Hike France’s Drôme Valley – mountains, meadows, canyons and valleys

Tours

16:47 h

29.8 mi

6,125 ft

Brimming with marked hiking trails, the Drôme Valley in France is one of the best places for nature and adventure lovers. On more than 1,500 kilometres (932 mi) of trails, you explore deep canyons, huge meadows, mountain peaks, idyllic rivers and villages with a rich cultural heritage. To discover all the region’s jewels, you would need to spend at least two months on holiday here.

Several long-distance hiking routes lead through the Drôme. Follow the ancient path of French protestants exiled in Switzerland and Germany. Hike in the footsteps of the Huguenots or take on the 1,600-kilometres (994 mi) of the GR 965. The GR 9 also passes through the Drôme Valley, linking three French nature parks from the Jura to the Mediterranean.

You don’t have to embark on such a long adventure to enjoy this region (although we certainly would encourage you to). In this Collection, we propose a series of hikes that criss-cross the Drôme Valley. They are suitable for everyone, from beginners to experienced hikers.

All you need to take on these trails are good hiking shoes and a small bag with water and supplies for the day. Most of the routes start and end in a car park near a village where you can find local produce and accommodation.

In these villages, you can meet the Drômois and the Drômoises who will be happy to share their passion for their land with you.

To learn more about hiking in the Drôme valley, check out: valleedeladrome.co.uk/your-stay/your-leisure-activities/on-foot

Welcome to the land of hiking!

On The Map

Tours & Highlights

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Loop 1: Discover Crest and its surroundings – Drôme Valley
Intermediate
02:02
3.86 mi
1.9 mph
700 ft
700 ft
Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Crest is both a sporting, natural, cultural and festive village. Nestled on the face of a rocky ridge, the town is overlooked by the Tower of Crest, a building dating from the Middle Ages and bearing the traces of later centuries.

But what charms most in Crest is the way the town blends harmoniously into…
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Loop 2: Around the plateau of Ambel – Drôme Valley
Expert
05:15
9.30 mi
1.8 mph
1,500 ft
1,500 ft
Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The Ambel plateau is an exceptional natural space located in the heart of the Vercors massif. Through its 1,231 hectares, it bears witness to the conflicts between climate, geology and human forces. Indeed, this land bears the traces of the Resistance in the Vercors. The result is a rich and varied landscape…
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Loop 3: Walking around Saoû – Drôme Valley
Easy
01:40
3.56 mi
2.1 mph
500 ft
500 ft
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
The village of Saoû is characterized by its unique charm. Backed by the Vèbre, a small preserved river, this town opens onto the eponymous forest. This forest is home to some mountains that offer beautiful views of the surroundings. Quite vast, the Saoû forest requires a good day's walk to cover it.

The…
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Loop 4: Path through the Drôme Gorges – Drôme Valley
Intermediate
02:54
5.98 mi
2.1 mph
1,050 ft
1,050 ft
Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
In the heart of the Vercors Regional Natural Park, there are a series of gorges and waterfalls capable of charming any hiker or hiker who ventures there. What better way to discover these nuggets of the Drôme valley than a walk?

The hike to which we invite crosses the Gueulards canyon, flirts with the…
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Loop 5: 'Trois Becs' path – Drôme Valley
Expert
04:56
7.08 mi
1.4 mph
2,400 ft
2,400 ft
Expert Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
The Trois Becs are part of the Saoû forest and are an essential hike in the Drôme valley. Where does the name of this route come from? In fact, the trail connects three major peaks in the region: the Veyou (1,589 meters), the Signal (1,559 meters) and Roche Courbe (1,545 meters).

This route is relatively…
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