Nearby
Nearby
Your getaway A stone’s throw from the Écrins
Want to vary the pleasures during your stay in the Pays des Écrins? Less than an hour away, other valleys perfectly complement your mountain desires: large areas, hot baths, villages of character and pretty Nordic outings.
From the Pays des Écrins, multiply the day trips: swimming, cycling, heritage, markets… Here are the nearby destinations to discover when the peaks turn green.
The Briançonnais
Around Briançon and Serre Chevalier, there is great skiing (80 slopes, 60 lifts) and skiing for all levels. After the day, head for the Grands Bains du Monêtier for a real moment of recovery in the warm waters, then walk in the fortified city, classified as a World Heritage Site for its Vauban fortifications.
The Briançonnais
Mythical mountain passes by bike, via ferrata, large climbing cliffs and historic streets: the Briançonnais ticks all the boxes of an active summer. Vauban’s ramparts and works give an extra character to the visit.
The Queyras
With its natural atmosphere and mountain villages, small family resorts and a large Nordic area (about 200 km of cross-country trails): the Queyras is an ideal terrain for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ski touring. The Molines–Saint-Véran, Ceillac, Arvieux or Abriès-Ristolas sectors offer varied profiles, far from the crowds.
The Queyras
A great summer hike: high-altitude lakes, mountain pastures, villages of character and crafts. The Tour du Queyras (GR 58) and the Molines–Saint-Véran, Ceillac or Abriès sectors offer itineraries of all levels and very open panoramas.
The Embrunais
Head for Serre-Ponçon for a sunny interlude: winter walks around the Embrun lake, views of the lake and a “gentler” programme between two days at altitude. The Embrun area concentrates services and activities, convenient for families.
The Embrunais
On the Serre-Ponçon side, there is room for swimming and water sports: paddle, sailing, kayaking… The lake of Embrun and the beaches of the lake concentrate nautical bases and supervised areas, with the old town of Embrun within reach of sandals for the visit.
Italy and Montgenèvre
At the border, Montgenèvre gives access to the wide slopes of the Franco-Italian domain linked to the Vialattea (towards Clavière, Sestriere…). A day of skiing and pasta is just a few feet away, with the charm of the Piedmontese villages just on the other side.
Italy and Montgenèvre
Summer in Montgenèvre is mountain biking at the bike-park, hiking and fun activities for all. Bonus bonus: you can cross the border by bike or on foot for a coffee in Italy, Clavière being just opposite.
Le Champsaur–Valgaudemar
Head for the resorts on a human scale (Ancelle, Chaillol, Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes, Laye, Serre-Eyraud, Orcières) and the beautiful Nordic routes of the valley. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledding, and for the motivated, ice climbing or supervised hiking. The Champsaur-Valgaudemar is more tracks in the snow than minutes in queue.
Le Champsaur–Valgaudemar
The Champsaur–Valgaudemar combines meadows and direct access to the high mountains. In summer, we follow the Route des Cascades to the Gioberney, we go up to the Lauzon lake (≈2,000 m) to admire the view, then we go back down to taste the tourtons, a speciality of the territory. An accessible territory, with real great landscapes.
Gap
Looking for an urban break and Nordic activities? Head for Gap: strolling, museums and restaurants, then cross-country skiing on the Bayard plateau (approx. 50 km of slopes) just a stone’s throw from the city. On the way, the Domaine de Charance offers a beautiful view of the valley, even in winter.
Gap
Green and lively city: parks, museums, terraces and events punctuate the season. Nearby, the Domaine de Charance (headquarters of the Écrins National Park) and its panoramic paths, as well as the Bayard plateau (golf in summer) allow you to get some fresh air without going far away.