This week-long self-guided route crosses the Vercors plateau over 5 days of hiking, linking the villages of Autrans, Corrençon, and Villard-de-Lans in the French Prealps. The trail moves through wide-open pastures, limestone ridgelines, cliffside passages known locally as "pas," and the wartime ruins of Valchevrière, with views reaching as far as Mont Blanc on clear days. Most days include both a shorter and longer route option, so the pace can flex from one village to the next. Luggage transfers, half-board hotels, and a digital navigation app are arranged in advance so the only thing left to do is show up and hike.
Fly into Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport, where a private transfer (about 1.5 hours) takes you to the mountain village of Autrans, deep in the Vercors Regional Natural Park. Hotel check-in opens at 3pm, leaving time to settle in and explore before dinner, either at a local restaurant a short walk away or right at the hotel.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Autrans
A short transfer (about 15 minutes) drops you at the Col de la Croix Perrin, where the hike begins. Climb to the ridge of la Molière for one of the best viewpoints in the Vercors, taking in seven mountain ranges, Mont Blanc included, from the Bellecombe pass. Continue to the shepherd’s house at la Molière, a good spot to stop for lunch (not included) with the view still in front of you. From there, climb briefly to the “bear pass” before a gentle descent back into Autrans, passing a scatter of small hamlets along the way.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Autrans
Hiking (standard): 12 km (7.5 mi), about 5 hrs
Elevation (standard): +475 m (+1,560 ft) / -655 m (-2,150 ft)
Hiking (extended): 16 km (9.9 mi), about 6.5 hrs
Elevation (extended): +725 m (+2,380 ft) / -900 m (-2,950 ft)
Today’s hike traces the northern ridge of the Vercors. After a short transfer to Gève (or an extra 5 km on foot if you’d rather start straight from the hotel), follow the ridge past the “La Clef” pass, with views over the Chartreuse mountains, to the Bec de l’Orient. From here the outlook opens toward the Ardèche and the wider Vercors massif. Finish with a steady descent back down into Autrans.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Autrans
Hiking (standard): 13 km (8 mi), about 5 hrs
Elevation (standard): +/-490 m (+/-1,610 ft)
Hiking (extended): 17.9 km (11.1 mi), about 7 hrs
Elevation (extended): +/-705 m (+/-2,300 ft)
A short transfer brings you to Bois Barbu, where today’s hike begins. Follow a historic forest path up to the viewpoint at Valchevrière, the ruins of a village that sheltered the wartime resistance before being destroyed. Continue climbing to Château Julien for another sweeping view over the Vercors, then take a gentle descent into the village of Corrençon, where you’ll spend the next two nights.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Corrençon
Hiking: 13 km (8.1 mi), about 4.5 hrs
Elevation: +555 m (+1,820 ft) / -595 m (-1,955 ft)
From your hotel, the trail leads across the village to the Corrençon golf course, then climbs gently to a pass overlooking the wide, pastoral setting of Herbouilly, a natural spot for a picnic lunch (not included). Cross the pasture and continue over a smaller pass before descending back into Corrençon, with the option to stop at a mountain restaurant along the way. A shorter loop is also available, passing a local goat cheese farm on the way back.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Corrençon
Hiking (standard): 8.3 km (5.2 mi), about 2.5 hrs
Elevation (standard): +/-190 m (+/-625 ft)
Hiking (extended): 15 km (9.3 mi), about 5 hrs
Elevation (extended): +/-515 m (+/-1,690 ft)
Leaving Corrençon behind, an easy trail leads toward the Côte 2000 ski area before dropping into the scenic Fauge valley. From here, a shorter route descends gently straight into Villard-de-Lans, or the day can be extended toward a shepherd’s hut for wider views over the Val de Lans, passing the Roybon refuge before the final descent.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Villard-de-Lans
Hiking (standard): 10.2 km (6.3 mi), about 3.5–4 hrs
Elevation (standard): +235 m (+770 ft) / -315 m (-1,035 ft)
Hiking (extended): 13.6 km (8.5 mi), about 4–4.5 hrs
Elevation (extended): +420 m (+1,385 ft) / -520 m (-1,700 ft)
The final day is yours to shape: head home after breakfast, or fit in one more hike before the private transfer to the airport. The Sentier Gobert is a classic balcony trail, tracing cliffside views over the Grenoble valley and the Alps before reaching a junction at the 7 km mark. From there, either descend back to Villard-de-Lans on a scenic forest path, or push on to the summit of Pic Saint-Michel (1,966 m) for a final, panoramic send-off before the transfer to Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport.
Meals: Breakfast
Hiking (standard): 13.4 km (8 mi), about 5 hrs
Elevation (standard): +/-550 m (+/-1,800 ft)
Hiking (extended): 17.7 km (11 mi), about 7 hrs
Elevation (extended): +/-965 m (+/-3,160 ft)
Included:
Add-ons (pricing shown at checkout):
Not included:
The Vercors plateau is best suited to hikers with good fitness. There’s no technically difficult terrain here, no scrambling or exposure, but some days are long. Expect anywhere from 2.5 to 7 hours of hiking a day, covering up to 18 km (11.1 mi), with as much as 725 m (2,380 ft) of elevation gain on the toughest stages.
Most days offer a shorter and a longer route, so it’s possible to dial the difficulty up or down depending on how the legs feel that morning.
Want to see what else is there in the area? Discover more walking holidays in France here!
Clothing:
Gear:
Optional:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
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Your main bag travels by vehicle from hotel to hotel each day, so you only carry a daypack while hiking. Each guest gets one bag, up to 20 kg (44 lbs), and it’s only accessible again at the end of each day’s hike, not during it. Anything extra you don’t need on the trail can be left at the hotel in Autrans for the rest of your stay there.
Self-guided tours are perfect for those who enjoy exploring on their own terms—at their own pace, and with the company they choose. By joining this self-guided Vercors plateau hiking tour, we take care of lodging, most meals, luggage transfers, airport transfers, and tourist taxes.
Rather than joining a guided group, you’ll navigate the tour yourself, using resources provided by the tour operator. For a hassle-free journey with everything arranged for you in advance, there’s no better option!
As a self-guided tour is built around your preferred travel dates, your guide will take care of arranging accommodations and details after you book. Note that exact accommodations and dates might shift slightly, so don’t make any travel arrangements until the details of your adventure are confirmed.
Group sizes and pricing
A Vercors plateau hiking tour can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The starting point of your Vercors plateau hiking tour is Autrans. To get there, most people fly into Lyon Airport (LYS) or go to the Lyon train station if arriving by train. From there, you’ll be transferred to Autrans.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.
Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.