Snowshoeing stealthily in the Écrins

This morning, we head towards the bottom of the Vallouise valley. At the Claux tunnel, the road gives way to snow: you put on your snowshoes and set off with your mountain guide towards Ailefroide, a mythical hamlet of mountaineering, accessible in winter only on foot.

The trail gently climbs alongside the Ailefroide stream, between larch trees and chalets slumbering under the snow. Gradually, the landscape opens up to reveal towering granite walls and the majestic Mont Pelvoux. The valley is a wintering ground for chamois: your guide will teach you to read their tracks in the snow and to scan the sunlit slopes for them. With a bit of luck, a golden eagle will soar over the ridges.

Above L'Argentière-la-Bessée, the small road to Fournel disappears under the snow at the hamlet of Eychaillon. This is where your adventure begins: snowshoes on your feet, you enter with your mountain guide into a long glacial valley, entirely given over to silence and nature.

The trail follows the Fournel stream between fir and larch trees, at the foot of steep peaks with beautifully folded rocks. Your guide will teach you to decipher tracks in the snow and to scan the slopes: chamois, roe deer, and mountain birds spend their winters here in complete tranquility. As you walk, he will also tell you the story of the old silver mines that made the valley famous.

A day out of time, in the heart of wild nature, to experience the mountains at your own pace.

Stroll through the narrow streets of Vallouise in the morning, admiring the stone houses, the Saint-Étienne church, and enjoying a hot chocolate with a view of the mountain peaks. Then head into the forest for a peaceful walk beneath the snow-covered larches: fox, hare, or deer tracks—each footprint becomes a treasure hunt. In the afternoon, hit the slopes at Pelvoux-Vallouise, a charming resort with a perfect snow front for children. A simple and joyful day, full of memories to share.

With snowshoes on your feet, follow your mountain guide on the balcony trails of the sunny slope, between larch forests and perched hamlets.

At your feet, the Durance joins the Guil; facing you, the fortified town of Mont-Dauphin, designed by Vauban and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stands out against the peaks of the Queyras and the Écrins.

A luminous and contemplative walk, punctuated by your guide's anecdotes about mountain life and wildlife in winter.

Head to the heights of Puy-Saint-Vincent for a day dedicated to the great outdoors. With snowshoes on your feet, you follow your mountain guide through a beautiful larch forest, then the climb opens onto the vast snow-covered plateaus of the Col de la Pousterle and the Têtes, perched around 2,000 m altitude.

Step by step, you reach the summit of Château Lebrun. Up there, the reward is well worth the effort: a breathtaking panorama of the Vallouise valley, the Fournel valley, and the snow-capped peaks of the Écrins massif. On the return, you'll discover its northern slope, a world apart, wild and silent, where the snow remains powdery and where wildlife tracks are visible along the path.

An accessible and emotionally rich climb, to experience the magic of a real summit in winter.