Wilderness Travel 2017 Catalog of Adventures

Mont Blanc to the Mediterranean FROM THE MOUNTAINS TO THE SEA ALONG THE GR5

HIGHLIGHTS • Our unique route from the mountains to the sea through a range of cultures and landscapes • Secluded mountain villages and less-traveled national parks • Small groups—maximum 7 people! DETAILS • 14-day trip begins in Megève and ends in Nice • 13 nights charming hotels and inns • All meals included except 1 lunch and 1 dinner

Each day’s hike reveals new vistas and dramatic changes in the local culture in this stunning corner of France.

DATES Aug 6-19 Aug 20-Sep 2 Sep 3-16

This hiker’s dream journey brings you from mighty Mont Blanc, with its eternal glaciers, to the palm-fringed beaches of the Côte d’Azur, where the Maritime Alps plunge into the blue Mediterranean. Setting off with sweeping panoramas of Mont Blanc, we hike in high

TRIP COST $6895 (6-7 members) $7395 (4-5 members) Single supplement: $660

TRIP LEVEL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 12 hiking days on moderate to steep trails, 5-7 hours a day, altitudes between 6,000-9,200 feet, van support

FRANK FELL

“I loved it all. Extraordinary views, great company, delicious meals, cozy inns, and dramatic scenery. To end with a swim in the Mediterranean was perfection!”

Pralognan Valley and the ice cap of the Dôme de la Vanoise. A ramble along an old Roman road leads us beneath the granite peaks of the Grande Casse (12,648') to Col de la Vanoise (8,255'), with three gleaming alpine lakes along the way. Days 8-11 Queyras Regional Park / St. Martin-Vésubie / Mercantour National Park In Queyras, one of the most untouched areas of France, we hike across emerald meadows to the Col Cross, where mountain sheep roam. A relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere comes to life in St. Martin-Vésubie, where men play pétanque in the square and sip Pastis. Mercantour National Park, with its tiny perched villages, is the setting for spectacular and remote hikes with vast views. Days 12-14 Menton / Nice After exploring the Vallée des Merveilles, with its Bronze Age rock art, we follow a trail with views of the sea up to the Col de Razet, then head to the coast for a well-earned swim in the Mediterranean. Depart on Day 14 via Nice.

alpine meadows where cowbells echo and blue gentian blooms, and through age-old villages that are a step back in time. Heading south, we follow the legendary GR5 trail across remote national parks of singular beauty, then enter brightly colored hill villages that announce the Mediterranean

Cathy C., Sonoma CA

is near. Arriving on the coast, we kick off our hiking boots and head for a celebratory dip in the sea! Days 1-7 Megève / Vanoise National Park Our first hike reveals the splendor of the French Alps and Mont Blanc, and in the Vanoise, we follow dramatic trails with views of the glaciated

QUESTIONS? 1.800.368.2794 OR EMAIL EUROPE@WILDERNESSTRAVEL.COM 19