Hiking and Music in the heart of the Buëch Dévoluy forests
In summary
-
Sports
-
Duration4 days
-
LevelBeginner
-
DestinationHautes-Alpes / Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
-
AgeFrom 14 - 90 years
-
CO₂-Emissions46.43 kg CO2
-
Type of stayIn a group
-
Languages
English
French
In a few words
In the heart of the Dévoluy foothills , between the Hautes-Alpes and Provence , this unique stay combines hiking and music in a pristine natural environment. For four days , you will explore diverse landscapes blending lavender fields , larch forests , and high-altitude terrain, rich in exceptional biodiversity: more than 1,200 plant species , abundant wildlife, and numerous nesting birds .
Each day is structured around accessible walks and musical workshops in the great outdoors , encouraging listening, sharing, and collective progress. The music sessions take place in locations steeped in history, including forest houses and ONF (National Forestry Office) lodges , remnants of former villages that have now disappeared.
This trip is for musicians and hikers , whether amateur or experienced, who are able to transport their instruments. It offers an immersive experience combining musical practice , camaraderie , and the discovery of an authentic region . A human and artistic adventure, ideal for deepening your understanding of ensemble music while exploring an inspiring natural setting.
The highlights
-
Immersion in nature through a soundscape
-
Accommodation in forest cottages in the heart of the Sauvas state forest
-
Let yourself be surprised by the landscapes of the Sources du Buëch at the gateway to Dévoluy!
Photos
Sport
Level
Hiking / Trekking
The expert's opinion
Stage of 7 hours on the second day with a positive elevation gain of 840m and a negative elevation gain of 650m.
In figures
Hiking
- Average duration/day: 5h
- Average distance/day: 11 km
- Average daily elevation gain: 548 m
- Average daily descent: 517 m
Management
English
French
A state-certified mountain guide and resident of the Champsaur valley, Audrey Morello knows the Dévoluy region and the history of its abandoned villages well. She will guide you on the hiking trails and will be delighted to share her knowledge of nature with you through the lens of sound.
Passionate about history, geology and wildlife, she is also a recorder player. She obtained her DEM in 2025 at the CRD of Gap, in the class of Meillane Wilmotte and has been part of the BAM ensemble since 2022, whose aim is to bring early music to unexpected places and in original forms.
Blandine holds a Master's degree in Music and Musicology from the Sorbonne University (Paris IV) and a State Diploma in Music Education. She currently teaches music theory at the Grenoble Conservatory and at the Grenoble Alpes University of Musicology (UGA). She also conducts the Grenoble Wind Band's Junior Orchestra and is a member of the BAM Ensemble, where she plays cello. During this musical tour, Blandine will lead ensemble music sessions in the afternoons, as well as outdoor music workshops.
Program
-
Veynes > Agnielles
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 11 km
- Positive elevation gain 620 m
- Negative elevation 390 m
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
From the center of Veynes, a small, former mule track climbs the slopes of La Grésière through a Provençal landscape. The path is lined with broom, thyme, and Montpellier aphyllanthes. At the Col de Bertaud pass, you descend into the Durbon forest, where we will hold our first outdoor music workshop, before reaching the hamlet of Agnielle via an easy descent.
The afternoon will be devoted to music.
Day 1 -
Agnielles > Rabioux
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 7h
- Distance 15 km
- Positive elevation gain 950 m
- Negative elevation 745 m
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
In the morning, we will climb through the forest to the Lauteret pass, an ancient access route to the Dévoluy. Even today, herds frequent the area, and griffon vultures make it a favored passage.
Descending from the pass along a path winding through the alpine pastures, the view is splendid over the largest scree slopes in Europe! We will take advantage of this to do one or two music workshops in the great outdoors.
As this day is longer than the others, the ensemble music workshop at the gîte will be contingent on the arrival time there.
Day 2 -
Rabioux > the Sauvas
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 9 km
- Positive elevation gain 500 m
- Negative elevation 360 m
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
After taking the time to visit the historic chapel in the hamlet of La Montagne, a forest track will lead us to the Col de Gaspardon. Our music workshop will also take place there, after which a walk through a larch forest will take us to the Sauvas forest house where the afternoon music session will be held.
Day 3 -
Sauvas > Veynes-Dévoluy SNCF train station
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 3h
- Distance 7 km
- Positive elevation gain 120 m
- Negative elevation 570 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
After a peaceful morning of music at the Sauvas forest lodge, we'll join the GR (long-distance hiking trail) of the Tour du Dévoluy to return to Montmaur through the forest. A shuttle will then take us back to Veynes for the public presentation marking the end of the workshop.
Day 4
Note
It is important to consider that the mountain guide may modify the itineraries depending on weather and/or terrain conditions and/or the group's skill level. The routes will remain largely the same, but there are alternative routes/variations that allow you to shorten or lengthen the days.
A public presentation will be held on Sunday, May 17th in Veynes.
Accommodation
This former forester's lodge, accommodating 15 people, is located in the heart of a now-abandoned village, in a valley between the Buëch and Dévoluy mountains. The location is ideal for outdoor recreation.
Restored in the mountain tradition, this 17th-century building will allow you to explore a vast protected territory.
Rabioux forest house nestled at 1,240m altitude. Last vestige of a hamlet where about ten families lived until the middle of the 19th century.
The Sauvas Forest House. The former hamlet of Sauvas (1,343m altitude) belonged to the Durbon Charterhouse until the French Revolution. Today, a bread oven, two buildings used as group accommodations, stables, and the forest house offer an unforgettable welcome in the heart of the magnificent natural cirque of Bure.
Matacharre forest lodge.
Access
Public presentation in Veynes in the gardens of Nelson Mandela Park or at the Saint Sauveur church.
Go to the starting point
From Veynes station to Montmaur :
- 🚕 Taxi: approximately 10 minutes (expect to pay around €15-25 depending on availability)
- 🚌 Local bus: possible but infrequent (check timetables)
- 🚶♂️ On foot: approximately 1 hour (5 km)
Price details
The price includes
- The stay will be supervised by a state-certified mountain guide.
- Accommodation in a forest lodge (shared room/dormitory)
- Full board from dinner on Day 1 to picnic lunch on Day 4
- The presence of a musical ensemble director to lead the musical sessions
- Participation in the one-hour program to be presented on the last day
- The presence of a logistics expert entirely dedicated to the group (for transporting luggage, opening and closing the cottages and preparing meals)
- The tourist tax
The price does not include
- Transportation to the meeting point
- Day 1 picnic
- Instrument insurance
- Personal expenses
- Equipment rental (tuners, strings, music stands, instruments, etc.)
- Anything not listed under "Price includes"
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
- Chairs provided
- No hiking equipment or music will be provided
Equipment to bring
- ESSENTIAL to facilitate luggage transport during the stay, managed by the logistics team: Please bring one backpack or soft-sided travel bag per person, with a maximum weight of 10 kg. Also bring a 1-liter airtight plastic container for packed lunches, a knife, spoon, and fork, a 1.5 to 2-liter water bottle, and a cup.
- A 30/45 litre hiking backpack for day hikes.
- A pair of low, flexible shoes that allow the ankle freedom of movement and have a good sole (such as Vibram). Avoid wearing shoes that have never been worn.
- Walking sticks.
- Sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm.
- A garbage bag (will be used to waterproof your backpack or to keep your spare clothes dry).
- Your camera ☺.
For evenings:
Mini first aid kit with double-skin dressing, compress, disinfectant, bandages and paracetamol + your treatments if necessary.
A flashlight (preferably a headlamp) with spare batteries.
For the music
- Your folding desk
- Desk lamp
- Your printed sheet music
- Maintenance essentials and "just in case" items (maintenance tools, ropes, harnesses, etc...)
- Rigid instrument transport case
Clothing to bring
For the walking days:
- A waterproof and breathable jacket (Gore Tex® type), poncho.
- Comfortable trousers for walking,
- Shorts and a tracksuit for the evening.
- A fleece or a softshell jacket.
- A moisture-wicking T-shirt (synthetic or wool).
- A pair of socks suitable for hiking.
- A pair of thin fleece gloves, a hat, a cap.
- A spare t-shirt (for having lunch in the dry).
For evenings:
- A comfortable outfit such as a tracksuit, jogging suit, etc.
- Toiletries, a towel, a change of underwear.
- A down jacket.
- A pair of indoor shoes such as slippers, Crocs, etc.
