Tour du Vieux Chaillol - Self Guided Walking Holiday in the Alps

This is one of the classic long distance refuge to refuge walking routes the French Alps are famous for.  Whilst the walking is challenging in the mountains, the routes are easy to follow and waymarked with paint marks and sign posts. Despite this, we insist that you still need to be able to read a map and use a compass. We provide IGN paper maps when you arrive and recommend you trace the route yourselves using a highlighter. We will also ring the refuge each night to make sure that you have arrived.

This itinerary is based on a classic self-guided route but it is possible to do some variations. Please let us know if you would like to include any of the variations when you enquire.

When you arrive at Le Gite D'etape les Paris we will meet you to say hello, explain the route and give you all your maps and and vouchers for the walk.

We'll be able to answer any questions you may have and talk through the logistics of the trip.

We will collect you from Gap at the arranged time and drop you off at an agreed point in the valley so you can complete your first day's walk to the refuge. The walk described below is the full hike starting from the opening of the valley. Depending on the time of your arrival and how much time you have for walking, we can drop you off further up the valley to shorten this walk. We will take your main baggage at this point and drop it off at the last refuge for you for the end of the hike. As such, please be ready and packed with your rucksack ready for your long distance hike!

Distance: 2 to 25.2km   Ascent: 0 -908m   Descent: 0 - 472m  Min Altitude: 909m  Max Altitude: 1447m

This is a magnificent walk through the 'Himalayan' Valgaudemar valley. It has a dramatic, high mountain ambiance with 3000m peaks towering over you on both sites.

This is the perfect walk to get you warmed up, it's long and gentle without too much steep ascent. You can add an extra hike for some ascent if you feel energetic and take in the Oulles, a beautiful canyon and visit the deserted village of Navette en route. It is also possible to cut it shorter and get a lift further down the valley if you wish. Please ask us to about this.

Distance: 9.92km    Ascent: 942m   Descent: 70m  Min Altitude: 1407m Max Altitude: 2279m

This is the first big climb of the trip, and it is spectacular! You will come across classic alpine scenery; glaciers, snow-capped mountains, with meadows, and fast flowing rivers. The Vallonpierre refuge is situated on a high mountain plateau with a little lake at the foot of the Sirac summit. It is pretty much up hill all the way with respite on some of the less steep sections!

VARIATIONS

La Chapelle - Refuge Gioberney at the end of the valley(1642m) OR Refuge du Pigeonnier 2427m

If you wanted to do an extra day of walking, you could extend your trip in 2 ways.

From La Chapelle, there is nice gentle ascent up to the Gioberney refuge. From here you can either call it a day or walk up to the Lac du Lauzon - it's about 2.5 hours walk from the Gioberney and is a spectacular Lake with great mountain views.

Or you can even carry on up to the Refuge du Pigeonnier (another hour) situated under Les Rouies glacier. Excellent crepes available here! It is also possible to stop over night in the Pigeonnier to add an extra day to your journey and either walk down to Gioberney or down and then back up to Vallonpierre the next day.

Distance: 11.5km   Ascent: 649m   Descent: 1134m  Min Altitude: 1793m  Max Altitude: 2655m

This is really the highlight and one of the wildest parts of the hiking route with no civilization within walking distance so keep your binoculars at the ready for wildlife spotting.

It is also the day you reach the highest points of the walk when you cross the col de Vallonpierre taking you over into the Champoleon valley and then over the Gouilan col and the col de la Valette before reaching your destination at the refuge Pré de la Chaumette.

Distance: 13.41km    Ascent: 374m   Descent: 486m   Min Altitude:1344   Max Altitude: 1817

After two big days, you will be ready for an easier one. This is a gentle walk up out of the high mountains into the large and spectacular valley of Champoleon and then up to the Refuge du Tourond from one of the side valleys.

Very pretty walk and popular with families - quite a different ambiance from the wild mountains you have come from!

The refuge is one of the best refuges in the area with good food and a warm welcome. It's the perfect place to spend your afternoon chilling. If you want to stretch your legs for a bit longer, there are several walks you can do from the refuge or you can even go for a dip in one of the streams or rivers.

As per your first day, we will arrange to collect you at an agreed point either at the end of this walk or a shorter version of it, depending on your timings and take you back to Gap for your afternoon or evening train or transport. We will also collect your baggage from Chaillol.

Distance: 25km    Ascent: 860m    Descent: 1325m Min Altitude: 972m  Max Altitude: 1978

The last day of your tour you will spend traversing round the terraces overlooking the Champsaur valley. You will make your way back around to the Gite les Paris in the mouth of the Valgaudemar valley.

You will see some very different scenery with unusual rock formations, open views and the river Drac in the valley.

Distance: 13.5km   Ascent: 845m    Descent: 951m  Min Altitude: 1598  Max Altitude: 2478

The second big climb up to the Col de Venasque takes you to another very different landscape. You will have views over Chaillol and the Champsaur valley with rolling (relatively speaking) hills and hedgerows.

This really is a spectacular variation from the classic tour and well worth it. You will pass the beautiful La Pisse waterfall and work your way up through woods and then open mountainside to the col.

The last section is steep in parts. 

There is the option of taking in the peak of the Vieux Chaillol 3163m on this day which would add another 4 hours onto the day and another 675m of ascent (you would have to be feeling very fit to do this!!)

The sad day when we say goodbye but we hope you'll be going home with sun-kissed cheeks, stronger legs and lots of happy memories!