- L’Autre Chemin
- Séjours
- Zen Introduction to Stevenson, Le Puy-en-Velay to Chasseradès (soft stages)
From €830 / peers.
with luggage transfer & journey back
Zen-style introduction to the Stevenson Trail from Le Puy-en-Velay to Chasseradès with short stages
Do you dream of hiking the Stevenson Trail, but during the long stages, you prefer to take the time to walk slowly and discover the surrounding landscapes? This Zen-style introduction to the Stevenson Trail is for you! With an average of 16 km per day, stages no longer than 21 km.
The landscapes you pass through 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. This allows us to easily meet you upon your departure and provides us with extensive knowledge of the trail.
Tip: The Stevenson Trail is a very popular route, especially in May, June, and September. If possible, we encourage you to choose departures from Monday to Thursday. This will increase accommodation options and provide a more stress-free hike, as many hikers begin their trek on the weekend ;-)
Two packages to choose from:
- 9-day package as per the trip description: €920 / person
- 8-day package departing from Monastier-sur-Gazeille: €830
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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 first leg of Le Puy-en-Velay, which is scheduled for overnight stays and breakfast).
- 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 3,510m
- Self-guided hike
- Experienced hiker: average 5 hours of walking per day
- Family: Small, ideal stops for a family trip
- 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)
You will begin your hike along the Stevenson Trail, climbing above the Puy-en-Velay basin before descending back towards the Loire Valley and reaching Coubon. You will now reach a ridge that will offer magnificent views of the Loire Valley and Bouzols Castle.
You will soon reach Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille - a small town of character.
Discover:
• Le Monastier-sur-Gazeille
> The Abbey of Saint Chaffre, which combines 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 - Picture Schappeler
You'll dive into the wild Loire gorges and discover the Château de Beaufort de Goudet before returning to the high plateaus of Devès, a prime location for the green lentil of Le Puy-en-Velay!
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
You will cross cultivated plateaus, follow the Péchay Maar before reaching Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas and continuing to the village of Landos.
Discover:
• Bouchet-Saint-Nicolas
> The Bouchet Volcanic Lake
• Landos
> The washhouse and its fountain
> St. Félix Church
> The Ribains Marsh
Photo ©ot-le-puy-FLOÉ - Stevenson
Today, you'll leave Haute-Loire and head towards Lozère and Gévaudan. This will be an opportunity to take a moment to discover Pradelles (listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France). You'll then reach Langogne, where you can take the time to enjoy Lake Naussac.
Highlights:
• Arquejols
> Viaduct
> Jagonas Castle
• Pradelles
> Village Tour
> Vélorail
> Neo-Gothic Church
> Aquatic Center
> View of Gévaudan
• Langogne
> Lake Naussac – Watersports and Swimming
> The Calquières Spinning Mill
> Museum of Sacred Art
Picture Schapeller
During this stage, the landscapes will begin to change, and soon you'll discover the Mercoire forest, the Stevenson fir... A real pleasure.
To discover:
• Saint-Flour-de-Mercoire
> The dense forest
the small church
> The Ron de la Baoune - a chaos of granite blocks
> The Stevenson fir
> The Pascalou Stevenson stele
• Cheylard-l'Evèque
> Notre Dame de toutes les Grâces (on the heights)
Departing from Le Cheylard-l'Evêque, you'll climb through the magnificent Gardille Forest before reaching Espradels. Then, you'll hike downhill towards Luc. From Luc... Further on, you'll follow the Allier River to easily reach Laveyrune. Once at the Esperlouze Pass, you'll leave the Stevenson Trail to follow the Régordane Trail, which will take you gently to La Bastide-Puylaurent.
Discover:
> The Gardille Forest
• Luc
> The remains of the castle
> The nascent Allier
The final stage of your hike offers an alternative route that takes you to the Abbey of Notre Dame des Neiges, then back along the Gardille trails to gently descend to Chasseradès.
If you wish, you can climb directly up the slopes of Gardille to reach Chasseradès, where you'll end your hike (13 km).
Discover:
• La Bastide-Puylaurent
> Notre-Dame des Neiges Abbey - Photo Schappeller
• Chasseradès
> Saint-Blaise Church
After your night in Chasseradès, you will be picked up and your luggage collected at 10:50 a.m. in Chaseradès for your return to Puy-en-Velay (Arrival at 12:30 p.m. depending on road conditions)
This price includes:
- Accommodation in a twin, double, triple, multiple, or single room with half-board
- 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:
Start your hike from Monastier-sur-Gazeille
You’d like to depart directly from Monastier-sur-Gazeille, where you’ll be welcomed on the first evening of your half-board stay.
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 – 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
- Estrouilhas car park: Parking without video
- Quincieu park and ride: Parking without video
- 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
- Parking des Carmes: Monitored parking – €40 / week – Booking: 07 68 10 76 81
- Foch Parking – 6 avenue du Maréchal Foch – Video surveillance – 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: €35
- 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.
From 1470€ / 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 €750 / pers
Luggage carried & journey back included
Introduction to the Stevenson trail from Le Puy to Chasseradès
Du Puy ou du Monastier à Chasseradès, découvrez les premières étapes du Chemin de Stevenson - GR70
Dès 695€ / pers.
Sac transporté & retour inclus
Aventure & Dolce via
Partez à la découverte de la Dolce Via