Hotel in the Southern Alps

Hotel in The Southern Alps; where to go on vacation in the Hautes-Alpes?

When we talk about Southern Alps, we generally include the mountains of Hautes-Alpes, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Alpes Maritimes.

With a sunshine comparable to Mediterranean regions (300 days of sunshine per year in Briançon), the Southern Alps offer great diversity of fauna, flora and landscapes.
Compared to the Northern Alps, the winter sports resorts are more family-friendly and integrated into their environment (much fewer apartment blocks but more villages) while remaining large and varied (Serre-Chevalier, Montgenèvre – Voie Lactée, etc.), mountain villages are more authentic and warm thanks to a desire to preserve heritage (Nevache, Cervières, Vallouise…)
In short, it is a top ecotourism destination for those who want to go to the mountains, slow down the pace and reconnect with nature.

Book my hotel stay in the Southern Alps

We present to you below our 3 favorite valleys around Briançon,
they form the whole of the High Valleys.

The Clarée Valley : “The most beautiful valley in the Alps” (Southern Alps)

Wild and preserved, classified as Natural Sites since 1992, it is located in the north of the department of High mountains, near Briançon.
It is crossed by the river with crystal clear waters which gives it its name, and is punctuated by small typical villages: la Vachette, le Rosier, Val-des-Prés, Plampinet, and Nevache (1600 m altitude).
Beyond that, the road continues for another 12 km, crossing the jewel that is the Upper Clarée Valley, to end in the middle of the mountain at an altitude of 2000 m.
It's the paradise of Hiking in summer, from Cross-country Skiing, Snowshoe ride and Sled Dog in winter.

Severe : Mountaineering and Freeride skiing paradise (Southern Alps)

In the hollow of a deep valley, Severe faces “La Meije”, the most famous peak of Écrins massif. This valley also benefits from an international reputation for mountaineering and freeride skiing (great off-piste potential). The height difference in its ski area is impressive: 2 meters between the dôme de la Lauze and La Grave. Cross-country skiing enthusiasts should instead meet on the 150 km of marked trails at Villard-d'Arêne, on the edge of Écrins National Park. There are many hiking possibilities there! La Grave is also well known by kite surfers for the famous, very windy, Col du Lautaret (mythical pass also for cycling).

The Izoard : Mythical cyclists’ pass (Southern Alps)

The Col de l’Izoard is the legendary meeting place for cyclists in summer, and fans of ski touring, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter (the trails are very well groomed). The hike that arrives at Napoleon Refuge is magnificent and the most gourmands will be able to enjoy it. For a quicker and more fun return, it is also possible to go back down on a sled!

Ski Resorts and Hiking around Briançon

Click on the different icons of this interactive map of Southern Alps to discover :

Ski resorts : where to practice alpine skiing and/or cross-country skiing (different icons depending on the type of ski!)
Ecotourism valleys : magnificent landscapes and hiking trails,
The Chalet d'en Ho : Chalet Hotel/Spa *** in Névache
Towns : having a station.