Hiking in the Oisans and the Ecrins National Park

Mountain trails and riverside walks abound, for walkers of all ages and abilities

If you’re looking for accommodation while coming to the French Alps to walk the many mountain trails, riverside routes, and view the crystal clear lakes, then you have found the right place.

Accommodation

We have 10 individual rooms, each with its own style and magnificent mountain views, and are able to cater for up to 26 people. We have a large sitting and dining room where everyone eats together and there is plenty of possibility to relax before and after dinner on the sun drenched terrace or in the beautiful gardens. Our food is aimed at giving you the energy you need for those mountain climbs, as well as being totally delicious and something to Facebook home about.

Why Stay With Us?

When you are walking all day in the Ecrins National Park with its steep climbs and long descents, you need to know that you and your body are going to be well cared for. We specialise in hiking holidays and many walkers come back year after year because they enjoy the amazing variety of trails in the immediate vicinity and the incredibly relaxed atmosphere of the Lodge. Will you become a regular?

Bring your partner ... or the whole family!

We are a great venue for ‘mixed’ couples or families! Sometimes, not everyone wants to do the same thing – there are times when you want a different rhythm, even though you want to be together. We are the perfect venue for doing things differently, with many activities close by, beautiful gardens to relax and play in, as well as in-house well-being services including T’ai Chi, yoga and massage.

The Oisans Valley offers a host of walking and hiking trails, to suit any level of adventure, or tranquility. We've provided a small selection of our favourite routes below to get you started.

Lauvitel Lake

River Walks

GR54 & Tour de l'Oisans

Little Himalaya

Other Trails

Lauvitel Lake

3-4 hours (there and back) from Lauvitel Lodge

We are the incontrovertible place to stay for the walk to Lauvitel Lake, as you have no more to do than put your walking boots on and set off. This is one of the most spectacular places in the Alps and is relatively easy to reach, with a 500m ascent. It is renowned for its stunning scenery and the beauty of the lake itself; for the rare integral national reserve that guards a sense of untouched wilderness; and the possibility of seeing marmottes close up. It is a place that many revisit time and again.

River Walks

Explore the Veneon

Less known are the magical river walks along the Veneon valley between here and La Berarde. These trails lead through dense forest, over rocky outcrops and along sandy paths at the water’s edge.

It is possible to do short loops or a full day out, taking advantage of the local bus services for your return.

GR54 & the Tour de l'Oisans

Lauvitel Lodge is a great place to start or finish your trek

Lauvitel Lodge is a great place to start or finish your trek, a gentler gateway between the mountains and the city than nearby Bourg d’Oisans. It is also a wonderful pause ‘en route’, between Refuge de la Muzelle and Gite l’Emparis à Mizoen.

Whilst we are more expensive than the mountain huts, you will revel in the extra comfort and serenity of Lauvitel Lodge as well as the delicious food.

Little Himalaya

For the adventurous...

For those who dream of being in high and far off places, this is Caroline’s gem, giving you the sensation of being up above the world. This is not for anyone who suffers from vertigo or is not used to being out in the wilderness on their own – on most of the route, you are unlikely to see many people. This route can also be done as an extreme trail running, especially if you take in the peaks along the way.

Day 1: Warm up with the climb and descent to La Brèche du Périer via Lauvitel Lake (989m to 2,491m).

Day 2: Pass over the Col du Vallon and descend into the Muzelle valley to the refuge (989m to 2,531m and descend to 2,115m), with the option of taking in the Pic de Venosc (2,830m) or the Tête de la Muraillette (3019m).

Day 3: From Refuge de la Muzelle take the hidden ridge walk under the Muzelle glacier descending to Lanchatra and the Plan du Lac, with a ride back to Lauvitel Lodge.

Day 4: Take the balcony route from Plan du Lac or Saint Christophe to les 2 Alpes, and if you still have legs for it, climb on up to the Pied Moutet (2,339m), an island peak with fantastic views of surrounding summits and along the Oisans valley. You will also see Lauvitel Lake and La Danchere directly below you, where you return to that night, either by the Venosc cable car or by foot.

Other Trails

Let your adventurous spirit set you free

Lauvitel Lodge is your doorway to the mountain walks and trails with the natural beauty of the surrounding country and further still into the wilderness of the Ecrins National Park.

For easy walks with open scenery you have no further to look than La Berarde to Chatelleret under La Meije, the walk around Lac Besson near Alpe d’Huez, or across the Plateau d’Emparis.

For more challenging outings there is the climb to Tete de la Maye from which you will get 360 degrees of spectacular high mountains, the wired climb to the village of Notre Dame or the steep walk up to the Vallons des Etages.

Discover all the Oisans Hiking Routes