High passes, ancient routes, and long journeys on foot at the southern edge of the French Alps.
Mercantour National Park lies at the southern edge of the French Alps, where high Alpine terrain meets Mediterranean influence. Stretching along the Italian border above the Côte d’Azur, it is one of France’s most diverse and least developed mountain landscapes — defined by deep valleys, limestone peaks, glacial basins, and routes shaped by centuries of movement.
This is a landscape made for walking holidays, with long-distance trails, high-mountain crossings, and valley routes that reveal the scale and variety of the southern Alps step by step. Paths follow ancient salt routes, transhumance trails, and historic passes, creating journeys where walking — not driving — remains the primary way of understanding the land.
Mercantour also supports a wide range of outdoor adventures, from sustained high-level hiking and multi-day hut-to-hut travel to wild swimming in alpine lakes and long days spent above the tree line. Adventure here is rarely about speed or spectacle — it’s about immersion, self-reliance, and responding to terrain, weather, and altitude.
For those drawn to cycling journeys, the park is framed by some of the southern Alps’ most iconic mountain roads and cols. Quiet valley roads and high passes mirror the region’s walking routes, linking settlements that have long served people moving under their own power. Walking and cycling often share the same historic corridors through the landscape.
And when the day slows, Mercantour offers carefully positioned places to stay that shape how journeys unfold — from small hotels and guesthouses in valley towns to remote mountain refuges located exactly where walkers and hikers need them. Together, these journeys — on foot, by bike, and between thoughtfully placed stays — make Mercantour National Park a landscape best explored slowly and on its own terms.
Walking in Mercantour is defined by distance, elevation, and transition. Routes climb from forested valleys into open alpine basins, cross high passes, and descend toward neighbouring valleys and borders. The experience is rarely about single viewpoints — it is about travelling through terrain, day by day.
The park supports a wide range of walking holidays and hiking adventures:
Many routes remain quiet compared to more famous Alpine regions, making Mercantour especially appealing to walkers seeking space, continuity, and immersion.
The GR5 passes directly through Mercantour as it makes its journey from the North Sea to the Mediterranean. Its southern Alpine stages are among the most demanding and atmospheric, crossing high passes and remote basins before descending toward the coast.
Refuges such as Refuge de Longon play a vital role along this route, allowing walkers to break long stages safely and travel through otherwise inaccessible terrain.
Beyond the GR5, Mercantour is crossed by a network of historic paths that connect:
These routes allow walkers and hikers to build linear or modular journeys across the park, adapting routes to experience, weather, and season.
Mercantour protects an exceptional range of environments within a relatively compact area:
The park is home to ibex, chamois, marmots, golden eagles, and a wide range of alpine flora. Cultural features — including ancient rock engravings, abandoned settlements, and historic passes — add depth to journeys on foot.
This is a living landscape, shaped by geology, climate, and centuries of human movement rather than tourism infrastructure.
Accommodation within Mercantour reflects the nature of the terrain.
Valley towns and villages offer small hotels, guesthouses, and traditional auberges that support day walks and longer journeys. Higher up, travel depends on mountain refuges, positioned exactly where walkers and hikers need them to cross high ground safely.
These refuges are not destinations in themselves — they are part of the route, enabling multi-day walking holidays and long-distance journeys through the park.
Mercantour offers something increasingly rare in the Alps — scale without crowds.
It suits travellers drawn to:
This is a national park best experienced slowly, with time to adapt to altitude, weather, and the rhythm of the mountains.
Mercantour connects naturally to:
Each offers a different way into the park, linked by foot rather than road.
Walking and hiking are central, from long-distance routes to demanding high-mountain stages. The park also supports cycling on surrounding mountain roads, wild swimming in alpine lakes, and seasonal winter activities.
Yes. The park has a strong tradition of independent mountain travel, with well-marked routes, detailed mapping, mountain refuges, and established access via valley towns.
The GR5 is the most significant long-distance route, linking the North Sea to the Mediterranean through the park’s high mountain terrain.
Not necessarily. Many valleys are accessible by public transport, and long-distance routes like the GR5 can be completed using transport links at start and end points.
High-mountain routes are typically best from June to September, depending on snow conditions. Lower valley routes may be accessible earlier and later in the year.
