June 6th - 14th, 2007
The Vercors and Dauphine Alps, France: Flowers and butterflies
Price: £ 1045
Leaders: Bob Gibbons and Paul Toynton
What a combination – the Vercors and National park des Écrins, two of the finest mountain areas in France, with astonishing scenery and superb flora and fauna. Our 9-day tour visits the area at the peak of flowering for orchids and much else, as well as the earlier butterflies and a good range of birds.
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| Lady's slipper orchids in the Vercors |
We leave Heathrow at 4 pm to reach Lyon by early evening, from where we transfer to our base in the Vercors mountains, in a lovely old chateau with the most spectacular views of the mountains. A swim in the pool, with birds of prey overhead, swallows dipping in for a drink, and the mountains in the background, is a magical experience! The Vercors mountains have a superb and easily-accessible flora and fauna, amongst the lovely flowery meadows, ancient beech-woods, high pastures and spectacular cliffs. On our previous trips, we have always seen huge clumps of Lady's slipper orchids within half a mile of the hotel, and another day ended with seeing a golden eagle flying over carrying a young marmot – it’s that sort of place!
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| Mont Aiguilles in the Vercors |
If the Vercors mountains were not quite so close to the alps, they would have far more visitors and admirers. As it is, they remain wonderfully unspoilt and undiscovered. The flora and fauna of our area, on the east side, is magnificent – a glorious mixture of southern, northern and alpine, in spectacular mountain scenery. In addition to seeing many of the species that you might expect in a limestone area of southern France, the presence of mountain species such as globe orchids, trumpet gentians, Orchis spitzelii and O. pallens as well as apollo butterflies and marmots is a marvellous bonus. There are alpine pasque flowers, solomon’s seal species, may-lilies, wintergreens, orchids by the dozen, daffodils, cranesbills and hundreds of other species, all in quite exceptionally beautiful scenery. We also have a good chance of seeing golden eagles, two species of chough, redstarts, and many other birds of interest, as well as the earlier fritillaries, admirals, and other butterflies.
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| A valley on the Edge of the Ecrins |
After 4 nights here, we drive south-eastwards around the southern side of the Écrins massif, and on to the village of Puy St. Vincent in the Gyronde valley, (not to be confused with the Gironde), an excellent base for exploring the valleys and slopes of the Écrins National Park. Although we’ll be too early for the flowers and butterflies of the high alps, the valleys and mid-altitude habitats should be at their best.
The flora and fauna of the Écrins park is extremely rich, with over 1800 species of flowering plants and about 180 species of butterflies, for example. We should see gentians, bellflowers, primulas, the attractive Fritillaria tubiformis, beautiful rock-jasmines such as Androsace chaixii, alpine pasque flowers, lilies, purple lychnis, as well as more widespread species such as lily-of-the valley, wintergreens and much else. Although it’s a little early for the peak of butterfly numbers, we should see 60 or more species such as Camberwell beauty, large tortoiseshell, fritillaries, ringlets, some of the large blues, and many others. We also have a reasonable chance of seeing ibex, chamois, marmots and other mammals of the mountains.
The tour price includes return flights from Heathrow to Lyon, all transport during the week, accommodation in good hotels on a half-board basis; and services of leaders throughout, including pre-tour information and post-tour lists.  tour grade
Tour code: NHT/07/08
Price: £1045
Single room supplement: £60
Deposit: £150 plus insurance
Bookings to Sunvil
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