Trekking Stories
For and by hikers

Tour de Mercantour

The ideal hut-to-hut hike for beginners and young families who love the sun. A 5-day trek within close proximity to the Mediterranean Sea.


Number of days: 5
Starting point: St. Martin-de-Vesubie
Ending point: St. Martin-de-Vesubie
Difficulty: Easy
Characteristic: High chance of Mediterranean weather

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What is the character of the trek?
A trek suitable for beginners and families with children. The route winds through rugged mountains with plenty of greenery and occasional patches of snow.


What are the highlights of the trek?
The highlight of the trek is the Vallée des Merveilles - the Valley of Wonders. This is a valley with three mountain lakes surrounded by red rocks and forested slopes.


How difficult is the trek?
It's an ideal trek for novice hut walkers and families with children. You won't walk more than 5 hours a day without significant altitude differences.


What are the facilities like in the huts?
The huts are adequate, but don't expect luxury. During the day, most huts are closed, so there's no open kitchen. In the evenings, the huts often serve a three-course dinner for the entire group. Compared to most huts in Austria, the huts on this trek are less equipped and cozy.


Should you book the huts in advance?
It's advisable, especially in the summer months of July and August when it can get busy. You can book all huts via: https://chaletmadonedefenestre.ffcam.fr/FR_reservation.html


What is the suitable period?
The huts are open from mid-June to mid-September.


How do you get to the starting point?
The village of St.-Martin-Vésubie is a 1.5-hour drive from Nice. This can be done by car, taxi, or bus. The bus runs several times a day. Nice is easily accessible by train and plane.
By car, it's about a 1400 km drive from Utrecht.


Daily Schedule
Day 1: St.-Martin-de-Vesubie → Refuge de la Madonna de Fenestre (3.5 hours)
In the morning, you first take a taxi to Le Boreon, and from there, the hike begins. Via Pas de Ladres, you walk to the beautifully situated mountain hut. Along the way, you pass a beautiful mountain lake.


Day 2: Refuge de la Madonna de Fenestre → Refuge de Nice (3.5 hours)
Today, you continue along the GR 52 route over the Pas du Mont Colomb at 2548 meters to the mountain hut at 2232 meters.


Day 3: Refuge de Nice → Refuge de Valmasque (3.5 hours)
The route on this day is less well marked as we depart from the GR route. It is important to pay attention to the red and white paint marks. Via Pas de la Fous, you walk to your overnight hut, Refuge de Valmasque.


Day 4: Refuge de Valmasque → Refuge des Merveilles (4 hours)
Today, we continue our journey along the GR 52. This is the easiest stage along beautiful mountain lakes and over the Baisse de Valmasque.


Day 5: Refuge de Merveilles → Belvedere
The last day already, so back towards the valley. Via the GR 5, you walk downhill towards the village of Belvedere. From here, you can easily take a taxi back to St.-Martin-de-Vesubie.