Crossing of the French-Swiss Jura

Luggage is carried by a vehicle from stage to stage, and each evening we stop off at a cosy hotel or gîte. So it's a comfortable crossing!
The Haut-Jura is a land of traditions: mountain farming to maintain an open and varied landscape, forestry, woodworking and, in the villages nestling deep in the valleys, a number of precision trades that the old-timers used to carry out at home during the long winters. Your guide will tell you all about this craft, which has become a small industry.
The Haut-Jura is also a Regional Nature Park, so we'll be taking our time to appreciate the indescribable charm of its landscapes: secret coombs, ridges dominating the forest, frozen lakes, scattered hamlets and landscapes of close woodland. As we make our tracks, we'll learn to recognise the tracks of foxes, hares, squirrels and chamois, in the hope of a furtive and magical encounter with one or other of them!

Day 01: Le Brassus - Col du Marchairuz
Welcome and transfer to the starting point.
A short walk to an isolated hut, followed by a picnic. Then a magnificent hike along the ridges of Mont Tendre (1679 m): the view is far-reaching, with the Bernese and Valais Alps on one side and the Vallée de Joux, the birthplace of fine Swiss watchmaking, on the other. Overnight at Col du Marchairuz (1447 m).
Altitude gain: + 350 m / - 50 m Length: 5 km Time: 3 h 00 min

Day 02: The Crêtes du Mont Tendre
View of the Alps from the Oberland to Mont Blanc and Lake Geneva from the summit of Monts de Bière (1530 m), visit to a former high-altitude fruit factory and its tuyé, tobogganing in the Cunay canyons. Climb Grand Cunay (1567 m). Second night at Le Marchairuz.
Difference in altitude: + 450 m / - 450 m Length: 9 km Time: 5 h 00 mn

Day 03: Col du Marchairuz - Bois d'Amont
We follow the trail through the heart of the Vaudois Nature Park in the Combe des Amburnex to reach Bois d'Amont, capital of the wooden box. Majestic spruce forests and stories of frontiers are on the agenda for this day. Shuttle transfer to Prémanon (30 mins).
Height difference: + 300 m / - 650 m Length: 13 km Time: 6 h 00 mn

Day 04: La Dôle
Transfer by small Swiss train (10 mins). We flirt with the border to watch for chamois and reach the summit of La Dôle (1677 m). A wild route at the foot of the south face of La Dôle, home to the chamois. Then a gradual ascent through superb small valleys to the summit. Panoramic views of the Alps and the Mont Blanc massif. Return to the same accommodation.
Ascent: + 750 m / - 800 m Length: 15 km Time: 6 h 30 mins

Day 05: Le Manon - Lelex
Transfer to Le Manon (20 mins). A typical stage, through the "meadow wood" landscapes that are at the heart of the massif's charm. Another day without seeing many people! We cross the "Hautes Combes", in the heart of the Haut Jura Nature Park, the land of lapidaries. Descent to Lelex.
Ascent: + 250 m / - 720 m Length: 12 km Time: 5 hrs 30 mins

Day 06: Le Crêt de la Neige
The apotheosis with the ascent of the Crêt de la Neige (1717 m), the highest point in the Jura. Approach by cable car. Then it's a question of finding the line of weakness in the foothills of the upper Jura chain. This leads to the ridge overlooking Geneva and its lake. At the top, you'll be amazed to discover a unique landscape with a canyon carved out of the limestone!
Difference in altitude: + 400 m / - 400 m Length: 7 km Time: 4 h 30

End of the tour around 3.30pm in Lelex, departure of the bus for Bellegarde TGV station at 3.40pm.

(PLEASE NOTE: on Saturdays 25/01, 01/02 and 15/03/25 there will be no bus but a taxi - see "dispersal" section).

SNOW: Winter walking is changing fast. We can still talk about snowshoe trekking, but it's unlikely that you'll keep them on your feet all week! Some stages are generally well covered in snow and require snowshoes to progress, but others are very often cleared of snow because they are too well exposed, so we'll be walking on foot. We're hikers first and foremost, so if there's no snow, we'll still make sure our trips get off to a good start. We'll be enjoying the atmosphere and light of winter, even if we can't put on our snowshoes. The mountains are very different in winter, the colours are not the same as in summer, and the sun is lower on the horizon offering sunset lights all day long!

HOME
If you're coming by car: meet at 11.30am on Monday, in front of Le Brassus CFF station (Switzerland), dressed in hiking clothes.
Your guide will meet you at the station and provide a 10-minute minibus transfer to the start of the walk. If you are coming by car, you can leave your car at Le Brassus station. Free car park.
If you are coming by train: meet us on Monday at 11.00am, in front of Vallorbe TGV station (Switzerland), dressed as a hiker.
Our taxi partner will meet you at the station and provide a 30-minute minibus transfer to the start of the hike, where you will meet your guide and the other participants.

DISPATCH
Saturday at 3.50 pm in Lelex,
Return by car: Saturday around 16:30 or 17:00 in Le Brassus.
If you have left your car at the start: transfer back to Le Brassus.

Return by train: Saturdays 04/01, 08, 15 and 22/02, 01 and 08/03/25: a bus leaves Lelex and drops you off at Bellegarde TGV station at 16:45. Cost of the Lelex-Bellegarde bus: approximately €6 to be paid on the spot.
Saturdays 25/01, 01/02 and 15/03/25: the last bus leaves at 1.50pm, which means we cannot climb the Crêt de la Neige. We will therefore charter a taxi, the cost of which will be shared between passengers. Approximate cost: €75 for a 4-seater vehicle (around €20 to €30 per person).

Bellegarde 17:00 - Paris gare de Lyon 19:49
Bellegarde 17:00 - Brussels 23:17 (via Paris gare de Lyon and Paris gare du Nord)
Bellegarde 7.07pm - Paris gare de Lyon 9.49pm

Return by plane: we can drop you off at La Cure station at around 16:15 - 16:30 where a train will take you directly to Geneva-Cointrin airport. Timetable on www.cff.ch.

FORMALITIES: Valid identity card or passport.
Euros are accepted almost everywhere in Switzerland.
Repatriation-assistance insurance is essential, as rescue services are very expensive in Switzerland. Make sure you are adequately covered for mountain search and rescue costs by your insurance.

LEVEL
For sporty walkers.
Hiker level 2 to 3 on a scale of 5.
Accessible to regular hikers who have never snowshoed. Undulating route with an average difference in altitude of 550 m.
Average difference in altitude: 550 m Maximum: 750 m
Average length: 11.5 km Maximum: 15 km
Average time: 5 hrs 30 mins Maximum: 6 hrs 30 mins

ACCOMMODATION
Monday and Tuesday evening : Hotel at Col du Marchairuz, 6-person room in a hotel, shared toilet and shower.
Wednesday and Thursday evenings : Gîte in Prémanon, group room (6 or 10 people) in a cosy inn, shared bathroom facilities.
Friday evening : Stage gîte in Lelex, room for 3 to 5 people, shared bathroom and toilet facilities.

MEALS: full board.
Dinners are an opportunity to sample local specialities such as "boites chaudes", röstis and sausages, while keeping menus varied and balanced. Breakfasts are adapted for hiking. Picnics are hearty and accompanied by a hot drink. If the temperature is low, your guide will do his or her utmost to find a shelter (chalet or hut) so that you can enjoy your meal and lunch break.

CARRYING LUGGAGE: Luggage transported by vehicle (1 item per person under 10kg) every evening. You carry only one bag containing your belongings for the day and the lunch provided, divided between everyone.

GROUPS: Groups are made up of 6 to 12 people.

GUIDE : Nathalie, Yoann or François, Jura mountain leaders, winter hiking specialists, signatories of the France Raquette quality charter.

EQUIPMENT PROVIDED: For these snowshoe hikes, you will be provided with a pair of high-performance "Inook Expert" snowshoes. Their fastening system adapts to all types of footwear (if in doubt, call us). To complete your equipment, we offer ski poles.

INTERNAL TRANSFERS
Day 1: minibus from the meeting point to the start of the hike.
Day 5: minibus to the start of the hike.
Day 6: minibus to Le Brassus for those who have left their car behind.

Please note: there is a charge for mountain rescue services in Switzerland. Make sure you are adequately covered for mountain search and rescue costs.