Tour of the Vercors Mountains

For experienced intermediate hikers in good shape. There are no particular technical difficulties, but some stages are long. Expect 5 to 7 hours of walking a day, up to 16km/9.9mi of distance. Up to 350m to 1000m / 1150ft to 3280ft of elevation gain each day.

You only need to carry a small backpack during hikes with the necessary items for the day. Your luggage will be transported by vehicle to next accommodations. Limit of 1 bag transported per person and a maximum of 15kg/33lbs per bag.

Possible for groups of 2 and above. Solo hikers are not allowed on this trip due to safety concerns of hiking alone.

Available at your convenience from mid-May to mid-September.

High season: end of June to the end of August.

The season and pricing are determined by the departure date.

8 days / 7 nights / 6 days of hiking

Start

On day 1 in the afternoon at hotel check-in (~3pm) in Lans en Vercors.

Finish

On day 8 upon hotel check-out (~10am) in Lans en Vercors.

Self-guided tour, without a human guide. A digital travel packet (documents available in English & French) will be sent by email that includes access to our smartphone travel application for navigating hikes and accessing local maps (available in English only), the list of booked accommodations, any included travel vouchers and all the detailed information needed for a successful trip. If desired, we can provide a printed version of the travel packet for an additional fee. It will be waiting and available at the 1st accommodation of the itinerary with maps, topo guide and travel folder. This must be requested at the time of booking. There is no welcome meeting at the arrival hotel or general orientation meeting for this tour.

Accommodation / Catering

Accommodation

Lodging in double occupancy rooms in 2* hotels (3 nights) & 3* hotels (4 nights) in Lans en Vercors, Autrans and Pont en Royan. Some hotels have a pool available for guest use.

Meals

Breakfasts and dinners are included and taken at the hotels. Lunches are not included but there are options to purchase lunches from hotels or plan your own picnics.

Please let us know when you register if you have any food allergies or special dietary requirements; we will do our best to adapt your meals.

You can buy food for picnics in Lans en Vercors, Autrans, La Chapelle en Vercors, and Pont en Royans. You can reserve your picnics at the hotels by notifying them the day before. Except for the Hôtel de Rencurel, which requires notification 2 days in advance if you would like picnics. There are no shops in Rencurel.

It is possible to add extra nights before, during or after your tour in Lans en Vercors. Please contact our sales team for availability and rates.

Trip Starting Destination

This tour starts in Lans en Vercors, France

Trip Ending Destination

This tour ends in Lans en Vercors, France

By Plane

Grenoble (GNB) or Lyon (LYS) airports are the closest to Vercors.

Shuttle service from the airport of Grenoble to Grenoble bus station Public transportation | Aéroport de Grenoble Alpes Isère (grenoble-airport.com)

Airport Lyon Saint Exupéry: There is a shuttle service Ouibus from the airport to Grenoble bus station (about 1 hour): Bus journey offers Lyon St Exupéry | Lyon Airport (lyonaeroports.com)

By Train/Bus

Train to Grenoble (TGV), and then bus to Lans en Vercors by "Cars Region Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes" buses. The bus station is right next to the train station. For train schedules, see SNCF Connect : Book your train tickets (sncf-connect.com)

For current buses schedules, see Transisère - cars Région (auvergnerhonealpes.fr)

Take the T64 or T65 bus to Lans en Vercors or taxi from Grenoble to Lans en Vercors.

(Taxi Jallifier: +33 (0)476954145, about 90 €).

By Car

Autoroute Lyon-Grenoble, exit Saint-Egrève centre commercial and then direction, Villard de Lans; stop in Lans en Vercors. If you come by car, you can leave your car at the hotel in Lans en Vercors or close to the hotel in the village (free).

Swimming

Several of our trips are suitable for swimming, either during a stage or at the end of the day. It would be a shame not to take advantage of it. We want to highlight that you are the ultimate decision-maker regarding whether to swim. As such, these swims are entirely your responsibility and undertaken at your own risk.

Responsible tourism

Travelife Partner

Since 2025, Grand Angle has been recognized as a Travelife Partner, an international label that certifies our responsible practices regarding the environment, ethics, and sustainable management, both within our company, with our partners, and in the organization of our trips.

This label, the second level of a rigorous international certification, attests to our concrete actions in favor of responsible tourism. We are actively working toward the next level, Travelife Certified, in line with our sustainable development policy.

It is the client's responsibility to arrive prepared with the items listed below to help insure a safe and enjoyable trip.

CLOTHING CHECKLIST:

The following items are required for this trip unless otherwise noted. When packing, think layered clothing systems that work together and can be easily added or removed.

• Hiking Boots/Shoes – waterproof, sturdy molded sole, deep tread and ideally well broken in (Note: buy boots/shoes 1/2 size to 1 size larger than street shoes to allow for feet swelling and thicker socks)
• Hiking Socks – one pair for every day or two days of the trip. Hiking/Sport specific padded socks, no cotton please!
• Sun Hat – wide brimmed hat or baseball cap/bandana combo
• Warm Hat & Gloves – lightweight beanie and light-to-mid weight fleece or wool gloves
• Hiking Shirts – non-cotton, breathable short sleeve and/or long sleeve shirts (Note: long sleeve shirts provide better sun protection)
• Warm Top – mid-weight sweater or pullover of wicking material such as merino wool, fleece or polypropylene
• Insulating Jacket – down-fill or synthetic-fill insulated "puffy" jacket or warm, heavy weight fleece jacket
• Hiking Pants & Shorts – nylon pants AND shorts, zip-offs or leggings
• Base Layer/Long Underwear – 1 pair of wicking tops and bottoms that are lightweight to midweight, synthetic wicking materials such as polyester, polypropylene, merino wool, etc.
• Rain Gear – waterproof jacket and pants or high-quality poncho, breathable fabric such as Gore-Tex® or coated nylon. For the pants look for side zippers that will easily allow pulling them over footwear.
• Casual Clothing & Footwear – comfortable clothes and shoes to wear in the evening after activities.

Important Note: Please, no cotton hiking/cycling clothes. Synthetic clothing is very efficient in drying quickly. Merino wool material clothing is also efficient in drying quickly, is comfortable to wear and has the advantage of not developing a bad odor after use.

GEAR CHECKLIST:

• Backpack – a 30-45 Liter sized comfortable pack with a waterproof cover for use day-to-day while hiking.
• Personal Luggage – small duffel bag, rolling suitcase or backpack – for extra hiking clothes and casual clothes.
• Hydration System – 2+ liters capacity, either water bottles or bladder/hose system and an additional water bottle
• Trekking Poles – telescopic/adjustable poles to help reduce the impact on joints and support hikers in steep and/or rocky terrain. (Note: strongly recommended)
• Headlamp – preferably with an L.E.D. bulb that works with AA or AAA batteries (Note: always test headlamp before trips and travel/pack without batteries in device)
• Picnic/Lunch Kit – knife, plate or bowl, box with closeable lid, utensils, etc.
• Phone & Charger – local sim card or international plan may be needed. Consider bringing a small power bank to use to recharge devices during trip activities.
• Waterproof Travel Case or Pouch – used to keep important documents (i.e. passport, health/travel insurance, etc.) & phone safe from weather/water
• Sunglasses, Sunscreen, & Lip Balm
• First Aid Kit – see first aid kit suggestions below*
• Personal Toilet Paper Kit – most public restrooms outside of lodging will have toilet paper available, but it is good to be prepared with a personal toilet paper kit to potentially use during portions of this tour.
• Toiletries
• Contact Lenses & Glasses – if wearing contact lenses, please also bring back-up pair of glasses and contacts.
• Prescription Medication – with emergency back-up supply.
• Money – It is good to have some local currency, often smaller local businesses do not accept credit cards and/or prefer cash. Some public restrooms require small amounts of cash to use.

OPTIONAL ITEMS:

• Face Masks; Over-the-counter Rapid Antigen COVID-19 Tests (Note: recommended but optional)
• Travel Power Adapter – Electric power voltage in France is 230 V / 50 Hz and the plugs are E/F & L type
• Support Braces – consider bringing any joint braces that may be currently needed or from past injuries (i.e. knee, ankle, elbow, etc.)
• Sleep Mask & Ear Plugs
• Bug Repellent
• Quick Drying Towel or Bandana(s)
• Swimsuit

*FIRST AID KIT SUGGESTIONS:

After years of experience planning adventure travel around the world, we've learned that anything can happen, and every traveler should carry a basic personal first aid kit. We want to ensure our guests are well-prepared and make smart informed travel decisions. In many of the places we operate trips, it may be challenging to find certain medications and/or first aid supplies, and sometimes common items you desire may not be available in the destination you are travelling. That's why it's good to be prepared and carry a small supply of first aid supplies, any prescription medication, and/or over-the-counter medications you may require during your travels.

We recommend discussing your travel plans, vaccination requirements, and any medication usage with your primary healthcare provider before embarking on our trips. This helps ensure you have a safe and enjoyable travel experience.

Here is a basic list of what we think makes a good personal travel first aid kit:

• Medications – Brands of your choice, all medications should be either prescribed directly by your doctor or discussed with a doctor prior to use.
• Electrolyte Replacement/Drink Mix – brand of choice
• Creams – Antibiotic ointment, Anti-Itch: Hydrocortisone, Arnica
• Eye Problems: Dry/Itchy – Eye drops
• Feminine Hygiene – Tampons
• Wound Care – a various pack of bandages, antiseptic swabs
• Blister Care – blister kit made up of items of your choice
• Sun Protection – sunscreen, SPF lip balm
• Various Items – Athletic tape/"KT Tape", Nail clippers, Tweezers, Small bottle of hand sanitizer, Sewing kit (clothing/button repairs), Disposable surgical gloves (1-2 pairs)

PACKING FOR TRAVEL: It is recommended that you prepare your items in the following manner for your travels to this trip.

"Carry-on Bag(s)" - This is the bag you will bring with you on the plane. We recommend all your pertinent information be in this bag (passport, travel documents, etc.) as well as your most important gear items (hiking footwear, jacket, prescription medication, etc.) in case any checked luggage items becomes lost or delayed.

"Checked Bag(s)" - This bag will be checked and contain the rest of your personal items (clothing and gear, etc.).

Important Note: Again, it is recommended to either wear or pack in your "Carry-on Bag" the main gear items you need for this trip vs. putting them in your checked "Travel Bag" (in case luggage is delayed). Hiking footwear is probably the hardest item to replace last minute if items become lost or delayed past the intended start date of the trip. Lost or delayed luggage has become more and more common in major airports for international travel since the global pandemic.

LUGGAGE MANAGEMENT DURING TRIP: During this trip, the packing system needs to be in 2 bags.

Extra Luggage - "Checked Bag(s)" & "Carry-on Bag(s)": This bag will contain all the items you want to bring along on the trip. It will be transferred by vehicle/taxi, and you will have access to it at the end of each day of activity, but not throughout the day. Extra luggage is not allowed on this trip beyond the 1 bag per person requirement. Maximum 15kg/33lbs per bag per person. Any Extra bags, beyond the allowed bag per person and not needed during the trip, may be held at the Hotel in Lans en Vercors during the hike.

Day Backpack (not provided): All guests will need a backpack, which they will be responsible for carrying during hikes. Items in this bag should include anything you may need throughout the day during the trip. (i.e. rain gear, warm layers, water, sunscreen/lip balm, snacks/food, camera/phone, etc.).

France, a member of the European Union, capital city is Paris.

Documents

Travelers from the European Union, including children, need a valid identity card or passport. Check with the authorities in your home country for the conditions of entering this destination.

Health

Do not forget your card and/or policy details for your health insurance and/or travel insurance.

France Country Code: +33

European Emergency Services: 112

Regional Nature Parc of the Vercors: +33 (0)476943826; WEBSITE (French only need translator)

Tourism Office - Lans en Vercors: +33 (0)476954262; WEBSITE

Tourism Office - Villard de Lans : +33 (0)476951038; WEBSITE

Eastern European Time. Eastern European Time (EET) is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+2). In the summer: Eastern European Summer Time (EEST).

French. At least some English is spoken in most tourist areas.

France is a Member-States of the European Union and use its uniform currency – the Euro €. France, as is the case with the other Member-States of the E.U. uses eight coins as follows: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and 1 and 2 Euros. The banknotes are issued in the following denominations: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Euros. Currency exchange rates are clearly displayed in every bank that accepts currency exchange, while credit card holders may acquire money from the ATMs of the collaborating banks. French banks are generally open for the public from 8:30 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 17:30 Monday through Fridays. They are closed on Public Holidays. Euros can also be exchanged for notes of other foreign currencies at exchange offices that are situated at the airport and certain main ports, in the larger cities, as well as at many tourist destinations. A passport is required when exchanging currencies.

IGN TOP 25 maps 1:25000:

N° 3235 OT. Autrans – Gorges de la Bourne, N° 3136 ET. Combe Laval & N° 3236 OT. Villard de Lans