Some hikers love the alps and others love coastal walking with a seafood feast at journey’s end, but a week-long, inn-to-inn hike in the French Riviera offered by Europe self-guided walking tour operator, On Foot Holidays, offers both types of trekking in abundance.
On Foot Holidays’ seven-night Alpes Maritimes walk takes ‘slow travel’ journeyers on a spectacular trek through the mountainous hinterland of the French Riviera, known for its pristine villages, impressive mountains, fine food, and wildlife including chamois, ibex, wild sheep and boar.
Curated for independent travellers, the hike sees walkers stay at a series of family-run B&Bs and character-filled inns and hotels, with luggage transferred between each night’s accommodation so hikers can explore unencumbered on foot. Along the way, walkers can recharge with authentic French cuisine sourced from local produce.
After a scenic rail journey from Nice, the walk begins in the medieval village of La Brigue, with its winding alleyways and historic houses. Travellers then spend days exploring on foot through ancient hill villages such as Saorge, Granile, Berghe and Breil. The journey through woodlands towards the sea takes walkers to the sleepy, mountain-top village of Sainte Agnes – the highest coastal village in Europe, with medieval houses and spectacular views across to the Mediterranean. The walk will finish in the beautiful Riviera town of Menton, where travellers can stroll streets lined with lemon trees, visit the town’s famous gardens and enjoy local cuisine at one of the town’s harbour-side restaurants.
Along the way, guests will stay in comfortable hotels and family-run pensions, and enjoy traditional French cuisine. Highlights include stunning views, visits to Renaissance chapels, historic architecture and pretty woodland forests.
The route can be walked from April through to October, and is medium in difficulty, with four to seven hours of walking each day.
The seven-night walk costs from £1135 per-person, twin-share (approximately A$2178 depending on exchange rates), and includes seven nights’ bed and breakfast, five evening meals, four picnic lunches and all luggage transfers, meaning walkers simply carry a day pack. Short break options are also available.
* If walkers add on another of On Foot Holidays’ walking routes to their European holiday, they can save 10 per cent on the lower-priced hike.
Rated one of Europe’s leading self-guided walking tour operators, On Foot Holidays offers 34 self-guided walking tours across Europe. Accommodation and information packs are provided for all the routes. Walkers select their departure dates, luggage is transferred between hotels each day and all routes are designed by locals and tested by staff from On Foot Holidays.
Direct link to walk – Self-guided walking holiday in the Alpes Maritimes with On Foot Holidays
Visit www.onfootholidays.co.uk
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