France - The Cevennes

Tour Code: FRA12

An 8-day holiday - in search of plants, birds and butterflies - in the south-eastern corner of the Massif Central.

8 days from
£1,750 (Inc flights)

Land only price from
£1,595

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Highlights

The Cévennes is a spectacular area on the edge of the Massif Central containing a wide variety of habitats, amongst them the granitic peak of Mont Lozère, vast beech and chestnut forests, and the limestone plateau of the Causses bisected by dramatic gorges (including the Gorges du Tarn). Based for the week in a delightful hotel in the pretty village of Cocurès, we will explore these habitats, many of them protected within the Cévennes National Park, in search of an extremely rich flora, including many orchids, a wealth of butterflies, and many birds, particularly raptors. This is one of the finest regions of France for the naturalist, the delicious meals served at our hotel and our renowned picnic lunches ensuring that no one lacks for energy!

A perfect destination for the all-round naturalist!
Birds, flowers & butterflies galore!
Birds of prey in abundance
25-30 orchid species, amongst a profusion of wild flowers
A rugged land of medieval villages & spectacular gorges
Classic French cuisine in an award-winning village hotel
Learn from our expert Naturetrek ornithologist & botanist leaders

Grading

Grade A. Day walks only.

The Cévennes is a spectacular mountainous area on the south-eastern edge of the Massif Central. Delightfully unspoilt, its wonderful variety of scenery and habitats provide a special combination for the naturalist and walker. From our base for this holiday — a small and friendly hotel in the attractive little village of Cocurès, close to the administrative centre of the Cévennes National Park — we will make full use of the region’s excellent trails as we search for the wealth of plants, birds and butterflies to be found here; the delicious meals served at our hotel and our famous French picnic lunches will ensure that no one lacks for energy!

The Cévennes’ variety of habitats within such a relatively small area is truly exceptional. The granite and schist peaks of Mont Lozère (1,699 metres), Mont Aigoual (1,567 metres) and Mont Bougés (1,362 metres) have a quite different flora from the surrounding limestone areas, and pine and deciduous forests, hedgerows, limestone plateaux, flower-filled meadows, deep gorges and fast-flowing rivers provide further contrasts. To the west lies the vast limestone plateau of the Causses, with typical karst scenery of dramatic canyons, weathered peaks and caves. We will visit all these habitats, many of them protected within the Cévennes National Park that covers the central part of the range. Further diversity, created by the variety of climate, aspect, rainfall, soil and altitude, provides an extremely rich flora, especially orchids.

Insects are abundant, and a good variety of butterflies are to be found, together with many birds, particularly raptors. All in all, there is no doubt that this is one of the finest regions of France for the naturalist, whatever one’s interests, and we will explore it as best we can on walks throughout the area.

In the heart of the region lies the Corniche des Cévennes, a 50-kilometre ridge with a road along it that gives wide views over the national park and the Causses. Along the ridge the vegetation changes as the limestone gives way to schist, but the oldest traces of life, about 180 million years old, are the dinosaur footprints near St. Laurent. Walking here we should find many orchids — including Green-winged, Elder-flowered, Monkey, Military and Lady Orchids, plus their various hybrids — and such birds as Golden, Booted and Short-toed Eagles, Black Kite, Buzzard, Alpine Swift and Rock Bunting.

We will also explore the Gorges du Tarn, to the west. Here the river has carved this deep gorge through the limestone, revealing many fossils and providing nesting ledges for Peregrine, Chough, Crag Martin and Blue Rock Thrush. Along the river Dippers and Grey Wagtails feed; above fly butterflies — Swallowtails, Scarce Swallowtails, Cleopatras, Green Hairstreaks, Adonis Blues and fritillaries. Typical mountain plants may be found here such as Rock Soapwort and rockroses, whilst a little to the north in the pinewoods we will find several wintergreens, together with such orchids as Bird’s Nest Orchid, and both Sword-leaved and White Helleborines. Birds in these woods include Crested Tit, Firecrest and woodpeckers, and Red Squirrel and Pine Marten are occasionally sighted.

Mont Lozère is the highest point of the region and a road takes us over its flanks via the Col de Finiels. The underlying rocks here change to provide us with both an alkaline and an acid flora, including many orchids, narcissi, bilberry, violas, potentillas, pulsatillas, rampions and avens. The area is favoured by birds of prey, and these may include Merlin, and Montagu’s and Hen Harriers. Rock Sparrow, Rock Bunting, Water Pipit, Alpine Accentor and Ring Ouzel may also be seen here, plus Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, tits, finches and warblers in the woods below.

On more than one occasion we will traverse the Causse Méjean with its wide open landscape and the extraordinary karst formations at Nîmes-le-Vieux. Wayside flowers include Pyrenean Broom, many vetches, Yellow Flax, the local subspecies of Alpine Aster, Grass-leaved Ox-eye Daisy, Maiden Pink, the saucer-sized seed heads of Acanthus-leaved Carline Thistle, which are traditionally pinned to the doors of houses, and Burnt-tip, Military and Spider Orchids, plus the endemic Aymonin’s Fly Orchid. Here we will also search for Stone Curlew, harriers, Short-toed Eagle, shrikes, Quail, Rock Sparrow, Tawny Pipit, Ortolan Bunting and such warblers as Orphean and Melodious.

In the Gorges de la Jonte we will be able to enjoy more birds of prey, including Griffon and Black Vultures — both the result of successful reintroduction programmes. Our route back to Cocurès takes us through the Causse Noir. The roadsides are awash with drifts of Sword-leaved Helleborine, small groups of Burnt-tip Orchids and bright blue patches of Pyramidal Bugle. Under the Black or Austrian Pines, from which this Causse gets its name, we will search for various wintergreens. We shall always be on the lookout for forest birds such as Goshawk and woodpeckers, and in the more open areas Stone Curlew, Redbacked Shrike, Orphean Warbler and Corn Bunting. The granite and schist outcrop of Mont Aigoual is reached by road, through Beech, chestnut, and then pine woodland. In spring, Poet’s Narcissi form white sheets, tulips provide yellow patches, and the verges support a range of orchids. Just below the summit is a ‘Sentier des Botanistes’ which we will walk, enjoying dramatic views across the Aigoual Massif. The summit area is being actively managed to encourage Apollo butterflies to thrive; it is also a great place for Egyptian Vulture, amongst other raptors. Our return takes us into the upper Tarnon valley with its flowerrich roadsides and meadows, and hillsides yellow with fragrant broom. This is not an area where any naturalist may become bored!

DETAILED INFORMATION

Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1

Fly Montpellier and drive to Cocurès

Day 2/7

Walking natural history excursions in the Cévennes

Day 8

Fly London

Download Full Itinerary

What's Included

What's Included?

Flights
Accommodation:
A pleasant and traditional village hotel, with private facilities, serving fine local food.
Food:
All included in the price.

Reviews

A full-board week's holiday in the Causses area of France above the Gorge du Tarn. Hunting for flowers, birds and insects in the splendid, unpopulated, hilly area of France was a delight. The knowledge of the two leaders was excellent and the record they kept of our sightings was impeccable. Naturetrek provided an accurate summary of the holiday... Pre-departure information was informative and sent in plenty of time. Very efficient and pleasant with queries on the phone.
M.E. London, May 24
A very good hotel, with great food and very tolerant of the dietary requirements of some members of the party. Tony was a very engaging and genial leader, and patient with trickier members of the group. Pip was also an excellent leader. The highlights for me were the wild horses, a great sighting of hen harriers, and a mob of griffon vultures probably around a carcass.
A.C. East Sussex, May 23
The diversity of flowers, birds, scenery and range of different habitats we were taken to. John and Jenny were excellent tour leaders, both in their knowledge of the area and where to find all the wonderful plants, birds and butterflies. They were very relaxed and made it all fun. The group of us all got on really well with each other so it was very sociable. The hotel and food both picnics and hotel meals were excellent. For me it was so good to have it all organised so I didn't have to book flights, to drive, find somewhere to stay etc, and therefore was a real holiday.
S.T. Dorset, May 19

Each day's itinerary was very well balanced, with clearly planned objectives in terms of flowers and birds. The balance of walking/vehicle worked very well for the wide age range involved. Lunchtime picnic locations were excellently thought out and planned.
R.H. Powys, May 19

The holiday itself was excellent, in content and accommodation ... and we would like to experience further Naturetrek holidays.
R. & E.E. Derbyshire

We had an excellent holiday and the trip achieved our expectations which were in no small part due to the expert bird knowledge and identification of Peter.
Mr & Mrs R. Surrey

We would like to mention the quite exceptional guides - Jenny and John Willsher. They were quite unstinting with the care and generosity they gave the group. They were so knowledgeable about the country. Never got us lost - knew every bird, flower and butterfly. Really marvellous, good company and charming. This is the second Naturetrek expedition we’ve enjoyed. This was exceptionally good.
J.L. London

Fantastic scenery, wonderful flowers, good birds, and a delightful family hotel with good food. The roads are narrow and full of hairpin bends, the medieval villages delightful, the picnic lunches amazing, and the whole experience memorable in every way. Both [tour leaders] were totally unflappable, very knowledgeable, good drivers and very organised. The picnics they provided were excellent. We enjoyed their company, as well as that of our fellow travellers.
A.C. Essex

A wonderful week in the amazing Cevennes hills of France. We stayed in a friendly family hotel in a beautiful quiet village. Our guides took us to different areas each day and introduced us to the fantastic range of wild flowers and birds. They were very knowledgeable and helpful - and gave us superb picnic lunches!
E.P. Hertfordshire

A week based in a wonderful hotel in the Cevenne area of France. Two excellent leaders took us to some great flower and birding sites. Good food, good wine and good company.
B.S. Dorset

The hotel, tour leaders, accommodation and food were all excellent and I had a wonderful time.
V.A. London

Leadership and organisation were excellent. My first Naturetrek holiday and the leaders were supportive and helpful.
B.K. Dorset

This was an extremely well organised and enjoyable trip and, despite the weather, we saw a wealth of plants and, of course, a variety of birds, butterflies etc. Please thank our leaders for doing such a good job.
R.M. Buckinghamshire

Excellent holiday with wonderful tour leaders in John and Jenny Willsher - massive knowledge of their subjects and the area, and brilliant drivers - hairpin bends are nothing to them.
D.P. Hertfordshire

This was an absolutely brilliant holiday. I learnt so much and that was primarily down to the knowledge and expertise of the leaders but also their energy and willingness to go the extra mile.
A.R. Worcestershire

The knowledge, expertise and skills of the leaders made the holiday very worthwhile for wildlife. The scenery spoke for itself. The hotel was great - pleasant staff, comfortable and good food (keep this one)!
I.D. Cumbria

This is my 4th Naturetrek tour with Jenny and John Willsher, who are excellent in all aspects of leadership - itinerary, group management, driving, catering, knowledge of subject, understanding of locales and especially warm enthusiasm, encouragement and support of the individual clients.
J.C. Bristol

In the past, I have always rated the quality of Naturetrek's guides extremely highly and I would add John and Neil to that list. John's knowledge of the area and his ability to spot while driving added greatly to the trip and Neil's plant knowledge, in particular, and general wildlife knowledge was first-class.
P.T. Bedfordshire

The whole tour group, leaders and participants together, was a delight; from the quietest to the most voluble, everyone contributed with humour and good knowledge.
M.K. USA

We took two Naturetrek one-week trips, both in France: the Vercors, and the Cevennes. Coming independently from Australia, as we have in the past, we met each group at their point of entry to France. We had been with each leader on previous Naturetrek trips so fell easily in with the very pleasant small group company. Everything ran smoothly in both cases, with each day filled with interesting excursions to sites of botanical and scenic beauty and the possibility of bird observing. Naturetrek chooses small, friendly hotels out of large towns where the service, accommodation and food is very good, the small groups work very well under experienced leadership both for the nature and for people management. Daily picnic lunches are a highlight and overall, we can't think of any better way to experience nature in places we couldn't imagine finding for ourselves.
R.B. Australia

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Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost

Thu 15th May – Thu 22nd May 5 £1,750

Book Tour Show Details

Flights:

Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.

Flights are included in the tour cost

Land only cost:

The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.

£1,595

Room sharing options:

If a customer on this departure has already expressed an interest in sharing a room it will be flagged here. We will identify if there are sharing options for male, female or both.

Female sharing available

Single Room Supplement:

Single Room Supplement.

£195

Tour Leader:

Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary

Philippa O'Brien

Tour Leader: Philippa O'Brien

Pip is an enthusiastic botanist and has worked with plants all her life, being particularly interested in the ecology of plants which shows up in her garden design style. She graduated from Reading University with a horticulture degree and is a Registered member of the Society of Garden Designers. She has designed numerous show gardens and won medals at Chelsea, Zurich and Geneva. A child from a forces family, she spent many happy years chasing butterflies down jungle paths in Malaysia and searching for wild flowers on the cliffs and in the mountains of Cyprus. She leads Naturetrek tours in Portugal, Spain and the Balearics amongst other destinations.

2026

Departures Availability Cost

Thu 14th May – Thu 21st May SPACES £1,750

Book Tour Show Details

Flights:

Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.

Flights are included in the tour cost

Land only cost:

The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.

£1,595

Single Room Supplement:

Single Room Supplement.

£195

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There are few more pleasing sights in the natural world than a meadow filled with wildflowers. Seeing plants in their native habitat is always exciting and our flower tours offer you an incredible choice, from dazzling tropical blooms and the thrill of finding elusive orchids or delicate alpines, to seeing island endemics or British flora. Our tours range from week-long holidays focusing on the ‘Alpine flowers of the Swiss Alps’, the ‘Italian Dolomites’ and the ‘Alpine Flowers of Slovenia’s Julian Alps’, to orchid-hunting on Italy’s Gargano Peninsula and searching for the Autumn Plants of Greece’s Peloponnese. We also visit more remote areas of the world in search of plant-life, from the Tien Shan Mountains of Kazakhstan where we look for wild tulips, to the rainforests and spiny deserts of Madagascar where over 80% of the flora is endemic.  
Many of us want to know more about the plants we see around us. Whether inspired by an appreciation of the aesthetic appeal of flowers, or a more focused desire to identify individual species, everyone with an interest in botany will derive pleasure from joining one of Naturetrek’s flower tours.
Why choose Naturetrek’s botanical holidays?

All our botanical holidays are led by expert botanist guides
All levels of interest and expertise are catered for, from hobby gardeners and complete beginners to keen botanists who wish to explore a new area with the help of a knowledgeable leader
We keep the overall focus on flora, though expert guidance is also given on other wildlife

What can I expect on a typical Naturetrek botanical holiday?

Travel with a group of like-minded people
Stay at a comfortable hotel or lodge, close to an area of outstanding botanical interest
Enjoy a series of leisurely day excursions with ample time to appreciate the local flora

In addition to our dedicated flower tours, we also offer holidays with a wider theme to encompass birds, butterflies and other aspects of natural history as well as the flora. Our spring tours to 'Crete' and ‘The Island of Cyprus’ are both timed to allow us to enjoy the botanical highlights as well as the spring bird migration, whilst ‘Croatia and Slovenia – Spring in Istria’ also allows time to enjoy a little of the local culture. ‘Romania – the Wildlife of Transylvania’ combines an appreciation of the flora of the Carpathian Mountains with birding, butterflying and a trip to look for Brown Bears from a purpose built hide, and our holidays in both the ‘French Pyrenees’ and the ‘Spanish Pyrenees’ combine birds, butterflies and botany throughout the week.  

Our specialist recommends...


"I'd recommend 'Wengen – Alpine Flowers of the Swiss Alps', 'Crete' and 'The French Pyrenees', which all offer some fascinating European botany, along with plenty of wider natural history and some stunning scenery. If you’re keen to travel a little further afield, I’d suggest joining us in South Africa for our 'Wild Flowers of the Cape & Namaqualand' tour” 

David Tattersfield - Tour Leader

All Botany Tours
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The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.
Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours
We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.
The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.

Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:

Southern Morocco – an exploration of the birdlife in Morocco’s southern deserts, oases and mountains
The Camargue in Spring – a short break to enjoy the spring birds of the Rhône Delta and Camargue wetland
Wallcreepers & Cranes in Northern Spain – a 2-centre holiday focusing on Lammergeier, Wallcreepers, raptors, Cranes, bustards, sandgrouse and more!
Madeira & Desertas Islands – A Seabird Extravaganza! – a short break focusing on special breeding seabirds, including a night on the remote Destertas Islands
Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu – searches for boobies, macaws and Inca Terns
Spain & Morocco: Birding on Two Continents! – watch the spectacular spring bird migration from both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar

Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection
Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.
 

Our specialist recommends...


"Try Coto Doñana & Extremadura for an excellent introduction to Europe's wetland and steppe birds. I would recommend our bargain holiday, 'Nepal – A Birdwatching Tour' for those interested in Siberian rarities and Ibisbill, while Costa Rica offers a chance to search for arguably the world's most beautiful bird, the Resplendent Quetzal."

Byron Palacios - Tour Leader

  
 
All Birdwatching Tours
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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

Enquire

Tour Reports

Tour report - May 2015

Tour report - May 2014

Tour report - May 2013

Tour report - May 2012

Tour report - May 2011

Tour report - May 2010

Tour report - May 2009

Tour report - May 2007

Tour report - May 2006

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Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!