Where to Go

Be rewarded with spectacular vistas of the Mont Blanc chain as you follow ancient pack animal routes through the mountains

Buy Beaufort cheese from local shepherds in the small and remote hamlet of Les Chapieux or ‘the City of the Glaciers’

Cross the highest nature reserve in France, Les Contamines-Montjoie

The church of Notre Dame de la Gorge is a pilgrimage site that marks the end of the road and the start of mountain trails

Follow the ViaRhôna cycle route that links the Alps to the Mediterranean

Sample the famous brioche pralines that Saint-Genix-sur-Guiers is famous for

Marvel at the Cascade de Glandieu , a majestic uniquely-shaped waterfall

The Caves of La Balme are a popular tourist site because of superb limestone formations, an underground lake and an amphitheatre of rimstone dams

Enjoy a meal in one of the atmospheric restaurants that line the Canal de Savières in Chanaz

Marvel at a first century amphitheatre in the heart of Vienne, once an ancient capital of Roman Gaul

Capital of the Rhône-Alpes region, Lyon is overflowing with museums, restaurants, grand churches, Roman ruins and picturesque streets

Sample wine from cellar doors as you cycle through steeply terraced vineyards and dense orchards in the rugged Ardèche

Montélimar is famous for its nougat, which took off after WWII when holidaymakers heading to the south of France started stopping here to stock up on sweets for the journey

The starting point of the main pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, Le Puy is surrounded by high hills, volcanic formations and fields of lentils

Watch fisherman catch salmon and trout in the Allier gorges and visit picturesque river settlements and fortified villages

Learn about the beast of Gévaudan, the famous man-eating wolf that terrorised the region in the 18th century

Weather

The walking season in the European Alps is short – from mid June to mid September and many of the mountain refuges are closed outside this time. Many of our alpine walks are at altitudes of over 1000m and up to around 2500m, temperatures can vary significantly. Please note at the beginning of the season you may experience snow and therefore the walking can be harder and slippery underfoot. Temperatures in summer range from around 6 degrees Celsius to 20 degrees Celsius during the day. Afternoon thunderstorms are quite common. At the higher elevations it is important to dress with layers as cold winds and possible snow falls can happen even in summer.

Coastal weather conditions are very different - you can expect temperatures of 15-20 degrees during the day in spring and autumn and up to 25 degrees on average in summer. However, even in summer, a light windproof jacket may be required for the evening or when the mistral is blowing and whilst rainfall is relatively low at this time in the Rhone region, waterproofs will be required for all departures.