Self-guided
Hiking
lvl. 4
Mon Roadbook App
Gite
or
Gite with dorms
Multi-day hike
Réf : E3N4
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 2: An average of 4 to 5 hours of hiking per day on a well-marked hilly path or trail.
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.Level 4: An average of 6 hours of hiking per day on well-marked trails or off trail, and/or 700 to 1000 meters of vertical gain, and/or distances of 15 to 18 kilometers.
Level 5: An average of more than 6 hours of hiking per day off trail or on rugged terrain, with more than 1000 meters of vertical gain (and/or distances up to 20 kilometers). Possibly sections at high altitude.
Level 6: An average of more than 7 to 8 hours of strenuous hiking per day off trail or on rugged terrain, with more than 1000 meters of vertical gain and/or distances up to 20 kilometers. Possibly sections at high altitude.
Mon Roadbook app: designed for the self-guided trips, "Mon
Roadbook" travel assistant guides you throughout your journey via a
mobile application to download on your smartphone.
Prices indicated are calculated based on a limited number of seats available or for a departure in over 2 months from today. Once all prereserved seats are filled, or for reservations with a departure in less than 2 months, we might have to acquire seats for a higher price (depending on availability at the moment the reservation is made), which might result in the application of a supplement that increases the closer we are to the departure date.
Itinerary
Level 4: An average of 6 hours of hiking per day on well-marked trails or off trail, and/or 700 to 1000 meters of vertical gain, and/or distances of 15 to 18 kilometers.
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.
Mon Roadbook app: designed for the self-guided trips, "Mon
Roadbook" travel assistant guides you throughout your journey via a
mobile application to download on your smartphone.Duration : 14 days
Luggage transfers : With luggage transfers
Lodging : Gite, Mountain Hut, Hotel
Guiding : Self guided
Group : Minimum 2 persons
Season : From July 1st to September 30th
Day by day
Day 1
Allos
Lodging : hotel.
Meals not included.
Welcome to Allos (1500 m), a small village and a skiing resort. Check-in at hotel, dinner on your own.
Day 2
Allos - Lac dAllos - Estenc
Ascent : 790 m. Descent : 810 m.
6 h 30 of hiking.
Lodging : mountain hut. Included meals : breakfast, dinner. Meals not included : lunch.
Lodging : mountain hut. Included meals : breakfast, dinner. Meals not included : lunch.
After breakfast, a taxi will take you to the Laus parking lot, the gateway to the park. Your first stop is a grandiose one, first on the shores of Europe's largest natural lake, bordered by the magnificent Tours du Lac, five jagged peaks between 2585 m and 2745 m in altitude. The climb to the small Col de la Cayolle takes you right up to the imposing mass of Mont Pelat (3050 m). Overlooking the lake, the route continues to Lac des Garets. Descent into the Haut Var valley to the hamlet of Estenc, on the Grandes Alpes route between Nice and Barcelonnette in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. Overnight in a refuge.
Day 3
Estenc - Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage
Distance : 17,8 km -
Ascent : 690 m. Descent : 1070 m.
6 h of hiking.
Lodging : gite. Included meals : breakfast, dinner. Meals not included : lunch.
Lodging : gite. Included meals : breakfast, dinner. Meals not included : lunch.
The route that links Estenc to Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage is a historical link passing over the Col de Gialorgues that has been a communication route between the Haut Var and the Haute Tinée valleys since the beginning of time. On the Haut Var side, in the Vallon de l'Estrop, the environment is wild and auster, exacerbated by the surrounding summits.
On the contrary, on the Haute Tinée side, the numerous Gialorgues lakes ranging across different levels between 2300 m and 2500 m, are colored turquoise blue in good weather, with the jagged edges of Fort-Carra and Pointe Côte-de-l'Âne reflected in their clear waters. You will arrive in the village of Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage, nestled at the confluence of the Sestrière and Gialorgues streams. Overnight in a mountain gite.
On the contrary, on the Haute Tinée side, the numerous Gialorgues lakes ranging across different levels between 2300 m and 2500 m, are colored turquoise blue in good weather, with the jagged edges of Fort-Carra and Pointe Côte-de-l'Âne reflected in their clear waters. You will arrive in the village of Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage, nestled at the confluence of the Sestrière and Gialorgues streams. Overnight in a mountain gite.
Day 4
Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage - Bousiéyas
Distance : 18 km -
Ascent : 1190 m. Descent : 825 m.
5 h 30 of hiking.
Lodging : gite. Included meals : breakfast, dinner. Meals not included : lunch.
Lodging : gite. Included meals : breakfast, dinner. Meals not included : lunch.
This stage links Estenc (1500 m) to the hamlet of Bousiéyas via the famous long-distance GR5 route. The village of Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage with its tall houses featuring sundials and larch shingle roofs, is clustered distinctively around the village center. You will then discover the charming hamlet of Bousiéyas (also the highest in the Alpes-Maritimes at 1850 m) with architecture that is already reminiscent of the Alpes and which constitutes one of the best moments on this stage. This route offers scenic views all along the Crête de la Blanche ridge, and a 360° view across the Haute-Tinée valley with the impressive Vens-Ténibre-Rabuons massif on the border with Italy. Overnight in Bousieyas.
Day 5
Bousieyas - Lac de Vens
Ascent : 1080 m. Descent : 580 m.
6 h 30 of hiking.
Lodging : mountain hut. Included meals : breakfast, lunch. Meals not included : dinner.
Lodging : mountain hut. Included meals : breakfast, lunch. Meals not included : dinner.
This stage connects Bousieyas hamlet to refuge de Vens first along the famous long distance GR5. Vallon Salso Moreno is beautiful and takes you to the Morgon pass and then to the Col de Fer and the Aiguilles de Tortisse. A mineral world punctuated by pastures and lakes. The short descent to the Vens refuge, overlooking the 7 lakes, is superb. Overnight at the refuge, in an exceptional setting.
Day 6
Refuge de Vens - St-Etienne-de-Tinée by the Chemin de lEnergie
Ascent : 300 m. Descent : 1400 m.
5 h 30 of hiking.
Lodging : gite. Included meals : breakfast, dinner. Meals not included : lunch.
Lodging : gite. Included meals : breakfast, dinner. Meals not included : lunch.
The route begins by winding from lake to lake, before reaching the Col des Babarottes. Above our heads, most of the peaks flirt with the 3,000-meter mark, but only the Ténibre (3031 m) surpasses it. They all mark the border with Italy. A final stop at Lac Pétrus on this scenic Energy Trail, before a long descent to Saint-Etienne-de-Tinée, through forests of fir and spruce, then chestnut. Overnight in a mountain gite.
Day 7
Isola 2000 - Refuge Questa (Italy)
Distance : 9,2 km -
Ascent : 680 m. Descent : 360 m.
5 h of hiking.
Lodging : mountain hut. Included meals : breakfast, dinner. Meals not included : lunch.
Lodging : mountain hut. Included meals : breakfast, dinner. Meals not included : lunch.
Playing with borders today. Transfers to Isola 2000. The route climbs via the Terre Rouge lakes to the Druos pass (2628 m), located to the north of the Cime de Tavels and the Mont Malinvern, the highest point of the massif. Passing across the Baisse marks the border with Italy and the entrance to the Parco naturale delle Alpi Marittime. The descent to the collection of lakes below which are edged with magnificent paved paths, relics of the former hunting grounds of King Victor-Emmanuel II, gives you a true royal arrival at the Questa mountain hut in Italy.
Day 8
Refuge Questa - Le Boréon
Ascent : 370 m. Descent : 1300 m.
5 h 30 of hiking.
Lodging : gite. Included meals : breakfast, dinner. Meals not included : lunch.
Lodging : gite. Included meals : breakfast, dinner. Meals not included : lunch.
Ascent to the Col de Préfouns (2615 m), a favorite spot for ibex. The descent to Lac Nègre is splendid. The cirque to the north is closed off by the Tablasses. You reach the Col de Salèse (2031 m) through a larch forest and expanses of rhododendron. End of the stage along the torrent to Le Boréon. Overnight in a mountain gite.
Day 9
Le Boréon - La Madone de Fenestre
Distance : 12,3 km -
Ascent : 1000 m. Descent : 1000 m.
6 h of hiking.
Lodging : mountain hut. Included meals : breakfast, dinner. Meals not included : lunch.
Lodging : mountain hut. Included meals : breakfast, dinner. Meals not included : lunch.
The climb winds through larch forest, then offers a magnificent waterfall spectacle. A short stop at the Cougourde refuge or a direct ascent via the Pas des Ladres (2448 m) to Lac de Trécolpas (2150 m). If the day seems short, climb the cime de l'Agnelière for volunteers who want to see the sea! Overnight at the Madone de Fenestre refuge.
Day 10
Madone de Fenestre - Refuge de Nice
Distance : 6,4 km -
Ascent : 755 m. Descent : 430 m.
5 h of hiking.
Lodging : mountain hut. Included meals : breakfast, dinner. Meals not included : lunch.
Lodging : mountain hut. Included meals : breakfast, dinner. Meals not included : lunch.
From the Sanctuaire de la Madone de Fenestre, the route offers a stunning view of the Cirque de la Madone and its surrounding mountains, popular among both experienced and novice climbers. The Cime du Gélas, the highest point in Alpes-Maritimes at 3143m, dominates the rocky landscape, offering breathtaking views of the Alps and the sea. This stage traverses the highest peaks in Mercantour, such as the Malédie and Mont Clapier, both exceeding 3000m altitude, visible from the Refuge de Nice. Overnight at Refuge de Nice.
Day 11
Refuge de Nice - Vallée des Merveilles
Distance : 9,7 km -
Ascent : 830 m. Descent : 600 m.
6 h of hiking.
Lodging : mountain hut. Included meals : breakfast, dinner. Meals not included : lunch.
Lodging : mountain hut. Included meals : breakfast, dinner. Meals not included : lunch.
This stage crosses the highest col in the Grande Traversée du Mercantour, at the Baisse du Basto (2693 m). The hike traverses the legendary Vallée des Merveilles ("Valley of Wonders"), famous for over 40,000 prehistoric rock engravings, making it a renowned open-air historical monument. The site boasts unique landscapes of sedimentary rocks, sculpted by Quaternary glaciers, with a distinctive array of colors unseen elsewhere in the Alps. The atmosphere is further enhanced by numerous lakes, their colors shifting with the weather, adding to the site's mysterious and captivating ambiance. Overnight at the Refuge des Merveille.
Day 12
Refuge des Merveilles - Col de Turini - Sospel
Distance : 12,9 km -
Ascent : 700 m. Descent : 930 m.
6 h of hiking.
Lodging : hotel. Included meals : breakfast, dinner. Meals not included : lunch.
Lodging : hotel. Included meals : breakfast, dinner. Meals not included : lunch.
Today marks the transition between the high mountains, with such majestic peaks as Mont Bégo and Grand Capelet Peak looming high above at the day's starting point, and more mellow, lower-altitude terrain near Bévéra, where the trail takes you through the area's beautiful and bucolic alpine pastures. This hike takes you past the foot of Cime du Diable Peak or "Devil's Peak" (2685 m), just thirty short kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea as the bird flies. The trail veers away from the mountain lakes and the Italian border as you continue heading south on your descent towards the coast. From Camp d'Argent, transfer by taxi to Sospel. Overnight in Sospel.
Day 13
Sospel - Menton
Ascent : 750 m. Descent : 1250 m.
6 h of hiking.
Lodging : hotel. Included meals : breakfast. Meals not included : lunch, dinner.
Lodging : hotel. Included meals : breakfast. Meals not included : lunch, dinner.
End of holiday on the beach! Backpacks and big shoes swapped for swimsuits! A magical finish, all day in the mountains with panoramic sea views. The descent seems long, but will remain an extraordinary memory: the passage from fir forests to Mediterranean flora and then to golden sand is not the privilege of all treks! We discover Menton's old town and then its most beautiful beach. This stage can be shortened either on the way up or on the way down. Overnight in a hotel**. Dinner on your own.
Day 14
Menton
Included meals : breakfast. Meals not included : lunch, dinner.
Trip ends after breakfast. You could enjoy this day by discovering this beautiful town. Great floral gardens can be visited, as well as the Basilica Saint-Michel or the old town. And of course you can have a relaxing bath in the sea.
The active times are given as an indication and may vary depending on several elements (eg. weather conditions, terrain, etc.). Transfer times may also vary depending on road and traffic conditions. If necessary (eg: weather conditions, decision of local authorities, etc.), we may also be required to adapt the program for the smooth running of your trip and in the interest of the participants.
Pricing
Prices (incl. taxes) from july to september 2025
| Gite Price per person | Without luggage transfer |
|---|---|
| Single season | |
| 2 people1 shared room | 1615 € |
| 3 people1 shared room | 1495 € |
| 4 people1 shared room | 1435 € |
| 5 people1 shared room | 1405 € |
| 6 people1 shared room | 1380 € |
- Single season : From 01 July 2025 to 30 September 2025
| Gite with dorms Price per person | With luggage transfer |
|---|---|
| Single season | |
| 2 people1 shared room | 2475 € |
| 3 people1 shared room | 2085 € |
| 4 people1 shared room | 1885 € |
| 5 people1 shared room | 1765 € |
| 6 people1 shared room | 1685 € |
- Single season : From 01 July 2025 to 30 September 2025
Pricing
The price includes / does not include
The price includes
— All required transfers during the trip.
— Baggage transfers, if you selected this option, to mountain huts accessible by vehicle. Days 5, 7, 10 and 11 are excluded.
— Lodging with half-board (breakfast and dinner), from dinner on the second night to breakfast on the last day (excluding dinner on days 1 and 13).
— One roadbook for a group of two to four people.
— The "My Roadbook" mobile app to help guide you on your trip.
— All required transfers during the trip.
— Baggage transfers, if you selected this option, to mountain huts accessible by vehicle. Days 5, 7, 10 and 11 are excluded.
— Lodging with half-board (breakfast and dinner), from dinner on the second night to breakfast on the last day (excluding dinner on days 1 and 13).
— One roadbook for a group of two to four people.
— The "My Roadbook" mobile app to help guide you on your trip.
The price does not include
— Transportation to the meeting point at the start of your trip, nor from the final destination at the end of your trip.
— IGN Maps.
— Fees for a double room on day 4, day 6 and day 8: €185.
— Additional fees to expedite your reservation for all trips reserved less than 15 days before the start.
— Anything that is not specified in the "included in the price" list.
Spending and other expenses during your trip
— Picnic lunches (from €3 to €6 per person when prepared on your own).
— Picnic lunches purchased through your accommodations (approximately €12 on average per day per person).
— Dinners on Day1 and Day13.
— Drinks.
— Tokens for hot showers in some refuges (between €2 and €4 per token, 2024 prices).
— Tips.
Currencies
France is 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.
Exchange rate
Better to have cash in the most remote areas to purchase extras (ex.: for drinks). Huts do not always accept credit cards.
Exchange rate
Extend your trip
Additional nights
Vous pouvez réserver des nuits supplémentaires avant ou après votre voyage.- Menton
- Hotel 2 star : from 65 to 120 € (depending on the season and / or service chosen)
- Double room, single room, twin room
- B&b
- Hotel 2 star : from 65 to 120 € (depending on the season and / or service chosen)