A different kind of Côte d'Azur holiday: Our long-distance hike to the "Parc Naturel Régional des Préalpes d'Azur" starts right at Nice Airport. The five-day hike is alpine and Mediterranean at the same time! The Côte d'Azur and the southernmost part of the Prealps ("Préalpes") meet here in a dense space. Accordingly, it goes in the course of the long-distance hike from sea level up to 1.778m. In good weather, from the highest point of the hike (stage 3) you have a magnificent view of the partially snow-capped peaks of the French and Italian Alps. On very clear days, the view should even extend across the Mediterranean to Corsica!
The hike ends in Grasse, the world capital of perfume. From there there is a direct train connection back to Nice Airport - with a stop in attractive coastal towns such as Cannes or Juan-Les-Pins / Antibes, which offer relaxation for a few days after the long-distance hike (see Bonus stage).
Interactive map
As in WandernDeluxe common, can be stayed in small bed & breakfasts and friendly guesthouses en route (individual planning). You can find all information about long-distance hikes in the following sections:
September 11, 2021
Thanks for the great descriptions and the route. We hiked the route last week - our first multi-day tour (but not the last). Everything worked out great and was wonderful. Thanks!
September 12, 2021
Hi Sandra,
great, thanks for the feedback! Greetings from Hamburg
Frank
September 27, 2021
Hello Wanderndeluxe,
You have great hiking sites there !!!! I'm looking for a multi-day tour over Christmas - New Years. I'm on your described tour: South of France: Nice - Grasse (5-7 days) encountered. Is this tour possible in the winter months? Doubts creep up on me at the high altitude meters! Greetings Siggi
September 27, 2021
Hi Siggi,
no over Christmas - at least on stage 3 in the long variant - there could even be snow. The hike is ideal in spring or autumn.
The classic over Christmas is this hike here: https://www.wanderndeluxe.de/fernwanderung/gr-132-rundwanderung-auf-la-gomera-6-tage/ . The journey is a bit more difficult (flight + ferry), but it's worth it!
Regards
Frank
14 October 2023
Hi Frank,
a great compilation of hikes – well done!
What do you think, can you also do this hike in November, e.g. November 11th - 18.11th?
Thank you and best regards Heiner
18 October 2023
Hello Heiner,
We have had several good experiences in the south of France in November - there are certainly longer and stable periods of good weather in November too. However, I can't give you a weather guarantee :-) In particular, the high/long variant of stage 3 cannot be safely done in bad weather.
You might also check the availability of accommodation in the two mountain villages beforehand (end of stage 2 + end of stage 3). In addition to the weather, this could be another bottleneck.
Regards
Frank
August 29, 2024
Good morning!
Please excuse me if my questions are redundant: we are three people from Berlin and would like to walk the route in mid-October (3-13). Have any of you walked the route at a similar time of year? According to the climate table, October is the month with the most precipitation. Can the sections be done when it's wet, or will it be dangerous? Rain isn't a problem in itself :-)
Frank wrote that he did the hike in November: so October should be fine, right?
I did the Karwendel Tour a few years ago: you had to book accommodation well in advance, how is it in France?
Food: What provisions would you take with you? Can you expect to get something to eat everywhere in the evening in the side season?
(In Scotland on the Highland Trail, that wasn't really understandable ^^)
Does anyone have any tips and tricks for the hike? I look forward to your answers.
Greetings from Berlin!
September 11, 2024
Hello Lena,
I hope my answer comes in time for you to plan your tour.
In terms of weather, you only really have to be careful on stage 3 and then decide in the morning whether you want to go for the upper or lower option. In the two mountain villages of Coursegoule and Gréolières, there aren't exactly many places to stay overnight, or alternative options are a day's journey away. So I would book in advance there - at the latest when you start stage 2.
We were there at a similar time to what you were planning to do and had chosen the wrong day of the week in Coursegoule (I think it was a Monday) when no restaurants were open in the evening. Luckily, our accommodation had seen this coming and cooked us a delicious meal.
There are also small bakeries and cheese shops in the two mountain villages – for each stage I have described something for orientation under “Food along the way”.
Best wishes, have fun hiking and good weather!
Frank