Hike in France the regions of Le Velay, le Gévaudan and Les Cévennes with a native french hiker

Hosted by

Annick

Guided trip
The trip would start in Puy-en-Velay, details regarding how to arrive and prices will be provided ahead of time based on where you are coming from. The day before starting the walk, we would gather food and necessities, visit the lovely town and discuss together the last details of the trip. Then, we embark on a 2 week journey with the longest hike being up to 29 km and the shortest being 13km. We would sleep in gite/monasteries/campsites. Since it is 2 weeks trip, I would recommend packing a maximum 15kg per person and as it is harder to walk long distances with a heavy backpack, please plan accordingly. We can decide ahead of time to eat in restaurants along the way or mostly cook from scratch, either is fine with me. We can also arrange for one or two nights outdoors in the wild instead of sleeping in a hotel. The Bed and Breakfasts are typically located in villages along the way, held by locals and quite inexpensive. I must warn vegetarians and vegans that this type of food is scarce in the villages but can be arranged, as I am a vegetarian myself, I've always been able to find something or prepare ahead of time. The trip follows one of the path of the Camino de Santiago and is therefore considered a must see hiking experience. The last stretch of the walk is a little more physical as we get higher, up to +1000m elevation on the last step of 24km. This GR (trek) is considered manageable for beginners but I must say that having previous hiking experience and especially with elevation is a must. That said, I've seen good hikers complete the 260km in 8 days. To summarise, what is included in the price? - Accommodation (Shared rooms) - Transportation along the trip About me: My name Annick, I'm 30 years old and I've spent the better part of the last 10 years abroad. I moved to Malaysia for 4 years when I was 20, traveled a little in South-East Asia, moved back to Europe and then, kept going Feel free to send me a question if something is not clear or if you have any great ideas to add to the trip!
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French traveler and hiker

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Trip Itinerary
1

Le Puy

Day 1-2
Arriving and meeting at the train station. Visit, packing and shopping, getting one or two donkeys to help carry the luggage and accompany us on the walk. Highlights: The Cathedral Notre-Dame The statue of Notre-Dame The Rock Rocher Saint-Michel d’Aiguilhe The Sanctuary of Saint-Joseph Evening: Dinner in a local restaurant Brasserie La Trifolle (count 13-20€ for the meal)
2

Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille

Day 2-3
On the first day of the walk, we will cover 19km through the hills, after leaving behind the lovely Puy-en-Velay. The evening would be spent in a local bed and breakfast and would allow for a visit of the village in the evening or the next morning.
3

Le Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas

Day 3-4
On out second day hiking, we would cover 24km to reach the village of Le Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas where we would camp for the night and get some much-deserved rest. The village is smaller and has less options for restaurants but can still be arranged. A statue of Louis Robert Stevenson stands in the village to greet the hikers.
4

Pradelles

Day 4-5
The next stop takes us to Pradelles, located 21km from Le Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas. We will stay in a lovely bed and breakfast. The village is really nice to visit, you can enjoy the view as it is wonderful when sunny. There are convenience stores for some grocery shopping. Night booked in a bed and breakfast.
5

Luc

Day 5-6
The next day, we'll walk to the tiny village (hameau) of Luc and our campsite. This is a free camping area. There are very few options for camping in a 20km radius but since the amenities are very basic, it's also possible to arrange the night in a bed and breakfast. We will pass through Langogne which features a metal statue of La Bête du Gévaudan (terrifying beat/wolf from the legends). As this town is a bit larger, there is more variety for grocery shopping and is a good spot to purchase more food or anything necessary (pharmacies and others available).
6

Chasseradès

Day 6-7
New step, walk all the way to Chasseradès, the night will be in a Bed and Breakfast in a shared room with private bathroom. This will include breakfast and dinner. We need to let them know asap (ideally at booking) any food restrictions for them to plan accordingly.
7

Le Bleymard

Day 7-8
This step is 17km long and will take us to a larger village with the possibility to shop for groceries. We will spend the night in a nice little camping. There are options for dinner outside, restaurants and such.
8

Pont-de-Montvert-Sud-Mont-Lozère

Day 8-9
New step, the walk should be approximately 19km long. The village is lovely and relaxing. We can stay in a gîte for the night, shared room with private bathroom. For an extra 15€ per person, we can get food prepared for the next days' lunch as there are no restaurants or shop on the way to Florac.
9

Cassagnas

Day 9-10
This is where we will diverge again from the original path and avoid a much longer route toward Florac. I was recommend this modification to avoid crossing the town and instead head straight to the next step, Cassagnas. There, we will camp in a lovely relais gîte, where they offer buffet breakfast and dinners at a very reasonable price. For an extra 10€, it is possible to sleep in a shared dorm instead of camping =)
10

Saint-Étienne-Vallée-Française

Day 10-11
Another long step, 24km, all the way to Saint-Etienne-Vallée-Française. We will stay in wooden cabins in a lovely camping after passing through the village. Possibility to shop there for the night/next day or eat in a restaurant nearby. Only two can fit in a cabin, (2 single beds per cabin)
11

Saint-Jean-du-Gard

Day 11-12
For the last few days we will be in the Cévennes, at a higher altitude, and as such, it might be a good idea to include and an extra day for a break. This can be accommodated in the original plan at little to no extra cost by taking a camping/cooking at the camp option to spend more time in nature and enjoy how far we've come (over 200km!) Night: to be determined I would offer to take that extra night between Saint-Jean-du-Gard and our last stop, Alès.
12

Saint-Paul-la-Coste

Day 12
This is an extra stop so as to make the last stretch easier and for us to walk less than 20km a day on the last couple of days. We will scout for a location to enjoy one night away from a campsite and gîte. I've planned for equipment (jetboil) and we should be able to purchase food in the previous village to enjoy our last night on the road and be immersed in nature. Ahead of time, if the weather doesn't allow for us to do so, we will ensure to book and get to a gîte/relais
13

Alès

Day 12-13
Our last hiking stop, Alès! Finally, after two long weeks across several regions, up and down the hills, we'll arrive at our destination =) I'm including one night in the city, to rest, regroup and enjoy one last meal and celebrate together.
14

Nîmes

Day 13
Short break. I have included Nîmes as a step of the journey as it is 30mn away from Alès by train and the best way to connect to any city catch a flight. Upon book this trip, I will help you look for the best way to connect to your next adventure or book a stay in Nîmes. Visit: the arenas, the public gardens, le Pont du Gard... NOTE : I am not planning/booking a night in Nîmes, this will be up to you, but I can help you do so if you'd like. The hike ends in Alès, so does the tour, but I will include train tickets to Nîmes for all group members at no extra cost.
Trip Summary
Accommodation
Camping & Bed & Breakfast & Other
13 days trip
Le Puy, Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille & 12 more
Transportation
Trekking
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