Via Ferrata: Climbing in the French Alps

Embark on a thrilling four-day adventure in the southern French Alps, tackling a selection of exhilarating via ferrata climbing routes!

'Via ferrata' (literally: an iron path) refers to a specific type of alpine climbing in which steel infrastructure such as ladders, rungs, railings, and cables are securely integrated into rock faces to help safely assist climbers. Climbers can grab onto, or clip onto, the metal elements as they traverse a path.

A via ferrata experience is not only a traditional adventure in this part of France but also a unique way to enjoy nature and the outdoors in the Alps, especially during the snowless seasons.

Feel the excitement of climbing sheer cliffs, crossing wire bridges, and zipping down giant tyroleans as you immerse yourself in the stunning alpine terrain. 

• Escape on a long weekend adventure amongst the Alps' best via ferratas
• Accomplish 7 spectacular via ferrata routes, and take 3 exhilarating zip lines
• Climb on both limestone and granite rock faces
• Soak in diverse landscapes: from deep gorges to towering cliffs
• Enjoy a Small-Group experience with a maximum of 8 people per guide
• Feel safe and secure, always in the presence of your qualified guide
• Discover Gap, the scenic capital of the southern French Alps
• Participate in ethical travel with a responsible company

Discover the thrill of via ferratas in the southern French Alps, home to France's highest concentration of these adventurous via ferrata routes! This exciting, 4-day short break includes scaling historic via ferratas like the first one built in France at Freissinières and the renowned Grande Fistoire, complete with giant tyrolean zip lines. 

You will be based in the charming town of Gap, the gateway to these diverse via ferrata experiences. Each day, your guide will pick you up, lead your alpine adventures and valley explorations, and then drop you off at your hotel. Lunches (not included in trip price) will be a mix of picnics and restaurant meals, with the day's best option chosen collectively based on the group's preference and the guide's advice.

The via ferratas vary in difficulty, allowing you to progressively build your skills and confidence. The routes offer flexibility to accommodate different skill levels within the group. 
Upon returning to Gap, expect lively evenings exploring local cafes and restaurants.  Gap enjoys a vibrant restaurant and bar scene, and our team is available to recommend and book the best local spots. Dinners are at your own cost.

The optimal period for a via ferrata trip in the French Alps is from May to October.

For a more tranquil experience, we advise visiting outside the French school holidays in July and August. Avoiding July and August will reward you with less crowded via ferrata routes and a more serene and enjoyable climbing experience.

We are Travelife Certified and we plant a tree with our partner, Mossy Earth, for all our travelers as part of their rewilding program in Europe.

We operate a paperless office and all our communication with you and all your trip details will be given to you digitally via a smartphone app.

If you are traveling from Europe, we offer a 3% discount if you travel here by train rather than plane. To claim this please ask at booking. It is not accumulable with other discounts and the train journey needs to be international, eg Eurostar to France and then onward on local French TGV or trains.

Environmental Initiatives

This via ferrata tour in the French Alps is environmentally sustainable due to several key practices.

• It is a low-carbon activity in itself.
• We encourage you to bring your own re-fillable water bottle and reusable lunch boxes so that we can minimize single-use plastic.
• We follow local guidelines to protect cliff-nesting birds during mating seasons and other fragile fauna and use local guides, who are passionate about the environment, ensuring a respectful approach to nature. 
• To reduce transportation impact, the tour groups everyone into a single, modern, well-maintained minibus. 

These measures collectively contribute to minimizing the environmental footprint while supporting local ecosystems and communities.

Economic Initiatives

This tour boosts economic sustainability by primarily using local guides, ensuring that the money spent by tourists goes directly back into the local economy. It also avoids economic leakage by being managed by a local destination company. The tour supports local communities further by utilizing locally owned accommodation and actively recommending local restaurants. This approach ensures that the benefits of tourism are directly felt by the community and help in sustaining the local economy.

Sociocultural Initiatives

The socio-cultural sustainability of this tour is underscored by its respect for and promotion of local cultures and traditions. By employing local guides and recommending local eateries, the tour facilitates meaningful interactions between visitors and residents, fostering mutual understanding and respect. 

This tour also contributes to socio-cultural sustainability by including visits to a range of via ferratas, including the first one in the Alps. This aspect educates tourists about the cultural importance of via ferratas and their origins in Italy, which is just over the border from France and where they were invented. This historical and cultural education enhances the tour's value, promoting an understanding and appreciation of the regional heritage and the significant role of via ferratas in Alpine culture.

Be sure you have traveler's insurance.

All our guides are fully qualified to European standards and use up-to-date and tested safety equipment for the via ferratas. We use an additional safety rope for all our group via ferrata trips, too.

The via ferratas themselves are maintained by the commune and we respect any maintenance closures or advice, meaning we may change the itinerary if there is a safety risk we need to consider. This also includes changing the itinerary if the weather is unfavorable. We reserve the right to change the itinerary and even cancel a day if we deem the conditions unsafe due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances beyond our control.

Please note that while we do everything we can to ensure your safety on this trip, this is an activity in the mountains where there are always risks, such as rock falls.