Trekking the Régordane Way

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trekking the regordane way

Walk France's mystical medieval route in its Original Format.

Key Facts

  • This hiking tour can be customised to your needs. The hiking day lengths, number of stages and the trekking tour duration is thus tailored to suit you. The hiking tour model programme below is a guide that can therefore be purchased as it is or altered to your requirements.
  • Regordane hiking tour length: seven nights, with six days of hiking and arrivals any day.
  • Self-guided, moderately-challenging, inn-to-inn trekking trails. Some longer hikes punctuated by some of more moderate length. The level of difficulty can be reduced by taking rest days or by the reduction of standard hike lengths on some days. Note: if you would like a guided version of this tour for your group, contact us with details.
  • Walking tour available from beginning of April to end of October.
  • Tour starts at Alès. Nearest airport or TGV railway station is Nimes, 40 minutes away -
    please contact us for further details.
  • hiking in provence
  • Theme
  • Model 7-night Trekking the Régordane Trail
  • Accommodations
  • What's Included
  • Prices 2008
  • Booking
  • See our Special Offer for bookings taken before
    31 October 2008.

1. Theme

The Regordane is the mystical section of the French 'Royal Route' connecting Paris to Lower Languedoc and is part of the St Gilles Way. It runs from north of Luc to Alès, the gateway to The Cevennes, a distance of 100 kilometres or 68 miles.

You walk the high volcanic plateau of Lozere, and the schist slopes of the Céze Valley, before arriving in the the dry, stony and flatter surfaces of the Mediterranean Garrigue. Arrival in Alès signals the end of a short voyage of discovery and fills you with an abiding sense of acheivement at having joined the small band of Regordanophiles who have followed in the footsteps of four French Kings, one archbishop and untold numbers of pilgrims and mule drivers.

walking the regordane way

You follow the 'original' route taken by the trail, avoiding mythical deviations dreamt up by local tourist departments. Your experience is authentic, aimed at those who want no compromise.

2. Model 7-night Trekking the Régordane Way

trekking the regordane trail

Day 1. Arrival in Alès.

Your hotel is the best there is in this attractive market town, rich in Protestant history.Night in Alès.

Day 2. Hike from Langogne to Pradelles. Options from 7 miles-11 kms.

Morning train to Langogne, home to the 'beast of Gevaudan'. You hike a circular trail to the nearby medieval and picturesque cité of Pradelles.
Night in Langogne.

Day 3. Hike from Langogne to La Bastide.16.5 miles-25 kms.

Rediscover parts of the ancient route that the tourist board prefers to ignore. Part of the trail that had been lost until recently has been miraculously resuscitated and you hike the ‘Royal Route’, the name given to the 18th century 'paved' surface.

Day 4. Hike from La Bastide to Villefort.14 miles-21 kms.

walking the regordane

Hike the volcanic plateau to a medieval village on the Chaussezac gorge and then onto Lake Villefort. This is trekking at its best and a day that will remain in your hiking memory for ever.

Day 5. Hike from Villefort to Genholac. 11 miles-15 kms.

There's the chance to visit a clifftop chapel, subject of its own pilgrimage, before you enter the Gard via the villages at the foot of Mont Lozere, pass the source of the River Ceze and visit typical linear settlements en route with their unique Roman churches.

Day 6. Hike from Genholac to Portes. 11.75 miles-17 kms.

Trek from the Huguenot stronghold through the countryside of the Cevennes' most famous writer, J-P Chabrol. The site of Portes Castle is an impressive reminder of its strategic position as the northern gateway to The Cevennes.

Day 7. Hike from Portes to Alès. 14.5 miles-22 kms.

hiking in provence

You descend over 400 metres along the watershed between the Ceze and the Gardon valleys, through villages and hamlets to the former 'industrial heartland' of The Cevennes, Alès.

Day 8. End of Tour.

A memorable trek has brought you to Alès, where options abound for further learning and recreation. Nimes is 40 minutes away.

Note: We reserve the right to alter parts of the above programme.

3. Accommodations

You stay in 6 different 2-star accommodations en route.

These are your 7 overnight stops and you need to stay in each one for at least one night: trekking the Regordane Trail
1. Alès;
2. Langogne;
3. La Bastide;
4. Villefort;
5. Genholac;
6. Portes;
7. Alès

4. What's Included

  • 7 nights B & B, plus 6 picnic lunches, 5 evening meals and local hotel taxes;
  • Pre-tour briefing and post-tour de-briefing;
  • walking the regordane way
  • Train from Alès to start of tour;
  • All luggage transfers and transport integral to the programmme;
  • Hiking Insight Notes™ that make map reading redundant*;
  • Themed vacation dossier;
  • Comprehensive travel notes & logistical information;
  • Emergency telephone help-line service with local British backup;
  • Loan of mobile phone where required for American customers only;
  • Option to leave your car in secure parking in Ales and collect it upon your return.*
    * Cars are left at owners risk.

    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.

    5. Prices 2008

  • Price per person based on 2 persons sharing:

  • £645.00 or €850.00 or $1215.00
  • Single person rate:

  • £745.00 or €950.00 or $ 1395.00 walking the regordane way

    Click to go to Booking and Costs