• Hiking on the forgotten trails of the Upper Roya
  • Hiking on the forgotten trails of the Upper Roya
  • Hiking on the forgotten trails of the Upper Roya
  • Hiking on the forgotten trails of the Upper Roya
  • Hiking on the forgotten trails of the Upper Roya
  • Hiking on the forgotten trails of the Upper Roya
  • Hiking on the forgotten trails of the Upper Roya
  • Hiking on the forgotten trails of the Upper Roya
  • Hiking on the forgotten trails of the Upper Roya
Mercantour National Park / Alpes-Maritimes

Hiking on the forgotten trails of the Upper Roya

4/5 (1 reviews)
Réf : RUPFWR

In summary

  • Sports
  • Duration
    8 days
  • Level
    Intermediate

    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 15 - 90 years
  • CO₂-Emissions
    83.78 kg CO2
  • Type of stay
    This personalized stay offers you the opportunity to experience a sporting adventure with an organization tailored to your needs.
    Type of stay
    Independent traveler

In a few words

Discover a historic trail , once the main artery of the salt route , which connected the mountains to the sea, passing through perched villages, pine forests, and olive groves . In the heart of winter, when orange and lemon trees are laden with fruit, walk along this forgotten path that winds between valleys and ridges, offering spectacular views of the Mediterranean.

This route will take you to the heart of the Nice hinterland , where heritage and nature blend harmoniously. You will pass through villages steeped in history, where chapels adorned with frescoes and church altarpieces bear witness to the talent of the Primitives of Nice , with Louis Bréa as their leading figure. You will also admire the Baroque architecture , resplendent in its forms and colors.

Following largely the old Royal Road , laid out by the Savoyard sovereigns to connect Nice to Piedmont , this route offers a perfect balance between hiking and cultural exploration . Although mountainous, it only reaches an altitude of 1200 meters , making it an ideal route in late winter or autumn, when the golden light further enhances these exceptional landscapes.

The highlights

  • A path following the old Royal Road, steeped in history
  • Spectacular landscapes: panoramic views of the Mediterranean and hilltop villages
  • Hiking with exceptional light
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Photos

Sport

Level

Hiking / Trekking

Intermediate

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 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.

The expert's opinion

A moderately difficult hike, accessible to anyone with prior experience in mountain walking. Average walking time: 5 hours per day.

Terrain: marked mountain trails. Average elevation gain: +500m per day.

Maximum altitude: 1240m. Average altitude of accommodations: 700m.

Particular difficulties: do not forget that the French Riviera, close to the Italian border, is not a land of hills, but a very mountainous region, with a very marked alpine relief.

In figures

Hiking

  • Average duration/day: 5h30
  • Average distance/day: 14 km
  • Average daily elevation gain: 564 m
  • Average daily descent: 747 m

Management

The digital roadbook is your travel companion.
Digital Roadbook
Your travel guide to take everywhere with you. 🗺️

Program

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
  • Arrival in Saint Dalmas de Tende

    • Accommodation 2-star hotel
    • Breakfast not included
    • Lunch not included
    • Dinner included

    Welcome and check-in at your 2-star hotel in the heart of Saint-Dalmas-de-Tende. Enjoy this first evening soaking up the mountain atmosphere and preparing for the adventure ahead. Dinner and overnight stay with half-board included .

    Day 1

Note

The cultural program proposed above can only be indicative, as visits are subject to the vagaries of the opening times of sites and monuments.

We may sometimes need to slightly modify the indicated itinerary, particularly due to hotel availability. Rest assured, these changes are always made in your best interest, for your safety and comfort!

Accommodation

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

Access

Departure
Saint Dalmas de Tende
Day 1
End of stay
Menton
Day 8 - 10h00

Day 8 in Menton after breakfast

Go to the starting point

Access by train
Take the train toMenton

TGV to Nice then train to Menton and bus to Saint Dalmas de Tende.

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

From Nice, take the A8 motorway towards Genoa and Italy. Exit at Ventimiglia, then follow the S20 and RN204 roads towards Cuneo and the Col de Tende pass to St Dalmas de Tende. Approximately 80 km. Travel time: 1 hour 30 minutes minimum. In St Dalmas, there is private (but unguarded) parking at your hotel. You can view your route at https://www.viamichelin.fr/

In St Dalmas, there is private (but unguarded) parking at your hotel. Please note! To return to Saint Dalmas at the end of your tour, you will need to take the bus from Menton to St Dalmas de Tende.

Price details

The price includes

  1. Accommodation in a double room
  2. Half-board, except for dinner in Menton
  3. Luggage transport
  4. The digital travel file

The price does not include

  1. Individual drinks
  2. The travel dossier (paper version)
  3. Lunches
  4. The Menton dinner
  5. Site visits
  6. Transfers by train or bus

Options

You will be able to select these options when booking.
  1. Hiking guide : CHF33.25 / unit
  2. Accommodation - Double room : CHF0.00 / unit
  3. Accommodation - Single room : CHF380.00 / unit
  4. Extra night at the end of your stay - Double room : CHF109.25 / unit
  5. Extra night at the end of your stay - Single room : CHF199.50 / unit
  6. Extra night at the beginning of your stay - Double room : CHF114.00 / unit
  7. Extra night at the beginning of your stay - Single room : CHF161.50 / unit
  8. Flex fare and insurance

Practical information

Specific formalities
Equipment

They traveled with us

Discover the authentic experiences of our travelers
4/5
(1 reviews)
At Decathlon, the reviews are reliable.
Reviews displayed in reverse chronological order
T

Thierry

september 2026
Translated from French
Excellent organization, confirmed to our request, and a magnificent destination that requires a good level of physical fitness.
Published on 12/09/2026

They traveled with us

Discover the authentic experiences of our travelers
4/5
(1 reviews)
At Decathlon, the reviews are reliable.
Reviews displayed in reverse chronological order
T

Thierry

september 2026
Translated from French
Excellent organization, confirmed to our request, and a magnificent destination that requires a good level of physical fitness.
Published on 12/09/2026
The Théo team
Decathlon Travel Partner

The Théo team

4.6/5 (65 reviews) • 103 stays
Born from a passionate encounter in 1983, our local partner is a family-run business specializing in adventures on foot, by bike, on skis, or snowshoes. Based in the heart of the Vercors Regional Natural Park, the agency also operates in Italy and Greece with teams directly on the ground. With over 40 years of expertise, this specialist organizes your trip from start to finish, whether you choose to travel independently or with a guide. A team of twenty expert advisors supports you from booking to your return, guaranteeing seamless logistics for a sporting and rejuvenating experience in some of Europe's most beautiful mountain ranges.
Discover their team and their trips
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