Experience the white water magic as you discover the excitement of thrilling rapids coursing through rugged canyons and verdant tropical rainforests on one of the most exotic and scenic rivers in the world.

This Grade III-IV white water rafting activity starts at the Pacuare Lodge and continues to Siquirres, where we diembark.  From here we take a 4x4 back to the Lodge.

Close your eyes and unwind as a skilled masseuse rubs you down with a deep tissue massage, releasing the tension and stress from your body. A stone’s throw away the murmur of the swift flowing Pacuare River mixes with the scents and sounds of the tropical rainforest, lulling you into an exotic sensory experience.

You won't believe how relaxed you’ll feel after a one-hour therapeutic stress reliever massage. To request your massage, please talk to one of our representatives or inform our staff once at the lodge.

When you reach the other side of the river, the horses will be waiting, along with a horseman from the region. Accompanied by one of our guides, the group will travel along a dirt path from which you can appreciate beautiful views of the Pacuare River, as well as protected forest.

Continuing on, we visit the tiny community of Bajo del Tigre, make a stop at arefreshing waterfall, where you can swim or take photographs.

See Mother Nature at her best as you spot the many birds and other wildlife that are indigenous to the area. Look and listen carefully for the Montezuma Oropendula, which nests far above in the towering trees.

The area around the lodge is home to an extraordinary number of exotic bird species that include the Sun Bittern, Red-throated Ant-Tanager, Black-cheeked Woodpecker and a variety of colourful toucans. Our guide carries a telescope and will gladly identify the different species that come our way. Binoculars are also available.

The Zutkia, or shaman, plays a multifaceted role in Cabecar culture as priest, magician, metaphysician or healer. From the Pacuare Lodge it is possible to visit a shaman and isolated family groups to learn something of their folklore and way of life, as well as enjoying the alluring tropical rainforest. The tour lasts the whole day and is quite physically demanding.

 

You then begin an unhurried trek through tropical rainforest up to the first platform - this twenty-minute hike into the Pacuare Lodge’s private reserve will transport you into an unspoiled realm of gorgeous views and magnificent scenery.

The area surrounding our eco lodge is a haven for bird watchers and nature seekers, and offers an unprecedented glimpse of Costa Rica’s biological diversity. Two hours of unforgettable adventure in the tree tops!

The beautiful rugged landscape guarantees pure mountain bike pleasure! The trails – far away from the few asphalted streets – can be changed, shortened and made longer. Several tours start and finish at the Prategiano. On these days you have the possibility to meet the riders and hikers for a picnic at lunchtime. If you would like to spend a bike-free afternoon, you can go back to the hotel with the picnic bus.

Come with your own bike or rent one of ours! You will find at your disposal a room for bicycles, a washing place and friendly help always at hand for small repairs.

Click “Itinerary” to see what we offer.

If a two -hour ride is sufficient, then after the midday picnic you can change your horse for a seat in our minibus and return to the hotel. What’s more, different satellite rides are offered daily.

These rides are suitable for experienced riders who hack out on a regular basis, but you needn’t be an expert horseman or horsewoman to join us - the fact that you ride regularly is sufficient. We have a large number of our own horses and we are sure to find a mount that has temperament and the experience to match your ability.

Click “Itinerary” to see what we offer.

In Gerfalco itself you can discover a well-preserved circular defence tower, the Florentine gate with its round arch and a church built on the remains of a 12th century foundations.

Also included are the "Cornate and Fosini" Natural Reserve contains Fosini Castle, the red ammonite quarries famous for having provided the material for the construction of Siena cathedral and the remains of a 12th century silver mine. Le Cornate is a mountainous massif made of sheer limestone cliffs reaching a height of 1060m and is considered to be one of the best spots in the area from which to observe the stars and night sky due to its low level of light pollution.

 

This superb self-guided walk takes you along a remote valley following the springs of the river Cecina and includes a visit to the medieval village of Travale.

There is some proof that Travale has been in existence since at least 1135. The original town wall is by now only partially visible (at the travertine gateway with its rounded arch) and nearby in a round stone tower. At the highest part of the village there is the 14th century church, which houses a beautiful sculptured crucifix.

This walk is a great way of exploring the area around the hotel and is highly recommended.

On this trip you’ll walking through meadows with fantastic views to hilltop villages, visit the Abbey of San Galgano and the chapel of Monte Siepe.

During the Middle Ages a strong flow of travellers followed the road linking Siena to Maremma and as a consequence parish churches, hospitals, lodging houses etc. were built all along it. The foundation of the great abbey complex of San Galgano by Cistercian monks in the 13th century is linked to this important line of communication and it became the economic and cultural centre of the region, but was abandoned after the plague epidemic and the following economic crisis of the 14th and 15th century.

This wonderful day of walking takes you through the heart of this historic region letting you soak up the history and views at your own, gentle pace.

You strap the racket-shaped “shoes” to your walking boots and once you've mastered the technique (levelling your weight over the shoes), pristine winter wonderlands become accessible to all - perfect for escaping the hubbub of the ski stations. If you like walking and would like to see the Alps in winter then you will love snowshoeing

We can organise a week of guided snow shoe walks for you with an experienced local guide. Or you might want to consider trying snowshoeing as part of a multi activity winter holiday, which again we can organise for you.

If you want to go it alone then we can arrange for your snowshoes and poles to be waiting for you at your accommodation. However, please note that the risk of avalanche in the mountains in winter is very real and we would recommend you have experience of the mountains in winter before venturing out without a guide.

To kayak on white-water you need to have had some experience of kayaking before but it is possible to learn the basics on flat water and then progress to the rivers quite quickly. The best time of year for white water is in the spring and early summer when the snow and ice are melting. Glacier-fed rivers last for longer and can be paddled right up until the end of summer.

To kayak on lakes, you can go at any time of year, although it's better in the spring, summer and early autumn before it gets too cold!

All rivers are graded according to their difficulty:

Grade 1: Easy - moving water with occasional small rapids.

Grade 2: Moderate - small rapids with regular waves. Some manoeuvring required.

Grade 3: Difficult - rapids with irregular waves and hazards that need avoiding. More difficult manoeuvring required.

Grade 4: Very Difficult - Large rapids that require careful manoeuvring. Continuous, powerful, confused water makes route finding difficult. Kayakers should be able to roll.

Grade 5: Extremely difficult - long and violent rapids with severe hazards. Precise manoeuvring is critical for kayakers and rolling ability needs to be 100%.

Grade 6: Nearly Impossible - Difficulties of grade 5 carried to the extreme of navigability. Considerable risk to life in the event of a mishap.

The river Drac (grade 2 / 3) runs through the valley of Champsaur and is ideal for beginners. The Severaisse (grade 3 /4) runs through the valley of Valgaudemar, and for more experienced kayakers you have the Bonne (grade 2 - 5), the Guil (3 - 5), the Ubaye (3 -5) and the Durance (2 - 5) within an hour and a half from the valleys.

It is possible to go kayaking as part of a multi-activity holiday or you can spend the week really getting to know the rivers!

Beginners: If you want to have a go at kayaking white water we can organise a course for you, starting on flat water and then progressing onto the rivers.

There is also a spectacular trip you can do on the Lac du Sautet through a gorge. It is all on flat water so anyone can do it and it takes about 3 hours.

Intermediate: If you have some experience of kayaking grade 2 / 3 rivers and want to improve your technique and challenge yourself on something more difficult, we can create a course for you, starting on the Drac (grade 2 /3) and progressing onto harder rivers throughout the week.

Experienced: If you are a group of experienced paddlers, you will know where you want to go. We can organise your accommodation and river shuttles for you so you don't have the hassle of dropping one car at the end the river. And, if you want someone who knows the rivers really well to accompany you, then we can arrange that no problem!

Rafting - this is usually in a group of 6 - 8 people and the idea is that you work together as a team to steer the raft down the rapids! The reality is that you bounce around sometimes where you want to go and sometimes not!! It's not unusual to go for a little swim alongside the raft - which is actually very pleasant on a hot day!

Hydrospeed - this is like a type of white water surf board that you lie on and 'surf' down the river. It's excellent fun and if you want to get close to the water - this is the way to do it!

Hot Dogs - Inflatable solo or two man canoes - Hot dog is the technical name for an inflatable canoe. You steer with your hips and canoe paddles and hope for the best. You are closer to the water than in a raft so the bumps feel bigger!

Kayaking To kayak down white water you need to have had some experience in a kayak as it is quite a skilled activity. We do courses that will take you from beginner to a white water paddler over a week.



There are other forms of crafts for white-water descents being invented and tried out all the time and we like to keep our hand in everything that's new so don't be surprised if a new unusual looking inflatable thing appears in front of you on the river!

All our guides for the white-water activities are fully qualified to French and European standards and have excellent local knowledge of the rivers as well.

We are not just dependant on one river as some areas are - we have a choice so if the levels are too low or too high in one, we'll find you a more suitable river for your descent!

The best time for big white water is from May until the end of July when the winter snow is still melting. After that it is the glacial melt that keeps them going so the levels are generally lower, but you can still find good white water until the end of September.

We can organise you a white water holiday or can include some white water fun as part of a multi activity holiday. Please contact us to see how we can help.

There are two main types of cross-country skiing; the traditional way, where you slide one ski in front of the other to move forward, and skating. Skating is faster and much more of an aerobic workout for those of you who want to stretch your lungs.

We can arrange a guided week of cross-country skiing or if you prefer to just have a go yourself, we can arrange all your equipment and passes so they are waiting for you when you arrive.

Or you might want to try cross-country skiing as part of a multi activity winter holiday which we can organise for you. As most cross-country skiing is lower down the valleys than the actual downhill ski resorts it's best to come in the months of January, February or March when the snow cover is good.

There are four bases to ski from in Champsaur and two in Valgaudemar.

Champsaur:

Base 1 - the most extensive network at the top of the valley Haute Champsaur

Base 2 - on the south facing slopes of the valley in the sunshine Chaillol

Base 3 - at the neck of the valley with a more open aspect Ancelle

Base 4 - 50 km of pistes in beautiful countryside on the way out to Gap Gap - Bayard

Valgaudemar:

Base 1 - small but pretty near the start of the valley St Maurice

Base 2 - deep into the valley surrounded by 3000m peaks Chapelle

Please contact us to enquire about a day’s cross-country skiing or to design a winter activity break around this and other activities.

Mountain biking has really taken off in the Champsaur Valley in the last few years – no surprises there – it’s stunning - and new routes are being created all the time. It's just outside the Ecrins National Park which means, if it's bike-able, you can ride it - the only limit is yourself!

The conditions are good for mountain biking between May and November. And, if you fancy trying something new it's possible to go snow biking in the winter!

In the Alps, all mountain bike routes are graded like ski runs; green, blue, red and black routes, with black being the most difficult and green the easiest.

At the moment there are over 700 km of marked mountain bike routes of all levels in the Champsaur Valley and still 100’s of km of unmarked routes to be discovered.



Whether you are a hardcore mountain biker looking for an adrenaline rush-down a fast, technical single-track route, or a family wanting a gentle ride in some beautiful countryside, you will be pleasantly rewarded. There are plenty of day rides if you want to base yourself in one place.

Or if you fancy a journey, why not try the 'Tour de Champsaur', a 130km tour of the valley over 4 - 5 days. We can arrange for your luggage to be taken to your accommodation each night so you can just go out with your daysac.

We organise self-guided and guided mountain biking holidays for all ages and abilities, but you can try mountain biking as part of a multi-activity holiday.

Our guides know the area like the backs of their hands, and some of them have even written the guide books, so they'll know which routes to take you on.

If you fancy biking alone, you can use our route cards and maps to guide you around the valley.

If you would like to come mountain biking here, or would like to bike as part of a multi activity holiday please contact us telling us what you are interested in, and we'll get back to you.

They consist of metal ladders and thick wires positioned strategically over rock faces and some have wire bridges crossing over the narrow gorges above rivers. You wear a harness, with two cow's tails (ropes with caribiners attached) attached and a helmet, clip into the wires or ladders and then climb, following the course of ladders, wires and bridges. You make sure you are always attached to the wires by one of the cow's tails at all times so can never fall very far.

They allow you to climb on exposed rock faces normally inaccessible to mere mortals such as ourselves!

Via ferratas are generally designed for adults and as such smaller children can find it difficult to reach the wires and ladders. However, there are via ferratas suitable for children from 7 years of age. They are graded by technical difficulty and the length of time taken to complete the course.

We can organise you a harness and helmet, show you where to go and you can go off on your own (not recommended for non-climbers or beginners) or we can organise a guided trip out.

Why not try via ferrata as part of a multi activity holiday? Contact us for more information or for advice on planning a multi activity holiday.

They are essentially elaborate obstacle courses set up in the trees. You wear a harness and protective gloves and using the network of safety wires (to make sure you don't fall off) you navigate your way around the courses.

In the Champsaur and Valgaudemar valley we have 6 different high ropes adventure course centres, including the biggest in Europe - Jungle Aventure.

Each centre has a choice of routes you can do and cater for children right through to dare devil thrill seekers.

The extreme courses really are challenging and you won't be allowed to do them until you have proven your ability on an initiation course - so be prepared!

They really are great fun and a definite 'must try' on any activity holiday.

Before starting the course you will be given a thorough safety briefing and the instructors will be continuously checking that you are moving safely once you are on the course. All the centres we use conform to European safety standards and are continually supervised by experienced and qualified staff.

We can organise a week of high ropes adventure courses for you, or can include it as part of your multi activity holiday.

If you would like to find out more or are interested in booking a holiday, please send us a request and we'll get back to you.

Our guides are very experienced, qualified mountain guides who know the canyons in the region extremely well. They will look after you in the canyon, make sure you are safe and ensure you have lots of fun!

What better way to wipe the cobwebs away than by plunging off waterfalls into cold water! We can organise a day or half a days canyoning for you as part of a multi-activity holiday or just as a single activity. Or for keen canyoners why not spend the week trying out different ones?

The best time of year to go canyoning is in the spring and summer, when there is a good amount of water from the melting snow and ice. However, too much water can be dangerous in some canyons. Our guides will take into account local conditions when choosing the best canyon to take you down.

To do canyoning, you must be over 10, and for some more difficult canyons the age limit is 14 whilst for the longer technical canyons it is 16.

There is a canyon suitable for younger children in the region but it is not accessible for everyone. If you are interested, please don't hesitate to contact us and we can explain more.

There are several courses on offer in the valley, running from May to October. You can also go paragliding in the winter with a ski landing! We can arrange any of the courses or taster sessions for you as part or all of your holiday. All courses are run by fully qualified and experienced instructors operating within European regulations and guidelines and all equipment is provided.

Tasters: Fly tandem with an instructor and discover what it's like to be airborne above one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the world!

Beginners: If you want to feel what it's like to fly and be in control of your own ‘shute, there is a five day course to show you how. The first couple of days are spent familiarising yourself with the equipment and practising take off and landing procedures. Then on the last three days, if the instructors are happy with your progress and the weather, you can fly on your own. You will be in radio contact with the instructors at all times.

Intermediate: If you are a more experienced flyer there is a five day course aimed at helping you to acquire more flying techniques so you can really make the most out of your air time. You will be in radio contact with the instructors at all times.

Note: Some of the courses will only run with minimum of 8 people and a maximum of 10.

Driving the dogs or 'mushing' is a special skill, but it's easy to learn the basics and anyone can have a go. You can try a taster session, lasting about 10 minutes on a sledge to see if you like it. Or you can go out on a day or 1/2 day trek into the winter wilderness. It's also possible to go out on a moonlit excursion!

There are different sized sledges for between 1 - 4 people so you can either have your own sledge and dog team or take it in turns on a shared sledge (perfect for people who want a few lazy minutes enjoying the ride while someone else does all the work!). The dogs are all very well trained and friendly and are always secured by a leash. Our instructors are fully qualified dog handlers and professional' mushers' with a special license to provide treks and taster sessions with the dogs.

If you would like to try husky dog sledging as part of your ski holiday or winter multi activity holiday, then please contact us telling us what you are interested in and we'll get back to you.

In the daytime you can take the telemix up to the plateau and walk to the village for a bit of an explore. There is also sledging nearby and sometimes the odd snow sculpture appears! Nearby is a chalet restaurant serving food and drinks when you need a bit of refreshment!

If you want more of an adventure, why not spend the night in one of the igloos! To do this you take the last lift up to the plateau and wait for everyone else to leave. The people who run the igloos will take you on a short stroll to watch the sunset which is a magnificent spectacle, made all the more special by having it all to yourselves! After that you eat a hearty three course dinner in the restaurant before going out to sleep in your igloo!

Each igloo sleeps four people (it's very cosy!) and has a special insulated mattress with warm sleeping bags suitable for the cold night time temperatures. They are lit with candles inside, which against the snow create a rather unique and quite romantic atmosphere!

In the morning you are woken up with hot drinks and brekkie!

 

After a look at the church we will continue on across the valley, taking an easy, panoramic dirt road that winds past farmlands and ancient houses. The walk culminates with an easy climb to another enchanting hill-town, Montefollonico. Here, inside the perfectly preserved medieval walls, we will have our lunch. Afterwards we can walk back to Montepulciano or shuttle back by van.

Our walk follows a broad dirt road that weaves in and out of farmlands, wheat fields and live oak woods. Our destination is Bagno Vignoni, a tiny village that exists solely because of its thermal hot springs, famed since Roman times.

Just imagine: the main town square is a thermal swimming pool! You are no longer allowed to immerse yourself, but it's a great photo opportunity, and after a light lunch in town, you can either take a swim in the 51-degree Celsius waters of the bathing establishment, or just dip your feet in the natural hot water which emerges from the ground and flows down the hill.

The travertine marble of which it is built is one of the finest conductors of sound, which gives a mystical quality to the Gregorian Chants performed by the handful of monks who live here.

After this very inspirational morning, we'll pause for lunch and after you may choose to continue on across the Orcia River to Ripa D'Orcia, site of a formidable 13th-century castle.