Snowshoeing and wellness in the Ecrins

On this first day, you'll get to know your group, your guide, and most importantly, your equipment! You'll learn how to use an avalanche transceiver (DVA), and also get acquainted with snowshoeing. Give yourself time to acclimatize to the altitude and the dry cold of the Écrins mountains. Don't forget to enjoy the sublime scenery that surrounds you, beneath the Tête de la Lauzière and the Tête des Raisins peaks, with the larches standing proudly all around you.

Before returning to the hotel, a short stop at the Ecrins National Park Visitor Centre in Vallouise is a must! You will be able to better understand this vast and fragile territory by wandering among the various activities and exhibitions (www.les-ecrins-parc-national.fr).

Today, you'll step into a setting worthy of the most beautiful fairy tales! Snowshoes on, we'll set off from the hotel and hike to the small Narreyroux valley. Along the stream, listen to the sounds around you: the crunch of snow under your feet, the murmur of animals hiding among the trees… As you emerge from the woods, you'll be delighted to discover the alpine chalets nestled in the valley. You won't be able to resist the urge to roll in the fresh snow!

After a short transfer to Prey d'Aval (1550 m), we'll embark on a hike that's well worth the effort! Perched atop the broad Tête d'Oréac, you'll be breathless at the exceptional 360° panorama. You won't know where to look first as the snow-capped mountains stretch as far as the eye can see: the 4000-meter peaks of the Écrins massif, the Vallouise and Fournel valleys, all the way to the foothills of the Queyras!

Snow conditions permitting, this morning we'll venture deeper into the Écrins mountains to reach our starting point at the hamlet of Les Claux (1,270 m). You can already feel the cold air from the glaciers tickling your nostrils… Step by step, we'll enter the heart of the park, a symbol and mecca of mountaineering! Arriving at the village of Ailefroide, you'll feel tiny in the face of these immense vertical walls. Let yourself be captivated by the mystical atmosphere and the famous names that resonate in your mind: Dôme de Pelvoux, Glacier Noir, Pré de Madame Carle, or Glacier Blanc…
Enveloped in its thick blanket of snow, the village seems frozen in time, deserted by the many climbers who flock there in summer. But you are not alone! Keep your eyes peeled, you might spot chamois on the slopes, napping in the sun…
On the way back, we'll visit the village of Vallouise to admire its sundials and mountain architecture. History and heritage enthusiasts, don't miss a single word of your guide's explanations.

For this final day departing from Prey d'Aval (1,550 m), we have a hike planned with a breathtaking panoramic view overlooking L'Argentière-La-Bessée. Perched atop the Têtes peaks, savor these last moments and etch these exceptional images into your memory. You'll be able to take in the Durance Valley, the Fournel Valley, and, weather permitting, the Pelvoux massif all the way to the Glacier Blanc! We promised you, you'll leave with stars in your eyes…

End of stay after the hike

This is where we part ways! But it's only goodbye for now; the Pays des Écrins awaits you for future explorations…

If you came by train: The guide will take you back down to the station by 5:30 pm.