Christmas in the Alpes Maritimes

Get away from all the Christmas hype this year and join us here for some super days out in the hills coupled with a warm welcome and food that will make your mouth water even after you've returned.

This year, we're offering a fantasic all inclusive seven day winter walking and snowshoeing holiday over the Christmas week. The Mercantour National Park encompasses most of the Alpes-Maritimes, boasting breathtaking unspoilt alpine countryside. Join us in off the beaten track walks and snowshoe treks surrounded by majestic peaks rising to over 3100 metres against clear blue skies – see for miles in this stunning corner of South East France, where tranquility is guaranteed, and other humans are a rarity on our days out.

Centered in and around the Vésubie valley, and Valdeblore, the locality offers several destinations for starting circular walks which are just a half an hour drive from your accommodation.

In the valley of La Madone de Fenestre, which lies on the old salt trading route between the French coast and the Piedmont plain, you can snow shoe from the mountain refuge at the Madone Sanctuary over the Baisse de Cinq Lacs and around the impressive bowl of the Lacs des Prals, in the shadow of the Cime de Gelas – the highest peak in the Mercantour.

Trek over the Col de Salese and visit the village of Mollières – totally cut off from motorised transport during the winter months; or snow shoe over Camp Soubrane to Lac Negre, spotting various animal tracks in the snow, including those of wolves, now once again flourishing in the area.

Visit the old town of Utelle, with its sanctuary at the Madone d’Utelle, and enjoy its obvious relationship to Templar activity during medieval times.

Walk the GR5 over the Brec d’Utelle with fantastic views of the length and breadth of the Alpes Maritimes.

Testimonials

It's hard to say what was the best as it really was non-stop and all wonderful. Great Activities! Great Adventures! Great Company! Great Food - It was just GREAT!!! Dan Spence - Parc Sans Frontieres +, August 2007.

Season

Winter only

Departures to date

Christmas week 2008 - Dec 20

Pricing

Standard weekly package :

Chambre d'Hote half board - £690

contact us to discuss the options. Read about our flexible way of working.

Walking Grades

grade

Your Accommodation

Gîte

What's included

8 day trip, 7 nights accommodation, including breakfast, packed lunch and evening meal.

Hotel/Chambre d'Hôte Half Board : All meals, inclusive of packed lunches. The evening meal conisists of an apéritif, five courses with carafe wine, coffee and digestif. Special Christmas Eve Dinner inclusive.

Transport : To and from all venues. To and from Nice airport.

Activities : Six days guided walking/snow shoeing with a qualified International Mountain Leader. Snow shoes, not poles.

Itinerary

• Day 1 Pick up in Nice, and transfer to Le Grand Chalet, Valdeblore.
• Day 2 Madone d'Utelle - a circuit that starts in the medieval village of Utelle, and climbs up to the Sanctuary offering fantasic views of the length and breadth of the Mercantour National Park
• Day 3 Christmas Eve - Snow shoe up to Pic Colmiane, and then follow forest tracks directly back to le Grand Chalet, via St Dalmas Valdeblore. Traditional Christmas Eve Dinner.
• Day 4 Christmas Day - A visit to Le Boreon and snow shoe up to Col Salese, and Les Adus - a day in the heart of the mountians of the Mercantour, chamois, ibex, deer and even wild wolf tracks.
• Day 5 Boxing Day - we visit the Col de Turini, and the old Napoleonic forts at Authion, where we can mix a day walking and snowshoeing. On clear days the mountains of Corsica are visible on the horizon.
• Day 6 Snow shoe through the forest tracks that lead up to the refuge at Madone de Fenestre, then spend time in this magnificent cirque before descending via a different route.
• Day 7 We return to Le Boréon, and walk/snowshoe up to the refuge at La Cougourde, and if conditions are good climb up to Lac Trecolpas.
• Day 8 Depart from Valdeblore for transfer back to Nice airport.

Suitable for

Your welfare & protection