Walking Holidays

Experience required: General hill walking in the UK


N.B. Glacier walking courses now available in June, Email us for course dates.

a) If guided we will pick up and deliver to/from Turin airport or local train stations
b) 5 days walking with a qualified walking guide at a ratio of 1:5
c) Breakfast, and evening meal for each day – self catering available if unguided
d) Packed lunches Monday to Friday
e) Accommodation in Chalet in Vallouise
f) Optional evening lectures

What’s On Offer:
Simply put we are in a hiking paradise, where the majority of outdoor activists are mountain walkers. The Hautes Alpes, or the Ecrins Massif as it is more commonly known, comprises an area over 30 times larger than the Chamonix Valley. The region boasts the largest concentration of mountain valleys and meadowland in France, and the majority of these spectacular alpine walking areas are easily accessible from AlpBase.com, as we are located in the mountain village of Vallouise, gateway to the Ecrins Massif itself. Plus this area is renowned for its 300 days of sunshine every year, which means the conditions are very reliable, and it is rare to miss a day’s hiking.

In our valley there are over 600km of marked paths, and in the Hautes Alpes a total of 6,800km. The trails in this region fall into three categories: GR’s which are major long distance routes taking many days, GR de Pays, which are local footpaths that take 1 or 2 days, and PR’s which are local walking and hiking circuits that only take a few hours.

The Ecrins National Park has abundant wildlife. Look out for eagles, chamois, willow grouse, marmots, black grouse, ptarmigan, blanchons, and even stoats....in all 167 rare and valuable species. The flora is equally diverse – 1,800 varieties with 387 rare species. Away from the traditional lavender fields of Provence you might find blue thistles, lilies and purple gentians and high altitude plants such as androsace, saxifrage, silene and edelweiss.

In addition, the Parc Regional du Queyras, a nature reserve that is quite unique in the Alps, is only 20 minutes from us. Throughout the park’s 650 km2 there are many mountain trails across wild, colourful countryside full of both traditional flowers of Provence as well as those from the Arctic and the Caucasus. Yet another world to explore and delight in.

Living here year round we have come to know the Ecrins well and have selected our most favourite walks and alpine hikes. Each of our walking holidays is bespoke as they are designed around the individual’s ability and experience. If you would like to take the unguided option you have the choice whether to just follow the suggested route for each day or to devise your own diversions to places of particular interest to you. The suggested walking in the Ecrins is mainly on good footpaths or tracks, many of which are way marked. If you prefer to be guided we have a list of over 100 walks that we will select from so they are appropriate to your party.