One of the most famous French national parks, Ecrines National Park (or Parc national des Ecrins) is a popular park in France. It distinguishes itself from the rest of the park due to several distinctive features. It remains a major landmark in south-eastern France. Since it is located between the departments of Isère and Hautes-Alpes, nature lovers find ample trails to explore their adventurous side.
This park is rich in natural resources. Its serene and calm environment attracts local people and international tourists to visit this place frequently.
About Ecrins National Park
Tourists would not dare to ignore Écrins National Park on their trip to France. The Barre des Écrins is at an altitude of approximately 4,102 meters (13,458 ft). The park has high mountain ranges, peaks, alpine pastures, glacier fields, lakes, sub-alpine woodlands and glacier valleys, etc. They cover an area of 918 km2 (354 sq mi) of this national park. Ecrins National Park has already gained global recognition. About 800,000 tourists visit it every year.
8 things to do in Écrins National Park
There are many avenues of adventure and entertainment in this park. We have listed some of them:
1. France: Admire the glaciers
Being a national park with global fame, Ikrins National Park is a great place for those who want to see the glaciers up close. It has many glaciers. Thus, nature lovers enjoy spending time there. Make sure you climb up to the park and take a look at them.
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2. France: Visit Nature Reserves
The beauty of the Écrines National Park is enhanced by the presence of several excellent nature reserves. Since they are in the premises inside the boundary area of this park, tourists visit there in their free time. Popular natural reserves visited by tourists are the Pics du Combenot, the Vallée de Saint-Pierre, the Vallée de la Sèvres, the Vallée du Bérenger, the Cirque du Lac des Astares and the Vallée du Vénon, among others.
3. France: View over the valleys
Being a vast park with several mountain ranges and nature reserves, Écrins National Park also accommodates some of the popular French valleys. Make sure you take the help of local guides while visiting the area along the valley. They speak English in addition to French and also ensure that you are comfortable while traveling to the area near the valleys.
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4. France: Embrace outdoor activities
Ecrines National Park is renowned for providing opportunities for outdoor activities. Since this park has many amazing hikes and trails, paths are provided for you to indulge in such adventurous activities. When you choose longer trails the feeling of adventure becomes so intense that you literally disappear into the mountains for days.
5. France: Visit Alpine Streams
Since the Écrins National Park offers you several paths to explore the area at once, you cannot ignore assessing the alpine streams during the trip. Their beauty attracts the attention of every visitor coming to the park.
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6. France: Visit Small Towns
Since there are no major cities in the vicinity of Akrines National Park, tourists are advised to prepare themselves accordingly. Visiting nearby border towns and villages would be a good idea. Cities like Embrun, Grenoble and Briançon are worth exploring for this purpose. If you are keen to experience rural life in France, Les Vignes, Valois, Alfroid, Puy Allaud and La Berarde are within walking distance of this park where you can go for fun and make lots of memories. The village of La Grave has been ranked as the most beautiful village of all French villages.
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7. France: Sightseeing
Apart from the Ecrins National Park, there are many interesting places where travelers can go sightseeing. Take for example the La Meuse Natural Resort, located just 10 kilometers from the park. Similarly, Jardin Alpin du Loutret, La Grave, L’Argentière-la-Bessie, Aiguilles d’Arves and Valley de la Clary are some of the wonderful destinations located at a distance of less than 50 kilometers from the Écrins National Park.
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8. France: Taste French food
Don’t miss out on some of the best French cuisine at nearby restaurants. There are many restaurants within a reasonable distance of this park. You can visit them to taste the food of your choice. They serve you a variety of French dishes apart from some popular dishes of intercontinental cuisine at affordable prices.
How to reach Ecrines National Park?
Public transport is available from almost all parts of France to reach Écrins National Park. If you are choosing to hire a private transporter from your hotel, this can also be a good option for a well-planned tour plan. Parking facility is available at some distance near the gate of this park. Commuters are advised to move inside, keeping private cars slightly outside to avoid any unnecessary crowding.
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Visiting Écrins National Park in France can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience if you are well prepared. Get assistance from reliable and reputed tour operators who customize itineraries. Prior research about this famous national park will also be helpful in saving time, resources, energy and of course money on your trip to France.
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