The Jardin du Roi from Archiane

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Travelled on 10 November 2025, but in the opposite direction, starting from Bénevise: 23.5 km, 1,273 m+, 7 hours 40 minutes including breaks.
Between Bénevise and Tussac: good forest track with hairpin bends. From Tussac to the Jardin du Roi sheepfold: follow a vague car track. From the Jardin du Roi sheepfold to point 4 on the map (altitude 1,590 m), it's not easy: there are lots of cairns and tracks, but you have to follow the right ones... A compass or GPS is essential... We followed the directions (in reverse for us!) in the guidebook. After that, no problem. A magnificent tour in a very wild natural setting. Worth doing again to work on your orientation skills!

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Date of your route : Nov 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful and varied hike. The first part is steep, but the rest of the hike is not difficult. We did it in beautiful sunshine and with the GPS track, we had no problems. The part of the trail that might seem long and monotonous is actually pleasant thanks to the variety of landscapes. Avoid in poor visibility.

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Date of your route : Nov 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful route, very varied, completed in 5 hours.
Few tracks between points 4 and 5, but no problems with the GPX track.
And there were lots of vultures waiting at point 6...

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Date of your route : Mar 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike carried out in difficult conditions with lots of snow shortly after point 3 (therefore without markings). The GPS track allowed us to find our way blindly in over a metre of snow (we regret not having brought snowshoes). The view from the sheepfold (point 5) was comforting, as it was difficult to spot the old Jasse du Jardin du Roi (point 4) with all the snow. Total duration (including lunch break and numerous rest breaks due to the difficulty of progressing in the snow, as well as a small circular detour off the route after mistakenly following old tracks between point 4 and point 5) was 9 hours and 10 minutes.
Very few animals on the route (one ibex and no vultures...), but we were very focused on the GPS track, so we were probably less attentive.
In summary, a magnificent hike, made even more beautiful by the sun and the snow on the peaks... but without GPS (and the VisoRando PDF), it would have been impossible to complete in these conditions.

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Date of your route : Oct 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent views of the Cirque d'Archiane at the start and end. The crossing under the cliffs on the GR 93 is spectacular. The path between points #4 and #5 is difficult to follow without GPS. There are several tracks that are probably made more by animals than by humans. You have to navigate by sight. Fortunately, there are no obstacles, which makes it easier to find your way through this maze of sharp limestone pavement and meadows.

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Date of your route : Jul 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent, allowing you to enjoy different aspects of the Vercors: cliffs, plateaus, grassy pastures, viewpoints, vultures and marmots galore. The app was useful, but more for confirming the route than anything else, as the trail is fairly well marked.

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Hello,
Thank you for your comment. This section is indeed not marked up at all.
Have a great day.
Philippe

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Date of your route : Jul 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed with a group of six people in good weather and intense heat. Fortunately, the climb is in the shade. Once you reach the plateau, it's simply sensational, alone in the world (no noise).
Please note that the trail is not very well marked after the four-way crossroads.

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Date of your route : Feb 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I did the first part of this hike between the village of Archiane and point 3 at the very beginning of the season (mid-February). Very few people, beautiful southern exposure so not cold, a little snow from 1100 m but with small crampons under my boots, no problem. The climb up this pass is really beautiful. So, in the same day, you can climb to point 3 or 4, have a picnic, descend to the fork in the "Les Carnets d'Archiane" hike and walk around the cirque. In total, it's a 5 to 6 hour walk.

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