Hiking in Cevennes - Magnificent Cevennes [M]

Tour Highlights

Key Facts

• Four-night tour, with arrivals any day from March to October
• Self-guided, moderately [M] walking trails.
  
• All-inclusive transport tour, which commences and finishes in Alès near Nimes;
• Variable hike lengths to suit you
• Independent walking, full and discreet support.
• Best access from Nimes - with alternatives from Avignon, Montpellier or Marseille airports* .

Please click the headings below or scroll down.

1. Theme
2. Model 4-night Magnificent Cévennes tour
3. Accommodation
4. What's Included
5. Prices 2010
6. Booking
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Our 4-night hiking in Cevennes extravaganza, Magnificent Cevennes, encapsulates modern life 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.

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.

Magnificent Cévennes is a multi-thematic walking tour 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 eco-friendly, alternative approach to hiking the Cevennes, Walking in France by Train.

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.
Night in Alès.

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

Short, morning transfer to the Cevennes foothills. Your walk brings you outstanding views as you cross the mountain crest: eastwards over the entire garrigue as far as Mont Ventoux and beyond to the Alps; northwards to Mont Lozere, south-westwards to Mont Aigoual and southwards to Pic St Loup and the Mediterranean. You then head south and past a dolmen site before arriving at a key heritage site of Cevennes culture - Mas-Soubeyran and The Musee du Desert – a shrine of tolerance.
Night near Anduze.

Day 3. Route to St Jean du Gard. 5.5 miles -8 kms or 14 miles-20 kms.

Today you follow hill-crests and drop down into picturesque valley. The views are stunning. The Camisards are never far away, as you cross the Gardon Valley and follow the GR 61 to the charming town of St Jean, with its picture-postcard ‘gare’, fascinating museum, castle, cafes and restaurants.
Night in St Jean du Gard.

Day 4. Corniche des Cevennes. 10 miles-15kms.

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

Day 5. End of your walking in France.

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

• 4 nights B & B -
  leaving you free to purchase your meals according to your personal preferences and budget:
  relevant information is available in your dossier;

• Pre-tour briefing and post-tour de-briefing;
• All travel and luggage transfers that are integral to the programme, including transfer on second morning and return transfer to Alès at tour's end;
• France Walking Insight Notes™ that make orientation simple;
• Themed vacation dossier;
• Emergency telephone help-line service by local British nationals;

Click to go to Booking