• Walking in the French Alps
• Tour du Vieux Chaillol - Long distance walk
• Saut du Laire - Family Walk
• Walking with Donkeys - day and overnight treks
• Dormillouse - overnight in mountains

Activities - Walking in the French Alps - Dormillouse

Have a look at our Walking Holiday Offers

Dormillouse is unique. It's a tiny Alpine village inhabited by a handful of famillies all year round. It is only accessible on foot and is a good hour and a half away from the nearest road.

It is nestled on the hillside against a spectacular backdrop of mountains and waterfalls.

This is a demanding but very rewarding two or three day walk into the mountains sleeping overnight in the refuge de l'ecole in Dormillouse.

It is possible to do a more relaxed version of the route with a bit of overnight wild camping for those who want to explore the area without the commitment of a 7 - 8 hour walk. Have look at our Alpine Wilderness holiday for details of our guided trip.

Although you are entering into the Ecrin National Park, the route isn't that well known, which is why it is quiet and wild. You are not likely to see many other walkers on your way, just marmots, chamois, ibex and lots of birds!

As you pass over the cols you will be rewarded with amazing views of this little known corner of the Ecrin National Park. You will see The Grand Pinier, a beautiful 3117m high mountain, and a string of other peaks towering majestically above you as you wander through.

The waterfalls are numerous, and if you come in June and July the amount of water pouring down is pretty impressive, with huge plumes bouncing upwards off the rock.

For the walk, you start off in Prapic and walk up past the lake d'Estaris and over the col de Freisinniers and then descend to the village of Dormillouse. It's a good 7 - 8 hour walk with 1100 metres of ascent and 1000 metres of descent.

The next day you can relax a bit and explore the lakes and waterfals around the village. There's a great 5 hour circuit taking them all in.

Or you can go back to Prapic via the Col des Terres Blanches. This is another good 7 - 8 hours walk with 1000 metres of ascent and 1100 metres of descent.

This walk does require map reading skills and is not for novice walkers. But if you can find your way around the English hills in bad weather and mist and are pretty fit, you will love this walk.

We can organise a long weekend for you to do this walk, either guided or self-guided or include it as part of a longer walking holiday.

Just contact us, if you would like some more detailed information or prices.