Isère, a Summer Affair - Get updated on what's happening in tourism!

Furnished with mattresses, duvets and pillows, fall asleep under the stars listening to the sounds of the forest at night. https://azimuts-collet.fr/nuit-insolite/My first mountain hut and yurt meal: explore the mid- and high mountains of Isère on an introductory two-day hike led by mountain guide Florent Naud. This is the ideal hike for less experienced hikers who are keen to discover the beauty of Isère and its unique landscape. The gentle trail passes through a landscape evocative of the Nordic tundra, dotted with myriad small lakes, some with fossilised tree trunks testifying to the presence of a forest here 6,000 years ago. Enjoy meals in a yurt overlooking the Écrins and overnight in the Taillefer mountain hut. Those who are feeling energetic can summit the following morning. Alternatively, Florent can lead guests on a tour of the lakes or a traditional Alpine village. Price: €250 per person. All inclusive (night and meals at the refuge, picnics). https://florentnaud.fr/

Overnight at 2,000m at Alpe d’Huez: What do ESF ski instructors do when the snow melts? They lead trips into the high mountains, leading guests on tours of the spectacular lakes of Alpe d’Huez. The “Tour of the Lakes of Alpe d’Huez” takes in the Besson, Rond, Noir, Faucille and Carrelet lakes at an altitude of 2,070 metres. Accessible to all fitness levels, the start of the hike can be accessed by gondola from the ski resort and with only 150 metre of elevation spread over 6.5km. For something a little more daring, this summer, the mid-mountain guides have introduced an overnight adventure. Watch the sun set over the mountain peaks, enjoy dinner in the Great Outdoors, sleep under canvas (or the stars) and, in the morning, enjoy coffee as the sun rises before embarking on the next part of the hike. “Time for a bivouac.” Price: €80 for children and €120 for adults, all inclusive. Book at the Alpe d’Huez Guides Office. www.guidesalpedhuez.com/fr

Portaledge in the Vercors: A cliffside adventure. If you find sleeping under canvas too tame then consider instead spending the night on a portaledge suspended several hundred metres high on the cliffs of Presles in the Vercors. Your guide will ensure that you are comfortably - and safely - installed before preparing dinner above the void, which you can enjoy while watching a 360-degree sunset. This is the most spectacular place to go to sleep and the sunrises are second to none. Price: €295. Duration: 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. Level: Ages 14 and up. Approach walk: 20 minutes. Supervised by a state-certified instructor. www.vercors-vertical.com

An overnight bivouac in the heart of Chartreuse: overnight in the comfort of your very own wild camper truck in a campsite situated in the heart of the Chartreuse Mountains. The pick-up truck is fully equipped with everything you need from a double bed and lighting to a table and chairs and even an Italian coffee maker. The camp itself is equally comfortable, furnished with a compost toilet and a shower. This is wild camping with a touch of luxury but the highlight really is the location. Set at 1,350 metres, the serene Chartreuse mountains have been a place of hermitage for over a thousand years. https://www.alpes-isere.com/sit/nuit-le-bivouac-dans-une-cellule-amenagee-en-pleine-nature-7011347/

Take the Kids: stay in the Alps with a ShepherdShepherding is one of the most ancient vocations but what exactly does the role involve? Join Frédéric Melmoux and learn everything there is to know about being a shepherd. Walk with him to his mountain pasture, above Triminis in Trieves, south of Grenoble, and spend the day helping him herd his 250 cows. This two-day family-friendly experience includes counting and caring for the herd of cows, learning about mountain wildlife, gathering edible plants for dinner around the campfire, and learning how to identify stars once night has fallen. Location: Tréminis – Col de la Croix mountain pastureDuration: 2 days (Day 1 10 a.m. to Day 2 4 p.m.)Tentative dates for 2025: June 21 and 22 – July 12 and 13 – August 2 and 3 – August 23 and 24Group size: 8/10 people maximumAccommodation: Tipi and tent available, unmanned mountain hut, bivouac in the forest. Tent, sleeping bag, and mattress rental available upon request. Meals: aperitif and dinner on the first evening, breakfast and lunch the next day (bring a picnic for lunch on the first day). Vegetarian cuisine and special diets are possible (gluten-free, vegan, etc.).https://www.trieves-vercors.fr/fiche/5834566_en-famille-dans-les-alpages-avec-un-berger-sejour-sans-voiture/

First Time Refuge Experiences: if you’re ready for your first overnight experience then Isère is the perfect place to take your family time in the mountains to the next level with a handful of welcoming refuges for families. The Refuge Le Habert d’Aiguebelle in Belledonne is an ideal spot for spying chamois, marmots and ibex with several gentle marked trails leading the way to this former shepherd’s hut that now offers accommodation for 26 people and serves delicious meals made using local products. https://refugedaiguebelle.frLocated in the Grandes Rousses massif in the Oisans at an altitude of 2,280 metres, is the Refuge de la Fare. With accommodation for 16 people, the mountain refuge also serves meals, created using produce from their own vegetable garden. Several trails lead from the refuge to nearby stunning mountain lakes. https://refugedelafare.fr/

L’IsèreSituated at the heart of the French Alps Isère has long been a winter favourite with skiers and boarders but this beautiful region is just as popular in the spring and summer months. The four massifs - Belledonne, Chartreuse, Vercors and Oisans - hide a multitude of adventures from trail running, hiking, lake swimming, and biking to more sedate pursuits including one of the best jazz festivals in the country, ‘Jazz à Vienne’. Like much of France, Isère enjoys an exciting culinary scene with unique specialities including Grenoble walnuts (best enjoyed in a tarte aux noix), Bonnat chocolates (France’s oldest chocolate makers), and the Bleu du Vercors-Sassenage cheese. Not forgetting, of course, the rare Charteuse liqueur, which is still made by Carthusian monks from an 18th century recipe. www.alpes-isere.com/

Picture Credit: © Alpes Isère