Gite Melezes, Villar d’Arene
This is a large historic stone property in the village of Villar d’Arene. Meals are taken in a large vaulted room downstairs. A warm welcome and a mountain atmosphere.
Highlights
Superb panoramic views of the dramatic and glacier-clad Ecrins mountains
A wonderful traverse which goes around the northern edge of the Ecrins
High altitude lakes and alpine meadows
Chance to take a cable car up to 3,200m at the base of the Meije Glacier, plus chance to walk on the glacier with high alpine guide (not included in holiday price)
Traditional alpine hamlets
Let 's discover the full itinerary!
Day 1: Arrival
Pick up at La Grave and taxi transfer to your accommodation in Besse en Oisans
Day 2: Besse-en-Oisans - Refuge du Pic du Mas de la Grave
Crossing the Emparis plateau (2365m): This first day is exceptional. The crossing of the plateau is one of the most beautiful balconies of the Oisans, offering breathtaking views of the Meije. With its small lakes, your photos will look like real postcards! An old off-the-beaten track trail, missing from the maps, will allow you to reach the refuge. Easy version: We can arrange this stage with for example a night on the Emparis plateau. The next day you can reach La Grave or Villar d'Arène without climbing to the Signal de La Grave.
Overnight: Le Chazelet, Walk: +1085, -750m, 6 hours 30
Day 3: Refuge du Pic du mas de la Grave - Crête de Côte Rouge (2 256m) - La Grave - Villar d'Arène (1650 m)
You have the choice of 2 options:
Option 1 - An hour panoramic trail to reach the pretty village of La Grave where you can explore its narrow alleyways. Here you'll take the cable car to 3,200m at the foot of the Meije Glacier for amazing views of the northern Alps. If you wish (and have booked in La Grave) you can have a short tour onto the glacier itself with an Alpine guide. On the descent, stop at the Peyrou d’Amont station for a walk to the Refuge Chancel with wonderful panoramic views. Afterwards descend by cable car and follow the Tour of Dauphiné mountain walking trail and in 2hrs you’ll discover the pretty alpine village of Villar d’Arene.
Option 2 - Ascend the beautiful ridge Cote Rouge offering unique views of the Meige and the villages clinging to the valleys. You can extend the walk to take in the summit of Signal de la Grave at 2446m for wonderful views. Your descent to La Grave allows you to discover old terraces used for farming, now abandoned, and the pretty hamlet of Ventelon. After exploring the steep alleyways of La Grave, climb the Romanche gorge to reach Villar d’Arene.
Overnight: Villar d'Arene, Walk: Option 1 +250m, -450m, 5hr; Option 2 +850m, - 950m, 5hr 30
Day 4: Alfroide - Lac Goleon - Villar d'Arene
After a taxi transfer to the hamlet of Valfroide (1850m), you’ll climb to the Goléon Cirque via the typical alpine hamlets of Pramailler and Plot. Afterward, your mountain walking trail climbs more steeply to a plateau where the panorama of the Aiguilles d’Arves and the Meige is superb. Return to Villar d’Arene via Valfroide and the alpine meadows of Envers.
Overnight: Villar d'Arene, Walk: +900m, -1050m; 6hr
Day 5: Villar d'Arene - Le Monetier
A taxi will transfer you to Pont d’Arsine (4km) where you’ll climb the Arsine Valley at the entrance to the Ecrins National Park to reach a pass at over 2300m with superb views of the Agneaux mountains. You can extend the walk to reach the lake and the foot of the glacier (2455m). A long, easy descent brings you to Le Monetier.
Overnight: Le Monetier, Walk: +820m, -1000m, 6hr
Day 6: Tour from Le Monetier
Discover one of the most beautiful panoramic trails in the French Alps with great views of the Ecrins mountains. A great morning’s walk which also takes in historic hamlets and chapels.
Walk: +/-400m, 3hr 30
Walking holiday finishes after walk. Option of an extra night at Le Monetier.
At a glance
11 June - 16 September
From €1150 per person (based on 2 sharing)
Self-Guided
5 nights / 5 days walking
Linear Trail
Time: 3hrs 30-6hrs 30 per day
Ascent: 250-900m per day
Family-run hotels & gites
Half Board
Other walking holidays in the French Alps
Tour of the Ubaye: Hidden Alps
Ecrins
Starting at Besse en Oisans, your spectacular traverse will follow one of the best sections of the Tour of the Ecrins. The Ecrins have several 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 hiking trail takes you past high alpine lakes, through stunning valleys and along beautiful balcony paths in the heart of the French Alps.
Benefiting from a relatively clement climate compared to the northern Alps, the Ecrins offer the walker a unique walking experience. The Oisans or Ecrins massif is situated at the heart of the French Alps between the Vanoise to the northeast and the Mercantour to the southeast. This position at the junction with a Mediterranean climate will be evident as you head east and then south during your 5-day walking trail moving from lush alpine meadows to striking barren mountains. 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.
Holiday Profile
5 nights, 5 days of self-guided walking moving between guest houses. 2 nights at Villar d'Arene
Dates
Everyday (subject to availability) from 15 June to 16 September
Walking Profile & Grade
5 days self-guided walking holiday which traverses the north of the Ecrins, staying in 4 different locations. Walking per day amounts to an average of 5 - 6hrs walking (not including lunch stop) and 800m of ascent and descent. Maximum altitude gain in one day is 900m. The walks take place on good paths, although they are mountainous and sometimes rocky in nature. You should have a reasonable level of fitness and be comfortable with walking on mountainous terrain. You should also be sure-footed on mountain paths and have a good head for heights.
This walking holiday is graded challenging. See more information about walking grades.
Accommodation & Meals
You’ll be staying in 4 different hotels. They are comfortable family-run hotels with a mix of styles. Private rooms for 2, some with bathrooms, some shared. You’ll be served wholesome local cuisine. All meals are included in your holiday price.
Where is the Ecrins?
When to Travel
Our self-guided walking trail in the Ecrins is available from mid-June to mid-September. This is a moderate to high altitude walking holiday with passes above 2500m and so, depending on the spring weather conditions, there is a risk that several snow fields remain on the higher slopes in June. The weather during most of the walking season is similar with sunny days interspersed with potential heat-of-the-day showers or storms. There is little difference in terms of average weather between late June and early September, with June being better for wildflowers. July and August are the warmest months with August recording a slightly drier climate, on average. The risk of storms is usually greater in the afternoons, so setting off early is advisable. The busiest period in terms of fellow walkers is from Mid July to mid August. Late June is best for the wonderful alpine flowers and meadows. Early September is sometimes a good period for settled weather but you run the risk of encountering some cold conditions at night in the Autumn.
Navigation, Walking Notes & Maps
This walking holiday follows a mixture of local waymarked trails with a variety of coloured markings and the long-distance GR54 trail, the Tour of the Ecrins. There are also several signposts along the trail. The walking follows clear paths most of the time, but small sections on the higher passes and summits can be stony and less clear and/or follow geographic features as much as anything such as a ridgeline. Our walking notes are detailed (more information here). They also include information about the sites which can be explored along the route. We supply one walking guide per person on this holiday. As well as the detailed walking notes we supply walking maps. You'll be provided with detailed walking maps.
Luggage Transfers
On this walking holiday your main luggage is transferred between accommodations by taxi so you only have to carry a day rucksack with a picnic lunch, water and spare clothes, waterproofs, camera etc. On this holiday a local taxi company is responsible for transporting your main luggage. The contact details for the taxis are included in your walking notes. Please limit the weight of your bags where possible to 15kg.
Travel Info
Meeting point at La Grave at the start of the holiday. Transfer between La Grave and your accommodation in Besse en Oisans is included in the holiday price.
End of holiday, take bus from Monetier to Grenoble or Briancon for onward train journey or to La Grave to collect car.
By Train
Eurostar and the TGV provide a relaxing journey from London to Lyon Part Dieu via Lille or Paris or direct on the early train. From Lyon you'll need to take local train services to Grenoble or Briancon. Grenoble is much more practical and takes far less time, but at certain periods the onward bus journeys are less practical. Buses from Grenoble or Briancon to La Grave with service LER35. For more information on the bus see https://www.info-ler.fr/ Trains to Briancon go via Grenoble or via Valence and Gap. Also possible to take the Paris Turin train and get off at Oulx in Italy. Shuttle bus service from Oulx to Briancon.
By Air and rail
Flights from the UK to Lyon St Exupery, then bus (Satobus) or tram to Lyon Part Dieu. Train then as detailed above.
Possibility to fly into other airports such as Marseille and then take the train from Marseille St Charles.
Please contact us for assistance in organising your travel arrangements
By Car
It is possible to drive and leave your car at La Grave. Once in France, the journey from Calais to the La Grave takes about 9 hours (excluding long breaks). Tolls amount to about 60 euros each way. Parking in one of the car parks close to
5 nights / 5 days walking
- From €1150
- Prices per person based on 2 sharing a room
- Single supplement: please contact us
What's included in the price
- 5 night’s half board accommodation in hotels with private rooms;
- Taxi transfers on days 1, 4 and 5;
- Detailed walking notes and walking maps,
- Transport of luggage between hotels.
What's not included in the price
- Travel to La Grave at start of walking holiday and from Le Monetier at end of holiday,
- Drinks with evening meals,
- Lunches,
- Cable car charges,
- Travel insurance.
- Visits and anything else not listed above.
Payment
- A deposit payment of 30% or at least £250 or 250€ per person must be made to confirm your booking. The balance of payments is due 8 weeks before the holiday date. If the holiday date is less that 8 weeks away at the time of booking, then the full price should be paid.
You’ll be staying in 4 different hotels or auberges. They are comfortable family-run hotels with a mix of styles. Private rooms for 2, most with bathroom. You’ll be served wholesome local cuisine. All meals are included in your holiday price.
Gite de Sarret, Bresse-en-Oisans
This gite in the heart of the village of Besse is built in the local architectural style and is run with a family atmosphere. It has a bar and restaurant. Simple mountain style accommodation.
Extra Nights
This walking holiday in the Ecrins has a loop walk on the last day so you can add an extra night afterwards in Le Monetier before your onward journey.
Combining walking holidays
Access to the start of the holiday is via Grenoble where you can also quickly access our two walking holidays in the Vercors. We have a short-break walking tour and a longer traverse in the Vercors. Vercors - Tour of Mont Aiguille, Panoramic Vercors
From Le Monetier at the end of your hike it is also possible to catch a bus to Briançon from where it is a short train journey to the start of our walking holidays in the Queyras
We can also include a city break in Grenoble. Grenoble is a beautiful city surrounded by towering mountains with a picturesque historic heart dating back to the Romans as well as loads of museums and events. Not to be missed is the Bastille overlooking the city which you can visit via cable car or for the more adventurous by via ferrata!
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