Snowshoeing trip to discover the fauna and flora of the Écrins
In summary
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Sports
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Duration5 days
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LevelAll levels
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DestinationHautes-Alpes / Écrins Massif
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AgeFrom 18 - 90 years
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CO₂-Emissions46.6 kg CO2
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Type of stayIndependent traveler
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Languages
French
In a few words
What if you discovered the mountains in winter with a naturalist's eye? For three days, set off on snowshoes with Pierre, a mountain guide and bird specialist, to encounter the flora and fauna of the Écrins National Park. Binoculars in hand, observe mountain birds, follow the tracks of chamois and ibex in the snow, and learn to identify trees by their silhouette and buds. In the evening, a presentation will reveal the secrets of birds in the face of winter, followed by a delicious dinner with full board. Equipment, shuttles, and guiding are included: simply enjoy every discovery!
The highlights
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Wildlife: Follow in the footsteps of chamois and ibex, on snowshoes
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An exceptional guide: Let Pierre, a naturalist guide and tour leader, be your guide.
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The forest in winter: Learn to read the forest in winter and recognize the trees
Photos
Sport
Level
Snowshoeing
The expert's opinion
A passionate mountain guide and naturalist, Pierre will take you on a unique winter adventure. Every morning, he'll pick you up by shuttle from your accommodation and drive you to the starting point of your hike. Snowshoes and poles are provided: all you have to do is put them on and let him guide you.
Throughout the walk, Pierre shares his knowledge with simplicity and enthusiasm. He teaches you how to read a footprint in the snow, how to observe a bird with binoculars, or how to recognize a tree by its silhouette. He adapts the pace to the group so that everyone can fully enjoy the scenery and each discovery. A lively and authentic way to experience the mountains in winter!
In figures
Snowshoes
- Average daily elevation gain: 517 m
- Average daily descent: 517 m
Management
French
Pierre has been a state-certified mountain guide since 2000, spending over twenty years exploring the trails and snow-covered valleys of the Southern Alps. Trained in forest management and wildlife, he is also a birdwatching and naturalist guide. Active with the LPO (League for the Protection of Birds) since 1989, he founded the LPO group in the Écrins region and manages the Partias Regional Nature Reserve. His experience in the Queyras and Mercantour National Parks makes him an exceptional guide, combining mountain expertise with a passion for nature.
In the morning, Pierre will be waiting for you at the foot of your accommodation with the shuttle, snowshoes and poles ready to go. A few minutes' drive, and you'll be at the start of the trail, surrounded by snow and silence.
Here, there's no race against the clock: Pierre moves at the group's pace and takes the time to stop whenever a discovery presents itself. A fresh footprint in the snow? He helps you guess who's been there. A song in the larches? Binoculars in hand, he points out the bird perched on its branch. A tree silhouette stands out against the landscape? He teaches you how to identify it.
More than just a guide, Pierre is a transmitter of knowledge. With him, every step becomes a discovery and every day leaves beautiful memories!
Program
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Accommodation check-in
- Accommodation Bed and Breakfast
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
Settle into the inn, then meet Pierre, your guide, at 6:30 pm for a welcome drink. He will present the program for the coming days and immerse you in the atmosphere of the mountains in winter.
Day 1 -
Discovering the local flora and fauna with binoculars
- Activity Snowshoes
- Positive elevation gain 600 m
- Negative elevation 600 m
- Accommodation Bed and Breakfast
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Fir, spruce, larch, Swiss pine… Snowshoes on, learn to recognize the conifers that populate our mountains. Not very numerous in Europe, they are easily distinguished by their shape, needles, and cones. And what about that bird perched on the branch? Grab your binoculars!
In the evening: a lecture on bird biology
Golden eagle, black grouse, dipper: discover the secrets of mountain birds and their incredible adaptation to winter, during a lively and accessible conference.
Day 2 -
Following the trail of mountain ungulates
- Activity Snowshoes
- Positive elevation gain 500 m
- Negative elevation 500 m
- Accommodation Bed and Breakfast
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
This morning, Pierre, your guide, will pick you up by shuttle from your accommodation. With snowshoes on, set off with him on the trail of the mountain ungulates. An emblem of the Alps, the chamois is recognizable by its small, hooked horns and its dark winter coat. It travels alone or in groups on the sunny slopes.
It shares its territory with other horned or antlered inhabitants: the ibex, the red deer, or the roe deer. As you walk, learn to read their tracks in the snow and uncover the secrets of their lives among the forests and rocks.
Day 3 -
Tree identification
- Activity Snowshoes
- Positive elevation gain 450 m
- Negative elevation 450 m
- Accommodation Bed and Breakfast
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Once the leaves have fallen, the forest still holds many surprises! As you walk, learn to read its clues: the silhouette of the trees, the shape of the buds, the color of the twigs. These are all keys to recognizing the oaks, maples, lindens, and rowans that mingle with the conifers, as well as the undergrowth shrubs. A lovely playground to sharpen your observation skills and rediscover the forest in a new light.
Day 4 -
End of stay
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
After checking out of your room, leave your luggage at the hostel: it will be waiting for you nice and warm while you enjoy one last time the landscapes surrounding the village of Vallouise.
Stroll through its picturesque streets, enjoy a final walk with views of the snow-capped peaks, and take home a last souvenir of your stay. Then collect your belongings at your leisure before hitting the road again, your head full of memories.
Day 5
Note
Your stay begins on the first day at 6:30 pm at the inn, with a welcome drink where Pierre will present the program. The next day, binoculars in hand, set off to discover the local flora and fauna, followed by an evening talk on mountain birds. On the third day, snowshoes on your feet, follow the tracks of chamois and ibex in the snow. The fourth day is dedicated to the forest: you will learn to identify trees by their silhouette and buds. To conclude your stay, enjoy a final morning in the village of Vallouise before heading home.
Accommodation
Access
Go to the starting point
Price details
The price includes
- The stay will be supervised by a qualified guide.
- Full board accommodation throughout the stay
- Loan of snowshoes and poles
- Transportation between accommodation and the starting points of hikes
The price does not include
- Transportation to the meeting point
- Tourist tax (payable on site)
- Drinks and personal expenses
- 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.
