Isère
/ Vercors Massif
New Year's Eve in the wild Vercors region of the Drôme mountains
2/5
(1 reviews)
Réf : OPYTBY
In summary
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Sports
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Duration4 days
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LevelIntermediate
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DestinationIsère / Vercors Massif
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AgeFrom the age of 18
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CO₂-Emissions45.55 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages🇫🇷French
In a few words
When the Vercors lands don their white coats… they reveal landscapes as magical as they are captivating.
Come explore these vast wilderness areas in the heart of the Vercors Regional Natural Park : an exceptional atmosphere awaits. In this wild landscape, you'll hear nothing but the crunch of your snowshoes. Whether in the heart of majestic forests or along the mountain ridges, you'll venture off the beaten path , following in the footsteps of trappers. On the High Plateaus, we'll play along, channeling Jack London and tracking deer and… wolf footprints! All eyes on you!
Our base camp: a charming family-run hotel (spanning 5 generations!), offering every comfort, ideally located in the heart of the peaceful village of La Chapelle-en-Vercors. A cozy, mountain atmosphere.
If you're longing for a stay in the great outdoors, experiencing the tranquility of our authentic, unspoiled villages, let yourself be captivated by this hidden gem of the Vercors. Escape is guaranteed!
The highlights
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Discover the trapper's world with your guide, who is passionate about his territory.
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Your hotel at the gateway to the largest Nature Reserve in France
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A truly authentic stay with a pulka day (subject to conditions) and a campfire!
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Photos
Sport
Level
Snowshoeing
For those who wish to hike for 4 to 5 hours a day, covering an elevation gain of approximately 300 to 500 meters on trails. You hike occasionally and are in good physical condition.
The expert's opinion
Average elevation gain: 430 m Maximum elevation gain: 500 m
Average length: 10.5 km Maximum: 12 km
Average time: 4 hours 30 minutes Maximum: 5 hours
For those who have never tried snowshoeing, there's nothing complicated about the activity. However, depending on the snow conditions, it can be more physically demanding than walking. The snow can be hard or soft, deep or stable. Furthermore, wearing snowshoes adds extra weight, which can significantly impact how you manage your effort.
For this trip, please note that the focus is primarily on discovering the natural environment.
In figures
Snowshoes
- Average duration/day: 5h
- Average distance/day: 11 km
- Average daily elevation gain: 434 m
- Average daily descent: 434 m
Management
During this stay, a supervisor will be present to guide and assist you.
Band :
1 supervisor for 6 to 14 people
Languages spoken:
🇫🇷
French
Supervisor
Supervisor
Your guide is a state-certified mountain leader. He has perfect knowledge of the mountain range.
Program
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Welcome to La Chapelle-en-Vercors
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
Welcome to La Chapelle en Vercors! From 5 pm, Sandra welcomes us to her family-run hotel **, in the heart of the small village. Settle into our peaceful , cozy home .
Meet with our guide at 6:30pm.
Dinner and presentation of the stay.
Day 1 -
The Font d'Urle Plateau
- Transportation Car - 00h10 - 10km
- Activity Snowshoes
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 10 km
- Positive elevation gain 400 m
- Negative elevation 400 m
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Short transfer to the heights of Vassieux.
The Vercors, a true wild and unspoiled oasis, is aptly compared to the vast landscapes of Canada and Scandinavia. It is here that we will track the footprints of hares, foxes, roe deer, and red deer. And who knows? We might even find the tracks of wolves…
The Font d'Urle alpine pasture is an exceptional site, classified as a Sensitive Natural Area. An immense expanse overlooking the Drôme valley where the view stretches far: we can almost touch the peaks of the Massif Central, the Rhône valley and perhaps even Mont Ventoux!
On this vast plateau cleared of all vegetation, we will enjoy wandering over the natural "roundness" of the terrain.
We will fall asleep tonight with images filling our eyes…
Day 2 -
Butter Mountain, Vercors Wild!
- Transportation Car - 00h25 - 20km
- Activity Snowshoes
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 12 km
- Positive elevation gain 500 m
- Negative elevation 500 m
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
After a good breakfast, transfer to the Butter Mountain.
A magnificent day begins with a hike in the Vercors High Plateaus Wild Nature Reserve , the largest in France. We'll cross the Montagne de Beurre and then the Pas des Econdus, facing the Grand Veymont (the massif's highest peak at 2,341 m). Majestic! Weather permitting, we'll have a picnic at the summit of Tête du Faisan, which offers a panoramic view, before taking shelter in the small Pré-Peyret cabin.
New Year's stay: a simple New Year's Eve evening around a delicious meal featuring the colours of the Vercors region, prepared by our hosts.
Day 3 -
The Great Woods and its stories of yesteryear... and a trapper's picnic
- Transportation Car - 00h10 - 10km
- Activity Snowshoes
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 10 km
- Positive elevation gain 400 m
- Negative elevation 400 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
Departure for our final hike. Vassieux is a land of forest. Here, logging is often a family tradition. This beautiful forest has always been coveted by the surrounding villages and the bishops of Die. Life has taken root here, and numerous cabins belonging to the villagers are hidden deep in the woods. Before cars, during logging season, families would live there for several days in the heart of the forest. At the Three Brothers' Cabin, on the edge of a beautiful clearing, stand two gigantic fir trees. Souvenirs of a lumberjack who is said to have planted them in memory of his deceased sons. Truth or legend? That was a long time ago...
Taking turns, we'll pull a pulka behind us—snow permitting . This small expedition sled will allow us to bring along a few comforts to enhance our lunch break. Along the way, we'll gather firewood for a campfire and enjoy a wonderful picnic . Of course, we'll still be modern-day trappers, since we'll be skipping the hunting: our guide has already prepared our lunch!
End of stay around 3:30 pm.
Day 4
Note
Note : We may sometimes need to make slight changes to the program due to organizational issues, weather conditions, snow conditions, the group's skill level, exceptional pandemic situations, etc. Rest assured, these changes are always made in your best interest, for your safety and comfort!
Snow conditions : We are, above all, outdoor enthusiasts. If there is insufficient snow, we will still run the hiking trip, without using a pulka. We will not cancel the trip under any circumstances. The winter atmosphere and light will be there even if we can't use snowshoes. The mountains are very different in winter; the colors are not the same as in summer, and the sun is lower on the horizon, offering warm sunset light throughout the day!
Note: The times were calculated based on a pace of 250 meters of elevation gain per hour uphill, 500 meters per hour downhill, and 3.5 km per hour on flat terrain, in order to allow for comparison of the different hikes on the same basis. It is, of course, obvious that when snowshoeing, the estimated time is only a guideline. Experienced hikers on hard snow will find the times overestimated, while less experienced hikers on fresh snow will find them significantly underestimated.
Accommodation
🏨 2-star hotel - Days 1 to 3
You're staying at the Hotel Bellier , our local partner's top pick! This 2-star hotel is located in the charming village of La Chapelle-en-Vercors, where your hosts Sandra, Sophie, and Céline will give you a warm welcome. The hotel is their "haven of peace." You're just a two-minute walk from shops, bars, and the Tourist Office.
The rooms are double or triple (non-mixed, except for couples) with private bathrooms. Bed linen and towels are provided. Single rooms are available upon request and subject to availability.
For the past 15 years, the hotel has been committed to a sustainable development approach (management of water, electricity and its food waste).
Access
Departure
Hôtel Bellier, 40 avenue de Provence, 26420 La Chapelle-en-Vercors
Day 1
: 18h30
End of stay
Hôtel Bellier, 40 avenue de Provence, 26420 La Chapelle-en-Vercors
Day 4
- 15h30
Check-in at the hotel on the first day between 5pm and 6pm.
You will meet your guide at 6:30 pm at the hotel.
Go to the starting point
Travel to the place of stay
with parking
available
The village is located at an altitude of 1000m, you must equip your vehicle with snow equipment (snow tires/chains).
Directions: From the A49 (Grenoble/Valence), take exit 8 at La Baume d'Hostun. Follow signs for Pont-en-Royans then Les Baraques-en-Vercors. At the exit of the Grands Goulets tunnel, follow signs for La Chapelle-en-Vercors.
Within the Vercors Regional Natural Park, La Chapelle-en-Vercors is a small, isolated village on the southern plateau. As a protected area, access is restricted. Therefore, while we generally encourage this mode of transport, it is unfortunately not possible to reach La Chapelle-en-Vercors by public transport during your stay.
Would you like to travel on other dates?
Create an alert and we'll notify you by email if new departures are added.
Price details
The price includes
- Accommodation in double or triple rooms depending on the group composition
- Half-board
- Picnics
- Hiking supervision
- Loan of snowshoe equipment
- The transfers planned in the program
The price does not include
- Round-trip transportation to the meeting point and dispersal
- Walking shoes for snowshoeing
- Free visits or activities
- Drinks
- Insurance
Options
- Single room : CHF104.50 / unit
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
They traveled with us
Discover the authentic experiences of our travelers
2/5
(1 reviews)
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Decathlon Travel Partner
The Aurélie & Sébastien team
4.7/5
(124 reviews)
• 62 stays
A family-run agency established in 1985 in Autrans-Méaudre, our local partner is the expert in all-inclusive outdoor holidays in the heart of the Vercors region. Specializing in Nordic activities in winter (skiing, snowshoeing) and hiking or mountain biking in summer, they also operate throughout the French mountain ranges and as far as the Cinque Terre in Italy. Their unique feature? A 4-star Gîte-Hôtel that serves as a welcoming base camp: after an activity, relax in the Nordic bath and savor local flavors prepared by Chef Dédé. A small, friendly team cultivates the art of hospitality and provides personalized advice for a truly rejuvenating holiday.
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