extra costs.

Today marks your departure from the luxury farmhouse. Pack your belongings, including your day-sacks, for the day.

The Pic de Gleize mountain offers a magnificent limestone ridge with panoramic views of Champsaur, Valgaudemar, Devoluy, and Gap valleys – a perfect vantage point for the transition from Champsaur to Valgaudemar. The journey begins with a gentle climb through woods to a grassy pasture adorned with a variety of wildflowers and butterflies, especially in the spring and early summer. The path leads to a mountain pass, providing an option to either descend the way you came or proceed to the summit, depending on time and group preferences. The descent follows an interesting rocky ridge, requiring a head for heights, back to the starting point. This invigorating walk is perfect to work up an appetite for a special lunch – be it a picnic on the summit or a culinary experience at the fromagerie restaurant.

Starting altitude: 1694 meters

Maximum altitude: 2161 meters

Ascent: 437 meters

Distance: 6km

If the group chooses the restaurant option, head to a local fromagerie for lunch, featuring a menu predominantly centered around cheese. It's an excellent introduction to the variety of Alpine cheeses and the diverse ways they can be enjoyed.

After lunch, enjoy the possibility of a leisurely digestive stroll before moving on to your next accommodation, the Val des Sources hotel, offering a distinct perspective on mountain cuisine.

Embark on a picturesque journey from the Valgaudemar valley to a high-altitude lake with views of the glacier and classic alpine scenery. There's an option to continue to the "Refuge du Pigeonnier."

Starting at the Gioberney refuge, take in the sight of the renowned Bride's Veil waterfall. Ascend through a dramatic valley, surrounded by towering mountains and glaciers, zigzagging up the mountainside amid rocky outcrops adorned with blueberry bushes, raspberries, and other mountain flora. Encounter dramatic waterfalls and streams until reaching a hanging valley where the Lac du Lauzon is situated.

From here, the journey can extend to the Pigeonnier refuge (open from June to September) for a drink and a snack, providing insight into high-mountain refuge food known for efficiency rather than finesse. The route back can be the same way or via the Gioberney side, creating a circuit.

Starting altitude: 1642 meters

Maximum altitude: 2423 meters

Ascent: 795 meters

Distance: 11km

Embark on a wonderful trek starting in La Chapelle, the last inhabited village at the end of the Valgaudemar valley, heading up to the hamlet of Les Portes. Discover a magnificent hanging valley with alpine meadows teeming with flowers and butterflies.

Continuing up this valley, encounter stunning cascades and waterfalls, along with a wealth of historical mysteries, including the abandoned village of Navette – a thriving farming community in the early 1900s. Overcome by floods in 1914, the flu pandemic of 1918, and the loss of men in the First World War, the community eventually disbanded in 1937. Remnants of the village and the renovated chapel stand as reminders of this not-so-distant past.

The descent is equally dramatic, passing by the Devil's Cauldron, a rushing canyon of waterfalls, illustrating the power of nature.

Starting altitude: 1101 meters

Maximum altitude: 1675 meters

Ascent: 626 meters

Distance: 12 km

Sadly, it's time to bid farewell, but we hope you carry home wonderful memories of your Alpine walking adventure, along with new recipes for your collection!

We've organized convenient pick-up and drop-off transfers from the town of Gap, excellently connected through various train and bus links from major airports and TGV fast train services.

**By Train/Bus:**

For eco-conscious travelers, we extend a *3% DISCOUNT to those opting for train travel over flights. To avail of this discount, simply present proof of train travel for routes exceeding 3 hours that could have been replaced by air travel. Details on claiming the discount are available upon booking.

Gap hosts a local SNCF train station, with direct links from Grenoble TGV station and an overnight sleeper train from Paris to Gap.

Additionally, a regular coach service operates directly from Aix-en-Provence TGV to Gap.

Plan your train journey efficiently using the Oui SNCF website (https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/), accessible from all major European cities.

**By Plane:**

The nearest airports are Marseille (MRS) and Grenoble (GNB). From Marseille airport, a regular coach service runs directly to Gap every two and a half hours. If arriving at Grenoble, take the airport shuttle to the train station and then a train from Grenoble to Gap.

When making your inquiry, feel free to seek advice on transport options, as we've honed our expertise in facilitating seamless journeys to this picturesque region!

*The train discount cannot be combined with other discounts.*