• Queyras: Best Kept Secret in the Alps

• 15 June - 15 September

• From £890 (single supplement £295)
• From €995 (single supplement €350)
• Above prices based on staying in two centres for 7 nights (St Veran & Ceillac)
• Also possible to run holiday with 3 centres and to tailor number of nights and difficulty
• Loyalty scheme reduction applies for returning customers (see terms and conditions)

• 7 nights, 6 days, two-centre-based holiday. Possible to tailor number of nights to your requirements. It is possible to use three centres, especially for longer holidays

• An unspoilt, rugged region with amazing scenery.
• Great panoramic views that take your breath away.
• A relatively quiet alpine area where high mountain passes and summits are easily accessible.
• Varied landscapes with rock deserts, alpine pastures, beautiful lakes, souring alpine peaks and pretty historic alpine villages.
• A rich alpine fauna and flora in the regional park
• Options to extend the walks to take in summits with wonderful views

• "Visiting the Queyras for the first time and being in such wonderful surroundings at the best time of year. Having maps for the area was great to be able to put walks into context." D. Anderson, UK see more Queyras testimonials

• Your accommodation is in two or three guest houses and quality hotels, 3 star quality or equivalent, where you'll receive a warm welcome. Accommodations have very comfortable ensuite rooms within traditional historic buildings. Meals will be taken in your guest houses and will be local specialities.

1. 7 nights' accommodation, full Board. (with the exception of lunches on day of arrival and departure), walking notes and maps, transfers between local train station and hotel in Queyras, transfer between centres

1. Travel to Queyras, lunches on day of arrival and departure, visits, travel insurance

1. See also our self-guided tour of Queyras
2. Other similar centre-based mountain walking holidays: Dolomites - Tyrolean Explorer Cantal Mountains Marvels of Mercantour

Walking Profile

The walks on this self-guided walking holiday are graded challenging but the difficulty can be varied on any given walk so that they can range from moderate to strenuous. Average walking days are about 6 hours long and include height gains of 700m - 1000m. In addition, many of the days include the possibility of ascending further to reach some easy alpine summits where you'll be rewarded by spectacular views. This flexibility allows a group of mixed abilities to make the most of the holiday. However, as most walks will take place above 2000m where the effects of altitude can be felt, and the climbs are sometimes steep, a moderate to good level of fitness is required. You should also be comforatable on mountainous paths.

The paths are mountainous and sometimes rocky in nature. They are occasionally exposed, but do not require any technical abilities.

Walking Day-by-Day

Walking

Day 1: Arrival

Welcome to your first accommodation. Evening meal in guest house.

Example walking options from Saint Véran

Pic du Caramantran and St Véran (6hrs, +720m)

Your day's objective is nothing less than a 3000m high mountain. Your walking trail starts relatively high up at the Chapel de Clausis above the torrent of the Aguille Blanche. The walking is pleasant and easy as you pass through a landscape of tumbling streams, meadows and rocky bluffs. The path climbs steadily to the Col de Chamoussiere from where there are great views of Mont Viso, rising to over 3800m across the border in Italy. The path then climbs to the summit where views extend to the Piedmont in Italy, the Mont Blanc in France, and the Mont Rosa in Switzerland. The descent route will take you past the Lac de la Blanche. You can take the time to visit the historic and well preserved village of St Véran, which is also the highest permanently inhabited village in Europe.

Tour of the Tete des Toillies (6hrs, +1010m)

From Chapel de Clausis head gradually uphill to the beautiful Lac Blanche underneath the summit of Tete des Toillies. Climb to Vallon du Blanche and the first of a series of small and secluded lakes. Here head south to Col Blachet at 2897m and descend into Italy traversing under the immense slopes of Tete des Toillies whose summit is at 3175m. Pass a couple of lakes to cross back into France at Col de Longet at 2660m. Almost straight away head back up to the main ridgeline for great views and Col de la Noire at 2955m. A great day of lakes and high mountain passes.

Pic Cascavelier (+750m) and Pointe des Marcelettes (+1000m) 5 - 8hrs

Descend from the village of St Veran to Aguille Blanche torrent and climb from Pre la Chalp via Cabanes de Lamaron to Crete de Curlet with great views over the Aigue Blanche Valley towards peaks over 3000m. Then climb the ridgeline to Pic Casavelierat at 2576m. +750m. From here it's possible to continue to the summit of Pointe des Marcelettes at 2900m with steep ascent at the end for great views. Possibility to continue along the Crete de la Blavette to make a wonderful but long circular trail.

La Blanche and old irrigation Canal (4-6hrs) +600m

Either bus to Chapel de Clausis or follow the Aigue Blanche Torrent to reach the refuge at Lake Blanche. Afterwards, depending on which of the other walks you undertake you can climb towards the secluded lakes in the Vallon de Blanchet before returning and following a former irrigation channel back to Saint Veran. Easy walking with time to admire the views.

Example walking options from Ceillac

Lacs Mirroir and Ste Anne (6-7hrs, +800 - +1000m)

Today's walk will start by visiting the amazing waterfall - Cascade de la Pisse. After, we'll climb gently through forests to reach the first of the two lakes - Lac Mirroir. The lake is in a beautiful setting with stunning limestone peaks rising beyond the lush green pastures and larch trees surrounding the still waters. From here the route climbs steadily to the Lake Ste Anne whose turquoise blue waters are surrounded by the rocky slopes of the highest mountain in the Queyras, the Fonte Sancte. From here, there is the option of continuing up to a col or mountain pass for exceptional views across the western Queyras. The descent is by a different route. Afterwards you can stop at the village of Ceillac with its unique architecture.

Crete des Chambrettes (6 hours, +980m)

From Ceillac walk past the isolated church of Ste Cecile before climbing steeply to Col de Bramousse. After going past a view point you'll climb to reach the ridgeline Crete des Chambrettes. Climb the remaining few metres along the ridge to the summit with its old observatory at 2582m. Great panoramic views across the western Queyras. Descend via the Col de Fromage through alpine pasture and then forest to return to Ceillac.

Pic d'Escreins (6-8hrs, +900m or +1300m)

From your accommodation, climb gradually through forest to reach a junction beneath a rock barrier at 2300m. From here it is possible to make the ascent of Pic d'Escreins at 2734m with views of the surrounding jagged limestone peaks. The descent goes via the view point at Mouriere overlooking Ceillac before descending back to the village.

Example walking options from Arvieux

Col Néal and the meadows of Clapeyto (5 hrs, +850m)

A fairly gentle climb out of the upper end of the Arvieux Valley through flower-filled alpine pastures to the Col Néal with its numerous glacial lakes. From here, we have great views of the adjacent Ecrins mountain range. Our circuit then descends through the pretty hamlet of Clapeyto with its traditional chalets and summer meadows

Traversing Furfande (6-7hrs, +1050m)

Your day starts by climbing to Col Furfande from where it's a short and easy ascent of the Pic du Gazon at 2744m offering spectacular views of the surrounding stark, rocky pinnacles and mountains. You'll then descend to the Refuge de Furfande where you can stop for refreshment before undertaking a spectacular traverse across the slopes high above the Guil Valley with views of the high mountains beyond. A pleasant woodland walk will bring us back to Arvieux.

Lac Souliers (5-7hrs, +750m - +1050m)

Climb through forest and pasture to reach the circular beautiful lake Souliers, surrounded by rocky mountainous peaks. Here, there is the choice of resting in the sun or climbing onto one of the surrounding peaks for spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. Pic Ouest is a steep 300m climb but has great views of Pic Rochebrune, the Casse Desserte and of the surrounding peaks. Descend via the pretty hamlet of Souliers and lake Roue.

Examples of walking options elsewhere in the Queyras with own car

Lac Grand Laus (7hrs, +1000m)

From the village of Abries, a pleasant climb to the La de Grand Laus which makes a perfect spot for lunch. Great views. It’s possible to climb up to a couple of higher lakes for wonderful views. It's also possible to climb to the ridge beyond and the Pic Malrif for wonderful views of the Ecrins mountain range. Descend via Aiguilles. Walk back along valley or short bus trip during July and August.

Day 8: Departure

Transfer to train station after breakfast