Little Nomads in Diois

From valleys flowing with crystal-clear water, to the panoramic ridges of the Vercors, covered in greenery, the landscapes of this family hike with donkeys and the bivouac sites are extremely varied! An enchantment for nature lovers!

The program :

D1/ Combeau (1400 m) - Bivouac de Gerbeau (1300 m)

Welcome at 10 a.m. at Die station. Transfer to the bucolic Vallon de Combeau where our donkeys have their summer quarters. Picnic by the pond, then it's off for the big adventure. We cross the Combeau rock via the Col de Côte Chèvre, then descend to the beautiful Gerbeau bivouac, which offers an incredible panoramic view over the valley.

3 hrs walk M: 170 m. D: 250 m.
Night in camp.

D2/ Bivouac de Gerbeau (1300 m) - Refuge de la Tour (1340 m)

After a short descent, we follow the Sareymond valley to the ruins of the Désert farmhouse, where the Huguenots used to hold their secret assemblies. A balcony path through a magnificent beech forest leads us to the Col de la Plainie. We cross under the Montagne de Bellemotte, home to numerous chamois, to reach the refuge de la Tour, ideally situated in the pastures facing the Jocou.

5 to 6 h walk. M: 400 m. D: 350 m.
Night in refuge.

D3/ Refuge de la Tour - Combeau (1400 m.)

We take a path through the heart of the forest to reach the ridge and the superb alpine pastures of Jiboui. Then, from the Col de Menée, we follow the Crête de la Grande Leyrie, which takes us gently back to the Vallon de Combeau via the Col de la Lauzette.

5 to 6 h walk. M: 450 m. D: 400 m.
Night in refuge or camp. Dinner at the refuge.

D4/ Combeau - Vercors High Plateaux Nature Reserve (approx. 1600m.)

We set off to discover the Haut-Plateaux du Vercors Nature Reserve. After stalking marmots in the Essaure meadow, we reach the crests for a magnificent panoramic view of the neighboring Dévoluy and Oisans peaks and Mont-Aiguille, the massif's emblematic mountain. We choose an ideal bivouac site in the middle of the wilderness before sleeping in the silence of the mountains.

3 to 4 h walk. M and D: 300 to 500 m.
Night in camp.

D5/ Vercors High Plateaux Nature Reserve

We stroll through the heart of the Reserve, having fun discovering flowers and animal tracks. We can look out for ibex and chamois before heading back down to the Auberge de Combeau. A final cuddle with our donkeys and it's back to the Die station by 4.15pm.

3 to 4 h walk. M and D: 300 to 500 m.

Family circuit with no particular difficulties, good physical condition required. Children aged 7 and over.


The little extras :
- hiking pace particularly suited to children
- idyllic bivouac sites
- very docile donkeys, used to trekking with families
- a highly varied program