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Highlights
Discover prehistoric carvings etched into France’s Vallée des Merveilles
Walk the same footsteps hiked by Neolithic shepherds and admire the prehistoric engravings scattered across rocks.
Encounter a compendium of views as you hike: Lake Merveille, Capelet Peaks, Mont Bego, and layers of mountains.
Spend your evenings relaxing in cozy mountain huts nestled in the Vallée des Merveilles, hosted by kind locals.
Hike each trail alongside a trusted, knowledgeable, trilingual International Mountain Leader certified guide.
Escape to France's backyard for a memorable trekking tour interwoven with prehistoric carvings and an anthology of remarkable, natural views. Encounter shimmering lakes, bubbling rivers, and sloping valleys set amid layers of mountains. But it’s the ancient engravings etched around Mont Bego in Vallée des Merveilles in Mercantour National Park that will elevate this adventurous holiday from stunning and unforgettable to epic.
An International Mountain Leader certified guide will lead you along the same path that Neolithic shepherds walked. However, unlike the folk meandering around Mont Bego during the Stone Age (presumably), you will spend each night on the trail in cozy mountain huts!
Escape to France's backyard for a memorable trekking tour interwoven with prehistoric carvings and an anthology of remarkable, natural views. Encounter shimmering lakes, bubbling rivers, and sloping valleys set amid layers of mountains. But it’s the ancient engravings etched around Mont Bego in Vallée des Merveilles in Mercantour National Park that will elevate this adventurous holiday from stunning and unforgettable to epic.
An International Mountain Leader certified guide will lead you along the same path that Neolithic shepherds walked. However, unlike the folk meandering around Mont Bego during the Stone Age (presumably), you will spend each night on the trail in cozy mountain huts!
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Trekking the French Riviera’s Alps Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Nice
After you arrive at the Nice Airport, you’ll transfer to Casterino, where you’ll spend a night in your hotel. During the afternoon, embark on a quaint walk around Casterino, a charming hamlet nestled in lush mountain scenery! Enjoy a delicious dinner after.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Casterino
Distance: 2 hours, 6 km, 100 m ascent, 100 m descent
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 Hike into Merveilles Valley
Get ready to start your trekking adventure, which will have you following a knowledgeable guide to an abundance of Neolithic engravings and staggering views. After a delicious breakfast, you’ll take a brief transfer to the trailhead. Start by walking along the river, meandering pastures and larch wood until you reach the Merveilles Valley. Eventually, you’ll reach the mountain refuge for the night. If you have some energy left, you can opt to join your group for a short walk around the lake, where you’ll find your first prehistoric carvings etched into the scenery.
Overnight Location: Refuge in Merveilles Valley
Distance: 6 hours, 13 km, 830 m ascent, 250 m descent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 Day hike to Arpetta Pass
Enjoy breakfast before hiking to more prehistoric art carved into rocks. After, you’ll continue hiking to Arpetta Pass, where Mont Bego’s peak and Vesubie Valley will emerge into view. But it doesn’t end there. The next spot will unveil the “man with zig-zag arms” and weapons harking back to the Bronze Age. Return to the refuge in Merveilles Valley and consume a fulfilling, rewarding dinner.
Overnight Location: Refuge in Merveilles Valley
Distance: 5 hours, 8 km, 450 m ascent, 450 m descent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 Hike to Valmasque Refuge
Except to encounter a potpourri of scenery today! First, you’ll come across iconic carvings of the Tribal Chief, Christ, and the Wizard. The trail will soon carry you to Lake Merveilles, a glistening lake cradled in an amphitheatre of jagged hills. Continue to Baisse de Valmasque and eat lunch between the Grand Capelet Peaks and Mont Bego. Once you’re full and ready to go on, you will hike along three more lakes: Basto, Black and Green Lakes. Enjoy a relaxing evening at your mountain hut!
Overnight Location: Refuge in Valmasque
Distance: 6 hours, 11 km, 500 m ascent, 500 m descent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 Hike back to Casterino
Enjoy a tasty breakfast before following the trail to Casterino. Today’s route takes you super close to the Italian border! Look out for chamois and marmots as you walk along this military track. Toast your tour mates to a wonderful outdoor adventure in Casterino, where cold beer awaits! Head back to Nice in the afternoon. Your tour ends here.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: 4 hours, 10 km, 100 m ascent, 600 m descent
Meals: Breakfast
Trekking the French Riviera’s Alps Tour Price and Dates
This guided walking tour in France is always run as a private tour for your group only, therefore the price always depends on the number of people in your group. Please note, that the prices might change depending on the season and the availability of the hotels.Prices below are per person:
- Guided Groups of 2-3: EUR2185
- Guided Groups of 4-5: EUR1815
- Guided Groups of 6-7: EUR1740
- Guided Groups of 8+: on request
Accommodation on Trekking the French Riviera’s Alps Tour
Expect to stay in a combination of hotels and huts on this tour. They each offer modern amenities that work to elevate the total comfort of your stay. In hotels, the rooms are of double occupancy, while in refugees, you might have to share the room with few other hikers.
Please note that the accommodation listed below may be swapped for other similar places.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
You must a supplement to have a private room in a hotel. Please enquire to find the pricing out.
What’s included in the Trekking the French Riviera’s Alps Tour?
Meals
4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 4 nights along the tour. Accommodations before and after the tour in Nice are not included.
Transportation during the Tour
Transportation includes transfers to and from the airport.
Also Included
- International Mountain Leader certified guide
Not included
- Flights to get to and from Nice
- Travel insurance
- Beverages
- Tips
- Hiking gear: backpack (25/30 l is recommended), boots, clothes, sleeping bag
Optional Extras
This could be anything, like additional nights at start/finish, transfer from airport, rentals, etc. you often find this info by starting the booking process.
- Extra night before or after the tour
- Half-day excursion to Tende on a first or last day of the tour: EUR140
- How hard is the Mercantour National Park Archaeological Hiking Tour?
- Can I book luggage transfers?
- What do I need to have with me for this tour?
- Backpack of about 25/30 l
- Hiking boots
- Clothing suitable for mountain walking
- Sleeping bag or sheet sleeping bag
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Do I need a Visa to travel to France?
- Are meals included on the Mercantour National Park Archaeological Hiking Tour?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Nice to start this tour?
- Is the Historic Mont Bego Hiking Tour in English?
- Where does the Mercantour National Park Archaeological Hiking Tour end?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to France?
- Are there any travel restrictions for France?
- When is the best time to travel to France for this tour?
This tour is rated as a 3 / 5. It requires some level of fitness as there are some moderate elevation gains throughout this trekking tour.
Unfortunately, on this trekking tour accommodations take place at refuges that are not accessible via roads, therefore you should be ready to carry all your necessities in your backpack for 4 days.
For this trek, we recommend you have:
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners are included.
Yes, it is mandatory to have Health and Medical insurance to join this trip. Get your Travel Insurance.
You can fly to Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, and from there, you will get picked up and transfer to Casterino.
Yes, the tour guide speaks English.
The tour ends in Nice.
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
The best time to travel to France for this tour is from April to October, however, July and August sometimes get very hot.
Customer Ratings
Tortuga Viaggi is a boutique Italian tour operator based in Cuneo, Italy. Through their guide Luca Giraudo, they offer tours in Mercantour National Park in France, while also in Piemonte, Liguria, and Alpi Marritime Natural Park Piemonte in Italy. Luca is a trained ornithologist as well as an International Mountain Leader. Let Luca and his team show you some of the most incredible places in this part of France and Italy.
