Microadventure in France: 5 isolated places where you can (really) be alone

You want a microadventure in France that feels like an expedition.
Enclosed valleys, roadless plateaux, forests where you walk for a long time before you come across anyone.

Good news: there are still places in France where you can be alone in the world.

Here are 5 (crazy) places to go on a microadventure, with practical information on how to get there, mountain huts, route ideas and things you need to know.

Our five favourites

1. Valgaudemar

A lost valley where the road ends (and the adventure begins)

The Valgaudemar is the 'raw' side of the Écrins massif.
You come here for one thing: to be alone in the middle of the mountains. And it feels good.

Why it's the perfect spot for a micro adventure in France

• Deep valley + cul-de-sac: you're not just passing through.

• Immediate high-mountain atmosphere.

• Very few tourist facilities.

Places to start your hike

• La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar: base village on the valley side (05800).

• Chalet-hôtel du Gioberney: end of the road, classic start to the lakes and refuges.

Where to sleep (Mountain huts)

• Mountain hut du Pigeonnier (FFCAM): "modern hut" comfort, and crazy location on a loop with lakes and waterfalls.

• Vallonpierre Mountain hut: emblematic hut in the Ecrins National Park at La Chapelle-en-Valgaudémar.

Idea for a micro-adventure (2 days)

Day 1: Gioberney → Mountain hut (Pigeonnier or Vallonpierre)
Day 2: return loop via a lake / lookout depending on weather and fitness level

(Wildhartt tip: leave early. The Valgaudemar is a place where storms arrive quickly. You want a bit of space).

Rules to know (Écrins)

In the heart of the Parc des Écrins, bivouacs are guided: small tents, set up after ~7pm, dismantle before ~9am, away from roads/access. Fires prohibited.

2. The Clarée Valley

The "concrete-free" valley where you can enjoy one lake after another

The Clarée (Névache side) is a classic... but it has a rare feature:
it's big, open and still breathable if you move away from the car parks.

Why it works

• Lots of options: easy, sporty, family hikes, ski touring.

• The sheer number of lakes and valleys means you can enjoy a wide range of activities without having to get back in the car.

• Mountain huts well placed for a micro-adventure.

Places to start your hike

• Névache: valley base.

• Foncouverte / Laval sector: very efficient departures to lakes and Mountain huts.

Where to sleep (Mountain huts)

• Mountain hut des Drayères (FFCAM): stage hut, close to the source of the Clarée and lakes (Lac Rond / Grand Ban).

• Mountain hut de Laval: accessible hut, good summer/winter base camp.

• Mountain hut Ricou (hamlet of Ricou, Névache): medium mountain hut, useful if you want an "easy" night's sleep before going further.

Idea for a micro-adventure (2 days)

Day 1: Névache → Mountain hut des Drayères (gradual ascent through the valley, chalets, torrents).
Day 2: Lakes loop (lac Rond / lac du Grand Ban depending on conditions) then return.

3. The North Vercors

The massif of roadless plateaux

The North Vercors is the antidote to over-tourism.
You can be on a huge plateau, 2 hours from Grenoble... and still have the impression of being far from everything.

The heart of the matter here is the Hauts-Plateaux du Vercors National Nature Reserve:
no roads crossing it, no permanent dwellings. parc-du-vercors.fr+1

Why it's a perfect spot

• Plateau-like terrain: mental as well as physical isolation.

• Excellent terrain for learning to be self-sufficient (orientation, water, weather).

• Micro-adventures possible in all seasons (but be careful in winter).

Places to start your hike

• North entrance on the Corrençon-en-Vercors side (rapid departures towards the reserve).

Where to sleep (mountain huts)

• Cabane de Carrette: northern entrance to the reserve, on the GR91 route, unguarded shelter (and no water nearby, so plan ahead).

• Maison forestière / gîte de Pré Grandu (ONF): on the edge of the reserve, bookable accommodation (more comfortable).

Idea for a micro-adventure (2 days)

Day 1: Corrençon → Cabane de Carrette (in "first wild night" mode).
Day 2: push a little further onto the plateau at daybreak → return via a forest trail.

Important reserve rules

In certain sectors (including the Hauts-Plateaux), the rules are strict: dogs are not allowed, fires are not allowed, camping is not allowed (bivouacs are guided according to zones and times).

4. The Jura

Deep forests + ridges: the discreet wilderness

The Jura is a land of grandiose landscapes, overlooking the Mont Blanc massif and the Geneva basin.

You come here for :

• the forest (immense and hypnotic),

• the ridges

• and the easy-to-organise itineraries.

Where to sleep (concrete Mountain huts)

• Mountain hut de la Loge (Haute Chaîne du Jura, 1436 m): summer/winter guarded hut, near Lélex, on the GR9, a good starting point for the Crêt de la Neige.

Idea for a micro-adventure (2 days)

Day 1: Lélex → Mountain hut de la Loge (gentle climb, atmosphere of fir trees and ridges).
Day 2: get up early → ridge / lookout (weather permitting) → return.

Bivouac / good practice

The Jura lends itself very well to itinerant micro-adventures (GTJ, Échappée Jurassienne, etc.) and bivouacs when locally authorised.
(Always check local by-laws / sensitive areas).

5. The Vosges

The perfect massif for a quick (and highly exotic) micro-adventure

The Vosges never ceases to amaze.
You can leave after work. Sleep outside. Wake up in the stubble fields.

Why it's a solid spot

• Easy access from many towns.

• Real mountain atmosphere (ridges, lakes, forests).

• Numerous Mountain huts → you can adapt to your level.

Where to sleep (concrete Mountain huts)

• Chalet-refuge des Trois Fours (FFCAM): between the Col de la Schlucht and the Hohneck, on the thatches, open to all, very wide view.

• Mountain hut du Sotré: on the "valley of lakes" side, near La Bresse / Gérardmer / Munster (practical if you want a simple base).

• Club Vosgien Mountain hut (Lac Blanc / Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines sector): advertised hut with capacity and facilities.

Idea for a micro-adventure (1 night)

Day 1 late afternoon: light climb → Mountain hut / ridge
Night: sunset over the stubble fields
Day 2: get up early → short traverse → return before noon

Bivouac rules (to be checked according to zone)

Bivouac rules vary greatly depending on the reserves / decrees. For example: in the Lac Blanc sector, regulations change depending on the zone, and bivouacking may be prohibited in certain protected areas.