France
Exploring the Parc des Écrins - Hike to the Refuge De Chatelleret
Explore the beautiful region of the Parc des Écrins walking. We chose La Bérarde as the home base. After the journey to the South of France (we drove from Belgium by car and made a stop in Maizières), enjoy the mountains around La Bérarde, starting with a hike to Refuge de Chatelleret (12 km - 500 moh)
Drive to La Bérarde
About 1.000 km from the centre of Belgium lies La Bérarde. La Bérarde is a hamlet belonging to Saint-Christophe-en-Oisans, located at an altitude of 1720 m the end of the Vénéon Valley. It is the last inhabited place before the mountain huts and high mountain peaks. A great place to start off all your dreamy day hikes in the South of France. We stayed at the camping Municipal de La Berarde, where you can set up your tent for a reasonable price.
Hike to Refuge de Chatelleret
Start your hike in La Berarde. The first part is rather steep, but you soon enter a broad valley with a lot of rocks. It is a long but undemanding approach to the head of the valley through gentle green pastures and over rocky paths, with the crisp river at your left. Take a refreshing plunge in the cold river but don't eat the blueberries since picking berries can be punished with a fine of 13.500 euros. The hike to the refuge is not difficult but when it's warm, it can be demanding. Treat yourself to a fresh beer at the refuge and make your way back on the same path. Total length: 12 km Total height gain: 500 meters Total estimated time: 5 hours including lunch
