Alps
/ Hautes-Alpes
Discovery hike in Chaudun & the Wolves: the legacy of a vanished village
Réf : FIEDDB
In summary
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Sports
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Duration2 days
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LevelIntermediate
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DestinationAlps / Hautes-Alpes
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AgeFrom 12 - 90 years
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CO₂-Emissions12.65 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages🇫🇷French
In a few words
Immerse yourself in a captivating experience in the southwest of the Hautes-Alpes , where wild nature has reclaimed the vestiges of the past. Nestled between the Écrins and Dévoluy mountain ranges, the Chaudun Valley tells the unique story of a vanished village, now a sanctuary of biodiversity. This preserved territory, once shaped by humankind, is now home to remarkable wildlife: deer , chamois, eagles, and vultures share these vast spaces of freedom.
This two-day trek is an invitation to unravel the mysteries of our mountains' most iconic predator: the wolf . Through observing signs of its presence and analyzing its habitat, you will learn to decipher the behavior of Canis lupus . Blending historical narratives with a scientific approach, this trip allows you to separate the myths from the realities surrounding its return to France over the past three decades. An authentic experience to understand the fragile balance between human history and wildlife , in the heart of a landscape where every stone bears witness to a fascinating resilience.
The highlights
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A 100% nature-focused stay, far from the beaten track and crowded mountains.
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A friendly and authentic stay, supervised by qualified professionals
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Accommodation in an extraordinary and uniquely exotic natural environment
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Photos
Sport
Level
Hiking / Trekking
For those wishing to hike for 4 to 5 hours a day, covering an elevation gain of around 600m on trails. You hike occasionally and are in good physical condition.
The expert's opinion
Day 1:
- Duration: 6 hours 30 minutes
- Elevation gain/loss: +580m / -980m
- Max altitude: 2079m - Min altitude: 1299m
- Distance: 14km
Day 2:
- Duration: 6 hours
- Elevation gain/loss: +680m / -280m
- Max altitude: 1697m - Min altitude: 1265m
- Distance: 13km
In figures
Hiking
- Average duration/day: 6h30
- Average distance/day: 14 km
- Average daily elevation gain: 630 m
- Average daily descent: 630 m
Management
During this stay, a supervisor will be present to guide and assist you.
Band :
1 supervisor for 7 to 12 people
Languages spoken:
🇫🇷
French
Patrick
Patrick
A mountain expert! After much research and observation of the wildlife, Patrick has designed this trip to offer you an immersion in the history of the village of Chaudun and the place that wildlife now occupies.
Supervision by a state-certified mountain guide and a logistics expert who will handle the logistics for the two days.
Program
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Col de Gleize → Chaudun
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 6h30
- Distance 14 km
- Positive elevation gain 580 m
- Negative elevation 980 m
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
Departure from the Col de Gleize parking lot at 8:30 am. From the Col de Gleize, we will head towards the Laye ski resort, to reach the Coste Belle and Coste Folle ridges at the foot of the Pic de l'Aiguille. This will be an opportunity to admire the Champsaur valley with its remarkable alpine hedgerows and the legendary summit of Vieux Chaillol, as well as the Obiou and Pic de Bure, the major peaks of the Dévoluy massif. We will then descend to Chanebière, in the vast Chaudun cirque, where cattle graze until October.
We will join the stream of the little Buëch, near Chaudun, a ruined village sold to the Water and Forestry services in 1895. An opportunity to immerse ourselves in the history and memory of the place.
Day 1 -
Chaudun → Col de Gleize
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 6h
- Distance 13 km
- Positive elevation gain 680 m
- Negative elevation 280 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
Before we set off, we will try to identify wolf tracks and trails. Then, conditions permitting, we will search for a steep path, requiring careful footing in some sections, which will lead us to a ruined summer hamlet (Porel). Our steps will then take us back towards Chaudun, along the edge of the Bois du Chapitre - Petit Buëch, a protected biological reserve listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 2021.
We will then head back up towards the sources of the Petit Buëch, the marmot's domain. Below the Pic de Gleize, we will rejoin the Ronde trail to reach the Chabanottes pass.
From there, we will take a forest track which will lead us back to the Col de Gleize car park with an expected arrival around 5pm.
Day 2
Accommodation
🏠 Holiday rental - Day 1
Accommodation is provided in the Chaudun forest house, located in
the old village, now gone, nestled in the heart of the state forest of
Gap.
You will be the only guests in this historic building, which offers a
a genuine feeling of "being at home".
Restored from 1995 onwards, this forester's house is detached and
self-sufficient in electrical energy thanks to a pico-power plant and solar panels
photovoltaics.
It has neither Wi-Fi nor reliable phone coverage (no 4G).
Please note: it will not be possible to recharge your mobile phones!
The tranquility of the place guarantees a true disconnection and immersion
total in nature.
Ability
Access
Departure
Parking du col de Gleize, Sentier vers pic de Gleize, Gap, France
Day 1
: 08h30
End of stay
Parking du col de Gleize, Sentier vers pic de Gleize, Gap, France
Day 2
- 17h00
Take the road to the Col de Gleize located
- Coming from Gap: on the left before the Bayard golf course
- Coming from Grenoble: on the right after the Bayard golf course
Go to the starting point
Take the train toGap
If you wish to come by train, please inform the Sources du Buëch Tourist Office at 04 92 57 27 43 to organize a shuttle or carpooling with the other participants.
Travel to the place of stay
with parking
available
Be careful to park close together to allow passage for emergency services if needed and for the ONF (National Forestry Office).
Would you like to travel on other dates?
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Price details
The price includes
- The trip will be supervised by a state-certified mountain guide.
- The presence of a qualified logistics expert to handle the logistics for the two days
- Full board from dinner on Day 1 to picnic lunch on Day 2
- Drinks and snacks
- The tourist tax
The price does not include
- Day 1 picnic
- Round-trip transportation from your home to the meeting point
- Personal expenses
- Anything not listed under "Price includes"
Options
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Equipment
Decathlon Travel Partner
The Lucie team
• 11 stays
A key player in local tourism since 1996, our local partner designs and markets stays in the heart of a privileged area of the Hautes-Alpes, at the crossroads of Provence and the high mountains. Covering 19 municipalities, this destination is distinguished by its national forest landscapes and iconic peaks, such as the Pic de Bure, offering an ideal playground for hiking and trail running. The excellence of this establishment and the wild beauty of its region have been recognized repeatedly at both national and international levels. Winner of the first prize in the 2022 "Challenge of Unexpected Territories," the destination was also recognized in 2025 as one of the ten most beautiful travel destinations accessible without flying. Between high-altitude panoramas and hidden valleys, the team guarantees an authentic immersion in a natural setting that is as surprising as it is rejuvenating.
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