Walking the Cévennes

Key Facts

• Cevennes hiking tour length:
  six nights, with arrivals any day.
• Self-guided, moderately-challenging walking trails with options. The model hiking tour below features three moderately-challenging days and two light hiking days. This balance can be changed.
  Note: if you would like a guided version of this tour for you and your group, please contact us with details.
• All-inclusive transport for tour, which commences in Ales;
• Pre-tour briefing and post-tour de-briefing;
• Available March to late October;
• Best access airport or TGV railway station:
  Nimes. Then onwards to Alès by train (35 mins). Possible access via Avignon or Montpellier. Those driving can leave their cars free of charge near Alès.
• Option to leave your car in secure parking in Ales and collect it upon your return¹.
• All hotels have en-suite facilities and outdoor swimming pools*.
• Theme
• Model 6-night Hiking the Cévennes hiking vacation
• Accommodations
• What's Included
• Prices 2008.
• Booking
• See our Special Offer for bookings taken before 30 September 2008.

When Hiking the Cevennes, life is here in microcosm. The Cevennes is an area of extraordinary diversity and Cevennes hiking is a fascinating journey from megalithic to modern times. It's tale is one of man’s enduring capacity to innovate, destroy and yet survive. At a time when we are witnessing a back-to-nature movement, here is one of the best preserved of French territories and an oasis of forgotten life.

The Cevennes is characterised by steep slopes and narrow valleys, it has never been a homogenous administrative or geographical space, yet has a strong self-identity that touches universal themes:

a) The Spirit of Freedom and the championing of The Rights of Man–offering refuge from oppression for Protestant, Spanish,Republican, Jew, French Resistance Fighter and Hippy.
b) The struggle for self sufficiency against ineluctable economic forces – the birth and decline of ways of life due to pestilence, competition and ‘progress’ and countryside exodus, followed by tentative re-settlement by those wishing to preserve ancient crafts or seeking an alternative, organic future.
c) Man’s struggle to master nature – dams, irrigated terraces and aqueducts are testimony to man’s structuring of his environment to both protect himself from the ravages of water and capture it for his needs.

This is a multi-thematic hiking vacation in France’s last undiscovered ‘Region’.

Read our article on The Cévennes.

Useful background information on The Cévennes National Park can be found here.

If you like train journeys, see our alternative approach to hiking the Cevennes, Walking and Riding the Cevennes Railway.

Day 1. Gateway to The Cévennes.

Arrival and hotel check-in in Alès.Visit to this modern and attractive market town.Tour briefing at hotel and night in Alès.

Day 2. Cevennes Panorama. 12 miles-18 kms.

The day starts with a taxi transfer to the start of the trail. You walk to Mialet across the mountain crest with outstanding views eastwards over the entire garrigues as far as Mont Ventoux in Provence and beyond to the Alps; northwards to Mont Lozere, south-westwards to Mont Aigoual and southwards to Pic St Loup and the Mediterranean. The grande finale is Mas-Soubeyran and The Musee du Desert – a shrine of tolerance. Night near Anduze.

Day 3. La Fage. 9.5 miles-14.5 kms

Great views continue today, with more hill-crest walking and an orientation table with spectacular views soth westwards to Mount Aigoule. Descending into the valley, you see chestnut groves and a working farm before arriving at the Grotte des Camisards and the Pont des Camisards.Night near Anduze.

Day 4. Mialet to St Jean du Gard. 5.5 miles-8kms.

Day 5. Corniche des Cevennes. 10 miles-15kms.

Climb an ancient drovers' trail, walked by Robert Louis Stevenson in 1878, to a memorable 360 degree panorama. Night in St Jean du Gard.

Day 6. The Gardon Valley. 9.5 miles–15 kms.

Day 7. End of Tour.

Tour de-briefing. Transfer back to Alès. Au revoir et à bientôt.

Note: We reserve the right to alter the programme.

• 6 nights B & B, 4 picnic lunches, 3 evening meals and all local hotel taxes;
• Pre-tour briefing and post-tour de-briefing;
• Luggage transfers and taxi transfers integral to the programme, including morning return transfer from St Jean to Ales at end of tour;
• Tailored walks to suit your needs and capacity;
• Walking Insight Notes™ that make map reading redundant¹;
• Themed vacation dossier;
• Comprehensive travel notes & logistical information;
• Option to leave your car in secure parking in Ales and collect it upon your return¹;
• Emergency telephone help-line service by local British nationals;

¹ Cars are left at owners risk.
Note: we have included the minimum number of meals necessary to maximize your freedom whilst providing the level of service you would expect. Both Ales and St Jean have a number of restaurants where you can choose the best for your needs and diet.

Special Offer for all bookings taken before 30 September 2008:
Free Extra Day's hiking to the Pont du Gard with a tour guide.

This Special Offer is subject to the following conditions:
i. The availability of the guide - otherwise, a self-guided option is available;
ii. A maximum number of 4 beneficiaries in any group booking.
iii. There is no monetary value to this offer outside of the context of this promotion.
iv. No accommodation or food forms part of this offer, although we are happy to reserve your hotel for your eighth night, which would be as near to Le Pont du Gard as possible;
v. There is no payment for the volunteer guide, who is in no way responsible for your health and safety;
vi. Full payment must accompany the booking.

Click to go to Booking and Costs