One of Isere’s main highlights this season is the return of the La Grande Odyssée, the annual international dog sledding race that takes place over 10 days in January.
Three stages of the 250+km race are staged in Isere in Les 7 Laux (Belledonne), Col de Porte (Chartreuse) and Villard-de-Lans in the Vercors.
The Vercors
One of the most beautiful corners of France is also one of the most underrated, the majestic limestone massif of the Vercors. This expanse of forested mountains is home to activities that extend far beyond the slopes.
This season you can test your wilderness survival skills in Villard-Correncon when you embark upon an immersive adventure in the forest. Accompanied by a local expert, you will learn how to make a fire, collect wild plants, build a shelter for the night, identify animal tracks and more.
Also new for this season is an illuminated night-time cross-country route on Bois Barbus in Villard-de-Lans. Accompanied by an audio guide, novice and experienced cross-country skiers can enjoy this immersive experience at dusk that covers ten points of interest along the 1.5 km-long trail. The experience has been designed by Orpheo, a key player in providing cutting-edge tour solutions for museums, cultural sites, gardens and monuments.
If visiting the Vercors with children then the Ludipony is the perfect place to spend an afternoon. Children can spend time on the farm caring for miniature ponies – fooding, grooming and playing with them. This is the only experience of its kind in France. Available during the Christma and February school holidays.
Other fun family activity include cani-balade (dog trekking) in Villard-Correncon, a raclette or fondue picnic in the Vercors forest with Cartable a Raclette, snowshoeing through the forest in search of winter wildlife with Loup Mon Ami and an outdoor escape game in Autrans-Meaudre-en-Vercors.
Once you have finished for the day, visit L’Entropie, a unique distillery started by three friends who create original plant-based spirits and liqueurs using local plants and ingredients. Their handmade products include a floral vodka, a gin distilled with Vercors flowers and leaves, and an Alpine liquor.
Belledonne
This winter guests to Isère have the unique opportunity to spend the night at 2,000m in the heart of the Belledonne massif. Dive Xtrême are offering adventurers the chance to spend a night at “base camp” sleeping in top-of-the-range expedition tents on a frozen lake. Thrill seekers can even enjoy a guided night dive under the ice.
Chartreuse
Explore the region on a snowshoeing trip followed by a local fondue or, for something truly unique, join mountain guide and pianist Aleandre Guhery for a memorable ‘Rando Piano’ a winter walk through the heart of the forest followed by a piano recital in the comfort of his home with a warming drink in hand.
Oisans
In the south of Isère, Oisans is home to the popular OZ 3300, a family-friendly ski-in/ski-out resort with access to the Alpe d’Huez Grand Domaine ski area. Beyond the slopes the village offers a range of activities from Nordic walking and dog sled excursions to ice climbing and telemark skiing. New for this season is the Bernard Fabre Climbing Room with dedicated bouldering areas for children and adults as well as 14 routes of varying difficulty.
In the village of Auris-en-Oisans you will find Anne Mangin, a beekeeper and saffron producer who has recently produced a hyssop liqueur, based on traditional mountain recipes and used to cure a wide variety of illnesses and ailments. Boasting floral notes and 100% grown and processed in Oisans, Her liqueur is a unique alternative to traditional mountain liqueurs.