DAY 46 - LE BOURG-D'OISANS TO BESSE-EN-OISANS

We left Le Bourg d'Oisans this morning and started to climb.

Looking down on Le Bourg d'Oisans

We climbed on a steep path set into a cliff. It wasn't easy with our packs.

Looking even further down on Le Bourg d'Oisans 

We were soon rewarded with great views, sometimes of Le Bourg d'Oisans. sometimes of the Alpe d'Huez.

Looking across to the Alpe d'Huez 

The orchids were out in force:

An orchid 

Another one 

Yet another one 

And another

We followed the valley of the Sarenne. We crossed an old bridge . . .

The Pont de Sarennes

and had lunch among some ruins by the river.

Lunch among the ruins

After lunch the GR54, which we followed for the day, rose up to the Col de Sarennes, our high point for the day, and for the trip so far.

The Col de Sarennes - at 1999m the high point for the day 

We then descended rapidly.

Starting the descent

We kept on descending.

Zigzagging down through the mist 

Still going down 

Eventually we saw our destination, Besse-en-Oisans, across a steep valley.

Descending towards Clavans-le-Bas, with our ultimate destination of Besse-en-Oisans just visible on the opposite slope

We walked through the old stone buildings of Besse-en-Oisans to our accommodation.

Walking through Besse-en-Oisans towards our accommodation 

Day:  46
Distance: 26.09 km
Walking time:  6hrs 15mins
Elevation gain:  1590 metres
Cumulative distance:  1141.53 km