Discover the flowers of the Clarée on a guided hike
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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AgeFrom the age of 18
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CO₂-Emissions63.9 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages
French
In a few words
Embark on a floral adventure in the sublime Clarée Valley ! Be captivated by the beauty of the landscape, the wildlife, and especially the flora . Throughout your stay, a mountain guide will teach you to recognize and identify the vegetation during hikes focused on observation and knowledge sharing . One morning will be dedicated to gathering edible flowers and plants, which you will then cook and enjoy with the rest of your group. In addition to hiking and botany enthusiasts, this trip will appeal to photography lovers, as you'll have ample time to capture beautiful floral images . Let's go for six days learning the language of flowers!
The highlights
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A small group of 4 to 8 people to allow for good interaction
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The expertise of a mountain guide with a passion for botany
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A stay timed to coincide with the period when the flowers are at their most abundant.
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 300 to 600 meters uphill and/or downhill.
- Backpack: you carry your belongings for the day and a picnic.
In figures
Hiking
- Average duration/day: 4h
Management
French
You will be accompanied by a state-certified Mountain Guide, who knows the valley perfectly and is passionate about botany.
He will take you to his secret spots to discover some very rare flowers.
Program
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Hotel check-in and reception
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
Arrival at the 2* hotel in the afternoon.
Settle into your rooms.
Information meeting with your guide at 7pm for the presentation of the week's program.
Dinner at the accommodation.
Day 1 -
Right bank of the Clarée
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
You begin your stay gently with an easy stroll through the undergrowth along the Clarée River. It will be full of discoveries: martagon lilies, pasque flowers, geraniums, saxifrages, Solomon's seal, and other lesser-known members of the lily family, as well as countless vetchlings and puffballs. A perfect day to stretch your legs and be amazed!
Day 2 -
Muandes Valley
- Transportation Minibus - 00h25 - 20km
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Transfer to Laval, at the end of the high valley road (25 minutes) for a walk between wetlands and alpine meadows.
Your hike begins with an ascent towards the Muandes lakes (Long Lake and Round Lake), followed by a descent along the Brune Torrent and the Clarée River. Depending on the season, you may admire St. Bruno's lily, cornflowers, arnica, rhododendrons, and magnificent Swiss pines.
Day 3 -
Morning fruit picking, Little Balcony in the afternoon
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
This morning's activity takes place around the hotel: a foraging trip in homage to local celebrity Émilie Carles, author of the famous wild herb soup. Together, you prepare lunch in the kitchen for immediate enjoyment.
In the afternoon, the exploration continues. You set off on a short loop along the Névache balcony. You will discover a beautiful path and the flora of the sunny, rocky slopes: valerian, spiderwort, buphthalmus...
Day 4 -
The Narrow Valley and the Green Lake
- Transportation Minibus - 00h30 - 25km
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Today, we'll visit the neighboring valley, the Vallée Étroite, the Clarée's little sister (30 minutes by minibus). You'll discover the incredible "Lago Verde" and stroll through flowery meadows before the cows arrive.
Day 5 -
Morning: Lady's Slipper orchid and afternoon: High Valley
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
Today, you'll search for the Lady's Slipper orchid in its preferred woodlands. This flower, found in several areas of the valley, blooms throughout June. Afterwards, enjoy a picnic in the upper valley and a beautiful bucolic loop along the Clarée River, between the hamlets of Rif Tord, Laval, and Jadis.
The stay ends around 4pm/5pm depending on everyone's return times.
Day 6
Note
VERY IMPORTANT: The organizers reserve the right to modify the program for any reason (weather conditions, snow conditions, progress of the season and relevance of hikes in relation to flowering, technical level of participants) in order to ensure a better experience of your stay.
Accommodation
You'll be staying in the hamlet of Roubion, at the entrance to Névache , in comfortable mountain-style accommodation . Enjoy the bar, lounge area, and two terraces for sunny breakfasts, as well as the wellness area: hammam, sauna, and Størvatt (Nordic bath). You can also book massages with essential oils or treatments in osteopathy and kinesiology.
Access
Day 6, after the hike, in Névache. We ask that you vacate your rooms in the morning before setting off on your hike. You can leave your luggage at the hotel and take a shower upon your return. You can also choose to stay an extra night at the hotel at the end of your trip.
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 website www.sncf-connect.com
Either Paris / Grenoble + bus Grenoble / Briançon
Either arriving directly from Paris/Briançon, by night train or daytime trains
From Marseille or Valence, there are direct TER trains to Briançon.
To travel from Briançon to Névache:
Either by regular shuttle (in season)
Either by taxi or private transport depending on the schedule and the number of people.
When making your reservation, please remember to let us know your arrival time.
Don't hesitate to call us, we'll help you with your application!
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 lunch on Day 6
- Accommodation in a 2-star hotel in a shared triple room
- 5 days of supervision by a guide
- On-site transfers as part of the activities
The price does not include
- Round-trip transportation to Névache
- Access to the wellness area during your stay: €8 supplement per session
- Drinks
- 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 provided on site
- Walking sticks
Equipment to bring
- 1 pair of hiking boots with good ankle support and waterproofing, with Vibram-type soles
- 1 pair of lightweight sneakers for the evening
- 1 pair of excellent quality sunglasses
- 1 sunscreen and protective lip balm
- 1 backpack of 30 to 40 L
- 1 airtight plastic container for picnic salad (minimum capacity 0.3 L) + cup + cutlery
- 2 telescopic poles (available for loan)
- Your flower identification guide
- 1 large plastic bag to protect the inside of the backpack
- Earplugs or earplugs
Clothing to bring
- 1 long-sleeved base layer in breathable material
- Short-sleeved T-shirts made of breathable material are preferable.
- Hiking socks: opt for wool or socks specifically designed for hiking. Be careful with cotton as it can cause blisters.
- 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 loose-fitting trekking pants/shorts
- 1 pair of comfortable trousers/shorts for the evening
- 1 swimsuit and a small towel
