Wolf watching in the Vercors massif

We'll meet at our hostel at 11am, where we'll be greeted by our guide Romain. After settling in and getting to know each other, we'll set off to explore the forests and clearings of Lente. Situated between the famous Combe Laval cliffs (the highest in Europe), the Col de Carri (1200 m) and the Serre Montué (1700 m), it overlooks the Royans valley and the Valence plain. The plateau is a veritable sanctuary for the local fauna, which includes deer, chamois, foxes and sometimes even wolves. As we hike through these pastures and forests, we'll be looking for traces and clues left by the wolf, learning to decipher the signs of its discreet but fascinating presence. In the evening, after sharing a delicious dinner at our hostel, Romain, your guide, will present the programme for our stay. To enhance our understanding of the wolf, he will present a fascinating slide show entitled "The wolf: between benevolence and mistrust". Accompanied by never-before-seen videos, this captivating presentation will plunge us into the complex world of this emblematic animal. In the evening, in the stillness of the night, we may be lucky enough to hear some howling. This first day will be a real immersion in the wild world of the Vercors, an introduction to its rich, unspoilt wildlife.

We start the day with preparations for a two-day hike to the spectacular Fond d'Urle ridges. This exceptional place, with its rugged terrain and wild atmosphere, is a real gem of the region, where you can feel the raw power of nature. The route is breathtaking, with the possibility of encountering ibex, chamois and majestic birds of prey flying over the cliffs. Throughout our walk, several belvederes will offer us breathtaking views of the high plateaux of the Vercors. Each panorama reveals a little more of the grandeur of this unspoilt environment. Along the way, Romain will introduce us to a local shepherd, who will share his unique experience of living with wolves on a daily basis - an authentic and enriching encounter. At the end of the day, we'll reach a small hut nestling in the mountains, where we'll spend the night. Once we've set up camp, we'll try to listen out for the wolves, hoping to catch their howl.

After carefully packing our bags, we embark on our second day of hiking through the Vercors countryside. Today we'll be walking through the territory of a wolf pack. We begin our first tracking session. Romain will teach us how to recognise footprints, droppings and other subtle clues left by the wolves, these discreet masters of the land. We'll also have a chance to pick up the camera traps set by Romain to check whether the cameras have captured any images of the wildlife, and maybe even of the wolves. Tracking will continue throughout the day, alternating between observation and the collection of clues. At around 5pm, it will already be time to say goodbye.