Starting at Besse en Oisans, your spectacular traverse will follow one of the best sections of the Tour of the Ecrins. The Ecrins have several amazing alpine summits which plunge dramatically into the Romanche Valley.
Accommodation & Meals
You’ll be staying in 4 different hotels. They are comfortable family-run hotels with a mix of styles. Private rooms for 2, some with bathrooms, some shared. You’ll be served wholesome local cuisine. All meals are included in your holiday price.
When to Travel
Our self-guided walking trail in the Ecrins is available from mid-June to mid-September. This is a moderate to high altitude walking holiday with passes above 2500m and so, depending on the spring weather conditions, there is a risk that several snow fields remain on the higher slopes in June. The weather during most of the walking season is similar with sunny days interspersed with potential heat-of-the-day showers or storms. There is little difference in terms of average weather between late June and early September, with June being better for wildflowers. July and August are the warmest months with August recording a slightly drier climate, on average. The risk of storms is usually greater in the afternoons, so setting off early is advisable. The busiest period in terms of fellow walkers is from Mid July to mid August. Late June is best for the wonderful alpine flowers and meadows. Early September is sometimes a good period for settled weather but you run the risk of encountering some cold conditions at night in the Autumn.
Navigation, Walking Notes & Maps
This walking holiday follows a mixture of local waymarked trails with a variety of coloured markings and the long-distance GR54 trail, the Tour of the Ecrins. There are also several signposts along the trail. The walking follows clear paths most of the time, but small sections on the higher passes and summits can be stony and less clear and/or follow geographic features as much as anything such as a ridgeline. Our walking notes are detailed (more information here). They also include information about the sites which can be explored along the route. We supply one walking guide per person on this holiday. As well as the detailed walking notes we supply walking maps. You’ll be provided with detailed walking maps.
Luggage Transfers
On this walking holiday your main luggage is transferred between accommodations by taxi so you only have to carry a day rucksack with a picnic lunch, water and spare clothes, waterproofs, camera etc. On this holiday a local taxi company is responsible for transporting your main luggage. The contact details for the taxis are included in your walking notes. Please limit the weight of your bags where possible to 15kg.
Travel Info
Meeting point at La Grave at the start of the holiday. Transfer between La Grave and your accommodation in Besse en Oisans is included in the holiday price.
End of holiday, take bus from Monetier to Grenoble or Briancon for onward train journey or to La Grave to collect car.
By Train
Eurostar and the TGV provide a relaxing journey from London to Lyon Part Dieu via Lille or Paris or direct on the early train. From Lyon you’ll need to take local train services to Grenoble or Briancon. Grenoble is much more practical and takes far less time, but at certain periods the onward bus journeys are less practical. Buses from Grenoble or Briancon to La Grave with service LER35. For more information on the bus see https://www.info-ler.fr/ Trains to Briancon go via Grenoble or via Valence and Gap. Also possible to take the Paris Turin train and get off at Oulx in Italy. Shuttle bus service from Oulx to Briancon.
www.eurostar.com
By Air and rail
Flights from the UK to Lyon St Exupery, then bus (Satobus) or tram to Lyon Part Dieu. Train then as detailed above.
Possibility to fly into other airports such as Marseille and then take the train from Marseille St Charles.
Please contact us for assistance in organising your travel arrangements
By Car
It is possible to drive and leave your car at La Grave. Once in France, the journey from Calais to the La Grave takes about 9 hours (excluding long breaks). Tolls amount to about 60 euros each way. Parking in one of the car parks close to
Extra Nights
This walking holiday in the Ecrins has a loop walk on the last day so you can add an extra night afterwards in Le Monetier before your onward journey.
Combining walking holidays
Access to the start of the holiday is via Grenoble where you can also quickly access our two walking holidays in the Vercors. We have a short-break walking tour and a longer traverse in the Vercors. Vercors – Tour of Mont Aiguille, Panoramic Vercors
From Le Monetier at the end of your hike it is also possible to catch a bus to Briançon from where it is a short train journey to the start of our walking holidays in the Queyras
We can also include a city break in Grenoble. Grenoble is a beautiful city surrounded by towering mountains with a picturesque historic heart dating back to the Romans as well as loads of museums and events. Not to be missed is the Bastille overlooking the city which you can visit via cable car or for the more adventurous by via ferrata!
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