Ecrins Mountains

INDEPENDENT WALKING HOLIDAY

Les Ecrins: Panoramic Alpine Trail

5 nights (extra night possible) - From £880/€980, 5 days walking between guest houses

Starting at Besse en Oisans, your spectacular traverse will follow one of the best sections of the Tour of the Ecrins. You’ll discover stunning panoramic views of glacier-clad mountains such as the Meije and the Barre des Ecrins. Your trail takes you past high alpine lakes, through stunning valleys and along beautiful balcony paths.

Les Ecrins

Les Ecrins, also known as Oisans, is a range of mountains in the heart of the French Alps with the pre-alps to the west and the Queyras to the east. To the north are the Vanoise and Belledonne mountain ranges, whilst to the south are the Ubaye and Mercantour mountains the southernmost of the Maritime Alps. The Ecrins is the second most important mountain range in the French Alps after the Mont Blanc, in terms of mountain size.

Starting at Besse en Oisans, your spectacular independent walking holiday will follow a wonderful traverse along one of the best sections of the Tour of the Ecrins. The Ecrins have a number of amazing alpine summits which plunge dramatically into the Romanche Valley. You’ll discover stunning panoramic views of glacier-clad mountains such as the Meije and the Barre des Ecrins at over 4000m in altitude. Your trail takes you past high alpine lakes, through stunning valleys and along beautiful balcony paths.

The heart of the Ecrins massif lies to the south of your alpine walking holiday and has been designated a National Park since 1973, the largest in France. The Ecrins has some of the most spectacular scenery in the French Alps with high, jagged peaks. The Barre des Ecrins at 4,102m is one of the giants of the Alps and was first climbed by Edward Whymper, a year prior to his famous ascent of the Matterhorn. There are also a large number of mountain peaks about 3,900m in altitude which are covered in extensive glaciers, including the famous pointed summit of the Meije. The Meije plunges down to the Romanche Valley offering stunning views on your balcony trail. You’ll also have the chance to take a cable car to the foot of the Meije Glacier at 3,200m and for the more intrepid to take a short walk on the glacier itself with a high mountain guide.

Benefiting from a relatively clement climate compared to the northern Alps, the Ecrins offer the walker a unique walking experience. Your self guided alpine walking holiday is called a panoramic trail because it is often on the opposite side of the valley from the main summits allowing you to have wonderful views of the Ecrins Mountains. Your mountain walking trail passes stunning high altitude lakes, goes through pretty alpine meadows, stark rocky valleys and traditional alpine hamlets and villages. In addition, don’t forget your binoculars, as there are a host of protected species including ibex, chamois, and the golden eagle.