Photo hike in the Clarée valley amidst the vibrant colors of autumn
In summary
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Sports
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Duration6 days
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LevelIntermediate
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DestinationNévache / Écrins Massif
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AgeUp to a 90imum of years
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CO₂-Emissions63.25 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages
French
In a few words
"In the colors of Indian summer" in the Southern Alps! You've certainly heard about the wonders of Quebec at this time of year, but did you know that the Clarée Valley in the Hautes-Alpes offers an equally dazzling spectacle? Join us for this hiking and photography trip and capture these wonders.
October brings a succession of colors: the yellow of birch and aspen trees, the red of blueberry bushes, the purple of wild roses, the orange of rowan trees, and of course, the golden fire of the larch forest. All this against a backdrop of (most often) azure skies. And sometimes, the mountain peaks are dusted with snow. A feast for the eyes and a magnificent subject for photographers (no need for high-end equipment, smartphones are perfectly acceptable; it's the eye that counts!).
The highlights
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A small group of 8 maximum
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A photography specialist guide
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Contemplative non-photographers are welcome!
Photos
Sport
Level
Hiking / Trekking
The expert's opinion
Hiker level 2 on a scale of 5:
3 to 4 hours of actual walking per day.
Mountain route with elevation changes of 400 to 600 meters uphill and/or downhill.
Backpack: you carry your belongings for the day, a picnic, and your photographic equipment.
In figures
Hiking
- Average duration/day: 4h
Management
French
Antoine knows the valley like the back of his hand and will be able to take you to the most photogenic spots.
A state-certified mountain guide, with perfect knowledge of the valley, and of course having personal - or even professional - experience in mountain photography.
Program
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Hotel check-in
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
Information meeting at 7pm with your guide, presentation of the week.
Day 1 -
Upper Clarée Valley, and Long Lake
- Transportation Minibus - 15h - 10km
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Transfer by minibus to the upper valley, to the last hamlet of Laval, from where we ascend the right bank along the Clarée River. The last chalets in the valley, the russet meadows, the willows with their delicate leaves, the rushing Clarée… Then we climb towards the Lac Long des Muandes, which offers a beautiful panorama of the Cerces massif.
Day 2 -
Narrow Valley and Green Lake.
- Transportation Minibus - 15h - 10km
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Transfer to a narrow valley to discover the other valley of the commune, on the Italian side, and its history. Marvel at the incredible color of Lac Vert (Green Lake), whose clarity allows you to see the trout that inhabit it, seemingly floating in the air. Stroll among the larches and barns with Mount Thabor in the background.
Day 3 -
Buffère Valley
- Transportation Minibus - 10h - 5km
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 3h
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We start from the Lacou rise and follow the river upstream to the Souchère bridge. Then we climb to the Chalets de Buffère, a hamlet beautifully restored by the wardens of the refuge located there. Afterwards, we wander through the alpine pastures of the valley.
Day 4 -
Chardonnet Valley
- Transportation Minibus - 10h - 15km
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Starting from Fontcouverte, we climb through the chalets of Laraux to reach the area around the Chardonnet refuge: centuries-old larches, a small lake reflecting the high neighboring peaks, a glacial valley… a beautiful spectacle awaits us!
We will descend via the Queyrellin chalets and its small chapel.
Day 5 -
Along the Clarée river, then Lake Laramon.
- Transportation Minibus - 15h - 10km
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
We follow the river between La Souchère and La Fruitière. A lovely, bucolic morning walk that takes us to the Fontcouverte waterfall, a great subject for slow-speed photography! We then reach the shores of Lake Laramon to discover the panorama of the Écrins mountains.
Return to accommodation after the hike and end of stay around 4/5 pm depending on everyone's return times.
Day 6
Note
The end of the stay is scheduled for the last day around 4pm/5pm, depending on everyone's return time.
Accommodation
The accommodation is a 2-star hotel located in the hamlet of Roubion, at the entrance to Névache. The hotel is conveniently located near the starting points for various activities. The Clarée River, which runs alongside the hotel, invites you to enjoy peaceful and contemplative relaxation. When the season is in full swing, the shuttle bus to the upper valley is just a 3-minute walk away!
Access
To reach us in our beautiful, unspoiled, and therefore somewhat remote valley, several options are available. We've briefly outlined them below, but ideally, we would like you to call us so we can guide you through this important planning process for a successful holiday:
Go to the starting point
From Paris, you have several options:
- Either arriving on the Italian side via the TGV PARIS-OULX
- From this station you will need to take a direct bus to Briançon. Purchase of required tickets 48 hours in advance of your trip on the SNCF website.
Either Paris / Grenoble + bus Grenoble / Briançon
Either arriving directly from Paris to Briançon, by night train or daytime trains:
- From Marseille or Valence, there are direct TER trains to Briançon.
You can drive to the hotel, where there is a large parking lot. We'll keep this description brief, given that in this modern age, GPS is standard equipment in our cars and on our phones.
From the south, you go up the Durance valley to reach Briançon.
From the north and west, you can, like cyclists, take the Lautaret Pass and its spectacular views, or choose the comfort (and the price) of crossing into Italy via the Fréjus Tunnel, a road version of the ambitious railway project of the mid-18th century. Consider carpooling!
Price details
The price includes
- Full board from dinner on Day 1 to picnic lunch on Day 6
- 5 days of supervision
- Organization fees
- Local transfers
The price does not include
- Cancellation, assistance, repatriation and trip interruption insurance (optional)
- Access to the wellness area during your stay: €8 supplement per session
- Round-trip transportation to Névache
- Drinks and personal expenses
Options
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Specifics
Before your departure, check with the embassy or consulate regarding the entry and stay requirements for your destination country. You can also find this information on the France Diplomatie website ( https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/ ).
In the case of flights with stopovers operated by different airlines, also check the entry requirements of the countries you are transiting through.
It is your responsibility to ensure you are in compliance, particularly regarding the validity of your identity documents (for example, some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return) , visa requirements, necessary vaccinations, and health recommendations. And don't forget to consider any customs restrictions and other potential requirements of your destination or transit country.
ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.
Equipment
Equipment to bring
In your backpack and on your person:
- 1 backpack of 30 to 40 litres.
- 1 airtight plastic container for picnic salad (minimum capacity 0.3 liters) + cup + cutlery .
- 2 telescopic poles.
- 1 large plastic bag to protect the inside of the backpack.
- 1 long-sleeved undershirt made of breathable material.
- 1 fleece fur jacket.
- 1 windproof, waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex type jacket with hood.
- 1 rain cape
- 1 hat or cap for sun protection
- 1 small, lightweight hat with small fleece gloves to protect against the cold or wind
- 1 pair of loose-fitting trekking trousers.
- One pair of hiking boots that provide good ankle support and are waterproof, with Vibram soles. Remember to test new boots and those that haven't been worn for a long time beforehand.
- Required: 1 pair of excellent quality sunglasses.
- Required: 1 sunscreen and protective lip balm.
- One swimsuit (optional) and a small towel if you plan to swim in a lake or stream
- 1 thermos or a preferably insulated water bottle (1.5 liters minimum).
- 1 Opinel-type pocket knife.
- 1 small pouch (preferably waterproof) to put your money, ID card…
- 1 small roll of toilet paper, tissues.
- 1 headlamp or flashlight.
- 1 survival blanket.
- Your camera!!!
- Binoculars (optional).
Personal pharmacy:
- Your usual medications.
- Pain medication: paracetamol preferably.
- Lozenges for sore throats.
- Required: an elastic adhesive strip, such as Elastoplast, 8cm wide.
- Sets of adhesive bandages + disinfectant compresses.
- Double-skinned blister plasters (like Compeed or SOS blisters).
- Tweezers.
Clothing to bring
Clothing: for the upper body, the 3-layer principle allows you to manage almost all situations:
A long-sleeved undershirt made of breathable material.
A warm fleece fur jacket.
A windproof, waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex type jacket.
When walking in calm, sunny weather, a base layer may be sufficient. In rain, snow, or wind, simply add a waterproof jacket.
In very cold weather or during breaks, a fleece jacket is an essential addition. These three layers should always be in your backpack because the weather in the mountains changes very quickly.
Choose clothes that dry quickly, so avoid cotton. Opt for wool, silk, and synthetic fibers that will keep you dry and warm for as long as possible.
