Tour du Queyras in autumnal firmament
Activity
Difficulty
Duration
Dates
Price
From 1320.00 €
About the Queyras autumn tour
In autumn, the Queyras is decked out in its most beautiful colors. The larch trees blaze before winter, illuminating the mountains in golden and orange hues. At this time of year, the trails are quieter, the herds have descended and you can enjoy a more intimate experience of the Queyras tour than in high summer.
What if autumn was the perfect time to showcase the fabulous landscapes of the Hautes Alpes?
You will leave with :
Julien D.
Trekking Guide
“Every step is an invitation to contemplation, every sunset a reminder of nature’s simple, profound beauty.”
Photo gallery of the Queyras autumn tour
Tour du Queyras trekking route
Upcoming departures
What's included in the formula
- Supervision by a state-qualified French mountain leader
- Accommodation in refuges, gîtes or inns in dormitories on a half-board basis
- Possible showers in accommodation
- Luggage transfers between accommodation venues
- Picnic lunches purchased at the huts, in town or brought to the huts
- Snacks during the walk in the form of dried fruit
- Organization costs
What's not included in the package
- Transfers to and from the meeting point
- Personal expenses: drinks, …
- Personal trekking and travel equipment (boots, poles, rucksack, etc.)
- Cancellation and repatriation assistance insurance to be taken out on registration.
- Anything not indicated in the section “included in the price of the stay”.
Day 1: Morning meeting in Ceillac
You’ll meet your guide in Ceillac at 8:30am for the start of this Grand Tour.
You’ll pass over the Col des Estronques to reach your first summit: the Tête de la Jacquette (2757 m). Quite a program! You’ll already enjoy the first views over the Queyras valleys.
You’ll then descend the mountainside to reach Saint-Véran, France’s highest commune, and spend the evening and night in the village.
Day 2: The upper Aygue Blanche valley
5 hours 30 mins walk – Overnight in gîte – D+ 950 m / D- 650 m
We start from the hamlet of Chalp towards the village of Saint Véranwhere we discover magnificent historical treasures. The path winds up the Aigue Blanche valley, where imposing 3000m peaks tower. We climb up fairly gentle slopes to the Col de Longet at 2701m. From the pass, we might want to do an easy summit to prolong the pleasure of being there, before descending into a beautiful larch forest. Short transfer to the Chalp where we spend the night.
Day 3: From valley to valley
5 hrs 30 mins – Overnight in gîte – D+ 250 m / D- 1300 m (without Sugar Loaf ascent)
7 hrs 30 mins – Overnight in gîte – D+ 650 m / D- 1700 m (with ascent to Sugar Loaf)
After a short morning transfer, we start the day with a climb to the Col Vieux, close to 3000m peaks such as Pic Foréant or the Pain de Sucre, which we can climb depending on conditions. The descent takes us to two beautiful mountain lakes beneath the impressive Cutting then a view We take in the magnificent view of Mont Viso, the local lord, before crossing a golden mélézin. We continue to Abriès where we spend the night.
Day 4: High altitude lakes
D’Abrièswe climb to the abandoned hamlet of Malrifa testimony to the hard life of farmers before the modern era. We continue through forests and colorful alpine meadows towards the Malriffrom where we enjoy a magnificent view of the eastern Queyras. The descent takes us through a new valley before arriving at the village of Aiguilles. Transfer to Souliers.
Day 5: Up close to the giant
Froms Meyrièswe go up to the Col de la Créche, which offers a breathtaking view of the Queyras massif. From here, we continue into the Vallon de Péas below the imposing Pic de Rochebrune, one of the massif’s highest peaks,to the dolomitic rocks. We leave the marked paths for an easy off-trail route to the crest of Crépaud before descending through a beautiful mélézin to the Souliers sheepfold. An easy trail takes us to the hamlet of Souliers, where we spend the night.
Day 6: The wild valley
From Souliers, we quickly discover the magnificent Lac de Roue, nestled in a larch forest. We then descend to Arvieux, before ascending through a beautiful forest to the Vallon de Fontouse. The pass of the same name opens up a passage between the imposing walls of the Dent du Ratier and Barre Noire. The descent, rich in beautiful scenery, takes us from alpine pastures to remote hamlets towards Villargaudin where we spend the night.
Day 7: The wide open spaces of Queyras
Today, depending on the conditions and form of the group, two options are possible.
We start from Montbardon and montons to the chalets of Fontantie. We emerge onto a high plateau where the Pointe de la Selle is enthroned. We make our way across these wide-open spaces, dotted with burning larches, before crossing over to Col Fromage. In front of us, the beautiful Font massif. Sancte shoots its spikes into the sky. Depending on the mood and conditions, we can continue on the Chambrettes ridge or descend directly to Ceillac.. Once we arrive in this emblematic Queyras village, we celebrate the end of our journey.
Highlights of the trip
General information
REGISTRATION
By post:
Ask us for a registration form
- by phone: 06 65 93 29 29
- or e-mail: contact@watse.fr
Send us your registration with a copy of your passport, your postal address, telephone number and e-mail address, together with a deposit of 35% of the cost of the trip.
Also, if you wish to take out a Comfort or Comfort Multirisk cancellation insurance policy, this must be paid at the same time as the deposit when you register. You can consult our insurance contracts on our website.
By internet:
Book your stay directly on our website: directly on the stay page, choosing your dates and insurance options.
ATTENTION: air fares will be maintained until 3 months before departure and may be readjusted if necessary when registering during this period.
ASSISTANCE AND SAFETY
We strongly advise you to take out assistance insurance for the duration of your trip.
We offer two different types of insurance: Comfort Cancellation and Comfort Multirisk, to be taken out when you register for your trip.
Details of this insurance are available on request or can be viewed by by clicking here.
Other offers include Mondial Assistance, your own insurance company or Club Alpin Français. Check that your trekking activity is covered.
Make sure your insurance covers all medical expenses in the event of an accident.
You must make sure that you are covered for mountain rescue costs. If this is the case, you must provide us with the following information before you set off on your trek:
- a certificate from the insurance company covering mountain rescue costs.
- the contract number and telephone number of the assistance center
Beware of restrictive clauses in certain insurance policies (particularly those linked to Visa Premier, Gold or other cards), such as mountain insurance limited to snow activities, or altitude sickness not recognized as an illness requiring repatriation, which will be refused.
Please check the actual content of your insurance and take the necessary steps if necessary.
Health & climate
CLIMATE
Temperatures vary according to altitude. It can reach 30°C in summer on the plains, or sub-zero on the summits.
Summer thunderstorms are common in the French Alps.
HEALTH AND VACCINES
No vaccinations required.
We strongly recommend that you are up to date with the usual vaccinations: diphtheria-tetanus-poliomyelitis, whooping cough, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, hepatitis A and B.
We recommend that you have a check-up with your dentist before you leave.
IFREMMONT
No specific indications.
Transport and conditions
For an additional fee, we can arrange transportation to and from the start and/or finish of the trek. Contact us or let us know your requirements when booking.
LUGGAGE
Luggage transfer to and from accommodation is provided by our team during the trek.
The stay
MEALS
Picnics for lunch are ordered from the refuges or made up of local produce bought en route in the villages. Evening and morning meals are taken in refuges, gîtes or inns.
Snacks are provided, but you can also bring your own.
If you have a special diet, please let us know as soon as possible.
ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation in gites, inns or refuges in shared dormitories.
TRAINING
Supervision by a state-qualified French mountain leader.
Practical info
ELECTRICITY
Some (but not all) refuges offer charging facilities for small electronic devices (smartphones, cameras).
FORMALITIES AND VISA
No visa required for French nationals and citizens of bordering countries.
BUDGET, CHANGE AND TIPS
Meals not included (cold drinks, snacks, etc.) and accommodation are included in the price of the stay. Tipping is not necessary and should reflect your satisfaction with the team.
Watse added value
THE BEST
ACCOMMODATION
The refuges and lodges on this trek have been selected by our teams for their ideal location and the quality of their welcome.
AN EXPERT GUIDE
DU QUEYRAS
A French Watse guide specializing in the area is on hand throughout.
HOMEMADE PICNICS
During the Tour du Queyras, your picnics are prepared with fresh, local produce at the refuge and/or by your guide.