The route
The route follows old mountain paths, mule tracks and historic trails through the Roya Valley before gradually descending towards the Mediterranean. You walk through forests, olive groves, open hillsides and atmospheric villages, with daily ascents and descents of up to around 960 metres. The terrain is varied and sometimes steep or rocky, but the walking days are generally moderate in length and reward you with constantly changing scenery from the mountains to the coast.
Itinerary
You arrive in Saint-Dalmas-de-Tende, beautifully situated in the upper Roya Valley close to Mercantour National Park. The village is a peaceful starting point for the journey and offers your first taste of the fascinating blend of French and Italian influences that characterises this region.
Dinner is included at the hotel this evening. On Sundays and Mondays, however, dinner is not served in the restaurant. Instead, the hotel kitchen prepares a meal which is delivered to your room. For this reason, we recommend starting the trip on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday if possible.
Hotel (example): Hotel Le Prieuré**
Your first walking day takes you into the beautiful mountain landscape surrounding Saint-Dalmas-de-Tende. Along the way, you encounter two historic medieval villages, where old stone houses, narrow streets and churches tell the story of the Roya Valley’s long and eventful past.
The route is also a good introduction to the terrain you will experience during the week, with a mixture of woodland, mountain paths and open hillsides.
After the walk, you return to Saint-Dalmas-de-Tende, where dinner is included at the hotel. If this evening falls on a Sunday or Monday, the same arrangement as on the arrival day applies: the hotel prepares your dinner and delivers it to your room rather than serving it in the restaurant.
Hotel (example): Hotel Le Prieuré**
Today you leave Saint-Dalmas-de-Tende and continue deeper into the Roya Valley. The walk leads through peaceful mountain scenery and past small, isolated settlements with traditional dry-stone buildings and roofs made from local slate.
Your destination is Saorge, spectacularly positioned on a steep mountainside above the valley. With its densely packed houses, narrow lanes and dramatic setting, it is one of the most distinctive villages along the route.
Dinner is included at your guesthouse in Saorge this evening.
Hotel (example): Guesthouse Ca’da Barrera
From Saorge, you follow the historic salt route towards Breil-sur-Roya. These old paths once formed part of the trading network connecting the Mediterranean coast with the mountain regions further north.
The trail is undulating and frequently follows the mountainside. One particularly memorable section takes you down a steep staircase cut into the rock and protected by railings and handrails.
You eventually arrive in Breil-sur-Roya, a charming town set around the Roya River, where the region’s Italian heritage can still be seen in its architecture and atmosphere.
Dinner is not included this evening, giving you the opportunity to choose one of the local places to eat.
Hotel (example): Hotel La Bonne Auberge
Leaving Breil-sur-Roya, you follow a beautiful path towards Piène-Haute, a small hilltop village overlooking the landscape close to the French-Italian border.
Along the way, you pass olive groves, small chapels and a dramatic gorge straddling the border between France and Italy. The scenery gradually changes as you make your way towards the Sospel area.
You stay near Sospel tonight, where dinner is included.
Hotel (example): La Chapelle Saint Gervais
After a short transfer to Sospel, today’s walk begins. The remains of the old fortifications, cathedral and historic buildings are reminders of the town’s importance over the centuries.
From Sospel, you continue towards Sainte-Agnès. As you walk south, the mountain landscape gradually takes on a more Mediterranean character, and towards the end of the day you catch your first wonderful views of the sea.
Sainte-Agnès sits high above the coast and is one of France’s highest coastal villages. You stay at the only accommodation in the village, a simple and rustic but welcoming inn with plenty of character and views towards the Bay of Menton. The standard here is more basic than at the other accommodations on the trip. There is no lift, and rooms may be located in different parts of the village.
If you would prefer to stay in Menton instead, this can normally be arranged. However, this requires two additional journeys by public bus or taxi at your own expense, and a supplement may apply.
Dinner is included at the inn this evening.
Hotel (example): Auberge Le Saint-Yves
The final walking day takes you all the way to the Mediterranean. You first descend towards Gorbio, an atmospheric hilltop village surrounded by ancient trees and Mediterranean vegetation.
From here, the trail continues through a fascinating mixture of sun-drenched scrubland and cool pine forest before reaching the medieval village of Roquebrune. Narrow lanes and old stone houses cling to the hillside, while terraces along the way offer superb views across the Mediterranean.
The final section descends towards the coast. From Roquebrune, you follow the Mediterranean into Menton – a fitting finale to a journey that began among the mountains of the Roya Valley.
Dinner is not included tonight, so you can choose your own restaurant in Menton and celebrate the end of the walk by the sea.
Hotel (example): Hôtel Le Lemon**
The trip ends after breakfast in Menton. From here, you begin your journey home or perhaps continue your holiday with a few extra days on the French Riviera.
pictures from the trip
Prices and dates
Price includes
ACCOMMODATION
- 7 nights in hotels, guesthouses and inns
FOOD & DRINKS
- Breakfast every day
- 5 dinners (Day 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 - Drinks are not included)
HIKING
- 6 days of hiking (approx. 78 km in total)
- Detailed descriptions of the carefully selected routes (route maps, route descriptions, information about relevant tourist attractions and important phone numbers – in english)
- Access to the route in our GPS app, which also works offline (one access per person)
- Option to receive GPX files for use in your own GPS
TRANSPORT
- Luggage transfer between the accommodations
OTHER
- 24-hour local and international service hotline for the duration of the tour
- This is a packaged holiday and is therefore covered by The Travel Guarantee Fund - See which benefits this means for you - click here
GENERAL
- Transport from/to France
- Travel insurance
- Handling fee (€25)
REQUIRED AND PAID LOCALLY
- Drinks with included meals
- Any tourist taxes at the hotels
OPTIONAL
The following can be selected in the booking form, when you book the tour.
- Picnic lunches every day
- Transfer from Nice Airport to the first hotel
Use the button "Calculate price" on this page to see what the tour will cost with your wanted inclusions.
PARKING
It is possible to park at the first hotel or nearby. Parking cannot be reserved in advance and must be arranged directly with the hotel (expect a cost of approximately €10–20 per day).
Practical information
The price is based upon two people sharing. For safety reasons, this tour cannot be booked for solo travellers. There must be minimum two participants.
On this tour you will be on your own supplied with maps, route descriptions and luggage transfers. That means that your time is your own and you have plenty of time to enjoy the stages in your own pace.
Check the price quickly
You can quickly check the price of your desired trip without having to fill out any forms. Here’s how:
- Click on the "Calculate Price" button (you’ll find it in the "Dates and Prices" section) – this will take you to the first pages of the booking form
- Select your preferred date, number of people, room distribution, any extra nights, and any available add-ons you may want
- See the price
Get a quote
If you would like a flight included, or changes made to the trip, you can request a customized offer by clicking the "Get Quote" button at the top of the page. Remember to describe in detail what changes you would like.
The booking process
When you book the trip, we will begin booking hotels and arranging all the practical aspects of your tour. This process typically takes 5–8 working days, but in some cases it may take longer for certain bookings. If you arrange your own transportation, we recommend waiting until we have confirmed your booking before making any arrangements.
Dates
If you can select a date in the trip calendar (in the booking form), then this is a possible start date. We regularly update our trips with sold-out dates; these dates will then appear in red/grey and cannot be selected.
The flights to/from Nice are not included in the price. You can easily find a suitable flight via a flight booking engine such as Momondo or Skyscanner.
Notice: we recommend that you book with us and wait for the confirmation before you book your flights.
Airport transfers
On the booking form you can book transfer from Nice Airport to Saint Dalmas de Tende
Get a quote
If you prefer that we handle your flight, then we would be happy to arrange this for you. You simply book a quote below the map on this page and we will return with a quote as soon as possible (usually within 48 working hours). Please note that we add a handling fee of 45 euro to each flight and this means that the flight will be cheaper if you book it yourself.
During the trip, you will stay in a mix of small hotels, guesthouses and charming inns. Standards vary along the route, but all accommodation has been selected with a focus on location, local atmosphere and providing a comfortable base for the next day’s walk.
In Saint-Dalmas-de-Tende, you will stay in a hotel, while later nights include smaller guesthouses and inns in Saorge, near Sospel and in Sainte-Agnès. In Breil-sur-Roya, you will stay in a small hotel, and the final night of the trip is spent in Menton.
The accommodation in Sainte-Agnès is slightly different from the others. Here you stay at the only inn in the village, which is simple and rustic but welcoming and full of character. There is no lift, and rooms may be located in different parts of the village. In return, you get an authentic stay high above the Mediterranean with views towards the Bay of Menton.
As standard, you stay in a double room. Single rooms can be booked for a supplement and are subject to availability.
Breakfast is included every day, and dinner is also included on days 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6. On day 4 in Breil-sur-Roya and day 7 in Menton, dinner is not included, giving you the freedom to choose from the local restaurants.
On Sundays and Mondays, dinner at the hotel in Saint-Dalmas-de-Tende is not served in the restaurant. Instead, the hotel kitchen prepares a meal which is delivered to your room. For this reason, we recommend starting the trip on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday if possible.
Lunch is not included. You can therefore buy supplies for a picnic along the way or stop at cafés and restaurants where this fits with the day’s route and opening hours.
Drinks are not included with the dinners that form part of the trip.
Luggage transfer is included on this tour. Upon arrival at the first hotel you will be given luggage tags along with the rest of the welcome package. You fill out the luggage tags and put them on your bags where they will remain for the duration of the tour.
Your luggage is picked up from the hotel lobby around 9am every morning and will arrive at your next hotel at 6pm at the latest (often long before that). If there are any special exceptions to the luggage transfer you will be notified upon arrival.
Luggage transfer includes one bag per guest and the bags can weigh 15kg each.
On this tour, you will receive the following documents:
Upon booking
Immediately after booking this trip, you'll recieve a pre-booking-email where you can get a complete overview of your booking. Once the tour is confirmed you get a confirmation email from us along with practical information about the tour.
One month before departure
You will receive a hotel list and final travel documents.
Upon arrival at the first hotel
You'll receive the welcome pack, which contains everything you need for the trip. There will be route descriptions, maps, luggage tags and specific local vouchers. The documents are in English.
Notice: On some tours it is necessary to either print the documents yourself or to bring them electronically.
This trip has difficulty level 2-3, which means that most hiking days are level 2, with a few at level 3.
Grade 2
Easier hikes on reasonably good trails. Daily hikes will last 4-6 hours in hilly terrain. Anyone in generally good physical condition can participate. Luggage is transported, and you only carry a light daypack. Requires well-fitting footwear such as trekking shoes or hiking boots.
Grade 3
Hiking in mountainous terrain with longer ascents and descents. You will hike 5-7 hours a day. Requires generally good fitness and health, but no special technical skills or prior experience. Requires good shoes, such as trekking or mountain boots.
Read more about our grading system here.
After booking this trip, you get access to various discount schemes.
We recommend taking out travel insurance that covers at least illness, accident, repatriation, lost holiday, luggage and liability. As a customer, you are responsible for taking out the necessary travel insurance to cover these costs.
Before taking out insurance, you should check whether you are already covered by travel or cancellation insurance through your home insurance company, credit card or similar - please note that there may be differences in insurance coverage.
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When you book a trip with us, we plant a tree in Kenya.
Bering Travel partners with Growing Trees Network, which has been planting trees in Kenya since 2020 in collaboration with Seniorer uden Grænser (Seniors Without Borders). The trees are planted with small-scale local farmers in the Mount Kenya region, as well as at schools, where the fruit helps supplement students’ diets and is incorporated into their learning.
The trees are planted using the shamba method – a sustainable approach that combines reforestation with agricultural crops. This keeps the soil covered with vegetation throughout the year, helping to prevent nutrient loss and reduce erosion.
The contribution to tree planting comes directly from Bering Travel’s own earnings and is not added to the price of your trip.
This initiative is not intended as a carbon offset for travel, but as a way to make a positive contribution.
"We look forward to making your holiday dreams come true"
