Via Ferrata Short Break in the Alps

You will make your own way to Gap and check into your hotel today. We can help you plan your journey here - we have become experts at this!

We suggest meeting in the hotel reception at 18h30 to meet up with other participants on this holiday before going out to dinner in town. We can also recommend and book restaurants for you in advance. 

Your rooms will be available for checking in from 16hrs but depending on what time you arrive, we can arrange for you to leave your bags in the hotel so you can go and explore Gap. Gap is a beautiful Alpine town with a Provencal feel. There is a charming pedestrianised area with bars and restaurants spilling out on the the streets and squares and narrow lanes with boutique shops and treasures to explore.

You will be going out each day to experience the best of the via ferratas in the French Alps with your guide. He will collect you each morning from your hotel and drop you back off afterwards so you don't have to plan anything else for your trip!

The grading of the via ferratas we will be using on this trip will vary from easy to difficult. We have saved the most challenging routes to towards the end of the trip so you have the opportunity to develop your skills and head for heights gradually! Some of the routes start with an easy section and become progressively more difficult with options for opting out so there is flexibility to adapt to different levels in the group without penalising anyone!

For your evenings in Gap, there are a wide range of restaurants and bars so you can taste the local gastronomy! We can advise you on our favourites when you are here and book them on your behalf if you wish.

For lunches, some of the days will require a picnic and for others there are opportunities to eat in restaurants. You'll decide as a group with the guide's advice on which option will be the best for each day.

The Devoluy is a spectacular wild and relatively untouched limestone massif home to wolves and many other Alpine animals.

Via Ferrata Gorges D'Agnielles:

This is an amazing 500m via ferrata traversing a steep cliff above the gorge. The first section is graded easy and children as young as seven can attempt it but don't be fooled by this as it is exposed and vertiginous! It is possible to stop after the first section with an abseil descent. The second section is significantly more sporty and starts with an athletic 50m vertical cliff, continues through magnificent limestone strata in a wave formation and finishes with some vertical exposed passages to the path back down.

Lunch: 

Lunch is possible in a restaurant in the village of St Etienne near the start of the afternoon via ferrata or it is possible to picnic by the stream after the morning via ferrata.

Via Ferrata Les Etroits:

This is a spectacular and challenging 1100m long via ferrata with character. It explores a deep and narrow gorge taking you through caves and around blocks jammed between the cliffs making for an interesting route.There is an easier route which can be exited at the ed before tacking the sporty athletic section.

Today will start off with a stunning drive along the magnificent Serre Poncon lake towards the east side of the Ecrins Massif. Yes there is definitely a possibility of a stop off at the lake on the way back for quick dip if timing allows!

Via Ferrata La Falaise in Freissinieres:

This is the first recreational via ferrata ever created in France. Built by Lionel Condemne in 1988, this is via ferrata history with a capital H! With the stunning panoramic views of the Freissinieres valley and the magnificent limestone rock that attracts climbers from all over, it is easy to see why Lionel was inspired to build a via ferrata here! A 1000m long via ferrata with 200m of ascent this via ferrata starts off easy and becomes progressively more difficult as you arrive at the summit. This is a classic via ferrata all fans should have on their bucket list!

Lunch:

There is the possibility to picnic or have a restaurant lunch between the two via ferrata sites.

Via Ferrata Gorges d'Ailefroide:

We have chosen this via ferrata as it is on granite rock so has a different feel to the previous via ferratas you have tried so far. Again with two different levels, one easy and one more technical, it is easy to adapt this to your level on the day. The first 300m section  traverses back and forth over the gorge with three monkey bridges and a variety of routes along the rock. The harder 350m route has a more technical wire bridge and follows a steeper more athletic route to the last pillar before descending back down by the path. 

You will need to check out of the hotel this morning but we can arrange to leave your bags if required. It is possible to arrange an extra night if you prefer to travel back tomorrow.

The grande finale of your trip today, we will take you down to, in our opinion, the best via ferrata in the French Alps, La Grande Fistoire.

Via Ferrata La Grande Fistoire:

This is a magnificent via ferrata and we'll take a good half day to do it. It starts with a climb up the face of the cliff and works its way round to the first wooden swing bridge with a steep exit onto a small ridge. The next big challenge is the wire bridge that accesses the more difficult section of the via ferrata, a steep wall with a ladder taking you all the way up to the summit. 

We'll have lunch on the summit and take in the spectacular views before heading back down via the three tyrollean zip lines. The zip lines are one of the highlights of this via ferrata and at 150m, 130m and 220m, they are not for the faint hearted. Unlike the big giant zip lines where you are cocooned in a full body harness on your stomach, this is the classic sit harness and pulley method so you will feel the full g-force and vulnerability of zipping above the deep chasm!

We'll be back in Gap by mid afternoon to give you time to catch your train or bus for your journey home.