High Point Holidays Walking Holidays Brochure 2016 High Point Holidays Walking Holidays Brochure 2017 | Page 37

Grand Tour of the Ubaye - Hidden Alps

D

Independent Walking

iscover the wonderful Grand Tour of the Ubaye, a circular
trail through a hidden corner of the French Alps. This
alpine trek following the GR56 trail takes you through wild
and picturesque mountain scenery. During your walk you’ll
visit the Upper Verdon Valley (where you may well see
Cayolle Ibex), the Mercantour National Park and the famous
Allos Lake, as well as the Nature Reserve of Lauzanier. This
itinerary will take you through some magnificent landscapes
with beautiful alpine summits, serene mountain lakes and
remote and traditional alpine hamlets. Despite the high altitude, parts of the walk have a distinctly southern feel. The full
tour includes 9 walking days but there is the possibility to do
smaller tours covering 6 or 8 walking days. You can decide
whether you wish to carry your own gear or have your bags
transported for you.

Walks: day-by-day
Day 1: Arrival – Welcome at Gite de Méolans.
Day 2: Abbaye du Laverq (1600m) - Col d’Allos (2247m)
Transfer between your gite and Abbey du Laverq. After a pleasant start in the Laverq
Valley you’ll reach the heights to walk between the Ubaye and Verdon Valleys. Follow
panoramic ridges to reach Refuge du Col d’Allos. 6hrs 45, +1070m, -420m

Day 3: Col d’Allos (2247m) - Refuge de la Cayolle (2266m)
2 possible trails on this long day, either via the valley before climbing to the col &
lakes or a quiet trail at altitude in remote mountain country. 7hrs, +1055m, -1010m

Day 4: Refuge de la Cayolle (2266m) - Bousieyas (1983m)
Progress through the Mercantour National Park and discover the remains of the fortifications on the Maginot line. Admire the mountain scenery from Crête de la Blanche
before reaching your gite. (No bag transfer on this stage.) 7hrs 30, +945m, -1335m

Day 5: Bousieyas (1983m) - Larche (1670m)
For a couple of days you’ll follow the GR5, which traverses the French Alps. Cross two
passes, the Col des Fourches & Pas de la Cavale to return to the Ubaye & the Nature
Reserve in the Lauzanier Valley, ‘home of the marmots’. 6hrs 30, +985m, -1200m.

Day 6: Larche (1670m) - Fouillouse (1905m)
You are back close to the Italian border as you climb over Col de Mallemort before
descending a beautiful and wild valley. Next climb over Col du Vallonnet dominated by
the summit of Brec de Chambeyron (3389m). 5hrs, 45, +1050m, -820m

♦ Wild alpine landscapes in a quiet part of the
French Alps with accessible summits