Cicerone Walks and Treks in the Maritime Alps

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This guidebook describes 18 day walks and 6 long distance routes. The treks include a 5-day traverse of the French Mercantour National Park and a 7-day traverse of the Alpi Maritime Park, and the walks range from 6 to 20km in length. The routes are suitable for novices and experienced trekkers alike.

Cicerone says

Guidebook to walking and trekking in the Maritime Alps on the border of Italy and France, just north of Nice. It includes 18 graded day walks, on both the French and the Italian sides, ranging from 6km to 20km in length and suitable for a range of abilities. There are also 6 long treks, including a 5-day traverse of the Parc National du Mercantour and a 7-day traverse of the Parco Naturale delle Alpi Marittime.

Detailed route descriptions sit alongside colour maps, and there is full information about accommodation options down in the valleys and up in the mountains. Useful French-English and Italian-English glossaries of walking terminology are included, too.

Rising to over 3000m above the sun-drenched French Riviera, the Maritime Alps form the western edge of the mighty Alpine chain. Wildflower lovers will also appreciate the remarkable range of flowers, including many unique to the area. Worlds away from the hustle and bustle and crowds of the coast this is a marvellous area for novice walkers and seasoned long-distance trekkers alike

Our Verdict

For nearly 50 years Cicerone have been producing guidebooks on recognised treks, regions, areas and general tips for hikers.

We have used them countless times and they’ve always provided excellent insight and knowledge that you only get through experience, giving you the edge to make your trip a success and more enjoyable too.

If you’re a gram counter you can easily remove sections of the book to take with you making your own ultra-lightweight guidebook with only the essential sections that you require.

– Reviewed by Ultralight Outdoor Gear

Features

• Seasons: Mid-June to late September is guaranteed for snow-free paths and open huts; July and August spell wildflowers galore; October means crystal-clear visibility and having the whole place to yourself
• Centres: France – Tende, Castérino, St-Martin-Vésubie, Le Boréon Italy – Terme di Valdieri, Entracque, Vernante
• Difficulty: From easy strolls along mountain streams on broad tracks, through to multi-day treks across arduous passes with elementary rock passages
• Must See: Wildlife (magnficent ibex, chamois and marmots) and wildflowers; high-altitude lakes (Fremamorta, Lac Nègre); Argentera, Gelas and Clapier all over 3000m; prehistoric rock engravings are visitable from Castérino; old-style spa resort Terme di Valdieri with paved tracks dating back to the 19th-century royal game reserve; Col de Tende and Col de Fenestre

Specifications

• Edition: Second
• Number of pages: 224
• Size: 17.2 x 11.6 x 1.3cm
• Weighs 250g

Contents

Introduction
The Maritime Alps
Walking
Wildflowers
Wildlife
Exploring the Maritime Alps
Local information
Access
When to go
Camping
Dos and don’ts
What to take
Maps
Emergencies
Using this guide
The Walks
Walk 1 Fontanalba rock engravings circuit
Walk 2 Mont Bégo loop
Walk 3 Vallée de la Roya to Vallée de Vésubie
Walk 4 Upper Vallée de la Gordolasque
Walk 5 Lacs de Prals circuit
Walk 6 Ancient passes above Madone de Fenestre
Walk 7 Vallon du Haut Boréon circuit
Walk 8 Lacs Bessons
Walk 9 Around the Argentera
Walk 10 Lac des Adus loop
Walk 11 The Great Lakes tour
Walk 12 The Alpi Marittime trek
Walk 13 The Valasco tour
Walk 14 The Fremamorta loop
Walk 15 Rifugio Bozano
Walk 16 Rifugio Remondino and Lago di Nasta
Walk 17 Vallone di Lourousa
Walk 18 Traversing Colle di Fenestrelle
Walk 19 Rifugio Pagari loop
Walk 20 Vallon del Vei del Bouc
Walk 21 Gorge della Reina
Walk 22 Vallone degli Alberghi
Walk 23 Costa di Planard
Walk 24 The border forts

Appendix A Route summary table
Appendix B Useful contacts
Appendix C French–English and Italian–English glossaries