Die / Valdrôme

Watch out, there's still a long way to go! We leave Die and cross the Diois, heading for the Buëch, on wide, rolling forest tracks. Lavender fields, vineyards, Scots pines... the landscape changes. You're in the southern Pre-Alps, and the atmosphere becomes Provençal. From Die, reach Aix-en-Diois on the left bank of the Drôme. Cross over to the right bank and follow the Drôme meander as far as Saint-Roman. Near Menglon, you turn away from the river to begin the ascent of the Col du Pinet (1199 m) on a nice, rolling forest track. At Miscon, head for the Drôme, which you reach at Pic de Luc (1085 m), south of Luc-en-Diois. You then cross the Claps de la Drôme, a spectacular rocky chaos, to progress along the left bank through a series of perched valleys via Beaumont-en-Diois and Charens to Valdrôme, at the end of this stage.

Don't miss

• Lavender fields: to enter the Diois is to travel the lavender roads. Did you know that the lavender cultural landscapes are in the process of being listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site?
• "Le Claps" de la Drôme: a place of chaotic beauty, the remnant of a spectacular landslide, which you'll encounter south of Luc-en-Diois. Among the scree and impressive boulders, climbers and swimmers find a unique playground!
• Châtillon-en-Diois : at the center of a triangle formed by Valence, Montélimar and Gap, Châtillon-en-Diois, labeled "Les Plus Beaux Villages de France", exposes its vineyards and medieval facades to the warm sunshine of the southern Vercors.