Le Faranchin restaurant, in Villar-d'Arêne
What to order: the set menu, or the fresh Châteauroux trout meunière; for dessert, the Ferme des Molières goat's cheese
In summer open every day for lunch and dinner; on Sunday, set menu at €28.
geocalia
Day itinerary · 44.86° N · 6.26° E
A Sunday in the upper Romanche, an hour and a half of meadows up to a refuge and a laid table below.
The easy route from the Pont d'Arsine to the Alpe de Villar-d'Arêne refuge, at 2,071 m, and a Sunday menu at Le Faranchin, about 2 h 50 from Lyon by car.
Leaving from
Direct flight to Lyon fromBarcelona 1 h 30Valencia 1 h 45Madrid 2 hMálaga 2 h 30Sevilla 2 h 30Lanzarote 4 hGran Canaria 4 h 15Tenerife Sur 4 h 15
Part of Écrins National ParkAlps
Add to my trip
Total time12 h
By car2 h 45 each way
From LyonBy car, about 2 h 50
From SpainFlight to Lyon and car, or drive via the A9 and the Rhône
Route8.8 km there and back, 400 m of ascent
WalkingAbout 2 h 30 without stops
DifficultyEasy
With childrenYes, keen walkers
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
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Leave Lyon 2 h 45 by car
via Grenoble, La Grave and Villar-d'Arêne, towards Pied du Col
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1
Walk to the Alpe de Villar-d'Arêne refuge from the Pont d'Arsine
1 h 30 up and 1 h down; the refuge does not accept cards
- 5 min by car2,6 km
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2
Le Faranchin restaurant, in Villar-d'Arêne
Sunday set menu, €28; book in summer
D1091, Les Cours, 05480 Villar-d'Arêne · +33 4 76 79 90 01
Restaurant €€Book -
Back home
in Lyon around 18:30
Approximate cost
About €20–35 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Walk to the Alpe de Villar-d'Arêne refuge from the Pont d'Arsine
It is the gentlest walk in the northern Écrins: an hour and a half on an easy path, with one steep stretch, from the Pont d'Arsine to the Alpe de Villar-d'Arêne refuge, at 2,071 m, in the upper Romanche valley. At the top you have a drink on the refuge terrace, come down in an hour and eat unhurriedly at Le Faranchin, in Villar-d'Arêne, which opens every day in summer and has a Sunday menu.
Getting there from Spain
By car, take the A9 and the Rhône valley to Valence or Lyon, and from there to Grenoble and the D1091. If you prefer to fly, the airport that makes most sense is Lyon Saint-Exupéry: hire the car there. From Lyon the plan fits in a day, but if you come from Spain the easiest thing is to sleep the night before in La Grave or Villar-d'Arêne and set off walking at nine.
The day, hour by hour
6:45 · Leave Lyon. Motorway to Grenoble and the D1091 along the Romanche valley. Past the Chambon reservoir, the road follows a narrow emergency stretch, for cars only. In Villar-d'Arêne, follow the signs for Pied du Col to the Pont d'Arsine car park.
9:30 · Climb to the Alpe refuge. 4.4 km and 400 m of ascent, an hour and a half each way. The refuge is staffed from June to September and serves light food all day: if the children are hungry, have a snack at the top. Bring cash, because they do not take cards. The descent, by the same path, takes an hour.
13:30 · Lunch at Le Faranchin. A few minutes by car, at the entrance to Villar-d'Arêne. On Sundays there is a three-course set menu at €28; on the menu, trout from Châteauroux, local lamb or the fondue. Terrace facing the Bec de l'Homme glacier. Book in July and August.
15:30 · Return to Lyon. The same way.
What it costs
The route is free. The Sunday menu costs €28 and the children's menu €12. With something at the refuge, count €30 to €50 per person, excluding the car.
Distance8.8 km
Ascent400 m
Time3 h
Change the route
With teenagers: the introductory via ferrata with a guide, leaving at 14:00, from €62; eat at the refuge at midday:
Arsine via ferrata at Villar-d'Arêne, with a La Grave guide
If it rains in the morning or the children are small: the Lautaret alpine garden, free up to age 12:
Jardin du Lautaret, the alpine garden at the pass
If Le Faranchin is full: menus of €25 to €37 in La Grave, service at 12:30:
Hôtel Le Sérac restaurant, in La Grave
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
La Cabine, the restaurant at 3,200 m on the La Grave cable car
What to order: the warm goat's cheese salad from the Ferme des Molières, in La Grave, or the tartiflette if it is cold
Reached only by cable car; open the same days as the summer ascent.
Hôtel Le Sérac restaurant, in La Grave
What to order: one of the three menus, the €25 one if you are coming off a full day's walking
Service at 12:30 and 19:30; book by phone or email.
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Écrins National Park
From mid-June to mid-September: the refuge is staffed from 11 June to 20 September 2026 and Le Faranchin opens every day from 16 May to 5 October. Works on a Sunday, with a set menu at €28.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Come down before three
In July and August afternoon storms are frequent.
- 2Bring cash for the refuge
You cannot pay by card.
- 3Ask before bringing the dog
In the heart of the park dogs are banned, even on a lead. Ask the park whether the route goes into it.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is it suitable for children?
Yes. The refuge itself presents it as a family outing, with one steep stretch.
Is Le Faranchin open on Sunday?
Yes, in season it opens every day at midday and in the evening.
How far do you walk?
About 8.8 km there and back and 400 m of ascent, two and a half hours not counting stops.
Can you eat at the refuge instead of going down?
Yes: it serves a midday menu from 12:00 to 15:00 when it is staffed.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/france/provence-alpes-cote-dazur/ecrins/itineraries/alpe-refuge-and-faranchin
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.