Les Carnets d'Archiane

de fr

A lovely little hike that allows you to easily explore the Cirque d'Archiane. Discovering this place is magical as it is surrounded by magnificent cliffs. You are bound to come across a couple of griffon vultures nesting in the crevices of the rock and gliding over the cliffs.

Details

n°1166756
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.00 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 381 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 386 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,135 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 756 m
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Photos

The Archiane Rock
Departure from the village of Archiane
On the way down
The cliff of births

Description of the walk

Park in the car park just before the village.

(S/E) Go up the road and head to the top of the village of Archiane.

(1) After a small house, follow theGR®93trail that branches off to the left, heading north-west. Steep climb through boxwood trees.

(2) At the fork towards cote1000, leave theGR® trail straight ahead and take the path on the right marked in green and yellow. Go around the foot of the Rocher d'Archiane (impressive) on a path with little elevation gain to reach a viewpoint with information about vultures.

(3) At the viewpoint, follow the yellow and green marked path until it turns north-east

(4) Towards the Ravin de Pédâne, you will find a sign for "lunettes d'observation" (binoculars). Follow it and a few metres further on you will find a telescope that allows you to observe the vultures and the positions of the nests marked on a metal map.
Take the green and yellow marked trail again.

(5) At the crossroads, continue along the central path heading south.

(6) Leave the trail that branches off to the right and continue to the village of Archiane, returning to the car park via the same route (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 763 m - Outdoor parking in the hamlet
  2. 1 : km 0.45 - alt. 772 m - GR on the left
  3. 2 : km 1.78 - alt. 997 m - Trail starting on the right
  4. 3 : km 2.43 - alt. 1,057 m - Viewpoint
  5. 4 : km 3.41 - alt. 1,110 m - Binoculars
  6. 5 : km 4.06 - alt. 981 m - Crossroads, central path
  7. 6 : km 4.52 - alt. 917 m - Crossroads, on the left
  8. S/E : km 6 - alt. 763 m - Outdoor parking in the hamlet

Notes

Good walking shoes are always recommended in the mountains, but the hike is not difficult.
No water source.

Worth a visit

A marked trail allows you to explore this magnificent site and its unspoilt landscapes in around three hours (follow "Les Carnets d'Archiane" and the yellow and green markings). The Cirque d'Archiane.

Observation of griffon vultures.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 49 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
User 984329

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

This route wasn't very busy when I went, which was after the summer season and even later, at the end of September. I made the most of the last days of summer, as it started raining the following week.
It was very good, and Visorando helped me choose our routes around Chatillon-en-Diois.
I think Visorando's explanations are good.
Thank you!

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Mic001
Mic001

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Short hike with steep slopes; walking poles are useful on descents when the trail is wet and covered with leaves.

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Phasmes
Phasmes

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful short hike!

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SebPi
SebPi

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

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

The hike is advertised as "easy", specifically chosen to take children along.
It should really be classified as "moderate" or even "difficult" due to the uphill and downhill slopes, which are not so easy for children or people who are not very fit.
Otherwise, there are beautiful views and many vultures to be seen.
As a bonus, there is a nice spot at the end of the walk where a friendly gentleman offers refreshing drinks from a trough fed by spring water.

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User 14402943

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

There was space in the car park when we arrived at 8:30 a.m. There weren't many people on the way. Letrajet is mostly shaded.
On the way to the observation platform, we saw five or six vultures.
Beautiful views of the cliffs.

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User 6114010

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

We saw vultures flying overhead!

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Marcantour
Marcantour

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike.
Avoid days when it is very hot.
Be careful on the steep descent at the end of the hike.
Very steep.
Best done in early winter to see the vultures.

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Nicole Guil
Nicole Guil

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike. We did it early in the morning.
The cliffs are magnificent and impressive. The vultures were also there.

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Patou26
Patou26

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

I've known about this magnificent site for a very long time, but I had never done the hike.
Despite the slightly rainy weather, it was great to discover the Cirque d'Archiane from this trail.

From the top of Glandas, the site is also very beautiful.

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Doucette
Doucette

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An ideal hike at the beginning of the year as it is very quiet. Best done in good weather.

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Marisol
Marisol

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

i use GPX, which is handy. I went a little too far and it helped me find my way back.
The route is pretty, steep, but you're warned about that.
I kept an eye out for vultures during the climb but didn't see any until I reached the orientation table, where I saw four flying high in the sky. The rest of the trail is fairly quiet but there's a group of people there. The observation telescope is a little further away but it's difficult to find the nesting sites on this large rock face.
The hike itself is pleasant, with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.
Thanks for the description of this hike

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cbrug
cbrug

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, best done early in the morning in summer.
It gets very hot in the cirque!
Magnificent cliffs and vultures await you...
There are fountains and a refreshment bar in the village to cool off.

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beraudier michel
beraudier michel

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, difficult descent on a very rocky path: wear good shoes and be careful of slipping in wet weather. The vultures weren't there, which was a shame.

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Sophie V
Sophie V

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Family hike, accessible to all, although a little steep at the start. Fun feature with binoculars available, even though you can see the vultures without them.

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nanettelolo
nanettelolo

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

no problems on the route, saw some vultures in the distance and impressive cliffs

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