Gourmet Walking Holiday in the French Alps

Embark on a fascinating and stunning hike beginning in Prapic, a secluded village nestled in the Champsaur Valley, and the final inhabited location before the enclosing mountains. Prapic, often isolated in winter due to avalanches and severe weather, is home to only four families year-round. The village's charm is immediately evident with its closely knit Alpine homes, built to provide shelter from the wind. This place beautifully preserves ancient Alpine architecture, illustrating a traditional lifestyle where animals were housed on the ground floor, families lived above to benefit from the animals' warmth, and the loft was used for hay storage, doubling as insulation.

Your trek starts from this quaint hamlet, leading you to a scenic plateau that overlooks a swiftly flowing mountain stream and culminates at the breathtaking Saut du Laire waterfall. "Saut du Laire," translating to "The Jump of the Thief," has an intriguing story behind its name, which your guide will share during the hike.

This valley is renowned for its abundant marmots, whose whistles you'll hear as you ascend, and keep an eye out for chamois leisurely grazing or resting near the cliffs.

The hike begins at an altitude of 1568 meters, reaches a peak of 2059 meters, involves an ascent of 496 meters, and covers a distance of 10km.

During July and August, there's an option for a shorter hike followed by a meal at a renowned rustic auberge, celebrated for its traditional local lamb dishes. This dining experience offers a genuine taste of the Alps, featuring recipes passed down through generations of the region's inhabitants. After enjoying your meal, you'll have the opportunity for a leisurely walk to aid digestion before returning to the farmhouse.

In other months, you'll bring a mountain picnic instead!

Accommodation: Luxury Farmhouse Guesthouse

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

The Vieux Chaillol, standing as the highest peak in the Champsaur Valley, offers a magnificent hiking route up to the col, just before its summit.

Your journey begins in the charming ski village of Chaillol, from where you'll ascend through enchanting forests of mixed deciduous trees and larches. The path then opens onto the mountainside, leading up to the first mountain pass, Col de La Pisse.

Continuing on, you'll pass beneath the Pic du Tourond and follow the historic remnants of the Canal du Macros. This canal, a remarkable feat of engineering built in the late 1800s by Napoleon's forces, was designed to divert water from the then-existing Macros glacier (now a lake) to irrigate the Champsaur Valley. The impressive story of this construction is evident at the Col de Côte Longue, where you'll find the still-standing cabin used by the workers. This spot also serves as an ideal picnic location with its breathtaking panoramic views. The descent follows the same route back.

The hike starts at an altitude of 1702 meters, reaches a maximum of 2698 meters, involves an ascent of 996 meters, and spans a distance of 16km.

Accommodation: Luxury Farmhouse Guesthouse

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Enjoy a leisurely day at your own pace.

You can choose to unwind in your accommodation, embark on a self-guided walk, or explore some of the other exciting activities the area offers. Options include rock climbing, experiencing the thrill of a 'via ferrata' (a type of alpine climbing using fixed steel structures and cables), refreshing canyoning adventures, or soaring over the valley with paragliding, among others.

These activities are typically half-day experiences, allowing you ample time to relax and enjoy your accommodation's amenities afterward. We are happy to arrange any of these additional activities for you, either before your arrival or during your stay. Please be aware that these extra activities will incur additional costs.

Accommodation: Luxury Farmhouse Guesthouse

Today marks your departure from the luxury farmhouse, so remember to pack all your belongings, including your suitcases and day sacks, for today's adventure.

Your destination is the striking Pic de Gleize mountain, a limestone ridge offering sweeping panoramic views across the Champsaur, Valgaudemar, Devoluy, and Gap Valleys. This summit acts as a splendid vantage point for transitioning from the Champsaur to your next stop, the Valgaudemar Valley. The hike begins with a gentle ascent through woods, leading to grassy pastures abundant in wildflowers and butterflies, particularly vibrant in spring and early summer. The trail ascends to a mountain pass, where you can choose to return the same way or continue to the summit, depending on time and the group's preference. The route to the summit is steep and exposed in places, and the descent follows a rocky ridge, requiring a good head for heights.

The walk promises to build your appetite for a special lunch, be it a picnic at the summit or a unique dining experience at a fromagerie restaurant (for additional cost).

If opting for the restaurant, you'll visit a local fromagerie for lunch, where almost every dish features cheese! It's an excellent introduction to the diverse cheeses of the Alps and their various culinary uses.

Post-lunch, enjoy a relaxing stroll before continuing to your next accommodation, the Val des Sources Hotel, where you'll experience a different aspect of mountain cuisine.

Accommodation: Val des Sources Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Embark on a scenic hike from the Valgaudemar Valley to a high-altitude lake, offering stunning views of the glacier and quintessential Alpine landscapes. You have an option here to extend your trek to the "Refuge du Pigeonnier."

Your journey begins at the Gioberney Refuge, where you can admire the renowned Bride's Veil waterfall. The path leads you through a striking valley encased by towering mountains and glaciers. As you zigzag up the mountainside, you'll pass through rocky outcrops adorned with blueberry bushes, raspberries, and a variety of mountain flora. This route is also interspersed with breathtaking waterfalls and streams. Eventually, you'll arrive at a suspended valley where the serene Lac du Lauzon is nestled.

From this point, you have the option to ascend further to the Pigeonnier Refuge (open from June to September), where you can enjoy a refreshing drink and a snack (the berry tarts are a must-try!). This refuge offers a glimpse into the pragmatic yet charming world of high mountain refuge cuisine, known more for its practicality than its elegance. After this culinary pause, you can descend back down the valley, either retracing your steps or taking a circular route via the Gioberney side.

Accommodation: Val des Sources Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Embark on a captivating hike beginning in La Chapelle, the final inhabited village at the tail end of the Valgaudemar valley, leading up to the hamlet of Les Portes. Here, you'll be greeted by a breathtaking hanging valley adorned with meadows brimming with Alpine flowers and butterflies.

As you venture further into the valley, prepare to be awed by spectacular cascades and waterfalls. This hike also offers a journey through history, uncovering the abandoned village of Navette. Once a bustling farming community in the early 1900s, life here was challenging at high altitudes. After suffering from devastating floods in 1914, the 1918 flu pandemic, and the loss of men during World War I, the remaining families, on 14 January 1929, petitioned the state to purchase their land as part of a large-scale national reforestation project. This marked the end of the community, with the last inhabitant leaving in 1937. Today, the remnants of the village and its restored chapel stand as poignant reminders of this past. Notably, the children who survived this deserted village were still living in La Chapelle until quite recently.

The descent offers its own dramatic scenery as you pass by the Devil's Cauldron, a tumultuous canyon filled with waterfalls, showcasing nature's formidable strength.

Accommodation: Val des Sources Hotel

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

We will take you back to Gap train station at 10 AM so please make sure you book your transport to coincide with this time.

Meals: Breakfast

This is a Small-Group itinerary (min. 6 guests, max. 16 guests) with a few fixed departure dates throughout the year.

Contact us if you want to customize this itinerary, privatize this trip and choose your own departure date, or have any questions about this trip.

We can also help you plan your journey to and from Gap, if needed.