Single centre guided walking holiday information sheet

Les Estables
Walking with guide
FROM THE VOLCANOES OF THE MEZENC
TO THE WILD LOIRE GORGES
single-centre with guide holiday
8 days / 7 nights stay - 5 days of walking + 1 free day.
Rambling on the high plateaux of Mézenc and Ardèche. Discover unspoilt hamlets and farms with stone roofs,
and old extinct volcanoes like Gerbier de Jonc, the source of the Loire. You will be surprised by the very open
landscapes.
In the middle of the week, enjoy a free day to relax and discover the region from a different perspective.
One or two groups are formed, depending on the number of participants. Everyone meets up at lunchtime for a
picnic, which is brought to you three times in the week by one of your hosts in a minibus, thereby allowing anyone
who is tired out to return to the hotel after lunch.
At the end of the afternoon, back at the hotel, you can relax in the sauna or in the jacuzzi (novelty winter 2016),
bathe in the indoor heated swimming pool, have a drink on the terrace, play billiards or table tennis, etc...
We handle all the transfers by minibus to the point of departure of the trekking circuits.
PROGRAM
Day 1 :
Check-in from 16.00 to 18.00 on the day of arrival (with a welcoming drink at 18.30).
Days 2 to 7 :
 « Les Moulins du Chapteuil » walk : water mills, bread ovens, "béate" houses and the ruins of Chapteuil
castle, perched on volcanic columns ;
 « Mont Mézenc and the Cirque des Boutières » : climb to the highest point of the Ardèche and the HauteLoire départements, the site of intense volcanic activity in the distant past ;
 « Les Roches de Borée » walk : the Echamps plain and the Soutron rock, a sort of suspended world ;
 Free day : see below ;
 « Saint-Clément » walk : hilltop village perched on twelve layers of lava flow ;
 « The Loire gorges » : walking in the wildest part of the river : the ferruginous spring of Bonnefond.
Days 2 to 7 (other example of program) :
 Trek in the Massif du Meygal: from the village of Boussoulet with its charming church and its Rocher de
la Tortue at the summit of the Testavoyre ;
 « Mont Mézenc and the Devil’s Teeth » : climb to the highest point of the Ardèche and the Haute-Loire
départements, the site of intense volcanic activity in the distant past ;
 Trek to Saint-Martial lake: on the "10 hamlets circuit" in the Boutières ;
 Free day : see below;
 Trek through the Sucs of the Ardèche plateau : Montfol and Taupernas… a stone's throw from the Gerbier
de Jonc ;
 « The Loire gorges » : walking in the wildest part of the river : Arlempdes ruined castle, the « first castle
of the Loire Valley».
Free day :
In the middle of the week, this free day will provide an opportunity to relax, to discover the surroundings or the
town of Le Puy en Velay.
Your hosts will be able to propose you :
 A walking trail to do from the hotel without guide,
 A cycling route to do with electrically assisted cycles (rental in the tourism office of Les Estables),
 Ideas to visit the surroundings (the Perrel Brothers’ farm museum, Blue Lake Lauzière Park, fortress of
Polignac…),
 A topo-guide to discover the historic town of Le Puy en Velay (cathedral, starting point for the pilgrims to
go to Santiago de Compostela, Saint-Michael romanesque chapel, built on the summit of an old volcanic
vent…).
Day 8 :
Check-out after breakfast on the last day.
N.B. : The above programme is only an example; your host chooses the circuits on a daily basis, depending on
the group and on weather conditions. Guests staying two weeks running will not do the same tours twice.
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PRATICAL INFORMATION
WELCOME
Stays start on Saturday in the late afternoon and end on the following Saturday after breakfast. Check-in from
4.00 PM to 6.00 PM on the day of arrival (with an information meeting at 6.30 PM followed by a welcoming
drink).
CHECK-OUT
Check-out after breakfast on the last day.
DIFFICULTY
1 or 2 groups, depending on the number of participants :
 Sporty, athletic : 15 to 18 km, differences in height from 500 to 800 metres, 5 to 6 hours' walking.
 Unhurried: 12 to 16 km, differences in height from 400 to 600 metres, 5 to 6 hours' walking.
 Intermediate if only one group.
Stays are not suitable for children under 12.
ACCOMMODATION
You will stay at Hotel La Découverte, in a double or single room.
A stone's throw from the village, built to blend into the landscape with its wood-faced façades, La Découverte
des Estables, a 3-star hotel, offers quality accommodation specially designed for ramblers and hill-walkers. Its
20 rooms all have the save conveniences (bathroom with a roomy shower, separate toilet, direct phone line) and
nearly all face south onto the valley. An indoor heated swimming pool, a spa (novelty 2016 – see below), a tennis
table room, a billiards table, a lounge with fireplace and free Internet station, a self-service bar, a restaurant with
panoramic view, a bowling green, a garden, a terrace and a private car park are among the facilities at your
disposal for a quality stay. Near the hotel, 50 metres away there is also a tennis court. Wifi connection in the
hotel.
Meals (breakfast and dinners) are served in the hotel at a communal table.
In March 2015, the hotel becomes a partner of the Regional Natural Park of Ardeche.
Hotel Spa – novelty 2016
From december 2015, discover our new spa for a relaxing break and a delightful moment, to forget the stresses
and strains of daily life ! Thanks to the large windows, you will benefit from the landscape and the view of the
high plains. You will find in the new redesigned spa :
 an indoor heated swimming pool open in summer and in winter, already existing : water temperature
between 80° and 82°F (27° and 28°C), size 31ft x 12 ft (9m50 x 3m80), depth 4.6 ft (1m40) ;
 a sauna with hot stones oven (already in place in the hotel, it was moved to a lighter room) ;
 a multi-jet shower ;
 New : a jacuzzi with 5 seats and 1 lounge seat, with jets ;
 New : a massage room (massage performed for non-therapeutic purposes).
To use these accommodations, several solutions :
 Free access all the day to the pool and the multi-jet shower.
 Access to the sauna and jacuzzi by session (€ 10.50 /pers) or unlimited access for the week (€ 50 /pers).
 Massage sessions : several durations (on reservation) : 30 minutes, 45 minutes or 1 hour.
 Collective relaxation sessions of 45 minutes.
 Spa package for the week at € 105/pers : included the unlimited access to the sauna and jacuzzi, a
collective relaxation session of 45 minutes and a 30 minutes re-energising masssage.
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The village of Les Estables
At the boundary of the Haute-Loire and Ardèche départements, at the foot of mount Mézenc (the giant of the
Cévennes rising to 1753 m), the village of Les Estables is the highest commune in the Massif Central, 1340
metres above sea level. From May to October, many activities in addition to trekking are on offer : Mountain
biking, tree-climbing, cycling tours, electrically assisted cycling, hang gliding, orienteering, climbing, fishing.
Horse-riding, via ferrata and swimming are also on offer nearby…
From December to March, the snow covers the high plains of Mezenc and Les Estables ski station : you can
practise snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, nordic skiing, downhill skiing and snowboarding (thanks to the 8
tracks of Les Estables), dog sledding, snowkiting, igloo building…
Since 2014, the village of Les Estables is in the Regional Nature Park of Ardeche.
Your hosts
Brigitte, Philippe and Alexandre will reserve you a warm welcome ; they will help you discover this region and
fall under the spell of these immense landscapes.
Christophe, cook chef in the hotel since more than 15 years, prepare meals from many local products. Most of
the meals are homemade and you will enjoy traditional dishes. Our meals, in form of a unique menu, are
diversified, balanced and adapted to the walkers efforts.
If you celebrate your birthday during the week, inform us. Philippe, trained as a pastry, will be happy to make a
cake !
TRANSPORT
A minibus service is available for guests travelling by train, from Puy en Velay station, only subject to booking
and on a fixed timetable :
 from Le Puy en Velay to Les Estables: day 1 for the train arriving at 17.20,
 from Les Estables Le Puy en Velay: day 8 for the train departing at 10.40.
To book this service, please call +33 4 71 08 30 08 at least one week in advance. Limited number of places.
Please enquire for train timetables and numbers.
During your stay, we organize transport by minibus to the starting points of the trekking circuits we offer.
LUGGAGE PORTAGE
No luggage to carry. You only need to carry your personal belongings during the day; you only carry a picnic in
your rucksack twice in the week. On other days, one of your hosts will bring the picnic by minibus.
GROUP
1 or 2 level groups, depending on the number of participants.
GUIDE
A local mountain guide or your host.
EQUIPMENT YOU NEED TO BRING
Clothing
Trousers suitable for trekking, mountain jacket (waterproof windbreaker), shorts or Bermuda shorts, T-shirts,
warm pullover or fleece, cap or hat (to prevent sunstroke), gloves and cap (in case of bad weather), rambler's
socks (several pairs), leggings (in case it rains), comfortable evening wear , swimming costume/trunks and a
towel for the hotel's swimming pool (for for trekking if you have a picnic by the water's edge!), a pair of overankle or ankle-length hiking boots (firm ankle support is important) a pair of shoes for the evening.
Miscellaneous
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Sunglasses, sun cream, a rucksack (20 to 30-litre capacity), a flask of at least 1.5 litres (above all for the day
when you take the picnic with you), personal first aid kit* (double thickness sticking plasters for blisters,
disinfectant, dressings, etc.), needle and thread (just in case), camera, binoculars, etc…
* Many products or drugs are only available on prescription (Doliprane, Bétadine, etc.). Your guide will therefore
not be able to give you them, unless so instructed by the SAMU (ambulance and emergency service) in an
emergency. So you are advised to bring your own.
DATES AND RATES
Each week from April 30th to September 24th, 2016, from Saturday to Saturday
From 640 euros in 2016. The single rate is obligatory for singles.
Two-week stay : discount 5% for the two weeks (different programme for each week). Not available for the ebooking, contact us directly.
Children over 12 staying in the parents' room: 20% of.
Group prices: please enquire.
THE PRICE INCLUDES
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The full board, from Saturday evening to following Saturday morning,
the access to the indoor pool and to the multi-jet shower,
guides on the treks,
our ideas and help to organise the free day,
transport during your stay for the organized activities.
THE PRICE DOESN’T INCLUDE
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Optional insurance : the cancellation and interrupted occupancy : 3,5 % of the total amount of the stay,
the station to hotel shuttle service (20 € per people return),
the access to the sauna and jacuzzi, the massages and relaxation sessions,
any museum visits,
drinks at the hotel bar and during meals, extras,
visitor's tax (adults): €0.80 per person per day in 2015.
Hotel details
Hôtel la Découverte
Route des Boutières - 43150 Les Estables - FRANCE
Tel : +33 4 71 08 30 08 – Fax : +33 4 71 08 30 41
E-mail : [email protected] – web site : www.decouverte-estables.com
Member of Les Hôteliers Randonneurs - www.randonnee-hotels.com
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Accès à l’hôtel
En voiture :
Conseil pour l'utilisation du GPS : pour la
destination, saisir "LES Estables" (chez nous) et
non "Estables" (en Lozère)…
Coordonnées GPS des Estables :
Lattitude (décimal): 44.904907
Longitude (décimal): 4.161065
Lattitude (sexagésimal): N 44°54'17.67"
Longitude (sexagésimal): E 4°9'39.84"
En hiver, éviter les raccourcis ou tenir compte des
informations sur l’état des routes.
Etat des routes :
Massif Central : www.inforoute-massif-central.fr
Haute-Loire : 0 811 651 897- www.inforoute43.fr
Loire : 04 77 34 46 06 – www.inforoute42.fr
Ardèche : 04 75 65 52 52
Accès depuis Lyon :
 prendre l’A7 direction Valence, puis l’A47 direction Saint-Etienne.
 Avant Saint-Etienne, suivre la N88 direction Le Puy en Velay
 Avant Le Puy en Velay, prendre la sortie Saint-Germain-Laprade / Brives Charensac. Au rond-point,
suivre la D150 direction Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille. Au lieu-dit Les Pandraux, suivre la D28 direction
Lantriac, puis la D36 direction Laussonne, puis les Estables.
 Route recommandée en hiver : avant Le Puy en Velay, prendre la sortie Saint-Germain-Laprade /
Brives Charensac. Au rond-point, suivre la direction Malescot puis Brives-Charensac, puis la direction
Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille par la D535. Traverser Le Monastier et rester sur la D535 direction Les
Estables. Terminer sur la D631.
Accès depuis Clermont-Ferrand :
 Prendre l’A75 direction Millau. Prendre la sortie 20 et suivre la N102 direction Le Puy en Velay.
 Avant d’arriver au Puy en Velay, passer le village de Borne puis, plus loin, vers Polignac, suivre la
D136 direction Saint-Etienne. Après avoir franchi la Loire, suivre la D374, direction Brives-Charensac.
 Dans Brives-Charensac, suivre la direction Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille par la D535. Traverser Le
Monastier et rester sur la D535 direction Les Estables. Terminer sur la D631.
Accès depuis Montpellier – Béziers :
 Suivre l’A75 direction Clermont-Ferrand. Après la sortie 39.2, suivre la N88 jusque Mende. Puis suivre
la N88 jusqu’au Puy en Velay.
 Dans la ville du Puy, suivre la direction Saint-Etienne. Au rond-point d’Auchan, suivre la D988A
direction Le Monastier – Brives-Charensac.
 Après avoir traversé la Loire à Brives-Charensac, suivre la direction Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille par la
D535. Traverser Le Monastier et rester sur la D535 direction Les Estables. Terminer sur la D631.
Accès depuis Montélimar (autoroute A7):
 Prendre la N102 direction Le Puy en Velay, en passant par Aubenas.
 Dans la ville du Puy, suivre la direction Saint-Etienne. Au rond-point d’Auchan, suivre la D988A
direction Le Monastier – Brives-Charensac.
 Après avoir traversé la Loire à Brives-Charensac, suivre la direction Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille par la
D535. Traverser Le Monastier et rester sur la D535 direction Les Estables. Terminer sur la D631.
Dans les Estables, suivre la direction Mont Mézenc, Borée. A la sortie du village, après deux grands
virages, vous trouverez l’hôtel sur le côté droit.
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