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The floating villages of the Queyras

here is a walker’s delight in the unspoilt high valleys of the Queyras
  • Duration 8 days
  • Activity Walking holiday
  • Holiday among adults
  • Theme mountain
760€

Information : The floating villages of the Queyras

  • Comfort
  • Difficulty
  • Note
  • Roadbooks French / German

Presentation

The Queyras: 2500 inhabitants, 2500 chamois, 2500 flower species.
The Queyras resembles an archipelago sheltered from the worries of the modern world. Here the sun shines for 300 days a year. Valleys perched from 1600 to 2000 metres, cradle of the highest villages in Europe, wend their way towards Italy. In these mountain villages, buildings wrought from wood and stone seem to melt into the natural environment.
Tourist activity here has developed thanks to the richness of Nature, never to its detriment. Flora and fauna of impressive variety may be seen: there are 650 square kilometres in which a rare gem may be sought. Royal eagle, marmot, chamois, wolf, Eurasian eagle owl, black grouse, brown trout, arolla pine, larch, edelweiss, Turk's cap lily...

You'll love

  • sleeping beneath the stars in Europe's loftiest villages
  • the mountain flora and fauna
  • the amazing Southern Alps weather - more than 300 sunny days a year!
  • visiting the oldest house in Saint-Véran
  • the night in a mountain hut
     
 

Program : The floating villages of the Queyras

  • D1 Around Molines

    Arrival late afternoon in Molines.
    Welcome and settling in.
    Dinner at night at the 2 star hotel (altitude 1820 m).

  • D2 Walk around Molines

    12 km with 350 m altitude change (4 hrs).
    You follow the trace of a former canal which leads to a hamlet called Prats Hauts.
    Panoramic viewpoint over the high valleys of the Queyras and the distant mountains of the Southern Alps.
    Dinner and night at the two star hotel (altitude 1820 m).

  • D3 From Molines to Le Coin

    10.5 km with 550 m altitude change (3 hrs).
    The path follows the route of a former canal. It goes up to the village of Pierre-Grosse. Note the fine houses built in typically Queyras style: these "fustes" (formerly signifying long wooden ship!) are constructed in solid larchwood.

    Dinner and night at the 2 star hotel at 2000metres!

  • D4 Around Le Coin

    15 km with 350m altitude change (5hrs).
    An unusual cornice walk along the former Rouchas Frach canal into the valley of the Aigue Agnelle.
    On the outward stretch you admire the scenery and on the way back you are part of it! The path has recently been improved, with handrails to increase safety in tricky sections.

    Dinner and night at the 2 star hotel (altitude 2000 metres).

  • D5 From Le Coin to the mountain hut ('refuge') at La Blanche

    16,4km Alpine stage with 990m climb - around 6hrs.
    What a fine walk today! You set off from the valley of L'Aigue Agnelle to reach the valley of L'Aigue Blanche.
    Between the two you have to go over the Col (pass) du Longet at no less than 2700 metres altitude and with surely one of the finest views across the mountains of the Queyras.

    Dinner and night in the 2 star refuge at 2500 metres.
    A night in a refuge is quite different from a night in a hotel: it is a unique mountain experience that you will never forget!

  • D6 From the mountain refuge at La Blanche to Saint Véran

    13 km with 380 m total uphill (about 4 hrs).
    First thing this morning is a little climb up to 2738 metres, the highest point of your stay. The gentle descent down the valley brings you to the remains of a former marble quarry. Then you go along the so-called 'grand canal' which passes below a former copper quarry. This lovely route along the mountainside brings you to the first houses of Saint Véran.

    Dinner and night in 2 star hotel (altitude 1950 metres).

  • D7 From Saint Véran to Molines

    The shorter of the 2 options is 8km long with 225 metres uphill (around 2hours30).
    It's an easy stroll in the valley of La Blanche. You go past the chapel of Sainte Agathe and the honey production of La Chalp.
    The longer route is more difficult: 12 kms long with total uphill 785metres (about 5hrs).
    This is for seasoned walkers only; the route takes you to the chapel of Saint Simon and over the pastures of the Col Fromage.
    Once you've picked up your vehicle in Molines, you return to spend the night at Saint Véran.

    Dinner and night in 2 star hotel (1950 m).

  • D8 Departure

    Breakfast, followed by departure.

Tariffs high season

FROM JULY TO AUGUST, DEPARTURE EVERYDAY

IN A DOUBLE ROOM

Adult : 790 €
Junior (12 - 17) :  790 €

IN A TRIPLE ROOM

Adult : 750 €
Junior (12 - 17) :  750 €

IN A SINGLE ROOM

980 €

SOLO TRAVELLER

1015 €

Tariffs low season

From the 15th of June to the 1st of July and from the 1st to the 15th of september, departure everyday

IN A DOUBLE ROOM

Adult : 760 €
Junior (12 - 17) :  760 €

IN A TRIPLE ROOM

Adult : 720 €
Junior (12 - 17) :  720 €

IN A SINGLE ROOM

950 €

SOLO TRAVELLER

985 €

What's included?

  • Half board in 2 star hotels or chalet-hostelry.
  • One night in a comfortable half-board mountain refuge
  • Roadbook and routemarked maps provided
  • Update GPS tracks
  • Technical and logistical support
  • Baggage transfer by vehicle
  • Private parking for your vehicle

Optional

  • Picnics for the whole trip:  84 € per adult or junior

What's not included?

  • Beverage and extra
  • Round trip transfer from Home to the first accomodation
  • Facultative cancellation and repatriation insurance

Characteristics of circuits

  • Walking holiday going from place to place, without guide.
  • Daily stages between 4 and 16.4km, 1hrs30 to 6hrs walking.
  • Total uphill between 100 and 990 metres per day.
  • You need to be in good shape to undertake this journey.
  • Altitude between 1820 et 2740 metres.

Organisation

  • These walks are more about relaxed exploration than athletic performance. We carry your luggage between lodgings and provide all necessary logistical support. Your roadbook will guide you all along the way.
  • On longer holidays you change accommodation every other day, which gives you the chance to discover your surroundings or simply take your time and relax...
  • Hotels and mountain hostelries have been chosen for their atmosphere, warm welcome and environmental and architectural excellence.
  • There is naturally a more rudimentary level of comfort the night you spend in the mountain refuge: you will sleep in a dormitory; bedcovers and pillows are provided. Your luggage stays in the chalet-hostelry youyou were in the night before, so for this stretch you need a medium sized backpack with your personal stuff, a change of clothing, a small towel, a sleeping bag liner, and a pocket or forehead lamp.
  • These are half board circuits. Picnics are extra and may be ordered at reservation.

N.B : the accommodation described above is given as an indication and may vary according to availability at the moment your reservation is finalized.

Access

By car

From Paris (730 km) - Marseille (260 km) - Lyon (270 km)

By air

Marseille-Provence airport or Lyon St-Exupéry airport

By train

Guillestre-Montdauphin railway station. Then by taxi or bus to the accommodation in Molines en Queyras

Comments

Global note
5.0
  • On recommande, on recommande ! Une proximité avérée avec le terrain. Des services précieux s'agissant d'itinérance.

  • A really enjoyable holiday with very well thought out walking routes through wonderful scenery and hills covered with Alpine flowers. Lovely small hotels in quiet and picturesque villages. All Safrantours arrangements worked perfectly.

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The floating villages of the Queyras
I agree to receive newsletters from Safran Tours
The General Data Protection Regulation - GDPR, or RGPD in French - is the new regulation that determines how businesses may handle customers’ computerised personal data. In accordance with the provisions of French legislation, namely Act No. 78-17 of 6th January 1978 as amended variously up to, we inform you that the personal data you provide will be computerized and treated with the utmost confidentiality. Only authorized persons may access your data and this for strictly internal purposes. You have the right to access, correct or delete information about yourself by simply contacting us at reservations@safrantours.com *