Mercantour centre-based walking holiday, French Alps

Planet

Looking after the environment:
Minimising the number of plastic disposables in our picnics; we provide you with corn starch disposables without GMO's.
Limiting the amount of paper used by providing all information on the internet.
Using recycled paper for our booklets and information pages.
Respecting the frailty of the mountain milieu and being aware of the impact of our camping circuits at high altitudes; This has led us to limit our guided treks to only 10 per year so as to avoid harming a protected area or weakening the profession of the shepherd by the donkeys' grazing.
To provide precise information so as to prevent visitors from being unaware of the traditions and respects of the mountains. Detailed information on our mountains and the lodgings can be found on our internet site

What is an Ecolodge?

An ecolodge is a facility which is designed to accommodate ecotourists, people who are interested in traveling in a ecologically-friendly way. It is benefiting the environment and the local community. We employ local people. The facility is built with local labor, using materials found in the region. The kitchen composts its waste, and guests are encouraged to take small steps for the environment like reusing towels and sheets.
Our ecolodge has a positive environmental impact. A variety of innovative techniques have been used ( solar energy). It is a very comfortable new house

People

To maintain the importance of providing an economic contribution directly to the locals of the valley who live here all year round, favouring a network of 'chez l'habitant' hosts and always choosing local products over their industrialised, cheaper versions. This has lead us to create an alternative alimentation; Picnics made up of mixed salads, crops and vegetables from the garden, organic bread, cheeses from the region, etc. With our hosts and clients alike, we are developing an alternative idea of nutrition whereby quality, natural, reasonable price, and specific tastes (especially those of children) are united.
To manage a tourism which we control, and not be tempted to delegate or to grow; To maintain the importance of quality and of improving our services.
A question of quality in response to your demands: This year, we are proposing for your last day, an alternative trek in contrast to the classic one (lac d'allos) in order to satisfy the desires of those of you who are passionate about secret and wild mountains.
To instruct visitors to the region about pastoralism, the roots of our culture, through encounters with shepherds on our guided treks.


Our network of hosts is made up of locals of the mountains who have oodles of good will and are ready to welcome you with a smile. They will be delighted to honourably share their home, cooking and their passion with you. They are not professionals of the hotel industry, armoured, embittered and cynical: not the owners of a formule 1, then?! Here, human relations are privileged compared with consumerist relations! They deserve your respect, your frank curiosity and your interest. Do not come expecting a traditional hotel service complete with breakfast in bed, but a good aged whisky to wash down your blue cheese and delicious crème caramel, why not?!