Discover a striking meeting of mountains and sea in the Maritime Alps, where rugged 3000m summits rise dramatically above the Mediterranean Riviera and quiet valleys shelter picture-book villages, glacial lakes and wildlife-rich national parks. 

Straddling the border of France and Italy and easily reached from Nice, this lesser-known Alpine corner offers a rewarding blend of accessible day walks and more adventurous treks, with highlights including the protected landscapes of the Parc National du Mercantour and Parco Naturale delle Alpi Marittime.

This guidebook presents 18 graded day walks and 6 multi-day treks exploring the best of the range. Day walks of 6–20km (4–12 miles) can be completed in 3–7 hours and suit reasonably fit walkers, while the longer treks of 22–67km (14–42 miles) take 2–7 days and are designed for hikers with some alpine experience, occasionally involving exposed terrain or navigational challenges. 

• Graded day walks and multi-day treks explore a rich landscape of glacial lakes, jagged granite peaks, forested valleys and historic transalpine passes once used by traders, pilgrims and shepherds crossing the Maritime Alps.
• Among the standout routes are a 5-day traverse of the Mercantour National Park and a 7-day journey across the Italian Alpi Marittime.
• Sketch maps accompany every walk and trek, supported by detailed notes on accommodation, facilities, access and route variants to help walkers plan flexible itineraries across the Maritime Alps.
• Practical guidance covers preparation, equipment, navigation and seasonal considerations, with the main walking season running from June to late September when high paths are typically snow-free.
• Easy access from Nice and plentiful mountain refuges, inns and valley accommodation make the Maritime Alps an approachable destination for both novice walkers and experienced trekkers.
• Wildlife-rich protected landscapes shared by France and Italy provide opportunities to encounter ibex, chamois and alpine flora while walking through the Maritime Alps’ extensive network of waymarked trails.
• Suggestions for bases on both sides of the border, together with travel advice and logistical tips, help walkers make the most of a visit to this quieter corner of the Alps, far removed from the busy Mediterranean coast.

Plan your Maritime Alps walking adventure with confidence using this inspiring and practical guidebook, and explore a remarkable alpine landscape where Mediterranean light meets high-mountain wilderness.

Walks and Treks in the Maritime Alps - Quick Facts

Trail name: Walking and trekking in the Maritime Alps
Location: Maritime Alps, France and Italy
Route type: Collection of graded day walks and multi-day treks
Day walks: 18 routes of 6–20km / 4–12 miles
Multi-day treks: 6 routes of 22–67km / 14–42 miles
Typical duration: 3–7 hours (day walks); 2–7 days (treks)
Highlights: Mercantour National Park traverse; Alpi Marittime traverse; glacial lakes; high alpine passes
Difficulty: Easy-moderate day walks; moderate alpine treks with some exposure and navigation
Terrain: Mountain paths, rocky passes, forest trails, alpine meadows and lakes
Best season: June to late September
Navigation: Sketch maps with route notes and waymarked trails
Accommodation: Mountain refuges, inns, valley hotels and villages across the Maritime Alps

Author Highlight

“As the name suggests, the Maritime Alps are related to the sea. Where the Mediterranean strays north and Italy merges into France, waves caress the sun-drenched Riviera seafront fringed with deck chairs and umbrellas. Not many holidaymakers glance away from the mesmerising sea yet, a mere 50km from those beaches, a forbidding barrier of light-grey mountains looms on the horizon. With summits soaring to over 3000m above sea level, the marvellous Maritime Alps straddle the Franco–Italian border for 190km, and form the southernmost realm of the mighty Alpine chain.”

- Gillian Price, author of Walks and Treks in the Maritime Alps

Introduction

The walks

Appendix 1 French–English and Italian–English glossaries

Appendix 2 Walk summary table

Seasons

mid-June to late September is guaranteed for snow-free paths and open huts; July and August spell wildflowers galore; October means crystal-clear visibility and having the whole place to yourself.

Centres

France: Tende, Castérino, St-Martin-Vésubie, Le Boréon Italy: Terme di Valdieri, Entracque, Vernante

Difficulty

from easy strolls along mountain streams on broad tracks, through to multi-day treks across arduous passes with elementary rock passages.

Must See

wildlife (magnficent ibex, chamois and marmots) and wildflowers; high-altitude lakes (Fremamorta, Lac Nègre); Argentera, Gelas and Clapier all over 3000m; prehistoric rock engravings are visitable from Castérino; old-style spa resort Terme di Valdieri with paved tracks dating back to the 19th-century royal game reserve; Col de Tende and Col de Fenestre.

July 2024

Walk 7 Vallon de Haute Boreon Circuit

September 2021

Pera del Fener

July 2019

Update

Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.