Discover the Clarée Valley on snowshoes
Activity
Difficulty
Duration
Dates
Price
From 865.00 €
About snowshoeing in the Clarée Valley
Discover the authentic Clarée valley and its breathtaking scenery with this star circuit devised by our guides.
Bordering the Ecrins massif and the Italian Piedmont, this Natura 2000 listed valley offers an unspoilt, wild and varied environment. A haven of peace in winter, its abundant snow cover, exceptional scenery and wildlife make it a unique playground for snowshoe trekking.
A total change of scenery awaits you during this stay, with nights in a warm and welcoming gîte. The owners offer seasonal, local and/or organic cuisine that will delight your taste buds after our daily excursions.
Our groups are small for this trip, maximum 8 people.
You will leave with :
Pierrick
Trekking Guide
“The most important thing for me is to allow walkers to discover new places, new cultures and to exchange with the locals.”
Photo gallery of the Clarée Valley snowshoe hike
Snowshoeing in the Clarée Valley
Upcoming departures
What's included in the formula
- Supervision by a qualified mountain leader.
- Half-board in a cosy gîte with local/organic cuisine for 5 nights.
- Picnic lunches and lunch at the Buffère refuge on day 6.
- Loan of snowshoes, poles and safety equipment.
What's not included in the package
- Cancellation and repatriation assistance insurance to be taken out on registration.
- Personal hiking equipment (shoes, clothes, rucksack, first-aid kit).
- Transport to the meeting point on D1 and return transport at the end of the day on D6.
- Single room or single occupancy supplement (on request, subject to availability).
- The supplement for special diets.
- Everything not indicated in the price includes.
Day 1: Welcome to Névache!
Meet at 2pm at the gîte.
We set off for a short jaunt to the Col de l’Echelle to get to know each other and familiarize ourselves with the use of safety equipment.
Back at the gite, we’ll take our time settling into our apartments, after which our guide will give you an overview of the week’s activities. A great program awaits you for this week of mountain immersion!
Day 2: Fontcouverte waterfall
5 hours’ walk – Picnic lunch – Overnight in gîte – D+: 500 m / D-: 500 m
On this first day, we’re off to discover the Fontcouverte waterfall, which is particularly beautiful at this time of year, adorned in its veil of ice. To get there, we take the famous Clarée valley and its magnificent larch forests. In winter, only skiers and snowshoers can get here, so you can really get away from it all!
Day 3: Col des Thures and Lac Chavillon
5h30 hours walk – Picnic lunch – Night in gîte – D+ : 670 m / D- : 670 m
If you’re a lover of wide open spaces, you’ll be delighted by this day at the Col des Thures (2194m). Access to this remarkable snow-covered plateau is both accessible and varied. It offers a unique view of the Rois Mages range, the Aiguille Rouge and the Thabor massif.
Day 4: Lac Laramon via the Ricou refuge
6 hours’ walk – Picnic lunch – Overnight in gîte – D+: 800 m / D-: 800 m
A beautiful day of snowshoeing awaits us! Access to the Ricou refuge is via the Clarée valley, and we take advantage of its gentle ascent to soak up the unique beauty of the area. Perched at 2,359m, Lac Laramon offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Cerces massif, Queyrellin and the Clarée valley.
Day 5: Cristol Lake
5-hour walk – Picnic lunch – Overnight in gîte – D+: 700 m / D-: 700 m
We return to the valley’s emblematic larch trees for a steady climb through the forest to the plateau hosting Lac de Cristol (2,245 m). This little-traveled route takes us into a vast cirque at the foot of the Gardiole mountain range, where the scenery is once again grandiose.
Day 6: Lunch at the Buffère refuge
4h walking – D+: 520 m / D-: 520 m
For this last day, we propose a pleasant climb to the Buffère refuge, where we’ll enjoy a delicious meal in an idyllic setting.
In the afternoon, back at the refuge, it’s time to say goodbye to your guide and this unforgettable valley.
Highlights of the trip
General information
SAFETY
You can find the Quai d’Orsay’s position on these countries on the official website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: diplomatie.gouv.fr in the “Conseils aux voyageurs” section.
The information contained on the website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs is subject to change and is given for guidance only. Please note that no region of the world or country can be considered safe from the risk of terrorism.
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 30% 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 holiday directly on our website: directly on the holiday page, choosing your dates and insurance options.
ATTENTION: air fares will be maintained until 3 months before departure and may be readjusted if necessary if you book 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
JET LAG
No time difference.
CLIMATE
Summer and winter alike, temperatures in the mountains vary with altitude, and the way they feel can be greatly affected by the intensity of the wind.
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
A minibus is available throughout the stay for short transfers in the valley. We start most days on foot directly from the gîte.
AIR
No specific indications.
LUGGAGE
Your luggage is returned to the gîte each evening.
The stay
MEALS
Picnic lunches prepared with care by the gîte. Morning and evening meals at the gîte.
We recommend you bring your own snacks for picnics.
Please let us know as soon as possible if you have a special diet. A supplement of 3euros for strict special diets and/or menu changes will be charged by the gîte. If, however, you are comfortable with simply not eating certain things by removing them (bearing in mind that the menu is varied and the dishes copious), there will be no extra charge.
ACCOMMODATION
Comfortable gîte accommodation in 2-person rooms. Shared bathroom facilities.
Single rooms available on request and subject to availability.
TRAINING
Supervision by a state-qualified French mountain leader.
Practical info
ELECTRICITY
You can recharge your electronic devices every day at the gîte.
FORMALITIES AND VISA
No visa required for French nationals and citizens of bordering countries.
BUDGET, CHANGE AND TIPS
Daily travel, meals (excluding extras such as soft drinks, snacks, special diets, etc.) and accommodation are included in the price of the stay. Tipping is not compulsory and should reflect your satisfaction with the team.
Watse added value
CAREFULLY PREPARED PICNICS
During the stay, picnics are prepared using fresh local produce.
QUALITY ACCOMMODATION
The chosen accommodation is selected by our team for its geographical location and the quality of its welcome.
TRANSFERS IN PRIVATE VEHICLES
During your stay, all transfers between your accommodation and the trailheads will be by private vehicle, to give you maximum freedom and avoid any inconvenience.