France - Tarn Gorge - Self-guided Walking around Ste Enimie

Description	Dates and prices

Self-guided walking tour in the Tarn Gorges.

This tour can start in Florac and can also be combined with the Stevenson Way Hike

This self-guided hiking holiday starts in Sainte Enimie, a marvellous small city perched on the Tarn banks.

This place is really beloved by the French and is renowned to be an exceptional environment.

They come to enjoy one of Europe’s most dramatic scenery, the remoteness of Southern Lozere and escape the crowded trails. The Tarn Gorge is a must-do among the French as mythical as the French Riviera or the Alps Valley. This authentic place is attractive and many French come from all over the country to spend their holiday there.

This loop offers spectacular parts such as the Tarn and Jonte Gorges, the Causses Méjan, Sauveterre and Causse Noir. The Causse is the local name given to a limestone plateau at the South of the Central Massif.

Charming and preserved villages as Ste Enimie (one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France), La Malène, Vignes, Douzes and Meyrueis. Beautiful hamlets as Castelbouc, St Chély du Tarn, Hauterives and Hielzas will be discovered during you trip. You will also cross the entire Causse Méjan.

A typical plateau and limestone gorges flora such as orchids, carlines…the vultures reintroduced in the Gorges are part of this exceptional hike. This huge limestone plateau was carved out by the Rivers and dug these impressive Gorges. The life developed very early in this place, witness the numerous prehistoric caves all along the route.

Day 1

Arrival in Ste Enimie, along the Tarn
Check-in at your hotel. 1st walk along the Gorges of the Tarn roundtrip towards Florac. Do not miss the opportunity to visit one the most beautiful village in France: St Enimie. It is in the very heart of the gorge. A monetary was built in the VI century. It benefited from the aura of the Merovingian queen Enimie. She contracted the meadow disease and was supposedly cured thanks to the water of the Burle spring. We do recommend to walk around the narrow streets, paved with the Tarn pebbles, and discover the ancient houses and little restored squares that give the village a medieval atmosphere. Overnight in Saint Enimie, half board.

Day 2

Ste Enimie – Les Vignes
You have two options for the day : 1/ You leave Ste Enimie by the left shore of the Tarn to go down to the vineyards in the heart of the gorges of the Tarn, passing by the corrie of Chély, the castle of Caze, the hamlet of Hauterives, Malène, Detroits and the Pas de Souci, a huge chaos that marks the Tarn under the Roc Aiguille. +410m, -460m. 7h30 walk. 2/ At Malène (Km 14), you can descend the gorges of the Tarn (until the Pas de Souci) in a bark with boatmen (Bateliers de la Malène, 4 to 5 peron in the boat, extra charge). You can make the reservation at the hotel. 1h walk to finish (in that case, the total stage is 6h +240m -290m). Overnight in a hotel, half board in a hotel in Les Vignes.

Day 3

Les Vignes – Le Rozier
Two options for the day : 1/ By the cornice of the Causses de Sauveterre and the corrie of St Marcelin (panoramic point of view over the gorges of the Tarn). 6h30 walking, +680m, -700m. 2/ By the path of the gorges of the Tarn (recommended in case of bad weather). 4h30 walking, 12km.+100m -100m. Overnight in a 2* hotel or equivalent in Rozier. Halboard

Day 4

Le Rozier- Hyelzas
You hike through the Vase de Sevre, Vase de chine and Arc de St Pierre. You follow the trail GR6 passing by St Pierre des Tripiers. 6h30 walking, 16km, +700m / -600m. Overnight in a 2* hotel or equivalent in Douzes. Halfboard

Day 5

Hyelzas – Meyrueis
It’s your last stage in the gorges, you will go to Meyrueis by the Eco museum of Hielzas (recommended visit) and Aven Armand, a sinkhole (we recommended as well, the guided visit lasts 1h). 5h walking, 13.5km, +670m, -470m. Overnight in a 3* hotel or equivalent in Meyrueis, halfboard

Day 6

Meyrueis – Nivoliers
Crossing of the Causse Méjan by the GR 60 until the cottage of Nivoliers. 3 to 4h walking. 13 km Overnight in a cottage. 2 or 4 person per room according to the availability.

Day 7

Nivoliers– Ste Enimie
The GR trail goes up towards the North, crosses the Causse and goes down in the gorges to reach Ste Enimie. 15 km - 4h00 walking +250m and -700m If you decide to pass by Castelbouc, it is 4h20 walking and +210 and -690m

Day 8

Ste Enimie
End of the tour after breakfast