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The Vercors Nature Park |
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Cycling holidays |
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The Vercors Nature Park is known among cycle enthusiasts for its spectacular roads. Unique in Europe, the itineraries here are incomparable, with roadways carved out of the limestone mountains at the beginning of the 20th century at the cost of enormous effort and courage. These roads wind through gorges and tunnels carved out of the very rock to bring the traveller onto the plateau of the Vercors. The voyager is then rewarded by the most superb panorama imaginable: limestone corries, forest as far as the eye can see, and cliffs up to 1000 feet! The holiday takes place in what the French modestly call “la moyenne montagne” ("medium-size"), and has the particular interest of being recommended in high summer thanks to relatively moderate temperatures. But perhaps the ideal moment to enjoy this unique experience is in early autumn, when the countryside is full of the most vibrant colours, and the mists down in the valley contrast with frequent blue skies up on the plateau.
Holidays from May to October.
You can begin your stay any day May - June and September - October.
In the high season, holidays start on odd dates (1st, 3rd, 5th...) in July, and even dates (2nd, 4th, 6th...) in August.
Itineraries (please click for details)
8 days / 7 nights 
4 days / 3 nights
Characteristics of circuits
Difficulty: 4/5
Daily stages: 35 - 60 km
Total daily uphil: 200 - 950 metres
Altitudes from 150 to 1400 metres
Routes generally along narrow tarred roads
Suitable for road and trail bikes
From spring to autumn
Arrival: odd dates in July, even in August
What's included?
Half board
Guest houses with 2 or 3 "épis"(rural accommodation classification, literally "ears of corn"!) and 2 or 3 star hotels
Baggage transport
Detailed road-book and maps
Logistical and technical support
Reservation request
Booking form
Once you've filled in the form, Safran will suggest a made-to-measure holiday adapted to your personally chosen dates during the week or at the weekend.
Tariffs 2010
| Price per person, on the basis of two people sharing same room | Additional services | ||||
| Duration | July - August | Low Season | Baggage for a Single | Single Room | Bike rental Adult |
| 8d/7n | € 630 | € 585 | € 100 | € 140 | € 100 |
| 4d/3n | € 345 | € 310 | € 100 | € 60 | € 55 |
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Flora and Fauna of the Vercors Nature Park
 With cliffs, caves, hills, mountain ridges and high plateaux, it’s not surprising that the flora and fauna here are exceptional. More than 80 protected plant species flourish in the Vercors, from the soldanella which emerges just after the snow to the Venus’ slipper orchid in the forests, from the ‘bear’s ear’ primrose to the wild tulips of the sub-alpine meadows...135 species of bird nest in these mountains, and 17 reptiles and amphibians live here, along with 75 distinct mammals. Among the most notable creatures are the ibex, the deer, the black grouse (emblem of the Park), the royal eagle, the peregrine falcon and the marmot. Today the Vercors is one of the rare mountain ranges which offer a home to all six of the great ungulates (hoofed animals) of France: chamois, deer, roe-deer, wild sheep, boar and ibex. |
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Agence Safran - Les Cascades - F. 26400 Mirabel et Blacons
Tel. +33 (0)4 75 25 78 78 - Fax +33 (0)4 75 25 78 79
info@safrantours.com - Agence de voyages LI.026.99.0001