Vercors Mountains

Auvergne France: (ZZ-FR-Hike32)
URL: https://www.hiddentrails.com/tour/outdoor_hike_vercors_mountains.aspx

Introduction
Auvergne France
A mountain idyll walking holiday in France’s biggest National Park: The Vercors. 

The Vercors mountain range is wedged in between the Alps and Provence. This large limestone plateau has been carved out by rivers, offering amazingly diversified wild scenery with deep gorges, white limestone, vertical cliffs & wide lush valleys.

Soak up authentic mountain village ambiance and savour local cheese & wine. This wonderful walking holiday in the pre-alps is ideal for average walkers who wish to explore and enjoy a secret corner of France.

HIGHLIGHTS
▪ Soak up real mountain village ambiance
▪ Pristine pre-alpine landscape with fantastic panorama views
▪ Sample delicious specialities from the Vercors: trout, ravioles & cheese

Accomodation

Accommodations
This is a progressive trip, so you will be staying in different establishments along the way. 

Description
We favour small local establishments, often family-run hotels or B&Bs, that employ local people. Selected by our track finders, our accommodations are chosen based on the friendliness of the owners, the quality of the service, the charm of the establishment and, quite often, the quirkyness (of both accommodation and owners!) that makes where you sleep an integral part of your adventure. 

Accommodation Itinerary - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1-2: Hotel in Lans en Vercors
Night 3-4: Hotel in Villard de Lans
Night 5-6: Hotel in Chapelle en Vercors

Hotel in Lans en Vercors
This family hotel offers 22 rooms. The rooms have recently been renovated and all feature private facilities, a TV and free Wi-Fi.
Guests can relax in the garden or go for a swim in the pool.

Hotel in Villard de Lans
This charming 3-star hotel has eighteen rooms, all equipped with an ensuite bathroom, free Wi-Fi, a safe, a TV and a phone.
The hotel also has a small outdoor pool.

Hotel in Chapelle en Vercors
This small hotel provides 11 comfortable rooms. Each room includes a TV, a phone, free Wi-Fi access and a private bathroom with hairdryer.
In the evening, you can relax in the natural outdoor pool.


Meals
All breakfasts are included in your package.

Breakfasts will be provided by the accommodations.

Lunches and dinners need to be paid extra locally.

Riding

Itinerary

Sample Itinerary - subject to changes

Day 1: Arrival
Make your own way to Grenoble. From there, we transfer you according to your arrival time to the small mountain town of Lans en Vercors where you’ll spend the first two nights. 
Meals included: none
Overnight in Lans en Vercors


Day 2: Bruyant Gorges
Head north along the valley of Lans en Vercors and follow the Bruyant river up to a vast plateau from where you’ll have stunning views over the Furon gorges. You won’t find a better picnic place. You might see some wild orchids. The site is protected and shelters a very particular fauna and flora.
In the afternoon, relax by the pool at your hotel.
Hiking about 12 km (4 hours) / +390m/-390m
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Lans en Vercors


Day 3: From Lans to Villard de Lans
A superb balcony trail with a section of the Gobert path, offering a magnificent view of the surrounding area. The small town of Villard de Lans is nestled at the bottom of a wide valley, dominated in the east, by the jagged peaks of Roc Cornafion, Gerbier and the Grande Moucherolle.
Hiking about 13 km (4.5 hours) / +600m/-600m
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Villard de Lans


Day 4: Col Vert
A well marked trail leads you above the village, through hamlets, open fields and forest. You quickly find yourself high above Villard de Lans on a path remaining level along the slope, through pine forests and prairies, with wide-sweeping views of the village and valleys below. A last effort leads you up to the Col Vert pass, complete with its bench fixed onto the rockface, where you've earned a well-deserved break facing an awe-inspiring panorama -- the entire chain of the Alps -- serrated teeth soaring into the sky and dotted with glaciers.
Though the Vercors mountains are not the highest, they are far removed from the other chains, ensuring breathtaking views from all angles. Now you're ready for the descent, through prairies and passing mountain huts, dreaming of the fondue dinner you can share in the heart of the village.
Hiking about 15 km (5 hours) / +900m/-900m OR 13 km (4 hours) / +600m/-600m
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Villard de Lans


Day 5: Herbouilly
Warning: this route is not recommended for people prone to vertigo
Wide and easy farming tracks lead you through dense forest -- among labyrinth of paths, rocks, spruce, fir, beech, and mosses. There are many temping spots for a picnic along the way. You reach the Herbouilly clearing, set in the heart of the forest, in its centre a set of ruins that served as a refuge for the resistance movement during WWII. You then leave the plateau and descend towards St. Martin, including some light scrambling along the way.
You’ll be transferred from Saint Martin to the next village where you’ll spend the next two nights.
Hiking about 16 km (5 hours) / +550m/-850m
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Chapelle en Vercors


Day 6: Belvedere de Revoulat
Today’s hike leads you through the woods to a viewpoint on the edge of the vertiginous cliffs of the Grands Goulets. You might spot chamois before returning via the hamlet of Les Revoux back to the village for your final night.
Hiking about 17 km (5.5 hours) / +700m/-700m
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Chapelle en Vercors


Day 7: End of trip
After breakfast transfer to Villard de Lans, bye bye the Vercors mountains!
Onward travel: we can book a taxi for you (upon request - to be paid extra) directly to Grenoble.


Rates and Dates for Vercors Mountains

Rates include:

Accommodations, All breakfasts, Local transfers described in the itinerary, Emergency phone number & Road Book

Packages and Options




* prices are per person based on double/twin occupancy

Transfer and Other Charges:



 Description
2023 Transfer from Grenoble to Lans en Vercors included on Day 1
2023 Transfer from Chapelle en Vercors to Villard de Lans included on last day

Season Seasons  Min / MaxReserve
C 2023 05/01 - 05/05 7d / 6n 7 day Self guided walking to... 2 /6 Reserve
B 2023 05/06 - 05/25 7d / 6n 7 day Self guided walking to... 2 /6 Reserve
C 2023 05/26 - 06/30 7d / 6n 7 day Self guided walking to... 2 /6 Reserve
A 2023 07/01 - 08/31 7d / 6n 7 day Self guided walking to... 2 /6 Reserve
C 2023 09/01 - 10/20 7d / 6n 7 day Self guided walking to... 2 /6 Reserve

Dates Note:

Rates do not include:

All lunches and dinners, Drinks, Transfers not mentionned in the itinerary & Entrance fees

Other Info
Meeting: Lans en Vercors
Airport: Grenoble
Transfer: Grenoble

Climate:
                                            Lans en Vercors area

Month

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Average High Temperature (°F)

36

39

50

59

64

72

75

73

66

57

44

36

Average Low Temperature (°F)

21

22

28

35

41

48

51

49

44

36

27

21

Average High Temperature (°C)

2

4

10

15

18

22

24

23

19

14

7

2

Average Low Temperature (°C)

-6

-6

-2

2

5

9

10

9

7

2

-3

-6

Source: NOAA

Seasons
Like in all mountain regions, weather can change quickly. Precipitations tend to come from the North, while wind blowing from the South usually brings warmer weather.
Rainfalls tend to occur mainly during Spring and Fall. The average annual rainfall in the park is about 1250 mm.

What To Bring: