Walking Holidays & Outdoor Adventures in the Tinée Valley
High Routes and Mountain Valleys
A southern Alpine valley shaped by long-distance routes, high passes, and journeys through Mercantour.
The Tinée Valley, including the high-mountain upper reaches known as the Haute Tinée, is one of the southern French Alps’ most dramatic and varied landscapes for walking holidays. Running south from the high borderlands near Italy toward the lower valleys of the Alpes-Maritimes, the Tinée is defined by steep valley walls, high passes, and routes that link mountains, villages, and neighbouring valleys.
This is a landscape shaped by altitude and contrast. Upper sections of the valley sit among open mountain basins and exposed terrain, while lower areas descend through forested slopes and historic settlements. Walking here reveals a strong sense of transition — between Alpine and Mediterranean climates, high ground and deep valleys, and remote routes and lived-in villages.
Outdoor Adventures and Mountain Travel
The Tinée Valley supports a wide range of outdoor adventures, from sustained valley walking to demanding hiking adventures across high passes and exposed ground. Routes are shaped by weather, elevation, and distance, making careful planning an essential part of any journey.
For those drawn to cycling journeys, the valley is well known for its mountain roads and cols. Quiet stretches of road climb steadily toward high passes, often following the same historic corridors used by walkers for centuries. Walking and cycling routes frequently intersect, reinforcing the Tinée’s role as a true movement corridor through the southern Alps.
Across the valley, distinctive places to stay shape how journeys unfold. Villages provide bases for exploration, while high-mountain refuges — positioned along long-distance routes — make multi-day travel across Mercantour possible. Together, these journeys — on foot, by bike, and between carefully placed places to stay — make the Tinée Valley a region best explored slowly, thoughtfully, and on its own terms.
Trails and Routes Through the Tinée Valley
The Tinée Valley is an important junction for long-distance walking routes through the southern Alps, linking the high borderlands with lower Alpine valleys.
GR5 — Haute Tinée Section
The GR5 passes through the upper Tinée as it travels from the North Sea toward the Mediterranean. This section includes some of the route’s most demanding Alpine stages, with long climbs, high passes, and extended distances between settlements.
Walkers pass through upper-valley areas near Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage and Isola, before crossing into neighbouring valleys via remote mountain terrain. The route’s character here is distinctly Alpine — exposed, high, and shaped by weather as much as distance.
High Passes and Linking Routes
Beyond the GR5, a network of historic paths and mountain roads connects:
- Upper Tinée villages and hamlets
- High passes toward Italy
- Adjacent valleys such as the Vésubie, with longer routes linking across Mercantour toward the Roya
- Remote mountain refuges supporting multi-day journeys
These routes allow walkers and hikers to build linear or modular journeys across Mercantour and beyond, adapting plans to experience and conditions.
National Parks & Protected Landscapes
Much of the Tinée Valley lies within Mercantour National Park, one of France’s most significant protected mountain landscapes.
Here, high peaks, glacial valleys, and alpine meadows dominate the upper reaches, while lower slopes support forests, traditional settlements, and historic routes. Wildlife such as ibex, chamois, and golden eagles is common in the higher terrain, and walking routes often pass through landscapes shaped more by geology than development.
Mercantour provides continuity across the valley, linking the Tinée to neighbouring Alpine regions through protected terrain and long-established paths.
Adventure Highlights
- Long-distance walking on the GR5 through the Haute Tinée
- High-mountain hiking adventures above the tree line
- Steep valley landscapes with strong altitude change
- Mountain refuges supporting multi-day Alpine travel
- Quiet cycling journeys over classic southern Alpine cols
- Protected landscapes within Mercantour National Park
The Tinée Valley rewards those who enjoy journeys shaped by elevation, exposure, and movement through changing terrain.
Places to Stay in the Tinée Valley
Accommodation in the Tinée reflects the valley’s range and elevation.
Villages such as Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, Isola, and smaller upper-valley settlements offer hotels, guesthouses, and auberges that support both walkers and cyclists. Higher up, routes depend on mountain refuges, which make long-distance walking and high-level crossings possible.
Refuges such as Refuge de Longon play a crucial role in enabling self-guided journeys across otherwise inaccessible terrain, acting as essential waypoints rather than simple overnight stops.
Explore the Tinée Valley by Place
Key destinations within the Tinée Valley include:
- Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée — a historic valley town and access point for high routes
- Isola — an upper-valley settlement near key passes and GR5 stages
- Roure — a mountain village providing access to remote high-level paths
- Refuge de Longon — a high-mountain refuge on the GR5, central to multi-day journeys
Each plays a different role in supporting walking holidays and long-distance travel through the valley.
Why Walk in the Tinée Valley
The Tinée Valley offers a powerful sense of Alpine scale and transition — from high borderland terrain to deep southern valleys.
It suits travellers drawn to:
- Self-guided walking holidays and long-distance routes
- Hiking adventures shaped by altitude and exposure
- Journeys supported by refuges and mountain villages
- Cycling and walking routes that share historic Alpine corridors
This is a valley where movement, geography, and time remain closely linked.