Only 30 kilometers from the sea and the French Riviera but the contrast is huge ! 6 days visiting this astonishing area, protected as an historical monument since 1989, part of Mercantour National Park. Wildflowers, fauna and 40 000 ancient rock carvings with their myths and legends are waiting for you.
| Accompagnied refuge |
655 € |
| Accompagnied comfort | 720 € |
| Inclus | The organisation of the stay, the reservations on site A welcome apéritif Guiding by a professional mountain guide, groups of 15 persons maximum Transfer of luggage to the gîte Professional civil liability insurance Picnic lunches from D2 to D5 Half-board accommodation in the chosen option Access to the engravings in the archaeological areas not accessible to the public 6 days of hiking |
| Non inclus | Transport to Saint-Dalmas de Tende* (possibility to ask us for a quote) Drinks and personal snacks Drinks in bars and restaurants Picnics for D1 and D6 Personal civil liability insurance Personal expenses and tips Cancellation insurance Everything that is not indicated in ’WHAT THE PRICE INCLUDES” *we can organize your flight and your transfer to the meeting point |
Les points forts
- Varied and stunning mountain landscapes
- Wild fauna and flora
- 5000 years of history
- Archaeological visits
Day 1 The Vallauria Mine
Starting from the Lac des Mesches, a real entrance gate to the Valley of Marvels, a trail in the forest will bring us to the Hameau de la Minière, a renowned mining village that will be our base-camp for the entire trip. Pickup of your luggage and the hike starts off through the different ages… you will discover the local flowers and the landscapes designed by the ice of the glaciers. Depending on your arrival time, you may be able to see the « Gias », a protohistoric shelter..
Duration of effective walking: 1-4 hours
Elevation gain: 200-500 m. Elevation loss: 60-300 m.
Accommodation: Gîte Neige et Merveilles
Day 2 Plan tendasque and Fontanalba
At the foot of Mount Bégo, divinity of the site of Marvels, you will find the prairies suspendues du plan tendasque,an important place for the pastoralism at the gate of the Valley of Marvels. We will walk on an unmarked trail to get as close as possible to the chamois and the traces of wolfs before arriving to the refuge of Fontanalbe.
Duration of effective walking: 5h00
Elevation gain: 750 m. Elevation loss: 400 m.
Accommodation: Refuge de Fontanalbe
Day 3 Discover the protohistoric engravings of Fontanalba
This hike is a pure delight! On the edges of the glacial lakes, you will discover the protohistoric engravings with a guide licenced by the National Park of Mercantour, in the heart of a natural botanical garden of the « Fountain of the Dawn », surrounded by chamois, ibex, marmots. By crossing the col de Vallauretta, we return to the mining valley where we will spend the night.
Duration of effective walking: 4h30 + 2h00 archaeological visit
Elevation gain: 450 m. Elevation loss: 960 m.
Accommodation: Gîte Neige et Merveilles
Day 4 The Val d’enfer and the protohistoric shelters
Departure for the Refuge des Merveilles heading along the Vallon de la Minière, and in the afternoon a visit of the first engravings in the archaeological areas. You will admire the natural shelters « Les Gias » that gave refuge to the first humans and to the shepherds during the anger of the God of thunderstorms.
Level : 7 km / Elevation gain+ 650 m / Elevation loss- 50 m / 3h30 of effective walking to arrive at the refuge
Afternoon without backpack : 4 km / Elevation gain+ 150 m / Elevation loss – 150 m / 2h00 of walks in the archaeological areas
Night at the refuge des Merveilles
Day 5 Visit of the Valley of Marvels
Full visit of the site of Marvels via the restricted area of Arpette. Discovery of the most famous engravings (Tribe chief, the wizard, the man with the zigzag arms etc…). Return to the gîte Neige et Merveilles in the afternoon.
13 km, duration of effective walking: 5.5h
Elevation gain: 500 m. Elevation loss: 1000 m
Accommodation: Gîte Neige et Merveilles
Day 6 Tende and the Museum of Marvels
Transfer by car to reach the capital of the high Roya, Tende (30 min), visit of the village, its basilica and its baroque churches. You then go to visit the magnificent Museum of Marvels to review everything you have learned during the hikes and to look closely on the tools and weapons of the protohistoric men.
Duration of effective walking: 1 hour
Elevation gain: 100 m. Elevation loss: 100 m
End of the stay late morning.
Attention : The order of the hikes can be modified by your guide in order to adapt to the weather forecasts or other parameters.
Gite and Mountain refuge
