3 days from 375 € per participant
Guaranteed departure from 5 people
Just a stone's throw from the Italian border, between Vauban forts and the legendary Col d'Izoard, lies the small village of Cervières. With two hundred inhabitants and ten times as many head of cattle, this is the real mountain!
Over the course of a weekend, leaving from our cosy and comfortable lodge, we'll take a short minibus ride around the village. Our main playground will be the Fonts valley, an unspoilt sanctuary of high altitude biodiversity.
In the evening, we return to the lodge to enjoy the last rays of sunshine on the terrace, before enjoying a well-deserved dinner... just what you'd expect from a holiday!
Welcome in the early morning at one of our meeting points, presentation of the week by your guide and equipment check. Short transfer to the Bourget plain, one of Europe's largest high-altitude wetlands. The landscape opens up, and you'd never think from down here that a suspended valley stretches all the way to Italy! As you climb up to the Col Bousson and its small lake, you come across herds of sheep, then cows as soon as you cross the border into Italy. The remnants of past confrontations are everywhere, making it all the more pleasant to appreciate the calm that has returned to our mountains! We pass the Mautino refuge and climb to the Saurel peak before descending to Lac Gignoux, otherwise known as the Lac des 7 couleurs. We continue on to a third lake, Lac Noir, covered in a carpet of pink flowers in midsummer, before descending to the plain via the old alpine farm of Les Fraches. It's easy to imagine what life on the mountain pastures must have been like until just a few decades ago... Return to the lodge by minibus.
Elevation gain: +/- 300
Meals included on this day: picnic - dinner
Accommodation included today: lodge
Today we're changing sides: we're tackling the north face! After a short transfer to the Fonts valley, we start by climbing through a pleasant larch forest, before emerging among the rhododendrons and attacking the rocky lock that holds back the magnificent Lac des Cordes. Get out your phone, you're going to make some people jealous on Insta... it's simply stunning! Via the Col des Marsailles (2600m), we begin the descent to the hamlet of Les Fonts de Cervières, where a good local beer awaits us in the refuge of the same name. Along the way, we may see a few edelweiss, depending on the season... Return to the minibus on an easy track along the river.
Elevation gain: +/- 700
Meals included today: breakfast - picnic - dinner
Accommodation included by day : lodge
Take the minibus up under the Izoard to begin the climb to the Col des Ourdeis via the Chalets d'Izoard. Another beautiful alpine cirque, under the eye of Peygus and Pic de Beaudouis... From the col, there's another fine view of the Queyrassin peaks. We take a short tour of the cirque before returning to the chalets d'Izoard. Transfer back to the lodge and the tour ends.
Elevation gain: +/- 300
Meals included today: breakfast - picnic
Accommodation included during the day: none
This is an example of a walking programme in the Cervières valley and the Briançonnais. Weather and snow conditions, as well as the level of the participants, may lead the guide to modify it or to do certain itineraries in a different order. We ask you to respect his choices. We may also have to change accommodation within the same range for logistical or availability reasons.
On the last day, we try to get back to Oulx by 5 pm, but cannot guarantee this.
We always do our best, but we can't guarantee the exact time of arrival at the train station (due to traffic or weather conditions). Therefore we strongly recommend you to buy train tickets that can easily be modified. If you're travelling by car, we'll meet you at one of the indicated meeting points, or at one of the drop of points where you'll be able to leave your car during the entire trip.
Train & TGV access: www.voyages-sncf.com
Car access: www.mappy.fr
Car sharing: www.blablacar.fr
Public parking free of charge can be found in Briançon and Oulx (both unattended) or just in front of our accomodation.
No particular difficulty. Off-path possible.
Have already hiked at altitude for several hours. Practice an endurance sport once a week.
Please note: If you do not have the required level, the guide will be able to ask you to leave the group for the well-being of the whole group. Don't hesitate to ask us if you have any doubts!
4 to 14 participants
Azimut selected mountain guide.
We have a great bunch of mountain guides, and select our guides mainly for their sympathy, their teaching and organisational skills. We stay tuned in, work hands in hands, and make sure their working conditions are the best.
Meet our guides and instructors just around the corner
Bring your personal items (rain jacket, fleece, sun cream, etc.), your picnic and water for the day. A 30-litre rucksack is recommended.
A 30% deposit, as well as the insurance cost if you choose to subscribe the latter, is required to secure your booking. You will receive a reminder email 35 days prior to departure for the outstanding balance due latest 30 days prior to departure.
It is strongly recommended that you are properly insured in the event of cancellation. It is compulsory to be insured for search and repatriation costs. When you register with us, you can take out insurance through our partner insurer, with several options covering the activities on offer and the risks incurred (please note that this insurance is only valid for European nationals).
Tipping is no obligation. However participants usually hand round an envelope for those who wish to tip the guide.
Azimut's minibus is used throughout the whole trip. Not only does this make the trip easier, but it also makes it more pleasant and open: we can chat, sleep and listen to our own music !
This trip takes place in our Lodge nestled in the village of Cervières, at the foot of the Col d'Izoard. You will be looked after by Isabelle and her team, who will offer you an exceptional welcome and a living space designed to help you spend some quality time in peace and quiet. The food is simple, natural and of high quality, with a careful selection of beers and wines. Rental equipment is located under the hotel, and our agency and team are just a stone's throw away. The lodge is made up of "lodge" rooms for a maximum of 3 people with shared WC and showers + hotel-style rooms with WC and shower (single or double room option on request).
Depending on the composition of the group, you may be with someone of the opposite sex.
Lodge (self-catering) on a half-board basis, shared toilets and showers, bed linen provided, towels provided.
Possibility of sleeping in a hotel room (WC, shower room in room) in the same building as the lodge, subject to availability:
- Hotel single room supplement: €95/person
- Hotel double room supplement: 55€/person
Breakfasts and dinners are taken at the lodge, picnics at lunchtime, our picnics are made up of quality produce, cold meats, bread, cheese, a bar of chocolate, fruit or dried fruit, seeds.
Snacks: Details are important, especially during exercise. We've chosen to provide tasty, high-quality cereal bars from Mulebar. Mulebar products are organic, vegan, easily digestible and nutritionally impeccable. All the bars are made from high-quality ingredients with no preservatives, colourings or additives harmful to your health.
⚠ If the Lodge is unavailable, the trip will take place in twin or triple rooms in a comfortable and simple gîte in the Briançonnais. In such a case, you will be informed before departure.
As soon as you register, we'll send you the names and contact details of the lodge so that you can spend a night before or after your trip. If you arrive in Briançon by train, we will provide a hotel shuttle service (€10 payable to the hotel), so it's very easy to come and meet us.
In case of emergency or delay, you can either contact your guide (a phone number will be provided before departure) or contact Azimut on: (+ 33) 04 92 23 07 24.
Please inform your friends and family with these details before departure.
Wifi available in the Lodge.
4G and mobile coverage is unreliable.
The following equipment list contains a series of tips on equipment and is compulsory to take with you, but does not oblige you to have the latest equipment. If you want to re-equip yourself or add to your equipment, take advantage of our advice to ensure you have the right gear that's light, warm and comfortable. Good equipment makes for a successful holiday!
The guide is equipped with a first-aid kit, so bring your own Compeed bandages in case of a blister, Doliprane and any medication you may be taking.
We are members of Entreprises du Voyage and APST.
We're waiting for you! Bon voyage with AZIMUT!