What to do?
A small overview of what you can do around us if you do not choose to chill at home
Hiking
From the short walk to the long hike, from the cottage or by taking the car, the possibilities are vast in the area! Summits, lakes, refuge, glacier…
Some ideas: the village of Dormillouse, the 3 lakes of Grand Pinier, the ridges of Freissinières, the Col de Tramouillon, the refuge of the Bans, the Glacier Blanc.
Guidebooks and maps at the cottage.
Climbing
The paradise for climbers! You will find something to climb in all seasons and levels. The cliff of Chambon 2 minutes walk from the cottage is ideal to discover or rediscover climbing. Within 45 minutes you will find a wide choice of cliffs (limestone, granite, quartzite, conglomerate) with varied orientations and for all levels.
Many multipitches routes surroundings Champcella and Freissinières (Ponteil, Tête de Gaulent, Mur du Lys, large cliff of Freissinières, Gouffre de Gourfouran, pillar of Rame)… And if you go further, the choice is infinite!
On request, you will find at the cottage the topo of the cliffs of Briançonnais.
Looking for a guide?
Phone Nico : +33 675 079 708
Road biking
The department is full of mythical passes regularly used during the Tour de France (Galibier, Isoard, Agnel, Granon, Lautaret). In July and August you can enjoy the calm of some passes during the operation “booked passes”.
Mountain biking
Numerous possibility on the paths around the cottage!
For DH fans, the local ski resorts offer many bike parks in summer.
Need bikes? Possible rental in l’Argentière-la-Bessée 10 minutes from home in this shop.
Mountaineering
The cottage is located at the foot of the Ecrins, one of the most famous mountains in France for mountaineering, much more confidential than Mont Blanc! 45 minutes from the cottage, from Pré de Madame Carle for example, you can take your first steps on a glacier!
Looking for a guide?
Phone Nico : +33 675 079 708
Paragliding
Official take-off site :
– Freissinières : 15 min
– Puy Aillaud : 30 min
– Ceillac, Granon : 40 min
many possibilities within 30 minutes of the cottage. Nico practice regularly in the area, he will advise you.
If you want to be accompanied by an instructor :
Contact Pollen Parapente (Puy-Aillaud) ou Têtes en l’air (Ceillac), 2 local schools!
Glider
10 minutes from the cottage is a famous aerodrome where you can have an extraordinary discovering of the landscapes of the southern Alps.
Kayaking and Rafting
Whitewater sports are also the summer reputation of the Hautes-Alpes. Many rivers for rafting and kayaking (Gyronde, Guil, Durance) less than 40 minutes from the cottage.
Contact our friend from Vagues à bond if you wish to be accompanied by a professional
Canyoning
Certainly it is not as famous Corsica but several local canyons have to be visited. The amateurs necessarily know the Oules de Freissinières or the torrent of Chichin very near the cottage but there are also several canyons easy to initiate or spend an aquatic summertime (torrent of Couleau, canyon of Fournel, etc.).
Find a qualified instructor
Running
Only your imagination can limit you! Departure of the vertical kilometer of Freissinières 5 min from the cottage.
Some ideas on the Pays des Ecrins Website
Via ferrata and ziplines
The place with the most density of via ferratas in France! The nearest from us :
– 10 min : via de Freissinières
– 15 min : via de l’Horloge
– 15 min : via and zipline of Gorges de la Durance
Download the via ferrata Guide Book
Looking for a guide?
Phone Nico : +33 675 079 708
visit my profesional website
Treeclimbing park
The treeclimbing park of Freissinières is 5min from the cottage : accro-alpes
Fishing
Very famous area for fishing!
Just near the cottage the river called La Biaysse is very popular for amateurs. If you are not afraid of walking you can fish in the lakes of Freissinières (Fangeas, Palluel, Faravel). It is not that a small glimpse of what the region can offer.
More informations on the Fishing federation website
Lakes, swimming pools, spas
Valley lakes
Two lakes very easy to access for the summer season: Lake Rama (Champcella) and Roche de Rame in the town of the same name. Both 10 minutes from the cottage.
And a little further, one of the biggest lake of Southern Alps : Serre Ponçon lake, about 40 minutes drive.
Swimming pools
– L’Argentière la Bessée swimming pool: small pool, 10 min from the cottage
– Briançon swimming pool: open all year, 7/7, the aquatic center has several indoor and outdoor pools, recreational equipment and a wellness area with sauna, hammam and jacuzzi that will meet the expectations of families and athletes!
Hot aths, spa
Les grands bains de Monetier 45 minutes from home : https://lesgrandsbainsdumonetier.fr/
Water activities
At Serre Ponçon Lake (30-40 min) you will find from May to October many water activities: rowing, stand up paddle, windsurfing, kite-surfing, canoeing, sea kayak, catamaran, pedal boat, gulet, jet ski, boat with or without license, boat ride and aperitif boat, school boat, towed buoys, water skiing, wakeboarding…
Skiing
The ski resorts accesible from home :
– 30 min : Puy-St-Vincent, Pelvoux, Briançon (Serre-Chevalier)
– 40 min : Risoul, Vars, Ceillac
– 45 min : Monetier-les-Bains (Serre Chevalier), Montgenèvre
– 60 min : Saint-Véran, Abriès, Les Orres, Crévoux
– 75 min : La Grave
Ski touring
A whole website could be dedicated to the practice of ski touring on this side of the Ecrins! Less than an hour by car you will find enough to occupy several lives of skier! But you can also just discover the local hikes in the towns of Champcella and Freissinières: Col de Tramouillon, Tête des Raisins, Tête de la Poua, Tête de Vautisse, Roche Charnière, Aiguillas, etc.
On request we provide you with the ski touring topo of the sector :
Looking for a guide?
Phone Nico : +33 675 079 708
Ice climbing
The nearby town of Freissinières de Champcella offers a remarkable concentration of ice waterfalls which makes it one of the most popular iceclimbing valley throughout the Alps.
On the neighboring village of Freissinières your can discover and practice ice climbing on an artificial ice tower : https://cascade.freissinieres.fr/
Nombreux autres secteurs en roulant un peu :
– 5 min : vallon du Fournel
– 40 min : Ceillac
– 50 min : Les Orres
Looking for a guide?
Phone Nico : +33 675 079 708
Cross-country skiing
2km from the cottage the slopes of Freissinières are groomed as soon as conditions are good and… free!
Otherwise you will find in Vallouise (30min) or Ceillac (40min) vast areas for cross-country skiing.
Click for more information on Nordic skiing in the Southern Alps : https://www.nordicalpesdusud.com/
Snowshoes hiking
A great way to discover local hikes from the cottage when the snow is already present! On request, we offer several pairs of snowshoes. If you do not have any knowledge on risk management in winter, we advise you to be accompanied by a guide in mid-mountain who will make you discover the activity safely.
Dogs sledging
5 minutes from Freissinières, spend a day with a passionate musher : https://www.traineau-dingo.fr/
Snow running
Some ideas for outings if you want to run in winter : on the Pays des Ecrins website