french-alps-trekking-alps-to-the-french-riviera

Self-guided

Hiking

lvl. 3
Hotel
Itinérant circuit
Réf : E330
8 days from 895 € Book / Enquire

Our trip

  • A walking holiday through the beautiful valleys of the Menton foothills, from the rugged mountains to coast.

  • Experience a small taste of Italy in the architectural and cultural heritage of the villages you walk through.

Walk from the area referred to locally as "Wonderland" all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. This trail takes you on a journey through truly incredible landscapes. Explore mountain villages, each with its own fascinating culture and rich history. From the rugged mountain terrain to the gentle shores of the Mediterranean Sea, through an area whose Italian roots have intermixed with more recent French influences, immerse yourself in the local culture and enjoy the walking holiday that you have always wanted.

Your choice of lodging + Luggage transfers

This programm is not avaiable for now, due to October flashfloods.
Please get in touch with us for further info and access re-opening
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Itinerary

Hiking : a relatively accessible activity, hiking offers the opportunity to explore a country or a region up close, on foot, and to meet and mingle with the locals. On a traverse or loop, whatever your skill level, embark on one of our through-hikes to immerse yourself in the natural wonders of the great outdoors.

Level 3: An average of 4 to 5 hours of hiking per day on well-marked trails and/or 600 to 800 meters of vertical gain, and/or distances up to 15 kilometers.

Duration : 8 days
Luggage transfers : With luggage transfers
Lodging : Hotel, Guest-house
Guiding : Self guided
Group : Minimum 2 persons
Season : From April to October

Day by day

Day 1

Saint-Dalmas-de-Tende

Lodging : hotel. Included meals : dinner. Meals not included : breakfast, lunch.
Arrival in Saint-Dalmas-de-Tende. Installation in a two-star hotel for 2 nights.
Day 2

La Brigue - Tende

Ascent : 960 m. Descent : 960 m. Hiking : 5.5 hrs.
Lodging : hotel. Included meals : breakfast, dinner. Meals not included : lunch.
Visit two fantastic medieval villages packed with history, both as charming as the walk itself. You first will join La Brigue  a very small  medieval village and then Tende. Tende is amazing with his large cathedral.
Day 3

Saint-Dalmas-de-Tende - Saorge

Ascent : 700 m. Descent : 700 m. Hiking : 6 hrs.
Lodging : bed and breakfast. Included meals : breakfast, dinner. Meals not included : lunch.
Spend an exciting day walking from one remote village to another. All of the buildings and homes are made with dry stone walls and with roofs from local slate. Night in a guest house in Saorge. If this guest house is full, you will spend the night in a guest house in Fontan.
Day 4

Saorge - Breil-sur-Roya taking the old salt road

Ascent : 700 m. Descent : 800 m. Hiking : 5.5 hrs.
Lodging : hotel. Included meals : breakfast, dinner. Meals not included : lunch.
Saorge, an extraordinary village built into the steep hillside, will enthrall you. The same is true of Breil-sur-Roya, where you will have the chance to see one of its famous organs, made by the Italian craftsmen whose masterpieces inspired the valley's name: the "Vallée des Orgues" (Organ Valley). Night in a hotel in Breil-sur-Roya.
Day 5

Breil-sur-Roya-Sospel by way of Piène-Haute

Ascent : 600 m. Descent : 700 m. Hiking : 5.5 hrs.
Lodging : hotel. Included meals : breakfast, dinner. Meals not included : lunch.
A strikingly beautiful trail takes you to a very well preserved "perched village." Visit the chapel among olive grove, and take in the extraordinary views of a gorge that is partly in France and partly in Italy. Night in a hotel in Sospel.
Day 6

Sospel-Sainte-Agnès

Ascent : 590 m or 1040 m. Descent : 200 m or 720 m. Hiking : 5 hrs or 6 hrs.
Lodging : hotel. Included meals : breakfast, dinner. Meals not included : lunch.
The remains of a fortified castle, the cathedral, and many other historic buildings testify to the importance over the centuries of this old village. After Sospel, continue walking to Sainte-Agnès, the village where you will catch your first views of the sea. Night in a hotel in Sainte-Agnès.
Day 7

Sainte-Agnès - Menton

Ascent : 150 m. Descent : 900 m. Hiking : 5.5 hrs.
Lodging : hotel. Included meals : breakfast. Meals not included : lunch, dinner.
You will reach Menton's old town after walking along beautiful Garavan Bay, enjoying scenery that you will not soon forget. Night in a three-star hotel in Menton. Free dinner.
Day 8

Menton

Included meals : breakfast. Meals not included : lunch, dinner.
Your stay ends after breakfast.

Pricing

Pricing

The price includes / does not include

Included in the price
— 7 nights in a double room at hotels and guest house.
— Breakfasts from day 2 to day 8.
— Dinners from day 1 to day 6.
— Baggage transfers as specified.
— A guidebook in English and 2 IGN maps sent to the first hotel (one information pack for 2 to 4 people).
— The occupancy tax (‘taxes de séjour‘).

Not included in the price
— Transportation to Saint-Dalmas-de-Tende and return travel from Menton.
— Insurance for trip cancellation/interruption, lost/stolen baggage, or assistance.
— For reservations made less than 15 days before the start, all additional fees for priority processing.
— Anything that is not specified in the "included in the price" list.
— An additional information pack sent to the first hotel (€40).

Spending and other expenses during your trip
— Picnics.
— Dinner on day 7.
— Drinks, personal expenses, and the cost of visits not included in your program.
— The short train transfer of Day2 (about €2.50).
— Tips.

Currencies

France
France and Italy are part of the Euro zone. You may find ATMs easily in the main cities and towns.
Better to have cash in the most remote areas to purchase extras (ex.: for drinks). Huts do not always accept credit cards.

 


Italia
France and Italy are part of the Euro zone. You may find ATMs easily in the main cities and towns.
Better to have cash in the most remote areas to purchase extras (ex.: for drinks). Huts do not always accept credit cards.

During your trip

Our team

Self-guided tour.

A short train transfer on Day 2 is planned (at your expense).

Lodging

You'll stay in different kind of accommodations, guest house and hotels :
— 3 nights in 2-star hotel (Saint Dalmas de Tende), 2 nights in unclassified hotels (Breil sur Roya and Sospel), 1 night in guest house (Saorge) and 1 night in a 3-star hotel (Menton).
— Prices are based on  double bedrooms. If you are 3 persons, one has to pay a single room fee (€230 to €250 depending of the season).

Meals

— Dinners (hot meals) and breakfasts are prepared by your accommodations. Dinner on day 7 is not included.
— You can shop on your own OR we can reserve picnic lunches that your accommodations along the tour will prepare for you. Please confirm with your hosts the night before and pick up your lunch the morning before leaving.

Luggage transfer

You will carry only what you need for the day's hike.

Your luggage is transported to your accommodations by vehicle, and you will have access to them every night. Please note: only one piece of luggage per person will be taken; 15 kg maximum per bag. 

Itineraries

The walking route requires to have a good level of physical fitness. You need to be capable of walking on all types of terrain, and to be able to walk uphill for around 600 to 900 meters (approximately 2000 to 3000 feet) each day.

On self-guided trips, you are responsible for knowing how to read a map and use a compass. The guidebook we provide to you offers the daily itineraries. For each stage, make sure you check the latest information on trail conditions; the manager at your accommodations should also be able to provide you with up-to-date information if you ask.

What you need to know

Swimming, possible on certain days of this program, is your responsibility.

Required before leaving

Formalities

France
Please check with your embassy.

Health

France

Vaccinations

Required vaccinations

No vaccinations are required.

Recommended vaccinations

Please check to make sure that all your vaccinations are current: DPT, whooping cough, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, hepatitis A and B.

Dentist and general physician

We recommend a checkup with both before leaving on your trip.


Italia

Vaccinations

Required vaccinations

No vaccinations are required.

Recommended vaccinations

Please check to make sure that all your vaccinations are current: DPT, whooping cough, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, hepatitis A and B.

Dentist and general physician

We recommend a checkup with both before leaving on your trip.

Getting ready

Physical fitness level 3

To take full advantage of your trip, make sure that you stay in good shape by walking or hiking least once per week (around 15km) on a trail with considerable vertical gain (250m/hr) or by participating in a moderately intense athletic activity for 1 to 1.5hrs.

Your first aid kit

For the medication and pain relievers listed below, we recommend that you check with your doctor beforehand, adding what you need based on personal requirements and the specificities of your trip.

  • An analgesic.
  • An anti-inflammatory (pills or gels).
  • An anti-diarrheal tablets
  • A disinfectant, band aids (several sizes), mole skin, sterile compresses, medical tape, Steri-Strips,

Safety

The Mont Blanc Experience promise

No region in the world is 100% safe and without danger.

Allibert Trekking keeps you informed and is fully transparent when it comes to the potential risks. We gather security risk information from multiple sources: in-house research, monitoring specialized websites, meetings with the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "safety and security" trips in the field, constant contact with our regional specialists, local teams on the ground, and France's travel agency federation (ATT-ATR).

Nevertheless, it is important to keep in mind that we cannot make any decisions for you.

If there is a clear and elevated risk, we reserve the right to:

— Reinforce our guide team (for guided trips).
— Modify the itinerary for our tours.
— Place a tour or destination on hiatus for an extended period of time when we consider the level of risk to be too high.

Your safety and your enjoyment are our priority.