The trip

LEVEL **

Elevation : between 600m to 850m.
Walking time : in average 5 to 6.5 hours per day. Forest tracks and trails.

The tour has been created with our local partners who are very mindful about organising an authentic journey. 

GUIDING 

Group between 4 and 15 people supervised by a qualified montain leader. 

ACCOMMODATION

Typical south-facing mountain chalets in a small hamlet bordering a magnificent larch forest in the heart of the Queyras Natural Park. Clinging to the sunny slopes of Prats-Hauts, the chalet has comfortable rooms sleeping 1, 2, 3 or 4.A cosy lounge with bar, music and board games will help you relax. In the rustic dining room, a large fireplace brings traditional and hearty meals to life. There are also several lounges and a library, south-facing terraces and free parking nearby.

• Accommodation in shared rooms: these are cosy, non-mixed rooms with en-suite facilities, to be shared by 3 or 4 people.
• Accommodation in ‘standard’ double rooms: these are cosy rooms with en-suite facilities, located in the historic chalet. Supplement for the stay of €70 per person.
• Accommodation in a ‘comfort’ room for two: these are spacious, tastefully decorated rooms with en-suite facilities in the new chalet. Supplement for the stay of €130 per person.
• Single room: a room with a single bed and en-suite facilities. Extra charge of €110 per person.

Wellness area :
On site, free SPA available 2 days a week, swimming costume compulsory for access to the whirlpool, hammam and sauna.

Massage :
Various types of massage available (to be booked and paid for on site): Californian, Swedish, Lomi -Lomi and also foot reflexology sessions.

On night 6, you will sleep at the Refuge de la Blanche, without bringing your own luggage: you will need a sheet and towel for this night.

If the Chalet La Vie Sauvage is not available, equivalent accommodation may be offered, in which case the price may be adjusted.

MEALS

Meal prepared daily by ‘the patrons’, using local produce: Queyras cheese, homemade jams and pastries, homemade bread made with organic flour from the family farm, honey produced on the farm, apple juice made at the chalet with apples from the family orchard, etc.
Full breakfast, bread, Queyras cheese, fresh cheese from the Hautes Alpes, fruit salad, homemade jam and honey, fruit juice made at the chalet, etc.
Picnic with a different salad each day, mountain charcuterie, Queyras cheese, home-made pastries, fruit, chocolate, cereal bars, etc.

If you have a special diet (gluten-free, lactose-free, etc.) or are vegetarian, our small facilities are unable to offer personalised menus for every diet. We will do our best to adapt our menus within the limits of our capacity (particularly in terms of supplies). However, you will need to provide your own substitutes adapted to your needs, in particular bread, snacks and special milks, especially for picnics! Depending on the requirements of your diet, a supplement may be applied (from €3 to €5 per meal).

Practical information

ACCESS TO DEPARTURE POINT 

Welcome from 4.30pm at the chalet La Vie Sauvage in Prats Hauts in the Queyras, your guide will present the holiday to you at around 7.30pm.

If you are arriving by train: a shuttle bus will pick you up at the station at 6.30 p.m. This must be booked when you register. Please note that for the end of the 2024 winter season, if trains from Valence are delayed (arrival at 6.59pm), the shuttle will be at 7pm.

If you arrive by car: You can drive straight up to the hamlet (free parking 100m from the gîte).
If you prefer to leave your car in the valley, in Ville Vieille (4km) so as not to take the sometimes snowy ascent to the hamlet, a shuttle can pick you up at 5pm following your call.

BY TRAIN

Night train:
Line from Paris (Gare Austerlitz) to Montdauphin-Guillestre, runs every day of the year (trains are sometimes posted late: often within 3 weeks of departure). 
From ‘Gare de Montdauphin-Guillestre’ to Ville Vieille, there are regular ‘Zou ma région sud’ shuttle buses. 
(https://zou.maregionsud.fr).

Daytime train from Paris to Montdauphin:
TGV line from Paris (Gare de Lyon) to Valence then TER line from Valence to Montdauphin-Guillestre.

Transfer at 6.30pm from the SNCF station (included in the price) by shuttle bus to Ville Vieille and then to your accommodation.
For arrivals before 6.30pm: Take the regular Zou shuttle (‘Zou ma région sud’ (https://zou.maregionsud.fr), from ‘Gare de Montdauphin-Guillestre’ to the Ville Vieille stop (bus station).

After the last shuttle, you'll need to take a taxi (approx. €100 to get from the station to your accommodation).

BY CAR

Please note that special equipment is compulsory throughout the département between 01/11 and 31/03: snow chains or snow tyres.

From the north :
- 1st possibility: Take the Col du Lautaret via Bourg d'Oisans and La Grave. Reach Briançon and follow signs for Gap (RN 94) as far as Montdauphin and then Guillestre, gateway to the Queyras Regional Park.
- 2nd option: from Grenoble via La Mure and Gap. Then follow signs for Embrun on the RN 94, then Guillestre, gateway to the Queyras Regional Park. Take the D902 then follow the signs for ‘Stations du Queyras’.
- 3rd option: From Grenoble, stay on the A51 motorway towards Sisteron. Cross the Col de Lus-la-Croix-Haute, then Veyne, Gap. Then follow signs for Embrun on the RN94, then Guillestre, gateway to the Queyras Regional Park. Take the D902 then follow the signs for ‘Stations du Queyras’.
- 4th possibility: Via Chambéry - Autoroute de la Maurienne -Tunnel du Fréjus (at the toll booth take a return ticket valid for 7 days). At the Italian exit of the tunnel, continue on the motorway towards Turin. Exit at Oulx and follow signs for Cesana - Sestriere - Col de Montgenèvre/Francia. From the Col de Montgenèvre (on the border) you can reach Briançon and then Guillestre (1 h 30 min journey from the tunnel).

From the south :
Valence or Sisteron - Gap - Embrun - Guillestre.
From Guillestre, follow signs for Queyras (D 902), then the D 947.

Contact ‘État des routes’ answering machine (french only)
For access to the Hautes-Alpes department, call 04 92 24 44 44. (special equipment is required to cross certain passes: snow tyres or chains)

End of the stay on day 7, at Prats-Hauts, after the lunchtime picnic.

Montdauphin station for day and night trains:
Regular paying shuttle buses from the Ville Vieille bus station to Montdauphin-Guillestre SNCF station are available for trains departing from Montdauphin at 9am. Information on timetables: www.zou.maregionsud.fr
Oulx TGV station:
Neige Express’ bus to Oulx 3 times a day (booking: www.autocars-imbert.com), then direct TGV from Oulx to Paris.

CONTACT US

If you are late please let us know as soon as possible : +33 (0)4 50 79 09 16 or +33 (0)6 42 49 76 07

Equipment & luggage

EQUIPMENT LIST

Material for snowshoeing (snowshoes and poles) is provided. However, if you have your own and would like to use them you are free to do so. Avalanche safety equipment including (transceiver, shovel and probe) is also provided.

Clothing

- Waterproof ski or winter walking trousers
- Wind stopper or Goretex jacket
- Breathable or merino wool t-shirts
- Breathable or merino wool leggings
- Fleece or jumper
- Insulating down jacket
- 2 pairs of ski gloves and a warm hat
- Walking socks (1 pair per day)
- Sturdy waterproof walking boots

Other Equipment

- Rucksack minimum 35 litre capacity
- Sunglasses and ski mask
- Sun cream
- Water bottle or Camelback (1.5 litre minimum)
- Knife, fork and spoon
- Plastic lunch box/plate for your picnic lunches
- Plastic cup for coffee
- Small First Aid kit (antihistamine, ibuprofen, Compeed type blister pads...)
- Survival blanket
- Identity card or passport 

LUGGAGE TRANSPORT

You need to pack all your belongings in 2 bags: 1 rucksack and 1 soft travel bag.
 1 - The rucksack :
A hiking rucksack with a capacity of around 35 litres, it will be useful for carrying your personal belongings during the day (warm clothing, water bottle, picnic, camera, binoculars, etc.).
 2 - The large, soft travel bag:
This should hold the rest of your belongings.