Mont Blanc to the Mediterranean

This hiker’s dream journey brings us from mighty Mont Blanc, with its perpetual glaciers and snowfields, to the palm-fringed Cote d’Azur, where the Maritime Alps plunge into the blue Mediterranean. Each new hiking day brings us dramatic changes in the culture and scenery of this stunning corner of the world. We set off with sweeping panoramas of Mont Blanc, hiking in high alpine meadows where cowbells echo and blue gentian blooms. Heading south, we follow the legendary GR5 trail across two remote national parks, then enter the brightly colored hill villages that announce that the Mediterranean is near. When we finally arrive on the Cote d’Azur, we kick off our hiking boots and head for a celebratory swim in the sea!

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-2
Megeve / Mont Blanc

We gather in Megeve, an alpine resort with a well-preserved old town center of classic Savoy charm. Our first hike is a wonderful introduction to the splendor of the French Alps and of Mont Blanc (15,771') as we contour along a spectacular ridge to Mont Joly (8,282') enjoying breathtaking panoramas of the Savoy Pre-Alps and sharp peaks of the Vanoise.

Days 3-7
Vanoise National Park

Our hike up to Col de Bresson (8,098') offers impressive vistas of the southern flanks of the Mont Blanc Range, the monolith of Pierra Menta (8,902'), and the sharp summits of the Parc National de la Vanoise. We then enter the Vanoise itself, which preserves the wild eastern section of the Vanoise Massif, home to ibex, chamois, and golden eagles. One of our hikes leads along a Roman road beneath the towering Grande Casse up to Col de la Vanoise (8,255'), with beautiful reflections in three gleaming alpine lakes along the way. Two overnights are in Pralognan-en-Vanoise, the Savoy’s mountaineering capital, surrounded by 10,000-foot peaks.

Day 8
Briancon / Ecrins National Park

Sunny Briancon is an enchanting town whose narrow streets are full of history. This is the perfect spot for a rest day or an optional hike up to Le Grand Area (9,411'), surrounded by the extraordinary natural beauty of Ecrins National Park for an irresistible panorama from Mont Blanc in the north to Mont Viso on the mountainous French-Italian frontier.

Days 9-10
Queyras Regional Park / St. Martin-en-Vesubie

Crossing the Col des Ayes (8,124'), we enter Queyras, one of the most remote areas of France, and hike across flower-filled meadows to the Col Cross, where mountain sheep roam. Our overnights are in Arvieux, near one of the most famous mountain passes of the Tour de France, and delightful St. Martin-en-Vesubie, with its lively outdoor market.

Days 11-12
Mercantour National Park

Right along the Italian border, Mercantour National Park is fantastic for hiking, with its tiny perched villages, glacier lakes, and forests of Holm oak. We cross the rocky Pas de l’Arpette (8,237') to enter the renowned Vallee des Merveilles, an open-air museum of rock engravings dating from the Bronze Age.

Days 13-14
Menton / Nice

After one last hike with views of the Mediterranean and a hearty picnic lunch, we head to the coast for a well-earned swim at the beach. Depart from Nice on Day 14.

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What the Trip is Like

This hike is rated Level 5, Strenuous. All trip members should have mountain hiking experience. Most hiking is between 6,000 and 8,000 feet, and the maximum elevation reached is about 9,000 feet. Trail conditions can be primitive, and there is a good bit of up-and-down (often a 2,000- to 3,000-foot gain and loss in elevation per day). We will undoubtedly encounter snow on the highest passes, and trails can be very rugged. Every participant must understand that this hike is truly challenging—trip members should be in excellent physical condition. We recommend that you make a special effort to get in top physical shape for the trip. Of course, you are always free to skip a day’s hike and travel to the next destination in the support vehicle.

We spend our nights in comfortable small hotels, some with shared baths. Lunches will be picnic-style or in mountain huts. Most evenings we have dinner at our hotel. Vegetarians please note that we will accommodate dietary needs as best as possible, but it is a good idea to bring along protein bars and other supplements. Luggage space is limited in our van, so we ask that you restrict your luggage to one piece, plus your daypack. Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the U.S. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 7:30 PM.

Although the rooms in our alpine hotels and inns are not always of uniform or international size, our leaders try their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. In some of the smaller hotels, a bathroom may have to be shared by two or three rooms.

Explanation of Trip Levels