- L’Autre Chemin
- Séjours
- Introduction to the Stevenson trail from Le Puy to Chasseradès
From €750 / pers
Luggage carried & journey back included
Introduction to the Stevenson Trail from Puy-en-Velay to Chasseradès
Set off with peace of mind by enjoying the experience of the Stevenson Trail, both self-guided and organized, from Puy-en-Velay to Chasseradès. Discover a magnificent, self-guided hiking trail in the footsteps of Robert Louis Stevenson. You’ll travel through the volcanic Haute-Loire region, where you’ll have the opportunity to discover Monastier-sur-Gazeille, the Loire Valley, and the Gazeille Valley before reaching the Devès Plateau and its fields of Velay green lentils (AOP). The adventure will then continue in Lozère, particularly in Langogne, home to Lake Naussac, before heading out onto the trails of the Mercoire and Gardille forests. The route presents no particular difficulties, although the elevation changes remain significant. Fortunately, the landscapes you cross are sublime! Find our tips for preparing your hike.
Bonus: The L’Autre Chemin agency is located in Le Puy-en-Velay at 5 rue Grangevieille, which allows us to easily meet you at your departure point and offer us extensive knowledge of the trail.
What we like: The descent to Goudet with its view of the wild, volcanic Loire River, as well as the intimidating Mercoir Forest. A great introduction!
Tip: The Stevenson Trail is a very popular route, especially in May, June, and September. If you can, we recommend booking departures from Monday to Thursday. This will increase accommodation options and provide more stress-free hiking, as many hikers begin their treks on weekends ;-)
Two options for your trek
- 8-day package: according to the package description, with a choice of an overnight stay in Chasseradès (half-board) or Le Puy (night booked with B&B basis)
- 7-day package: without a last night’s stay, with direct return at 3:50 p.m. from Chasseradès
[WEBRESA]
Pros of your trek:
- You travel independently and follow the provided travel diary.
- Take advantage of our guide app to download to your smartphone (guidance, tourist information).
- Your accommodations are offered on a half-board basis (excluding the last night in Le Puy-en-Velay if selected which is booked in hotel*** with B&B basis).
- Your luggage is delivered at each stop (one bag, max. 13kg/person). Your return trip by minibus to the starting point is included in our packages.
Your itinerary:
- Elevation gain 3,390m
- Self-guided hike
- Experienced hiker: 5 to 6 hours of walking per day
- Family: Children 13 years and older (experienced hiking)
- Accommodation: Private room (B&B, cottage, hotel, or alternative accommodation)
- What’s the climate like? See our FAQ
Note: The steps are given for information purposes only and may be modified depending on host availability.
A free day to explore the town of Le Puy-en-Velay. Stroll through the narrow streets of the upper town.
Discover:
> The Cathedral and its Cloister
> The statue of Notre-Dame de France
> The Chapel of Saint-Michel
> The narrow streets of the upper town
> The Hôtel-Dieu and its exhibitions
> The Fortress of Polignac
> Monument passes on sale at the Tourist Office or at the monument ticket offices.
> Bobbin Lacemaking Training Center
> The Henry Vinay Garden (Horseshoe Park)
A warm-up stage takes you to Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille, which offers a chance to gain some altitude and beautiful views of the Le Puy urban area, as well as the Loire and Gazelle valleys.
Discover:
• Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille
> The Abbey of Saint Chaffre, which blends Romanesque and Gothic styles.
> The Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste
> The circular fountains and wash houses
> Museum of Popular Beliefs
> School Museum
> The European Cultural Space (exhibitions)
> The Recoumène Viaduct - photo by Schappeler
Dive into the wild Loire gorges and discover Beaufort de Goudet Castle before returning to the highlands of Devès, a mecca for the cultivation of Puy green lentils!
Discover:
• Saint-Martin de Fugères
> The church
• Goudet
> Stroll through the heart of the village center and discover the polychrome roofs
> Walk along the path that runs along the Loire and leads you to the wild gorges
> Beaufort Castle
• Le Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas
> The volcanic lake of Bouchet
Cross the cultivated plateaus before discovering Landos and then Pradelles (listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France). You'll see the Gévaudan Mountains stretching across the Allier Valley.
Photo credits: Le Puy Tourist Office ©FLOÉ
Discover:
• Landos
> The washhouse and its fountain
> St. Félix Church
> The Ribains Marshes
• Arquejols
> Viaduct
> Jagonas Castle
• Pradelles
> Village tour
> Vélorail
> Neo-Gothic church
> Aquatic center
> The view of Gévaudan
So you're leaving Haute-Loire to discover Langogne and the magnificent landscapes of Lozère. Hiking in the heart of the Mercoire forest is a real pleasure.
To discover:
• Langogne
> Lake Naussac – Water sports and swimming
> The Calquières spinning mill
> Museum of Sacred Art
• Saint-Flour-de-Mercoire
> The dense forest
the small church
> The Ron de la Baoune - a chaos of granite blocks
> The Stevenson fir tree
> The Pascalou Stevenson stele
• Cheylard-l'Evèque
> Our Lady of All Graces on the heights
The path stretches your legs, up and down... You descend towards Luc, where you'll discover the remains of its castle and hear the first murmuring waters of the Allier River.
Depending on your fitness level, you can take a variation to lighten your leg: Le Cheylard l'Evèque – La Bastide-Puylaurent direct route (21 km) following the GR700.
Discover:
• Luc
> The remains of the castle
> The nascent Allier
• La Bastide-Puy-Laurent
> The Abbey of Notre-Dame-des-Neiges - photo Schapeller
A shorter leg today! Climb Mont de la Gardille.
A beautiful day of walking for your final leg of the Camino.
If the day before, you opted for the direct route from La Bastide to Puylaurent, we suggest combining this short leg with a visit to the Abbey of Notre-Dame des Neiges (+10km - 945m elevation gain - 2h15).
For this day, you have three options to choose from:
> 8-day stay with a final night in Le Puy: Meet at 3:50 pm in Chasseradès, where a shuttle bus, where you will return your luggage, will take you to Le Puy for your final night (hotel accommodation with breakfast).
> 8-day stay with a final night in Chasseradès: Half-board accommodation and return the next day by shuttle bus at 10:50 a.m. -> 12:30 p.m. depending on road conditions.
> 7-day stay excluding the final night: Return by shuttle bus from 3:50 p.m. -> 5:30 p.m. (depending on road conditions) and end of our services.
Discover:
• La Bastide-Puy-Laurent
> Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Abbey
• Chasseradès
> Saint-Blaise Church
> The Sources of the Allier
Depending on your choices:
- If you opted for an overnight stay in Le Puy-en-Velay: our services end after breakfast.
- If you opted for an overnight stay in Chasseradès: return by shuttle at 10:50 a.m. Chasseradès -> 12:30 p.m. Le Puy, depending on road conditions.
This price includes:
- Accommodation in a twin, double, triple, multiple, or single room with half-board (excluding the last night in Le Puy-en-Velay if selected which is booked in hotel*** with B&B basis).
- Tourist taxes,
- Luggage transport (maximum 13kg/person)
- Your digital travel and guidebook The guidebook (1 copy per group of 3 travelers)
- The journey back to Le Puy-en-Velay by minibus
- Telephone assistance
Extras:
- Multi-risk cancellation insurance
- Single room
- No journey back from Chasseradès
- Stay log 7-day stay with the last night omitted
- Last night in Le Puy-en-Velay (bed and breakfast) replacing the one in Chasseradès
This price does not include:
- Transportation and transfers to the starting point,
- Meals other than those specified in the chosen package,
- Car parking
- The stage log
- Drinks
- Pocket money
- Possible visits or activities
- GPX tracks (we do not provide GPX tracks – app-based guidance)
- Multi-risk cancellation insurance,
- More generally, anything not listed in the “this price includes” section
Administration fees :
- €12/person if ordered online
- €15/person via quote
As an option, L’autre Chemin offers:
If you wish to hike and carry your own backpack:
Benefit from a €50 discount on your trip.
If you do not wish to take the return shuttle to Le Puy:
Benefit from a €35 discount on your trip.
The Stage Book
A veritable passport to be stamped at each stage of your hike. We offer an optional stage book, which will be a nice souvenir of the Stevenson Trail. Price: €7 / stage book when booking your stay.
L’Autre Chemin has developed numerous partnerships with guesthouses and small traditional hotels to offer you comfort and authenticity, ensuring that each stage is an opportunity to discover the architecture, the art of living, and the gastronomy, as well as a moment of exchange and encounters. Note: The stages along the trail are determined by the walking pace that we feel is most appropriate. We strive to offer you stages that offer comfort, discovery, and authenticity in hotels, guesthouses, cottages, or unusual accommodations.
However, the Stevenson Trail offers a range of amenities. Generally, bathrooms are integrated into the rooms, but they may be located on the landing or shared in some accommodations.
By train
The town of Le Puy-en-Velay has a train station that takes you right to the city center, close to your first hotel and all the sights and shops. In short, it’s very pleasant to take the train from home to begin your hike in Le Puy. Psst, even if the journey may seem long, when you arrive via Saint-Etienne, the tracks run alongside the wild Loire Valley, a very pleasant sight!
By car
Le Puy is accessible by road, notably via two main roads: the RN88 from Saint-Etienne/Lyon or Aubenas/Mende, or via the RN102 (Clermont-Ferrand). There are suitable parking lots on site, but we’ll explain everything in your travel diary!
- Paris: 515km
- Lyon: 134km
- Marseille: 300km
- Toulouse: 350km
- Montpellier: 250km
Where to park in Le Puy?
- Breuil underground car park – Place du Breuil (near Ibis Styles and Ibis Centre) – Closed Sundays and public holidays – 7 days: €60 & 14 days: €100/14 days – Reservations: +33 4 71 02 03 54
- Bertrand de Doue car park: Parking without video (near train station, Ibis Styles & Budget)
- Estrouilhas car park: Parking without video (near Ibis Centre)
- Quincieu park and ride: Parking without video (near Ibis Centre)
- Montredon park and ride: Parking without video (free bus service to the city center)
- Dunant car park (free bus service to the city center) These above ground car parks in Le Puy – Rates: €10/week and €20/month. Subscriptions must be reserved and paid in advance at the Mobilité-en-Velay commercial center. Tel. 04 71 02 60 11 (open Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.) – Height limit 2.20 m and length 5.50 m maximum. These car parks are served by a free shuttle or the urban transport network.
- Parking de la Gare: Monitored parking – €6 / 24 hours (near Ibis Styles & Budget)
- Parking des Carmes: Monitored parking – €30 / week – Booking: 07 68 10 76 81 (near Ibis Styles & Budget)
- Foch Parking – 6 avenue du Maréchal Foch – Video surveillance – (near Ibis Styles & Budget) – 7 days: €30 & 14 days: €60 – Booking: +33 7 68 10 76 81
- Saint-Jacques Parking (Center served by bus) – 13 bis de Roderie – Aiguilhe – Video surveillance – Booking: +33 4 44 43 97 43 – 7 days: €29 & 14 days: €55 (near Ibis Centre)
- La Malle Postale – Parking 7 km from Le Puy – Drop-off and pick-up available – 7 days / 7–7 days: €30 & 15 days: €50 – Booking: +33 4 71 04 21 79
Rates are provided for informational purposes only and are subject to change without notice.
Whether you’d like to book your Stevenson Trail Introduction stay or have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
€880 / pers.
Luggage transfer & journey back included
Conclusion of the Stevenson trail from Chasseradès to Saint-Jean du Gard
The South Stevenson Trail, hike in the Cévennes from Chasseradès to St-Jean du Gard or to Alès depending on your choice
From 1460€ / pers.
with luggage transfer & journey back
The Stevenson trail GR70 – Nature trek through the Cévennes
Fully organized hiking trip on the Stevenson Trail (GR70) from Puy-en-Velay to Saint-Jean du Gard or Alès, depending on your choice. A walking adventure in the heart of the Cévennes, following in the footsteps of Robert Louis Stevenson.
From €830 / peers.
with luggage transfer & journey back
Zen Introduction to Stevenson, Le Puy-en-Velay to Chasseradès (soft stages)
Zen introduction to the Stevenson Way, the first stages of the path with lighter stages from Puy to Chasseradès