• Guided tour of the Valley of Wonders
  • Guided tour of the Valley of Wonders
  • Guided tour of the Valley of Wonders
  • Guided tour of the Valley of Wonders
  • Guided tour of the Valley of Wonders
  • Guided tour of the Valley of Wonders
Mercantour National Park / Alpes-Maritimes

Guided tour of the Valley of Wonders

5/5 (2 reviews)
Réf : WWRFXK

In summary

  • Sports
    Hiking / Trekking
  • Duration
    6 days
  • Level
    Advance

    Levels

    Hiking / Trekking
    Beginner
    For those wishing to walk for up to 3 hours with minimal elevation gain (max. 300m) along roads, tracks, trails, or rolling terrain. Suitable for everyone.
    Intermediate
    For those wishing to hike for 4 to 5 hours a day, covering an elevation gain of around 600m on trails. You hike occasionally and are in good physical condition.
    Confirmed
    For those wishing to hike for up to 6 hours a day and/or cover an elevation gain of 600 to 800 meters, both on and off-trail. High-altitude sections are possible. You engage in a sporting activity once a week, hike regularly, and are in very good physical condition.
    Advanced
    For those wishing to undertake multi-day hikes involving over 6 hours of walking and an elevation gain of 700 to 1,200 meters, off-trail or over rugged terrain. High-altitude sections are possible. You engage in endurance sports several times a week, hike regularly, and are in excellent physical condition.
    Expert
    For those who want a challenging hike of 7 to 8 hours per day with over 1200 meters of elevation gain off-trail or on rough terrain. High-altitude sections. You have been practicing high-intensity endurance sports several times a week for several years, and you are training for this event.
  • Destination
    Mercantour National Park / Alpes-Maritimes
  • Age
    From the age of 18
  • CO₂-Emissions
    36.86 kg CO2
  • Type of stay
    This group trip is perfect for travelers who want to experience a sporting adventure with other enthusiasts and be guided.
    Type of stay
    In a group
  • Languages
    🇫🇷
    French

In a few words

Embark on a multi-day adventure in the heart of the Mercantour National Park , a jewel of the Southern Alps . This trip immerses you in a world where history and nature meet, with the discovery of iconic sites such as the mythical Valley of Wonders and Fontanalbe, veritable open-air museums adorned with millennia-old rock engravings .

Between majestic peaks, high-altitude lakes and hanging valleys , each day offers its share of spectacular panoramas. You will traverse unspoiled areas, encountering iconic wildlife : chamois, ibex and marmots inhabiting a landscape sculpted by Quaternary glaciers .

Accompanied by an expert guide , this multi-day trek will take you from refuge to refuge, for total immersion in nature . A unique experience , combining exploration, contemplation, and disconnection, ideal for those passionate about wide-open spaces and ancestral heritage .

The highlights

  • A stay in the heart of the Mercantour National Park
  • Hikes offering opportunities to observe chamois and ibex
  • A guided tour of the rock engravings
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Photos

Sport

Level

Hiking / Trekking

Advance

Levels

Hiking / Trekking
Beginner
For those wishing to walk for up to 3 hours with minimal elevation gain (max. 300m) along roads, tracks, trails, or rolling terrain. Suitable for everyone.
Intermediate
For those wishing to hike for 4 to 5 hours a day, covering an elevation gain of around 600m on trails. You hike occasionally and are in good physical condition.
Confirmed
For those wishing to hike for up to 6 hours a day and/or cover an elevation gain of 600 to 800 meters, both on and off-trail. High-altitude sections are possible. You engage in a sporting activity once a week, hike regularly, and are in very good physical condition.
Advanced
For those wishing to undertake multi-day hikes involving over 6 hours of walking and an elevation gain of 700 to 1,200 meters, off-trail or over rugged terrain. High-altitude sections are possible. You engage in endurance sports several times a week, hike regularly, and are in excellent physical condition.
Expert
For those who want a challenging hike of 7 to 8 hours per day with over 1200 meters of elevation gain off-trail or on rough terrain. High-altitude sections. You have been practicing high-intensity endurance sports several times a week for several years, and you are training for this event.
For those wishing to undertake multi-day hikes involving over 6 hours of walking and an elevation gain of 700 to 1,200 meters, off-trail or over rugged terrain. High-altitude sections are possible. You engage in endurance sports several times a week, hike regularly, and are in excellent physical condition.

In figures

Hiking

  • Average duration/day: 6h
  • Average daily elevation gain: 829 m
  • Average daily descent: 782 m

Management

During this stay, a supervisor will be present to guide and assist you.
Band : 1 supervisor for 1 to 10 people
Languages ​​spoken:
🇫🇷
French
Supervisor

A team of enthusiasts for a unique immersion in the Valley of Wonders


Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of our team of expert guides, men and women driven by a deep passion for the mountains and nature of the Mercantour National Park. Each guide is certified, accredited by the Park, and an expert on the legendary Valley of Wonders. Their mission? To reveal the secrets of this exceptional region to you with professionalism and enthusiasm.


Your guide will not only lead you along marked trails. Thanks to their specific certification, they can take you to explore restricted areas, such as the rock engravings of the Valley of Wonders and Fontanalbe, and reveal the mysteries of the prehistoric civilizations that left their mark on these places.


Passionate about wildlife, flora, and geology, our guides know how to transform every hike into an immersive adventure. Observe chamois perched on the ridges with them, discover rare alpine plants, or listen to their captivating stories about the glaciers that shaped these landscapes.

Management

Security

SECURITY

Mountain areas far from populated zones often lack mobile phone coverage or are affected by numerous unpredictable dead zones. To avoid these problems and ensure your maximum safety, the agency's professionals are equipped with VHF radios, allowing direct access to mountain rescue services.
Learn more about supervision

Program

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6

  • Fontanalbe's engravings

    • Activity Hiking
    • Duration of the activity 5h
    • Positive elevation gain 865 m
    • Negative elevation 250 m
    • Accommodation Refuge
    • Breakfast not included
    • Lunch included
    • Dinner included

    Meet at 9:00 am in Casterino to meet your guide. Departure is coordinated with the arrival of the shuttle from the train station.

    On this first day, you'll explore the Fontanalbe site, famous for its rock engravings. An immersive day in the heart of history, retracing the lives of the valley's first inhabitants. Overnight stay in a mountain refuge.

    Day 1

Note

Please consider this program a flexible itinerary! Due to variables such as weather, trail conditions, or other factors beyond our control, we may occasionally make adjustments. However, rest assured, our guide is an expert on the mountain range, knowing its every secret, and will strive to guarantee you an exceptional experience. For example, if certain routes are crowded, he will show you magnificent and unspoiled paths to ensure your stay is truly memorable. Get ready to explore enchanting places!

Accommodation

During this stay, you will sleep in several different accommodations.

Access

Departure
Casterino
Day 1 : 09h00
End of stay
Casterino
Day 6 - 17h00

The hike ended around 5:00 PM in Casterino.


A shuttle to the train station is available around 5:30 PM, arriving at the station around 6:00 PM. The shuttle schedule is adjusted for the last train departing for Nice.

Go to the starting point

Access by train
Take the train toGare de St Dalmas de Tende

Stop at the station: St Dalmas de Tende

  1. Paris-Nice line then Nice/Breil sur Roya/Tende/Cunéo line.
  2. Paris-Turin line, then Turin/Cuneo and finally the Cuneo-Breil-sur-Roya line


For your information: trains departing from Nice, 4 departures per day, journey time 2 hours.

The line, which was partially damaged by the storm, has been restored since spring 2021.

Information and details: https://m.ter.sncf.com/sud-provence-alpes-cote-d-azur



Access by car
Travel to the place of stay with parking available

Via France: you must go through the south

  1. Take the motorway to Ventimiglia (border crossing) then the RN 204/E74. St Dalmas de Tende is 30 km from Ventimiglia. This is the preferred option.
  2. Either via Menton, then Sospel, Col de Brouis to join the RN204 E74. This avoids crossing the border but the road is very winding.

From the north, Italian side

WARNING, MANY GPS SYSTEMS TAKE YOU THROUGH THE NORTH, BUT SINCE STORM ALEX, THE ROAD IS CUT OFF, THE ONLY ACCESSIBLE TRACK IS A 4X4 TRACK RESERVED FOR LOCALS.

The only option will be to leave your vehicle in Limone and take the train to Saint Dalmas de Tende.


Free parking in the hamlet of Casterino


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Bonus: You can also let us know the date that interests you and we will do our best to offer it to you!

Price details

The price includes

  • Guided tours of the engravings by a certified mountain guide
  • Full board accommodation from Monday lunchtime to Saturday lunchtime inclusive
  • Transfer at the end of your stay to Saint Dalmas de Tende train station
  • Luggage transport

The price does not include

  • Drinks
  • Personal expenses
  • Insurance

Options

  1. Flex fare and insurance

Practical information

Specific formalities

They traveled with us

Discover the authentic experiences of our travelers
5/5
(2 reviews)
At Decathlon, the reviews are reliable.
Reviews displayed in reverse chronological order
e

eric

june 2026
Translated from French
B
Published on 08/07/2026
Y

Yann

august 2023
Translated from French

Fantastic week of hiking, intense but friendly with a top-notch guide

Published on 21/08/2023

They traveled with us

Discover the authentic experiences of our travelers
5/5
(2 reviews)
At Decathlon, the reviews are reliable.
Reviews displayed in reverse chronological order
e

eric

june 2026
Translated from French
B
Published on 08/07/2026
Y

Yann

august 2023
Translated from French

Fantastic week of hiking, intense but friendly with a top-notch guide

Published on 21/08/2023
The Marion, Boris et Christophe team
Decathlon Travel Partner

The Marion, Boris et Christophe team

4.8/5 (530 reviews) • 86 stays
Spécialiste des Alpes du Sud depuis plus de 20 ans, notre partenaire local rayonne sur des territoires d'exception comme le Queyras, les Écrins, le Mercantour et l'Ubaye, sans oublier son secteur de cœur : les Calanques. Cette agence à taille humaine s'appuie sur une équipe de passionnés et d'experts de terrain pour concevoir des séjours sur mesure, parfaitement adaptés à vos envies de durée et de confort. Reconnue pour son implication territoriale, elle garantit des départs toute l'année pour ses séjours accompagnés, plaçant la convivialité et les valeurs humaines au centre de chaque aventure partagée.
Discover their team and their trips
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