Your Holiday at a Glance

Guided walking holiday	Jura Discovery
Dates for 2010	15 - 22 May
Price	£665
Grade	grade explained
Profile	8 days: 6 days Two centre-based, guided walking at moderate to low altitude. Average: length 5-6 hrs    View general information about our guided walking holidays
Highlights	Varied walking that explores the rich contrasts between the dramatic gorges and valleys of the wine making region and the rugged upland ridges that overlook Geneva. Some of the prettiest villages in France in hidden valleys or perched on rocky spurs. Medieval towns, renaissance chateaux and historic abbeys Stunning waterfalls and great wildlife Vast panoramic views of the Mont Blanc
Accommodation and Meals	Charming 2 or 3 star equivalent guest houses.  They are exquisite traditional properties offering authentic and very comfortable accommodation in B&B style guest houses or small hotels where the welcome is warm and generous, and the food local and delicious.
What's included	Airport and station transfers from Lyon, transport to and from the start of each walk, 7 nights' accommodation. Full Board. (with the exception of lunches on day of arrival and one evening meal), 6 guided walks.
What's not included	Travel to Lyon, France, lunches on the day of arrival and departure, one evening meal, transfers other than those from Lyon, any excursions or entrance fees, travel insurance
	See full list of guided walking and trekking holidays See similar French guided holidays in Beaujolais and Tarn regions of France Return to home page

Jura discovery

This guided walking holiday explores the Jura region in eastern France. Lying to the north east of the Alps, the Jura forms an impressive arc of undulating limestone hills that reach their maximum height of 1720m in the east overlooking Geneva. The western Jura is lined with a series of dramatic valleys and gorges which harbour medieval towns, stunning waterfalls and a patchwork of vines. The moderate walks on this holiday explore these “reculée” from above and below, including the Hérisson valley which contains a breathtaking collection of 31 waterfalls in a 3km stretch.

Later in the week our guided walking holiday will explore the Haut Jura, home of glaciated lakes, flower-filled meadows and upland ridges. Forest covers much of the lower ridges where Lynx and stag are protected in the regional park. Also found in this richly diverse landscape are chamois, kestrels, hawks and wild flowers such as the giant orchid. Traditional alpine villages that seem to date from another time dot the landscape.

Discover more about the Jura and have a look at photos from our 2009 Jura walking holiday

Walking Profile This guided walking holiday is graded moderate with daily circuits that average between 10 and 15km. There are a number of short ascents between the valleys and the plateaux. The paths are good, although they can be stony or muddy in places. There is a partial rest day in the middle of the week and some days can be made easier or harder as necessary. Day 1: Arrival Welcome and pick up in Lyon and drive to Jura. Day 2: Chateau Chalon This walk allows us to visit the wine growing area of two classic vintages, as well as two typical Jura villages, Menetru-le-Vignoble and the charming Chateau-Chalon which perches perilously on top of a limestone escarpment. With its 12th century church and picturesque alleyways, this village is one of the prettiest in France.  350m climb Day 3: Baume-les-Messieurs The walk explores the reculée (closed gorge) of Baume from above and below, with its dramatic cliffs, caves and picturesque waterfalls where water and limestone are in permanent interaction. Located at the valley bottom is the historic village of Baume-les-Messieurs with its abbey dating from the 9th century. 300m Day 4: Salins les Bains Our walk today explores the lush green countryside around the historic town of Salins les Bains. Historic forts perched on high outcrops overlook the town which once housed one of the most important salt mines in Europe.  After visiting the historic town our walk explores the forests and cliffs that line the valleys where we’ll enjoy a number of exceptional view points.  15km 350m climb Day 5: Herrison waterfalls A partial rest day where we’ll explore the amazing Herisson waterfalls. Fed by a number of lakes, the river drops 250m in a series of 31 falls, each cascade being different in character with the highest reaching 65m. Depending on the amount of water we can walk behind one of the most stunning falls (Grand Saut). After we can take a short walk along the ridges to get views of this Lakeland region before  relaxing in one of the numerous cafés and bars in the nearby villages. Day 6: Crete de la Neige Depending on conditions underfoot we’ll choose a circuit to ascend one of the highest summits in the Jura. A short walk takes us up onto a picturesque ridge with fantastic views of the Alps, including the Mont Blanc. Day 7: The combes and ridges near La Pesse Today's walking explores the bowl shaped valleys and truncated ridges that are characteristic of the limestone landscape of this part of the Jura. The vegetation is lush green and the views from the ridges breathtaking. There is the option of ascending the Cret Chalam for amazing views (300m) Day 8: Departure Return to Lyon and transfer to UK Contact us about this guided walking holiday

Once you have booked on this guided walking tour in France, further information about the walking, the Jura region and what to bring, will be sent to you. We do have a web page dedicated to what clothes and equipment you should bring. In addition, our travel shop has direct access to all the top walking and travel retailers. Please contact us if you need any further information.

Further information about this French walking holiday in the Jura will be sent to you prior to your holiday. We will endeavour to keep to these walks as far as possible on our guided walking holiday; however they are subject to change. In addition, we like to maintain a certain degree of flexibility to take account of the group’s abilities and interests, and the local conditions. The final selection of walks will be made by your guide during the week after consultation with the group.

Accommodation & Meals

On our guided walking holiday in the Jura, you will be staying in two guest houses during the course of your holiday centrally located for each of the two regions. They are traditional Jura properties offering authentic and very comfortable accommodation where the welcome is warm and generous. The exact guest houses used will depend on availability. Below is a representative selection of the ones we use.

A hearty and healthy continental breakfast provides the perfect opportunity to discover the local specialities such as home-made jams and local cheeses. At midday we will eat packed lunches prepared by our hosts and they will be eaten during the course of the walk. All but one of the evening meals will be taken at your guest houses. They are 4 course affairs and allow you to try mouthwatering local dishes, as well as some home-made recipies.

Name	Type	Details	Rating
Grange Combaret	B&B	A traditional building on an organic farm recently rebuilt to provide very comfortable spacious rooms. Great local cuisine using local produce including many from the farm.	3 Corns
Le Bellevue	B&B	Large historic house in the centre of Giron decorated with taste and care. It has a number of communal rooms to relax in, as well as a terrace and garden with lovely views	3 Corns

Travel Options

Transfers between Lyon Airport or train station and the Cantal region of Auvergne in France are included in the price of your guided walking holiday.

Flight Options

The airlines Easy jet, BMI and British Airways have scheduled flights from the UK (Manchester, Stanstead and Heathrow airports) to Lyon St Exupery airport. You can use the price comparison site Wegolo to compare the routes and prices for different low-cost airlines.

Please visit our travel shop for links to useful sites for reserving airport parking or booking train tickets to get to the UK airport.

Note: Please check concerning the availability of a walking holiday in France before booking any flights. If you need further information or would like to discuss any aspect of your travel arrangements, please contact us, we’re here to help you. We would be happy to book travel arrangents to Lyon, France on your behalf.

 

By Train

Eurostar and the TGV provide a relaxing journey from London to Lyon Part Dieu changing at Lille. Please use Rail Europe's train finder to organise your train journey.

There is a practical train time leaving London at 9am and arriving in Lyon at 3pm. Please contact us before booking to check for other practical times.

Self Drive

Channel ferry crossings from Dover are provided by a number of operators including:

P&O Ferries 

Norfolk Line

 

Once in France, the journey from Calais to the Lyon area takes about 7 hours (excluding long breaks).

Tolls amount to about 35 euros each way. Controlled parking is available at the airport for 50 euros. Other secure but non-surveilled parking is available free of charge.