Snowshoeing trip to discover the Mézenc-Gerbier massif
In summary
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Sports
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Duration5 days
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LevelBeginner
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DestinationMassif Central / Haute-Loire
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AgeFrom 18 - 90 years
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CO₂-Emissions49.1 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages
English
In a few words
In the heart of the Mézenc-Gerbier massif , discover snow -covered volcanic landscapes on an accessible and rejuvenating snowshoeing trip. For four half-days , an experienced guide will lead you across the wild high plateaus , between silent forests and panoramic peaks , introducing you to unspoiled nature. Each outing is an immersion in a fascinating environment, punctuated by the observation of animal tracks , the interpretation of the volcanic landscape , and captivating stories about local history. Off the beaten track, the trip also allows you time to explore at your own pace: experience the thrills of Lugik Park , or enjoy the Nordic and alpine slopes of the Estables ski area. An ideal getaway for those seeking to breathe in the fresh air, combining gentle walks , discovery , and mountain fun .
The highlights
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A mountain range and high plateaus with remarkable panoramas!
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4 half-days of snowshoeing with a guide and 3 half-days of free time
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Accommodation in comfortable group accommodation, in rooms, with activity rooms
Photos
Sport
Level
Snowshoeing
The expert's opinion
Snowshoeing trails are suitable for people with a minimum level of physical fitness. You should be accustomed to walking on trails without snow, lasting approximately 3 hours.
The elevation changes and distances are small, but the thickness of the snow and the cold can make the activity more difficult.
Your guide will adapt the route to the weather and snow conditions, as well as to the level of the group.
In figures
Snowshoes
- Average duration/day: 2h30
- Average distance/day: 6 km
- Average daily elevation gain: 175 m
- Average daily descent: 175 m
Management
English
Holding a professional qualification, the French State Diploma for Mountain Leaders, Alexandre has been leading groups in the Mézenc massif since 2002. Passionate about this mountain range, he enjoys sharing its history, volcanoes, flowers, and heritage. What he loves about snowshoeing: cutting through the forest and across fields, searching for animal tracks... Another passion of his is photography; he knows how to choose the best spots and angles so you can take beautiful pictures!
A certified Mountain Leader and currently training to become a cross-country ski instructor, Simon has been leading groups since 2022. His passion? Birds! With Simon as your guide, birds will hold no more secrets for you! But he also loves to tell you about the other animals that roam the Mézenc massif, even in winter. In fact, he sometimes takes advantage of hikes to collect the camera traps he leaves here and there and shows you the photos of the animals that were kind enough to pass by.
Program
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Arrival
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
Check-in is from 4 pm. You'll have time to settle in, get acquainted with the place, and even take a stroll around the village. Dinner is served at 7:30 pm, so we recommend arriving before 7 pm to give yourself enough time to get settled.
Day 1 -
Discovering the mountain range
- Activity Snowshoes
- Duration of the activity 2h30
- Distance 6 km
- Positive elevation gain 150 m
- Negative elevation 150 m
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
To gently introduce you to the activity, your guide will take you near the Chalets du Mézenc. This is your chance to make your first tracks in the snow with snowshoes, easy-to-use plastic devices! Your guide will introduce you to the village of Les Estables and the Mézenc massif: an ancient village where farmers settled, despite the altitude, to raise Mézenc cows, renowned for their meat. Today, it's the land of Fin Gras du Mézenc, a beef with AOC status.
Day 2 -
Mount Mézenc
- Transportation Bus - 00h10 - 5km
- Activity Snowshoes
- Duration of the activity 2h30
- Distance 5 km
- Positive elevation gain 250 m
- Negative elevation 250 m
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Let's go for the ascent of Mont Mézenc, the "giant of the Cévennes"! Even though it is one of the highest peaks in the Massif Central, its ascent is not very difficult and offers the brave an extraordinary panorama over the entire chain of the Alps and the peaks of Auvergne, weather permitting of course! If the wind has been blowing in the preceding days, you can admire the pines covered in snow, like ephemeral sculptures.
Day 3 -
The sources of the Loire
- Transportation Bus - 00h40 - 25km
- Activity Snowshoes
- Duration of the activity 2h30
- Distance 6 km
- Positive elevation gain 150 m
- Negative elevation 150 m
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Your guide will take you to the source of the Loire, at the foot of Mont Gerbier de Jonc. Walk through fairytale-like beech forests, along and across the river of kings, which is just a small stream here, with your snowshoes on!
Day 4 -
Mount Chaulet
- Transportation Bus - 00h10 - 4km
- Activity Snowshoes
- Duration of the activity 2h30
- Distance 6 km
- Positive elevation gain 150 m
- Negative elevation 150 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
Your guide will take you snowshoeing up Mont Chaulet near Les Estables. This is a chance to enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the Cirque des Boutières and the Sucs des Chartreux. The cirque and the summit are ancient volcanoes, whose history and formation will be explained to you. Along the way, you might spot some animal tracks, which your guide will be happy to describe in detail.
The stay ends after lunch.
Day 5
Note
Snowshoeing excursions take place in the morning only. Afternoons are free. We can suggest various ideas for activities to fill your afternoons:
- A leisurely stroll among the thatched cottages of the hamlet of Bigorre or in the village of Moudeyres, near Les Estables
- unguided snowshoe hike on marked and secured trails starting from the forest house
- A trip to Lugik Park in Les Estables, a 4-season tobogganing area
- cross-country ski tour on the trails of the Estables Nordic area
- a few ski runs on the Estables alpine area
- Tour of Le Puy-en-Velay following the route of Saint James of Compostela: climb to the cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, visit to the Saint-Michel d'Aiguilhe chapel atop a volcanic chimney, stroll through the old town
The program, routes, and walking times are provided as a guide and may vary depending on several factors (e.g., weather conditions, terrain, group fatigue, etc.). Trust your guide, who will adapt the routes to best suit your needs and safety.
Accommodation
At the foot of Mont Mézenc, the Chalets du Mézenc team welcomes you to the Monts d'Ardèche Regional Natural Park.
You will be accommodated in single, double, triple or quadruple rooms depending on availability, either in the Grand Chalet (above the village) or the Petit Chalet (in the village). Each room has a private bathroom with shower and toilet.
For evening activities, each group has its own activity room. These rooms are equipped with video projectors or TVs. A common room with a bar provides a space for socializing over coffee, for example.
Access
Welcome on the first day
You can arrive at Chalets du Mézenc between 4 pm and 7 pm, either at the large or small chalet, depending on the information we provided when you made your reservation. If you expect to arrive after 7 pm, please let us know your arrival time.
If you wish to arrive earlier, we can keep your luggage in a room if your rooms are not ready and you can settle in the foyer, unless you prefer to go for a walk.
As the meal is served at 7:30 pm, we ask that you arrive before 7:00 pm if possible.
Dispersion
The stay ends on the 5th day after lunch. Rooms must be vacated by 10:00 AM. We can store your luggage in a room after you have checked out if you wish.
Go to the starting point
From this station:
- Taxi service available to Les Estables (approximately 30 minutes, price ~€30 to €80 depending on the operator/season)
- Regional bus services exist, but they are infrequent and vary depending on the season — it is recommended to check the timetables in advance with the Cars Région Haute-Loire network.
Winter access by car to Les Estables
Check the road conditions during the winter period.
In strong winds, some roads can quickly become impassable, even in the absence of snowfall.
Don't hesitate to contact the accommodation to find out the best route.
Price details
The price includes
- Accommodation in a group gîte, in rooms for 2 to 4 people maximum (sheets and towels provided)
- The trip will be supervised by a state-certified Mountain Guide.
- 4 half-days of snowshoeing
- Loan of snowshoes and poles
- Full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner) from dinner on Day 1 to lunch on Day 5
- Coffee and wine (1/4 liter per person)
- Return transfers by bus or minibus to reach the starting/ending points of the hikes
The price does not include
- The journey to get to the place of stay
- Drinks and personal expenses
- Tourist tax for adults: €0.80 per night per person (payable on site)
- Museum visits may be organized in case of very bad weather
- Anything not mentioned under "Price includes"
Options
- Double room : CHF41.17 / person
- Single room : CHF86.91 / person
- 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
We provide you with snowshoes and poles (non-telescopic poles).
Equipment to bring
What is essential:
- 1 hiking backpack (30 to 40 liters)
- 1 1.5 liter water bottle
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Don't forget to pack in your backpack: a light wallet with some change + identity card + health insurance card.
What might be useful:
- 1 pair of telescopic trekking poles; but we can also provide you with a pair of rigid poles.
- Camera
- Binoculars
- A small rubbish bag to take your rubbish home (tissues, etc.)
- A whistle (to signal your presence from afar if you get lost)
- A personal first-aid kit (elastoplasty, blister plasters, disinfectant, bandages, etc.). Many products or medications can only be administered with a doctor's prescription (paracetamol, Betadine, etc.). Your guide will therefore not be able to give them to you, except on the orders of emergency medical services (SAMU) in case of an emergency. It is therefore best to be prepared.
- A survival blanket (it's lightweight, compact, cheap, but it can be very useful).
Clothing to bring
When packing your backpack, keep in mind that mountain weather changes quickly, both in winter and summer. Therefore, you should pack warm clothing, lighter clothing, and rain gear in case the weather turns snowy; and don't forget an outfit for the evenings.
What is essential:
- Waterproof, windproof and breathable jacket (Gore-Tex type)
- Waterproof and comfortable walking trousers, but not too warm (jeans strongly discouraged).
- Add tights in case of extreme cold
- Breathable underwear
- Thin fleece or down jacket and thick fleece jacket (to be adapted according to the weather)
- Warm gloves or mittens
- Cap
- Several pairs of warm hiking socks or ski socks
- One pair of hiking boots, which must be high-top and recent: good ankle support is important; après-ski boots are strongly discouraged and low-cut boots will be refused. Note: after a few years, even if the boots have seen little use, the soles may completely detach.
- 1 comfortable change of clothes for the evening
- 1 pair of shoes for walking in the village
- 1 pair of slippers or sandals for walking around the chalet
- Towels and washcloth (not provided)
What might be useful:
- 1 balaclava in case of bad weather
- 1 scarf
- 1 pair of ski goggles in case of bad weather, offering more protection in wind and snow.
- 1 pair of gaiters
