It’s an irresistible invitation to get up close and personal with nature.
Stargazing from a special tree-top observatory, trips into the high mountains and watching the sun set and rise from a cliff edge are all on a menu of adventures in France’s Isere region.
Breathtaking natural backdrops set the scene for a programme of exceptional experiences this summer.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Chartreuse Regional Natural Park, the Azimuts Treetrop Adventure Course is inviting guests to spend the night in Le Collet, a net suspended among the trees, four metres above ground.
Furnished with mattresses, duvets and pillows, fall asleep under the stars listening to the sounds of the forest at night. More at https://azimuts-collet.fr/nuit-insolite/
My first mountain hut and yurt meal: Explore the mid- and high mountains of Isère on an introductory two-day hike led by mountain guide Florent Naud, an ideal hike for less experienced hikers who are keen to discover the beauty of Isère and its unique landscape.
The gentle trail passes through a landscape evocative of the Nordic tundra, dotted with myriad small lakes, some with fossilised tree trunks testifying to the presence of a forest here 6,000 years ago.
Enjoy meals in a yurt overlooking the Écrins and overnight in the Taillefer mountain hut. Those who are feeling energetic can summit the following morning. Alternatively, Florent can lead guests on a tour of the lakes or a traditional Alpine village. More at https://florentnaud.fr/
Overnight at 2,000m at Alpe d’Huez: What do ESF ski instructors do when the snow melts? They lead trips into the high mountains, leading guests on tours of the spectacular lakes of Alpe d’Huez. The “Tour of the Lakes of Alpe d’Huez” takes in the Besson, Rond, Noir, Faucille and Carrelet lakes at an altitude of 2,070 metres. Accessible to all fitness levels, the start of the hike can be accessed by gondola from the ski resort and with only 150 metre of elevation spread over 6.5km. Book at the Alpe d’Huez Guides Officce. More at www.guidesalpedhuez.com/fr
Portaledge in the Vercors: A cliffside adventure with a difference.
If you find sleeping under canvas too tame then consider instead spending the night on a portaledge suspended several hundred metres high on the cliffs of Presles in the Vercors. Your guide will ensure that you are comfortably – and safely – installed before preparing dinner above the void, which you can enjoy while watching a 360-degree sunset. This is the most spectacular place to go to sleep and the sunrises are second to none. More at www.vercors-vertical.com
