Welcome to Hooked on Walking holidays and our walking holidays in France. This Hiking vacation in France is located in the Ardeche region of the Rhone Alps. This walking tour is available as a 7 night self guided hike which we have graded as level 2-3. This is a fabulous two centre walking holiday based in the Parc Naturel regional des Monts d'Ardèche. You will stay 3 nights near a quiet village by the Volane river and the other 4 nights around one of the most picturesque hilltop villages in the Ardèche. Both villages are inhabited by locals all year round and have a community feel to them. The walks are situated around lots of rivers and valleys and therefore include steep climbs up several hundred metres with views stretching as far away as Mont Ventoux.
Available daily April - October ( Not July or August )
Level 2-3 self guided tour
Day 1 Arrive in Labastide
Day 2 Walk to Lyonnès (1210m) 8.4 miles 13.5km
Today this walk will take you from the hamlet Chastagnier Gourd (altitude 700m) towards the village of Labastide, a sprawling village surrounded by many traditional hamlets and with it’s very own chateau ruin. Walking up to 1210m at Lyonnés, taking in forest paths, this walk will provide some spectacular views across the region. Labastide is more rural and a little further away from the main commercial towns (20 minutes) but is very much an all-year round community like many mountainous villages in the Ardèche. Popular with hikers and cyclists, this area offers some picturesque scenery. Walking time Approx. 5 hours
Day 3 Walk via Granges de Sausses (1270m) 9.6 miles 15.4 km
Starting from the centre of the village you will take in one of the region’s most stunning views of the Vallée de la Besorgues shortly after starting this walk. From here you continue to climb up to Granges de Sausses before making your descent via the little village of Freyssenet (note the little Chapel and communal bread oven) and follow Le Besorgues river back to Labastide village. Walking time Approx. 5 hours
Day 4 Walk from Labastide-sur-Besorgues to Antraigues-sur-Volane
Without your suitcases, which will be transferred for you, you can enjoy the leisurely walk from village to village. This was known as the Count of Antraigues’ walk as in the early days he would travel with his horses from his chateau in Labastide (now a ruin) to Antraigues where his offices were, taking in several hamlets on the way. When you reach the village of Aizac take a little detour up to the Coupe d’Aizac (this is one of the regions ‘young’ volcanoes) and return to follow the original walk via hamlets down to Antraigues. Approx. 3-4hrs.
Antraigues is one of Ardèche’s most picturesque villages, set high up on a hilltop (470m) in the chestnut region. Just 10 minutes from the famous spa town of Vals-les-Bains, this is your picture-postcard medieval French village full of old stone houses and cobbled streets.
Transfer to here from Labastide is via foot for clients and cases will be taken by hosts. By car approx. 15 minutes. Parking is available at both villages.
Day 5 Chateau walk 10.2 miles 16.4 km
Taking you out of the village (470m) you will descend down to the river and on up towards the Chateau. Underfoot you will have scree, well-trodden tracks and many stone steps. Before you reach the chateau you take a detour to the village of Genestelle (650m) where you walk through several charming hamlets and panoramic views across the Sandron valley. Back to the village you retrace your steps and head towards the chateau (660m) and from here you will take in stunning views down to the village of Antraigues and beyond. The chateau is currently under renovation and will be home to local arts & crafts people demonstrating their skills in the traditional way. The return back down to the village is a descent down narrow stone tracks and then a final steep climb up the original path to the village. Walking time about 5 hours depending on photo-stops.
Day 6 Aizac walk 9.6 miles 15 km
Turning left out of the chambre d’hote, you descend to the lower part of the village and cross over a little bridge by a restaurant. (420m) . From here it is an uphill walk for the next 40 minutes. This will take you through chestnut groves and past a few houses. Once you reach the winding road at the top you continue upwards on the road itself until you reach the little crossroads in the village (640m). In autumn, the locals celebrate the chestnut with a festival here in the square and in summer, various fetes are held for locals and visitors. The chestnut is one of rural Ardèche’s main sources of income and many local restaurants will include a chestnut-based dish on their menu. Heading up a rough track you will pass nearby one of the region’s gourmet restaurants – Well worth a stop if you want to reserve ahead. When you reach a crossroads in the track at the Les Pargeades signpost you can either continue up to Faux Fay (1160m) to take in views as far across as the Alps or turn back down to Aizac via Chastagnier Gourd (700m). Walking time 5-6 hours.
Day 7 Walk to nearby village of Bise 8 miles 13 km
This walk takes you the other side of Antraigues to a little village of Bise (5km) . If you are here around April you may be able to take in one of their markets where craftsmen sell their wares and locals sell regional produce such as goat’s cheese and wine. Once through the village go up a winding path to the hamlet of Le Mas (590m) before returning alongside the river Le Mas back to Antraigues. Walking time approx 4hrs.
Day 8 Departure
Difficulty
Level 2-3
Accommodation
We use Chambre D’Hotes accommodation on this walk. ( 2 persons minimum)
2007 Prices - 2008 prices coming soon
|
Tour Code HOWARD1 |
Price per persons based on 2 persons sharing double room |
£544 |
Single person |
N/A |
|
How to get there
By plane to Lyon and train/Bus to Aubenas where transfers are available. Or by train ( TGV ) to Valence and coach to Aubenus. You can al,so fly low cost Nimes or other local airports and rent a car then Marseilles airport 2hr 20mins , Lyon – 2.5hrs, Avignon 2hrs, Nimes 2hrs.
To view other walking holidays in France
Click Below if you would like to review our
Cycling Holidays in France
HOME |
