high-mountain activities in the Hautes-Alpes
Alpinism and the high-mountain environment of the Hautes-Alpes
Explore the high-mountain environment of the Hautes-Alpes: the Écrins Massif, Ailefroide (France’s second most popular mountaineering site), Barre des Écrins, Glacier Blanc, Meije, Les Bans… Keen to get into the mountains? Find out what it’s like to walk over ice and why not try some snow routes with a mountain guide?
Walking trips with donkeys and llamas in the Hautes-Alpes
Ideal for family walks! It’s not always easy to go for walks with the kids… The solution? Why not walk with a packhorse (in this case a donkey) or llama? Donkeys and llamas make ideal companions, as they walk at a good pace for toddlers and can carry the children when they get tired.
Horse-riding in the Hautes-Alpes
Interested in horse riding trails? Walking or galloping, horses can take riders of all sizes and ages to explore the Provençal hills of the Buëch and Baronnies areas and on as far as the year-round snows found in the Pelvoux and Briançon regions. These trips are open to all, from beginners to pony-trekking aficionados, and cover rides lasting a few hours to multi-day tours!
Via ferrata in the Hautes-Alpes
The first via ferrata appeared in the mountains in Austria in the 15th century and were primarily built for military purposes, to allow soldiers to cross natural obstacles. The first via ferrata equipped for a sporting use was put up in 1936 by the Italian Alpine Club in the Dolomites, the via ferrata capital. The first modern via ferrata appeared in 1988 in Freissinières in France’s Hautes-Alpes. Today there are 22 via ferrate across the département, ranging from beginners’ routes and easy routes to sports lines, and a choice of long and short routes – the choice is yours!
Rock climbing in the Hautes-Alpes
Céüse, Orpierre, Aile Froide, Montdauphin – climbing destinations you can explore and rediscover throughout the year. The Hautes-Alpes offers a huge variety of climbing; from granite, limestone, puddingstone and quartzite, each rock gives different colours, textures and styles of climbing. In a 100 km range you will find a multitude of climbing areas, from F4 to F8c+, with bouldering and crags for beginners as well as longer more committing routes for more experienced climbers.
Le site officiel du Comité Départemental du Tourisme vous propose des idées et itinéraires de balades et randonnées pédestres en montagne pour préparer vos vacances dans les Hautes-Alpes :
