Walking Holidays & Outdoor Adventures in Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage
High Border Valleys, GR5 Stages and Alpine Village Life
A remote high-mountain village where long-distance walking routes, alpine passes, and seasonal rhythms shape self-guided travel in the southern French Alps.
Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage is a small high-altitude village in the Haute Tinée, near the Italian border, offering walking holidays and outdoor adventures defined by elevation, remoteness, and long-distance movement rather than tourism infrastructure. Sitting at around 1,700 metres, it is one of the highest villages in the Alpes-Maritimes and a natural stopping point on serious Alpine journeys.
Located directly on the GR5, Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage plays an important role for walkers travelling through the southern French Alps. The village sits within a wide alpine basin beneath high border passes, where routes radiate toward Mercantour National Park, neighbouring valleys, and the Italian frontier. Walking here is shaped by distance and terrain, with long stages, open mountain views, and conditions that reward steady pacing and careful planning.
Beyond walking, the surrounding landscape supports demanding outdoor adventures rather than casual exploration. High-mountain hiking, multi-day crossings, and sustained climbs dominate travel in and out of the village, while quiet mountain roads make Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage a challenging and rewarding stop for cycling holidays focused on altitude and endurance. With a small number of traditional places to stay, the village functions as a practical base or staging point within longer self-guided Alpine journeys.
Why Visit Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage for Walking and Adventure
- Join the GR5 at a quiet, high-altitude Alpine village
- Walk through one of the highest inhabited areas of the Tinée Valley
- Access long stages linking France and Italy via historic mountain passes
- Experience open alpine terrain shaped by altitude and weather
- Combine long-distance walking with demanding cycling ascents
- Stay in a traditional mountain village defined by movement, not mass tourism
Nearby Trails and Routes
GR5 — Haute Tinée Section
The GR5 passes directly through Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage as it travels south toward the Mediterranean. Stages here are remote and sustained, crossing high passes and wide mountain basins with long distances between settlements.
High Alpine Pass Routes
Historic routes link the village to border passes toward Italy and neighbouring Alpine valleys, forming part of a long-established network of trade, migration, and seasonal movement.
Mercantour Linking Routes
From Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage, walkers can connect into wider Mercantour trail networks, building multi-day itineraries through protected high-mountain terrain.
Outdoor Adventures and Activities
- Long-distance walking on the GR5
- High-mountain hiking above the tree line
- Multi-day Alpine crossings between valleys
- Cycling holidays on high, quiet mountain roads
- Self-guided journeys shaped by weather, distance, and elevation
Explore the Area
- Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage Village — Traditional high-altitude settlement on the GR5
- Haute Tinée — Open alpine basins and borderland terrain
- Mercantour National Park — Protected high-mountain landscapes nearby
- Italian Border Passes — Historic crossings linking valleys and cultures