Wild snowshoeing for New Year's Eve
In summary
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Sports
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Duration7 days
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LevelAdvance
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DestinationNévache / Écrins Massif
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AgeFrom 16 - 90 years
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CO₂-Emissions69.64 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages
French
In a few words
Celebrate the New Year in the magical winter wonderland of the Clarée Valley in Névache with a week-long snowshoeing holiday combining invigorating hikes , relaxation , and festivities . Each day, explore wild and sunny trails , far from the beaten path, to enjoy fresh snow and pure mountain air . Far from the hustle and bustle of the resorts, this immersion in nature will delight lovers of wide-open spaces and tranquility. At the end of the day, return to the cozy comfort of a 2-star hotel and its wellness area (spa, sauna, hammam), before savoring a generous meal in a warm and inviting atmosphere. On the evening of December 31st, a special New Year's Eve menu and a festive party will add a special touch to this winter escape. A holiday designed to combine getaway , authenticity , and shared moments , all in the heart of an exceptional alpine setting.
The highlights
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Snowshoeing off the beaten track in a pristine alpine setting
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2-star hotel with wellness area: spa, sauna, hammam for relaxation
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Festive New Year's Eve celebration and special menu in a warm atmosphere in Névache
Photos
Sport
Level
Snowshoeing
The expert's opinion
Level 4 hikes for fit walkers. You are athletic and experienced hiker with mountain walking experience and you already practice snowshoeing.
You are in good physical condition and are able to sustain an effort of 5 to 7 hours of walking and 700 to 1000 meters of elevation gain.
Carrying belongings for the day (warm clothes, water bottle, safety equipment (shovel/probe/avalanche transceiver) and picnic).
In figures
Snowshoes
- Average duration/day: 6h
- Average distance/day: 11 km
- Average daily elevation gain: 795 m
- Average daily descent: 795 m
Management
French
By a state-certified mountain guide or a ski instructor.
Program
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Hotel check-in and reception
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
Arrival in the afternoon at the hotel located in Névache , in the Clarée Valley. You'll have time to settle in before joining the group in the early evening for a friendly welcome drink . The local team will present the program for the coming week. Dinner will be served at the hotel .
Day 1 -
Gueyta Alpine Pasture
- Activity Snowshoes
- Duration of the activity 6h
- Distance 10 km
- Positive elevation gain 800 m
- Negative elevation 800 m
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
After a short transfer to Ville-Haute, just 5 minutes from the hotel, we ascend into the upper valley to the Sainte Barbe chapel, before climbing to the Biaune chalets on a south-facing slope. Above the chalets, a vast playground unfolds before us in these rolling alpine pastures! We can aim for the small Col de la Colette (2597m), or continue up the slope before descending back to Névache. During the hike, we'll take the time to review the operation of avalanche victim search equipment.
700 to 1000 meters of ascent and descent depending on the chosen route / 5 to 6 hours of walking
Day 2 -
Pointe Muratière
- Activity Snowshoes
- Duration of the activity 6h
- Distance 10 km
- Positive elevation gain 800 m
- Negative elevation 800 m
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Starting directly above the hotel on the south-facing slope, we ascend through the forest towards the fabulous Thures plateau, a classic of the valley, offering an extraordinary atmosphere with its vast expanse open to the sky. We cross this snow-covered steppe to reach the small, rounded summit of Pointe Muratière (2379m), from where the panorama opens up to the north, encompassing Mont Thabor and the narrow valley.
Day 3 -
Granon Valley
- Transportation Minibus - 00h15 - 7km
- Activity Snowshoes
- Duration of the activity 7h
- Distance 10 km
- Positive elevation gain 800 m
- Negative elevation 800 m
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
An early morning transfer takes us to the neighboring village of Val-des-Prés to hike up into the Bois de l'Infernet forest. 500 meters higher, we discover the small hamlets of Caro and Granon nestled under their blanket of snow. From here, numerous options await for exploring the alpine pastures or the forests of the valley, offering us beautiful winter scenery.
Day 4 -
Echaillon Ridge
- Activity Snowshoes
- Duration of the activity 7h
- Distance 15 km
- Positive elevation gain 875 m
- Negative elevation 875 m
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Today we head back up into the valley, this time taking the north-facing slope to reach the Buffère valley, a climb that's well worth the effort: it's steep, but thankfully not too long. Once there, however, it's a hiker's paradise, a large valley with gentle, welcoming slopes where we'll find our bliss. One possible (and ambitious) route is to reach a small summit on the Echaillon ridge at 2576 meters.
Day 5 -
Vallon des Acles
- Transportation Minibus - 00h10 - 4km
- Activity Snowshoes
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 10 km
- Positive elevation gain 700 m
- Negative elevation 700 m
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
The Acles valley is an area we rarely visit, and winter makes it quite isolated! Once we've passed through the narrow Cléïda pass and the hardest part is behind us, a vast territory unfolds before us, reminiscent of the far north! A domain to explore with our eyes peeled, hoping to spot the abundant wildlife that inhabits it!
Day 6 -
End of stay and dispersal
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
End of stay after breakfast.
Day 7
Note
Here is the typical program for this classic stay with us. Depending on the snow conditions, the weather, and the group's fitness level, your guide will suggest the most suitable hikes.
Accommodation
The hotel consists of 19 rooms, distributed as follows:
- Rooms for 2 : For couples with an Italian-style bed or 2 single beds, with bathroom in the room (sink, shower and toilet).
- Rooms for 3 : With 3 single beds and bathroom in the room (sink, shower and toilet).
- Suites with 2 bedrooms for 2 people : well separated with a shared bathroom (shower, sink, toilet) for the 2 bedrooms.
Le Chavillon: a building comprising 8 double rooms with private bathrooms, and a breakfast room. Each room is tastefully decorated in a warm, mountain style.
Le Chavillon is located 200 meters from the Echaillon, a small, well-maintained path will guide you to the hotel to come and have dinner.
Access
End of stay after breakfast. Rooms must be vacated by 10am.
Go to the starting point
From Paris, you have several options:
- Either by arriving on the Italian side via the TGV PARIS-OULX. From this station you will need to take a direct bus to Briançon (tickets must be purchased 48 hours in advance on the SNCF website).
- Either take the train Paris / Grenoble + bus Grenoble / Briançon (ZOU line 55)
- Either arriving directly via Paris/Briançon, by night train or daytime trains
From Marseille or Valence, there are direct TER trains to Briançon.
To travel from Briançon to Névache:
- Either by regular shuttle (in season)
- Either by taxi or private transport depending on the schedule and the number of people
After booking, please remember to let us know your arrival time.
Free parking
Price details
The price includes
Full board from dinner on day 1 to day 7 after breakfast
The tourist tax
5 days of supervision
Snowshoe and safety equipment
Local transport
2 access points to the Wellness Area
The price does not include
Round-trip transportation to Névache
Cancellation, assistance, repatriation and trip interruption insurance
Drinks and personal expenses
Massages
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.
Equipment
Equipment provided on site
Snowshoes + poles + safety equipment
Equipment to bring
- A medium-sized daypack ( large enough to hold your lunch, water, warm clothes, and possibly your camera , at least 20 liters)
- Large plastic bag to protect the inside of your bag
An airtight container (like Tupperware) for picnic salads and an insulated water bottle (minimum 1.5L) + cutlery
Clothing to bring
- Warm, loose-fitting, waterproof trousers
- A warm, waterproof Gore-Tex type jacket (or a rain cape)
- High-top, waterproof hiking boots . Avoid boots or après-ski boots that don't stay securely on your feet; you risk getting blisters, cramps, or tendonitis.
- Warm tights, warm hat
- Boots or après-ski boots for after snowshoeing
- Swimsuit and bath towel for the Wellness Area.
- Personal pharmacy items, eye drops
Mandatory :
- 2 pairs of warm gloves
- Highly protective sunglasses
- 1 roll of Elastoplast 8 cm (Useful for everything: blisters, trauma, etc.)
- Sunscreen and creams for lips and face
Recommended :
- The "double-skin" treatment for blisters (available in pharmacies)
- Replacement eyeglasses in case of breakage
- Toiletries (2 towels are provided at the hotel)
- Earplugs or Quiès earplugs
