A NIGHT IN A REFUGE AND WHITE WATER: SIMPLY UNFORGETTABLE!
MOUNTAIN HIKE / RAFTING / HYDROSPEED
The Nature Weekend will be a perfect opportunity to combine the two very different, and equally wonderful worlds of mountains and rivers. From the Giffre valley to the high pastures of Folly, we take you on a discovery of rivers, flora and fauna, and geology while doing some water sport.
Rafting on the GIFFRE and Hiking to the Refuge de FOLLY
We meet at 9am at the Samoens base for Rafting on the Giffre with its magnificent Gorges des Tines. When the flow is not very strong, we have time to see fossils of ammonites and sponges. Throughout the descent, we will observe birds such as dippers and wagtails, while enjoying the waves and foam.
At the beginning of the afternoon, we’ll drive a few minutes to a hamlet called Allamands. There we’ll take the road to the farm du Crêt and we’ll see an old bread oven which marks a time when people provided for themselves and did not rely on consumer products. We will continue along a superb aerial trail which has some chains to help us up the steeper passages. The panorama from here is breathtaking!!! We pass under the Tuet cliff and soon reach the shadow of a beautiful beech forest. We then cross the bridge over the Landes stream to join a path rich with greenery and vegetation that climbs to the refuge de Folly.
We have time to relax and enjoy the scenery which overlooks the slopes of Criou, Tuet, Dents d’Oddaz and the Arve valley.
The team at this lovely refuge will provide a typical, plentiful and delicious Savoyard dinner. This will be an enjoyable and social occasion that will continue into the evening.
Duration: 2h30 (560m climbed) – reasonable level of fitness required, this is not a difficult walk.
Back to the Samoens valley and Hydrospeed on the Giffre.
After a restful night in spotless dormitories with comfortable bedding and a hearty breakfast in the dining hall, we will set off in the direction of the ‘’Combe aux Puaires’’ amid rhododendrons and globes flowers. We will leave this route to go down by the ‘’Pas de l’Avoine’’ up to ‘’Vallon des Barmes’’. It has an abundance of lilies and orchids and it’s common to observe chamois here. We continue down returning to the valley around noon.
After a good meal, provided by you (or in a restaurant in Samoens), we are ready for our Hydrospeed descent on the Giffre.
We meet at the Samoens base at 2pm. A change of scenery calls for a change of equipment! We’ll give you a thick wetsuit, helmet, float, flotation vest and flippers.
Your guide will instruct you and after a little practice in the shallows, you’ll jump into the waves.
You become one with the water, playing in the rollers and you will progress to surfing against the current. We will finish the weekend looking for bigger waves in the stronger and deeper currents.
€82/person for rafting and hydrospeed
plus €48/adult ½ board in the refuge (excluding drinks)
€37/child under 12 ½ board in the refuge (excluding drinks)
plus €275/mountain guide per group (maximum 15 per guide. The cost will be divided equally between the number in the group)
Toilets, sinks and showers are available at the refuge. Don’t forget to pack a small towel.
