A family adventure with an overnight camp on the Vercors High Plateaux

-"Tell me, Auntie Ju, when are we going to sleep in the mountains?"
-"Um, not for another 22 sleeps, my darling Maxou…"

I’ll spare you the countdown over the 3 weeks that still stood between us and this eagerly awaited adventure!! My niece and nephew, Clélia and Maxime, aged 8 and 5, have just returned from a few years in Guadeloupe and have already been lucky enough to travel widely. They have an insatiable thirst for learning and discovery! So we’re very excited to arrange their first night camping in the mountains of the Vercors. Being the nice people we are, we’ve invited their parents to join us too:)

The Vercors Regional Natural Park is a vast wilderness, untouched by civilisation, with wonderfully varied landscapes. For their first steps into the Vercors, we choose the Chaumailloux plateau, with its views of Grand Veymont (the highest peak in the Vercors) and the distinctive Mont Aiguille.

Our overnight camping spot ©️ Julie Marienval

Getting the tents, sleeping bags, warm clothes for the night, picnics, saucepans and everything else ready… “Really, we’re going to cook up there??” Everything is a source of fun and surprise!
We choose to camp near the Chaumailloux hut rather than sleep inside, to give the children an experience as close to nature as possible. Off we go!

A quick picnic in Trézanne gives us the chance to show them a beautiful, traditional Romanesque chapel with a thatched roof. Facing the iconic Mont Aiguille, excitement reaches fever pitch…

David outside the chapel in Trézanne, facing Mont Aiguille ©️ Julie Marienval

Then we begin the climb to the Pas de l’Aiguille, passing a series of memorial crosses, searching for the perfect walking stick and enjoying breathtaking views of the valley!

Climbing to the Pas de l’Aiguille ©️ Julie Marienval

Reaching the High Plateaux is a moment of great joy! We learn how to put up a tent, inflate an air mattress and find the spring to replenish our water supplies. The children are amazed to discover that a little spring will provide all the water we need for cooking, washing, doing the dishes and filling our water bottles!!

Collecting spring water and setting up camp ©️ Julie Marienval

The local wildlife treats us kindly: during the afternoon, we’re lucky enough to spot grasshoppers, marmots, falcons, butterflies, caterpillars and more…
The fascinated children listen and watch closely. Maxime tries to film a marmot, while Clélia carefully contains her delight at having a butterfly on her hand so she doesn’t frighten it away:)

Our little friends for the day ©️ Julie Marienval, Maud Rouby

Dinner is pasta with tomato sauce, as much cheese as we can eat, hot soup and chocolate! Our little group is all smiles, with full stomachs.

Our tribe and its campsite ©️ Maud Rouby

During the night, while we’re snug in our 2 tents, something happens that they still talk about today: an animal comes rummaging through our bags and steals our chocolate brioches for breakfast!! Marmot or fox? Everyone has their own theory:)
Never mind: everyone wakes up in a good mood, and we enjoy our coffee and toast with a magnificent view!!

Coffee and breakfast at Chaumailloux ©️ Lyllian and Maud Rouby

After an introduction to map reading, Maxime, as proud as a peacock with a compass around his neck, leads us on a walk to the Jardins du Roy. Our picnic is very welcome, with superb views of the surrounding mountain ranges!

Reading the map, with Maxou on compass duty ©️ Julie Marienval

Jardins du Roy on the Vercors High Plateaux © Julie Marienval

On the way down, we stop at the Pas de l’Aiguille Memorial to tell the children a little about the war, the French Resistance and the history of the Vercors, which is inseparable from these heroes.
And just like that, it’s over. Sniff! A wonderful adventure for our little city heroes, who are already asking for more:)

The whole group ©️ Maud Rouby

To capture this wonderful weekend, here’s a short video to remember it by:
A Family Adventure on the Vercors High Plateaux

If you enjoyed my story, here are 2 trips offered by Grand Angle, one guided and one self-guided:

• Trekking with children on the Vercors High Plateaux - 4 days
• Walking and camping with a donkey in the heart of the Vercors
• The Vercors between Trièves and Mont Aiguille