• Alpine Adventure: Roya to Menton via GR52

• (Alternative Part 4 of a trek from Lake Geneva to the Med along the length of the French Alps)

• Everyday (subject to availability) from 17 June to 23 September

• From £1385/€1540 per person (based on 2 sharing)
• Price of luggage transfers reduces with number in party. Contact us for details
• Option of booking extra night in Menton at end of walk (not in above price)

• From £1065/€1140 per person (based on 2 sharing)
• Option of booking extra night in Menton at end of walk (not in above price)

• 9 nights, 9 days self-guided mountain walking moving between gites, auberges, hotels and refuges

• Alternative 4th stage of a trek along the full length of the French Alps from Lake Geneva to the Med
• Famous Vallee des Merveilles with its pre-historic engravings
• Diversity of wildlife including ibex, marmots and a large numbers of wild flowers
• One of the wildest and most unspoilt parts of the French Alps with a contrasting range of landscapes
• Finishing at the pretty Med resort of Menton

• You’ll be staying in private rooms for 2 in gites, simple hotels and mountain refuges, with the exception of 3 nights in dormitories. You’ll be served wholesome local cuisine. All evening meals are included in your holiday price

• 9 night’s half board accommodation in gites, simple hotels and refuges with private rooms (except for 4 nights in dormitories); Transfer on day two to access the start of your walk; detailed walking notes and walking maps, transport of luggage between accommodation if chosen (you'll need to carry your own gear for 3 nights on nights 5 - 7).

• Travel to St Etienne de Tinee at start of walking holiday and from Menton at end of walking holiday; drinks with evening meals, all lunches, accommodation in Menton, travel insurance, anything else not listed above

• See other similar holidays:
• All other mountain walking holidays - Alpine Adventure Lake Geneva to Chamonix - Alpine Adventure Chamonix to Briancon - Tour of Queyras - Tour of Vanoise - Marvels of Mercantour - Tour of Ubaye - Travels through Alpine Provence: Baronnies

Walking Profile

9 days self-guided walking between accommodation. Walking per day amounts to an average of 5 - 8hrs walking, over 15-20km and 925m of ascent and descent. Maximum altitude gain: 1450m. The walk follows the GR52 for the most part. The walks take place on way-marked paths, although they are mountainous and rocky in nature with some more difficult rocky passages, which would be made more difficult in snow or ice. The 9-day walking holiday is a strenuous undertaking due to the sustained nature of the walking, especially over the first 4 days. There are also a couple of long days. You should have a reasonable level of fitness and be experienced in walking on mountainous terrain with a good head for heights.

Day 1: Arrival

Arrive in St Etienne de Tinnee. Night in hotel or gite

Day 2: Roya (1490m) - Roure (1883m)

Transfer after breakfast from St Etienne de Tinee to Roya. You'll cross alpine meadows to reach the mountain pass known as Col de Crousette (2480m). You'll then have a wonderful ridge walk with great views as you head towards Col de Moulines. Descend to reach the narrow valley of Roure and your accommodation.+1330m ; - 940 m; 7hrs

Day 3: Roure (1883m) - Saint Dalmas Valdeblore (1050m)

A gentle descent of the Roure Valley brings you to the pretty hamlet of Roure itself before moving on to discover the village of Saint Sauveur sur Tinee where you'll now be at only 450m in altitude. Climb back up hill to discover the historic perched villages of the region including Rougios, La Bolline and Rimplas. +1070m ; - 1685 m; 7hr 15

Day 4: Valdeblore (1050m) - col du Barn (2452m) - Le Boreon (1500m)

A steady climb back north to head over Col du Barn at 2452m and then enter the Mercantour National Park. Great views from the border between Italy and France. After a rough initial descent, go through several forested valleys, crossing the Salese col before descending to your gite in the village of Boreon. +1385m ; - 1145 m; 7hrs

Day 5: Le Boreon (1500 m) - Pas des Ladres (2448 m) - La Madone de Fenestre (1820 m)

The GR52 climbs through a forested valley to the pretty Lake Trecolpas. Before reaching the rugged Pas des Ladres. You can then ascend Cime de l’Agnelliere if you wish before deciding whether to go via Col de Fenstre on the Italian border before descending to the refuge at la Madonne de Fenestre.

+1000m ; - 600 m; 5hrs

Day 6: La Madone de Fenestre (1820 m) - Pas du Mont Colomb (2548 m) - Refuge de Nice (2232 m)

The GR52 climbs without much in the way of a rest to the steep and rocky slopes of Pas du Mont Colomb. The descent is equally challenging. Go past Lac de la Fous to reach Refuge de Nice. You can leave your bag at the hut and make a climb to the beautiful small lakes of Mont Clapier.

+715m ; - 410 m; 3hr 30

You could decide to continue to Refuge des Merveilles and combine days 6 and 7 (and therefore one less night). The short day is designed to allow you to have time to visit the pre-historic engravings on day 7.

Day 7: Refuge de Nice (2232 m) - Baisses du Basto (2693 m) et de Valmasque (2549 m) - Refuge des Merveilles (2130 m)

This is a short day but it takes time because the ground is steep and rocky in wonderful high mountain scenery. Care is needed on the climb to Baisse du Basto. Then climb over Col Valmasque and descend past beautiful lakes to reach the Vallee Merveilles and its wonderful pre-historic treasures. You will have the time to book on a guided tour to visit the pre-historic rock carvings. +625m ; - 725 m; 4hrs

Day 8: Refuge des Merveilles (2130 m) - Crête de Lauthion (2000 m) - Turini, Camp d’Argent (1740 m)

Climb past further pretty lakes and reservoirs towards Pas du Diable. Just before the pass it’s possible to make an ascent of Cime du Diable. From the pass and summit you'll get your first views of the Medierranean Sea. Following the main descent its an easier trail that leads to Col de Raus, Pointe des Trois Communes, close to a fort and then onto Camp d’Argent +580m ; -955 m; 5hrs

Day 9: Turini, Camp d’Argent (1470m) - Crete de Ventabren (1900m) - Sospel (350m)

A great walk on the Ventabren ridgeline with stunning views. This is followed by a long and mostly forested descent which leads towards the historic town of Sospel. The vegetation changes as you descend and starts to become Mediterranean in appearance as you leave the larch and spruce behind and maritime pine and olive trees start to make their appearance. +470m ; -1850 m; 6hrs 45

Day 10: Sospel (350m) - Col du Berceau (1100m) - Menton

Your final day is a long and often wooded walk which goes from one col to another. There is the chance to climb to the summit of Gramondo for fantatstic views of the Mediterranean. As you walk you'll brush lavender and thyme giving off a wondeful perfum. A long and steep descent leads to Menton and the Mediterranean Sea as the forests give way to white limestone and the blue Med. The mountains plunge directly into the sea. Take one last look back at the summits before taking a well-earned dip in the Med. +1090m ; -1410 m; 7hrs 15

Holiday ends after walk on day 10 or book extra night's accommodation in Menton.