1. Nature Occitane
  2. Self-Guided Walking Trips in south of France
  3. HIKING IN THE CEVENNES, GRANDS CAUSSES AND GORGES DU TARN

HIKING IN THE CEVENNES, GRANDS CAUSSES AND GORGES DU TARN

Self-guided hiking holidays in the Cévennes
Overlooking the Tarn and Jonte gorges, this hike through the Cévennes and the Grands Causses — both listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites — offers a stunning concentration of wild and varied landscapes.At the pace of encounters with shepherds, refreshing swims, and delicious meals, this journey immerses you in an authentic region untouched by time. Mediterranean vegetation in the Cévennes, dry-stone villages of the Grands Causses, crystal-clear canyon waters perfect for swimming, mild climate, sun-kissed accents, and local gastronomy — all the vibrant colors of the South come together here!
  • séjour de randonnée en liberté dans les gorges du tarn, les cévennes et les grands causses
  • séjour de randonnée liberté sur le causse méjean
  • séjour de randonnée en liberté en occitanie
  • séjour nature dans les gorges de la dourbie et le mont aigoual
  • randonnée en liberté avec baignades dans le sud de la france en occitanie
  • randonnée en liberté avec observation de vautours et oiseaux en france
Strengths
  • A UNESCO World Heritage site
  • A unique itinerant hike in the Cévennes, between the Parc Naturel Régional des Grands Causses, the Gorges du Tarn, and the Parc National des Cévennes
  • Authentic accommodation selected for its charm and welcome
  • Discover the pastoral life of the Cévennes
  • GPS guidance available on our app
  • Frequent swimming.
Book this trip Request a quote Print PDF
Itinerary
  • Day 1:

    DAY 1: HIKING IN THE GORGES DU TARN

    5h30 hiking / D+: 650m / D-: 650m / 15 km - 9.3 miles

    Meet at 8am in Millau, or 8:30am in the village of Peyreleau, the starting point for your hike in the Cévennes. First loop hike to discover the Gorges du Tarn and Causse de Sauveterre. Hanging from the cliffs overlooking the Gorges du Tarn, you'll discover the troglodyte villages of Eglazines and Saint Marcellin, still inhabited in the 1960s. The latter was one of the oases of the Gorges du Tarn, thanks to its terraces covered with orchards and vines. Swimming in the crystal-clear waters of the Gorges du Tarn. Overnight in Peyreleau.

  • Day 2:

    HIKING ON THE CAUSSE MÉJEAN

    5h30 hike / D+: +700m / D-: -300m / 13 km - 8 miles

    The hike takes you up to the ledges of the Jonte gorges, in the company of vultures. From the top of these limestone walls several hundred meters high, the view is breathtaking. Take your first steps on the Causse Méjean, and discover the pastoral life of its inhabitants. Visit a farm. Dinner and overnight at Sandrine's gîte/auberge on the Causse Méjean.

  • Day 3:

    HIKING ON THE CAUSSE MÉJEAN

    6h walking / D+: +600m / D-: -580m / 19 km - 11.8 miles

    Discover the traditional villages of the Grands Causses, with their dry-stone houses and lauze roofs. Visit the cheese dairy at Hyelzas, and explore the Aven Armand, whose sheer size could be the setting for Notre Dame de Paris. The hike crosses the steppe-like, almost desert-like Causse Méjean to reach the village of Nivolier.

  • Day 4:

    HIKING FROM CAUSSE MÉJEAN TO GORGES DE LA JONTE

    5h walking / D+: +400m / D-: -600m / 15 km - 9.3 miles

    This morning, you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Przewalski's horses, the last wild species that has never been domesticated. Here, on the island in the middle of the sky that is the Causse Méjean, it's as if we've been teleported to the middle of the Mongolian steppes. Descent to the lively village of Meyrueis. Swimming possible in the Jonte gorges near the village.

  • Day 5:

    HIKING FROM MEYRUEIS TO THE TREVEZEL VALLEY

    6h walking / D+: 750m / D-: 750m / 18 km - 11.2 miles

    A Cévennes-style ambience for this woodsy-scented hike in the Aigoual massif. You'll come across pretty little wild rivers, carved into natural pools that are perfect for swimming. Around the enchanting hamlet of Saint Sauveur des Pourcils, a 19th-century arboretum lets you observe species from Europe, America and Asia. Arrive in a traditional hamlet nestled in the Trévezel valley, in the heart of the Cévennes National Park.6h walking / D+: 750m / D-: 750m / 18 km

  • Day 6:

    HIKING FROM THE TREVEZEL VALLEY TO THE TARN GORGES

    4h30 hike / D+: 250m / D-: 750m / 15 km - 9.3 miles

    This morning, you'll cross the causse noir along the transhumance trails. A new atmosphere awaits you. These caussenard paths, covered in angel hair, are lined with boxwood, juniper and dry stone walls. To the west of the plateau, you pass through forests of Scots pine to the Hermitage de Saint Michel, overlooking the canyon and the clear waters of the Jonte. Swim in the Jonte before returning to the Tarn gorges at Peyreleau. End of this hike in the Cévennes and dispersal around 3:30 pm at Peyreleau, or 5 pm at Millau SNCF train station.

Dates & prices
Package Dormitory Double room 2 pers. Single room 1 pers.
Group of 2 6 days / 5 nights €610 €730 -
Group of 3 6 days / 5 nights €595 - -
Group of 4 and more 6 days / 5 nights €575 €695 -
Single person 6 days / 5 nights €725 - €1,090

NB: prices shown are per person.


PRICE
Number of participants :
From 1 participant

OUR PRICE INCLUDES :
  • Organization
  • 5 nights' accommodation in a gîte in a dormitory, in a double or single room depending on the package chosen
  • Half-board from dinner on Day 1 to dinner on Day 5
  • Luggage transfer (1 piece of luggage per person, maximum 11kg)
  • Transfer on Day 6
  • Local taxes
  • Registration fee

A folder for 2 to 3 people including :
  • An IGN 1/25000 map with itinerary
  • A detailed description of the itinerary
  • A GPX trail of the route

OUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
  • Transfers from your home to the meeting point and dispersal
  • Visit to the aven Armand cave (17€ per person to be paid on site)
  • Lunches ("picnic-included" option available)
  • Personal expenses, drinks
  • Our Europassistance cancellation / interruption / assistance & repatriation insurance
       (6% of the price of your stay, including COVID 19 and to be taken out when you register)
  • In general, everything not mentioned in "Our price includes".

Depending on availability for last-minute bookings, we may be obliged to apply supplements for upgrades to higher-category accommodation.
Options

Options, supplements and reductions:

Reductions
Discount: No luggage transfer -€70
Supplements
July / August supplement €30
Dogs €35
Meals
Picnic supplements included €80
Supplementary nights at the beginning or end of your trip
Additional night in Peyreleau in a dormitory, 1/2 board €55
Additional night in Peyreleau in a double room, 1/2 board €80
Additional night in Peyreleau in a single room, 1/2 board €150

NB: prices are per person.

Hosts

  • Our host in the Cévennes

    Accommodation during the hike: 5 nights in a bed and breakfast, collective room in a dormitory of 4 to 6 beds, bathroom to share.

    Double rooms are optional.
    This supplement includes 4 nights in a double room, and 1 night in a dormitory with 2 bunk beds for 2.

    The accommodations are simple, clean and friendly. Daily showers are available. We have selected them for their authenticity, the charm of the place and the very good welcome you will find there. Nights in dormitory, need to bring a sleeping bag or a "meat bag" (blankets available in the lodgings).

    • bnb-france-hiking-mountain-cottage
    • gorges-tarn-france-hotel-bedroom-dormitory

*NB: these are our preferred accommodations. Depending on your registration date, we may be able to reserve other accommodation of the same category for you.

Practical info

PRACTICAL INFORMATIONS


HIKING LEVEL : Medium (M) - 6 consecutive days of hiking. Between 5h and 5h30 walking per day. Itinerant hiking, no transfers along the way. Between 400 and 800 meters of positive vertical drop per day.

DURING THE HIKE : You don't need to carry any luggage, as you'll find it at the gîte each evening. You carry only your day pack.

PUBLIC : Practice an endurance activity (walking or cycling) once a week 2 months before departure.

TERRAIN : Easy hikes on good trails, accessible to anyone in good physical condition.

WALKING TIMES : These are given as a guide and take into account the quality of the terrain. They are average times and take into account only the actual walking time, not breaks. They are calculated on the basis of 300 m of ascent per hour and 450 m of descent per hour.

WATER : drinking water is regularly available at springs along hiking trails in the Cévennes. Very little on the Causses. A one-and-a-half-liter (2L) flask is essential. The use of a “camel back” is recommended.

THE CLIMATE : The climate is Mediterranean. The warmer hours are devoted to swimming, sightseeing and lounging. The climate gradually becomes more mountainous with altitude.

MEETING POINT :
8:30 am on Day 1 at gîte EVOLUTION, Route de la Cresse, 12720 Peyreleau. The village of Peyreleau (Aveyron) is separated by the Jonte river from Rozier (Lozère).

END OF HIKE:
Day 6, upon arrival in the village of Peyreleau.

GUIDANCE : Unaccompanied stay.

HOW TO GET THERE :
To limit your CO2 emissions, we encourage you to use public transport.

IF YOU ARE COMING BY TRAIN
Millau SNCF station (Aveyron).



  • You can also take a cab at your own expense.
To be booked in advance by telephone.
Cab Le Rozier : 06.88.49.29.44 or 05.65.62.69.96

IF YOU COME BY CAR
The village of Peyreleau is located at the confluence of the Tarn and Jonte gorges, 20 km east of Millau (Aveyron). Take the A75 freeway to Aguessac (5 km north of Millau), then head for Le Rozier on the D.996. You can park your vehicle for the duration of your stay in the village's free but unsupervised parking lots.

ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE ON SITE :


EQUIPMENT


On the first day, you must arrive "ready to hike" (hiking boots on, water bottle full, backpack complete, assistance luggage closed).

YOUR BACKPACK
It should be able to hold your personal belongings for the day's hike, i.e. around 30 liters.Choose a rucksack with a waist belt (allowing you to rest your weight on your pelvis), padded shoulder straps and a chest strap. You should always carry warm clothing, rain gear, a water bottle, a first-aid kit and your personal items, not forgetting part of your picnic. In addition to the bag cover, plastic pockets are useful to protect your belongings in case of rain during the hike.

YOUR LUGGAGE
This is your "follower" luggage, which you return to each evening of the tour.
As well as the extra change, it contains the extras you'll be glad to have back in the evening.
ATTENTION: it must not exceed 11 kg. Due to certain abuses, our cab partner simply refuses to transfer luggage over 11kg.
Make sure you limit your equipment and take only the essentials.

HIKING SHOES
Choose hiking shoes with good ankle support and notched but flexible soles. Footwear is one of the most important elements of your hike. Above all, they must be comfortable, lightweight, waterproof and breathable. Good ankle support is essential. Don't set off with brand-new shoes. Use them at least two or three times before hiking. Similarly, make sure your "old shoes" don't give way on the first ascent.

CLOTHING
A waterproof GORE TEX windproof jacket (no poncho-type k-way)
A fleece jacket
Hiking pants, shorts, T-shirts (avoid cotton, prefer breathable materials).
Change of clothes and personal linen
Bathing suit and towel (microfiber towels are preferable, as they are lighter and dry faster).

COUCHING
A light sleeping bag (comfort 10°C) or "sac à viande" (blankets available in the gîtes during the hike).

PICNIC
1 individual hermetically sealed tin (tuperware type), capacity approx. 0.6 liters, cutlery, plate and cup.

LITTLE EQUIPMENT
Water bottle (minimum 2 liters per person)
A pair of telescopic hiking poles
Sunglasses and sun cream
Hat or cap
A small toilet bag, with towel
A flashlight or headlamp (for night use)
A pair of tennis shoes or sandals (for evening use)
Toilet paper
Earplugs
A camera
Small personal pharmacy (aspirin, plasters, elastoplast, compeed...)
Reviews

OUR TOUR OPERATOR PARTNERS :

We are a local incoming agency: we design their stays, then receive their customers in our region.