Tour des Ecrins
Activities
Difficulty
Duration
Dates
Price
From 1145.00 €
About the Tour des Ecrins trek
Classified as a National Park since 1973 and much less well known than the Mont Blanc massif, the Ecrins, or the Oisans massif for the purists, offer hikers who dare to undertake this Grand Tour a multitude of landscapes as beautiful as they are varied.
A real natural barrier between the northern and southern Alps, you’ll discover a wild and little-traveled massif.
You will leave with :
Roman
Trekking Guide
“The most important thing for me is to allow walkers to discover new places, new cultures and to exchange with the locals.”
Tour des Ecrins trek photo gallery
The Tour des Ecrins trek 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 at lodgings
- Luggage transfers except on the evenings indicated in the description
- Picnic lunches bought at the refuges, in town or brought to the refuges
- Snacks during the walk in the form of dried fruit
What's not included in the package
- Transfers to the meeting point and from the end of the trek
- Personal trekking and travel equipment (boots, poles, rucksack, etc.)
- Cancellation and repatriation assistance insurance to be taken out on registration.
- Everything not mentioned in the price includes
Day 1: Arrival at Monêtier-les-Bains
Overnight in hostel or B&B
You’ll meet your guide at 6:00 pm in Monêtier-les Bains to be briefed for the start of this beautiful trek in the Alps.
Eight days of mountain dreams await you.
Day 2: From Monêtier-les-Bains to the La Grave valley
6 hours’ walk – Overnight in a gîte or inn – D+: 850 m / D-: 750 m
You’ll start your loop from the eastern end of the Ecrins massif. The first ascent is to the Col d’Arsine at 2340m, dominated by the Pic de Neige Cordier.
You’ll immediately be in the mood for a superb view. Then it’s back down to the La Grave valley for the night.
Day 3: Crossing the Emparis plateau
6 hours’ walk – 15 minutes’ transfer – Overnight in gîte – D+: 800 m / D-: 1300 m
After a short morning transfer to the hamlet of Le Chazelet, you’ll cross the Emparis plateau, which offers one of the finest views of the peaks of La Meije and Le Rateau.
Then you’ll descend to Lac de Chambon, where you’ll spend the night.
Day 4: Discovering Valsenestre
This morning, you’ll take a vehicle to the village of Venosc. From there, you’ll head for the Col de la Muzelle at 2613m, passing the refuge and the superb lake of the same name.
The atmosphere becomes mineral and wild as we descend towards Valsenestre and our gîte.
Day 5: From Valsenestre to Désert en Valjouffrey
You are now on the western edge of the Ecrins massif. From now on, you’re moving southwards and the vegetation is changing.
Head for the Valjouffrey valley via the Côte Belle pass at 2290m to reach the gîte at Désert en Valjouffrey for the night.
Day 6: Off to Valgaudemar
During this stage, you’ll climb to the Col de la Vaurze at 2520m below the Pic des Souffles, before descending into the famous and magnificent Valgaudemar valley dominated by L’Olan.
In the afternoon, you’ll take a vehicle to the other end of the valley for the night.
Day 7: From Valgaudemar to Pré de la Chaumette
You’ll set off this day for a long, magnificent day, crossing three passes below the Sirac summit.
From valley to valley, you’ll cross the Vallonpierre pass at 2607m, the Gouiran pass at 2597m and the Valette pass at 2668m. Overnight at the small Pré de la Chaumette refuge.
Day 8: Final arrival at Monêtiers-les-Bains
This is the last day of this magnificent loop around the Écrins. To finish it off, you’ll climb towards the Pas de la Cavale at 2735m to cross the Col de l’Aup Martin at 2761m in a very mineral and lunar environment.
You’ll then embark on a long descent into the Entraigues valley.
From there, you’ll be transferred by car to Monêtiers-Les-Bains. Admire the scenery one last time before your stay comes to an end and the group disperses.
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
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
Ground transportation is by private vehicle.
AIR
No specific indications.
LUGGAGE
You’ll carry only your gear for the day. You’ll find your luggage every evening in your accommodation, except on day 7. We bring your luggage each evening as indicated in the program, except on the evenings indicated as no luggage. We recommend that you pack your trekking gear in duffle bags, which are easier to carry.
The stay
MEALS
Breakfast and dinner are served in the accommodation. We provide a picnic lunch every morning.
You can also bring your favorite snacks.
If you have a special diet, please let us know as soon as possible.
ACCOMMODATION
During the trek, we stay in gites, hostels or refuges and in mixed dormitories:
- 4 nights in a gîte or inn in a mixed dormitory.
- 3 nights in a refuge in a mixed dormitory.
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
The stay is all-inclusive from departure to arrival. Only personal expenses (drinks, etc.) are not included in the price. Details of services provided or not provided are given in the “price includes” and “price does not include” sections. Tipping is not compulsory and should reflect your satisfaction with the team. Details of services provided or not provided are given in the “price includes” and “price does not include” sections. Tipping is not obligatory and should reflect your satisfaction with the team.
Watse added value
CAREFULLY PREPARED PICNICS
Picnics are prepared by our team using fresh local produce.
A CHOICE OF QUALITY ACCOMMODATION
Our accommodations have been carefully selected to offer you maximum comfort and quality cuisine.
VEHICULAR AND PRIVATE TRANSFERS.
For complete freedom and autonomy, all transfers are by private vehicle.