100% women's snowshoeing holiday in the Vercors
In summary
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Sports
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Duration4 days
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LevelIntermediate
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DestinationDrome / Vercors Massif
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AgeFrom 18 - 90 years
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CO₂-Emissions30.02 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages
French
In a few words
Experience a unique winter immersion in the heart of the Vercors during a 4-day, 100% women's snowshoeing trip . Accompanied by a professional guide , explore enchanting landscapes ranging from snow-covered forests and vast open spaces to panoramic views.
The experience begins with an unusual night in an unguarded mountain hut at an altitude of 1350 meters. Team spirit and camaraderie are the order of the day: carrying the pack, preparing a shared meal, and spending the evening by the wood stove immediately create a warm atmosphere. The following days reveal the wild beauty of the Ambel plateau and the Font d'Urle area , punctuated by ascents of the Tête de la Dame and the Puy de la Gagère .
This trip is also a true introduction to the mountain environment: you will learn to read the terrain , search for animal tracks , and manage the cold . Each stage combines accessible physical exertion, tasting local products , and comfortable evenings in mountain huts.
This intimate format guarantees a total reconnection with nature and an authentic interlude between outdoor enthusiasts.
The highlights
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A 100% female adventure in the heart of the snowy landscapes of the Vercors
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A night in an unguarded mountain hut at 1350m, high in the mountains
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Learn how to navigate in winter: cold, snow, tracks, and reading the terrain.
Photos
Sport
Level
Snowshoeing
The expert's opinion
This trip is for you if:
- Effort & Elevation Gain: You can walk 5 to 8 hours per day in snowshoes (breaks included), with 300m to 700m of positive elevation gain depending on the stages.
- Terrain & Altitude: you are comfortable on varied snowy terrain (valleys, moderate slopes, exposed ridges, plateaus) up to 1,650 m altitude , without technical passage.
- Luggage & Accommodation: you can carry a light bag (for the day or for an overnight stay) and you are ready to sleep in a shared dormitory, in a guesthouse or in a cabin.
- Mountain spirit: you accept the simple comfort of an unguarded cabin (wood stove, shared dormitory and shared group life).
In figures
Snowshoes
- Average distance/day: 8 km
- Average daily elevation gain: 300 m
- Average daily descent: 200 m
Management
French
You will be guided by Claire, a qualified and passionate mid-mountain guide.
Program
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Day 1
- Activity Snowshoes
- Distance 6 km
- Positive elevation gain 250 m
- Accommodation Cabin
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
Meet at 10:30 am in the hamlet of Bouvante to get acquainted with the guide and the rest of the group. After lunch and an initial briefing, we pack our bags, keeping only the essentials for the night. The route climbs gradually through forests and clearings, offering the first panoramic views of the Vercors mountains. At the end of the day, we reach our unmanned cabin, located at 1350 m. Here, everyone pitches in: bringing in firewood, tending the stove, setting up sleeping bags, and preparing dinner together. Weather permitting, the evening continues outdoors under the stars before we retire to our sleeping bags.
Day 1 -
Day 2
- Activity Snowshoes
- Distance 12 km
- Positive elevation gain 500 m
- Negative elevation 500 m
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
After a hearty breakfast around the wood stove, we tidy up the cabin before heading out for a day of snowshoeing on the Ambel plateau. We make our way to the Tête de la Dame, at 1500m, which offers stunning views of the Quint valley, the Trois Becs peaks, and the surrounding mountains. After our picnic lunch at the summit, our guide shares some techniques for managing the cold and making progress in the mountains during winter. In the afternoon, we continue our trek along the ridges, learning to identify the specific features of the snow-covered terrain and the tracks left by wildlife. We then descend back to our gîte for an evening enjoying a meal of local flavors.
Day 2 -
Day 3
- Activity Snowshoes
- Distance 8 km
- Positive elevation gain 300 m
- Negative elevation 300 m
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
From the Font d'Urle plateau, we set off to explore the Puy de la Gagère, which rises to 1650 meters. The route crosses a vast, snow-covered plateau where the space and landscapes create a truly immense impression. From the heights, panoramic views open up to the eastern edge of the Vercors massif, the Dévoluy, and the Diois region, with the Écrins mountains sometimes visible in the distance on a clear day. Back at the gîte, it's time for a convivial evening: we prepare a homemade vercouline together before sharing drinks and local specialties. For those who wish, a short night walk offers the chance to rediscover the tranquility of the mountains under the stars.
Day 3 -
Day 4
- Activity Snowshoes
- Distance 5 km
- Positive elevation gain 150 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
After a leisurely wake-up and breakfast, we put on our snowshoes one last time for a stroll on the Karst trail. This easier outing allows us to enjoy the scenery of the southern Vercors ridges while ending our stay at a relaxed pace. Back at the gîte late morning, we pack up our belongings and help put the equipment away. A final meal together concludes these four days in the mountains before our departure.
Day 4
Accommodation
You will spend your first night in an unguarded cabin: an experience in the heart of nature!
Located in Font d'Urle, at an altitude of 1,500 meters, the Gîte Au Bout du Monde (At the End of the World) lives up to its name! Nestled in the heart of the unspoiled Vercors region, it offers an ideal setting to extend your mountain immersion after a day spent snowshoeing. Here, there's no need to search for a change of scenery: it begins the moment you step through the door of the gîte.
Access
We'll meet at 10:30 am in Fond d'Urle.
Go to the starting point
Here are the correspondences:
- Departure station > Valence TGV
- Valence TGV > Font d'Urle (bus - 1 hour journey)
It is possible to come by car and leave it in a parking lot at the meeting point.
Price details
The price includes
- The stay will be supervised by a qualified mountain guide.
- Accommodation in an unguarded cabin for the first night and a gîte for the following nights
- All meals from dinner on Day 1 to picnic lunch on Day 4
- Loan of snowshoes & poles
The price does not include
- Round-trip transportation to the meeting point
- Any personal expenses
- Day 1 picnic
- Anything not listed under "Price includes"
Options
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
