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FOR MORE DETAILS ON OUR EUROPEAN TRIPS VISIT 41
This hiker’s dream journey brings you from mighty
Mont Blanc 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 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 is
near. Arriving on the coast, we kick off our
hiking boots and head for a celebratory
dip in the sea. This trip has been featured
as one of Outside Magazine’s “Trips of a
Lifetime,” and we agree that it is!
Days 1-3 Megève / Mont Blanc Massif
Our hike begins amid the splendor of Mont
Blanc and the French Alps. Hiking up to
Mont Joly, we follow a spectacular ridge with
breathtaking views of the icy Mont Blanc
massif in all its glory, and our crossing of the
Col de Bresson brings us impressive panoramas
of the south-facing flanks of Mont Blanc
and the monolith of Pierra Menta.
Days 4-7 Vanoise National Park Entering
the Vanoise, we follow dramatic trails
above treeline with views of the glaciated
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 to Col de la
Vanoise (8,255'), with three gleaming alpine
lakes along the way. One of our hikes brings us into the Vallée
Etroite (“Narrow Valley”), a remote Italian-speaking valley
used long ago as a passage into France from Italy. The pastoral
hamlets in this region seem more Italian than French.
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 Corsican mouflon sheep roam. A
relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere comes to life in St. Martin-
Vésubie, where men play pétanque in the square and sip
Pastis. In Mercantour National Park, with its tiny perched
villages and forests of holm oak and olive, we hike to the Col
de Fenestre (8,115') on the border with Italy. Here we stand
between two national parks, one in Italy and one in France,
savoring fantastic views of vast glaciated mountains.
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.
“We traveled to
places that we would
never have been
able to find without
the expertise of
Wilderness Travel
and our great
Trip Leaders.”
Penny A.
Los Angeles CA
FROM THE MOUNTAINS TO THE SEA ALONG THE GR5
We bring you new vistas every day on this unique hiking adventure from the mountains to the
sea. PHOTO: PIERRE JACQUES
JEAN-FRANTOIS HAGENMULLER
HIGHLIGHTS
• Our unique route leads
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 rustic hotels
and inns
• All meals included except
1 lunch and 1 dinner
DATES
Jul 8-21, 2018
Aug 5-18
Sep 2-15
TRIP COST
$6895 (6-7 members)
$7395 (4-5 members)
Single supplement: $610
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
SIMON HARRIS