Stunning scenery. Walks a little slow as we stopped a lot to look at the flora but sufficiently... Karen Todd, 2018 See more reviews
Perfect break away - good capable leader - perfect hotel and wonderful location in Menton. We... Bill Kerr, 2017 See more reviews
The trip was great, really nice group of people ands very knowledgable guide with a great sense... Martha Beaumont, 2017 See more reviews
This was my first walking holiday and I really enjoyed it. The Riviera is beautiful. The walks... Jonathan Boxhall, 2015 See more reviews
My first solo walking holiday surpassed expectations. Every day was different. The walks varied... Louise Lake, 2015 See more reviews
A lovely holiday staying in Menton with the chance to visit Monaco and Italy on either side.... Christine Middleton, 2015 See more reviews
Wonderful holiday in stunning scenery. Menton is an ideal place for a base - its so easy to visit... Anonymous, 2014 See more reviews
I wanted to try something different this year and this certainly ticks the box. It's a much... Margaret Watson, 2014 See more reviews
A fantastic group walking holiday in the scenic South of France exploring hidden gems in the... Elaine Leitch, 2014 See more reviews
We are both keen walkers and this holiday fully lived up to its expectations. A good mixture of... Robert Parkinson, 2014 See more reviews
Itinerary Include flights Expand all Day 1 Fly to Nice; transfer to Menton. On arrival to Nice airport we take a short 45min bus transfer to our hotel in Menton. Situated just a short stroll from the train station, beach and shops, it is ideally located for a week of centre-based walking. In the evening our guide will hold a welcome meeting to discuss the week ahead, give advice on the local area and answer any questions. Day 2 Walk to the Cap Martin Peninsula, passing through the pretty cliff-side village of Roquebrune Cap Martin Today we discover the region. Starting from the hotel we walk around the beautiful Cap Martin Peninsula, passing through the cliff-side village of Roquebrune Cap Martin. Located between Menton and Monaco it enjoys spectacular views the Mediterranean sea. An old village dominated by a charming 10th century fort, it's narrow, stepped streets, deep vaulted passages are perfect to explore on foot. Walk: Distance 12 km Ascent 350 m Descent 350 m Time: 4 to 5 hours Meals included: Breakfast Day 3 Head by bus inland to Sospel; walk to the border of the Mercantour N.P; return to Menton by bus We begin our day by bus, taking a 45 minute journey to Sospel. With the feel of a mountain town it is a peaceful village located very near to the Italian border and was once an important staging post on the royal road from Nice to Turin. Its cobbled streets, gothic houses and baroque cathedral make a picturesque starting point from which to begin our walk. From here we enjoy a walk at the border of the Mercantour National Park before heading back to our hotel by bus where we can enjoy an aperitif on the sun terrace or perhaps a stroll along the coastal path before dinner. Walk: Distance 9 km Ascent 460 m Descent 460 m Time: 5 to 6 hours Meals included: Breakfast Day 4 Monaco - Eze Today we take a train or bus to La Turbie via Monaco. From here we have impressive views down over the famous principality and begin our walk on to the village of Eze. A pretty little 14th century village, Eze is famous for its production of clove and orange fruit. Built on a hill, it offers magnificent views of the coast. Walk: Distance 9 km Ascent 470 m Descent 775 m Time: 5 to 6 hours Meals included: Breakfast Day 5 Free Day On your free day you could choose to explore Menton old town. During the 19th century, the British and Russian aristocracy met here in fabulous palaces and villas. The architecture is stunning with the unique baroque style of the Saint-Michel and Conception squares as well as the Saint-Michel Basilica façade. Alternatively you could visit one or more of the 8 gardens of Menton or head further afield to Nice by train or bus and visit its renowned market as well as the 'Promenade des Anglais'. Monaco also has much to offer, particularly its exotic garden which is hanging over the 'Rocher' giving a beautiful view over the city and the sea. Meals included: Breakfast Day 6 Bus to Castellar to explore; walk to the French-Italian border; descend to Menton Taking the public bus we reach the perched village of Castellar. Dating back to the 15th century, it is situated on the French Italian border and made up of winding cobbled streets, quaint shops and gives an insight into traditional mountain living. From here we walk up to the Italian border, those with the energy can walk all the way back to Menton whilst those looking for a more gentle day can hop on the public bus. Walk: Distance 13 km Ascent 180 m Descent 550 m Time: 5 to 6 hours Meals included: Breakfast Day 7 A short train ride to St Jean Cap Ferrat; follow coastal trails along limestone cliffs For our last walk of the week we will enjoy another coastal walk around Saint Jean Cap Ferrat. After a transfer by train, we will walk along one of the most beautiful Cap of the French Riviera. Along the route we will see beautifully tended gardens flourishing with a mix or flora and fauna as our track follows limestone cliffs and near along the shoreline. To finish the afternoon, we will have time to visit Villefranche sur Mer with its citadel of the XVI century and the Saint Pierre Chapel decorated by the famous French writer/cineaste Jean Cocteau. Walk: Distance 11 km Ascent 50 m Descent 50 m Time: 4 to 5 hours Meals included: Breakfast Day 8 Transfer to Nice; fly to London. After a relaxed breakfast we transfer to Nice for our flight to London. Meals included: Breakfast
Hotel Mediterranee Situated just a 3 minute walk from the sea whilst being in the heart of Menton, this comfortable hotel makes the perfect base for a week of walking. The hotel has a restaurant, a bar/lounge, 24 hour reception and a rooftop terrace with sun loungers. All rooms are en suite and come equipped with air conditioning, TV (with satellite channels), minibar, coffee maker and hair dryer. Underground parking is available at an extra cost and Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel. Single supplement available on request.
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Reviewed May 2018 Karen Todd Trip: Walking the French Riviera Walking the French Riviera Stunning scenery. Walks a little slow as we stopped a lot to look at the flora but sufficiently challenging. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Views and visiting Eze which was optional at lunch stop. Medieval streets in small castle, very worth visiting. What did you think of your group leader? Very helpful, explained everything clearly each day, knew the area well and pointed out all the towns and bays etc.
Reviewed October 2017 Bill Kerr Trip: Walking the French Riviera Walking The French Riviera 2017 Perfect break away - good capable leader - perfect hotel and wonderful location in Menton. We had a good week and walked to some super places. We enjoyed great meals out in the evening and altogether with the super October weather experienced a truely wonderful holiday What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Repeated moments as walked up to 14km. in a day and was able to repeat this day after day willingly and relatively effortlessly - this was inspirational for future holidays of a similar nature What did you think of your group leader? Our leader was very capable - socialised and communicated well and we felt with her Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Use Exodus - take a fair quality camera - a sunhat and a good pair of stout shoes and UVA & B lotion factor 30-50 even in October Is there anything else you would like to add? A lovely location on The Riviera and a great time to go - it seemed like endless summer..
Reviewed June 2017 Martha Beaumont Trip: Walking the French Riviera Wonderful hiking trip, great guide Stephanie The trip was great, really nice group of people ands very knowledgable guide with a great sense of humour. The location was beautiful and the hikes very satisfying. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The hike to the Italain border in the hills Overlooking the great views of the sea and the French Riviera and Italy was beautiful and peaceful. Also the walks around Menton in early evening were very scenic. What did you think of your group leader? Our group leader was very good. Highly knowledgable and supportive. She had a fun sense of humour and lot's of Stories and history of about the area and the plant life. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Lot's of sunscreen and enjoying the lovely French countryside Is there anything else you would like to add? Overall, very good holiday.
Reviewed October 2015 Jonathan Boxhall Trip: Walking the French Riviera La Cote d'Azur est tres belle This was my first walking holiday and I really enjoyed it. The Riviera is beautiful. The walks along the spectacular coastline, up in the hills and through the seemingly timeless villages were all excellent. It's hard to believe that some people live there all the time. The other people on the holiday were all nice and friendly, so I should not have worried before booking. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Probably Roquebrune but it was all good. On Saturday morning in Menton I saw Chris Froome, Tour de France winner. What did you think of your group leader? Sandrine is a great guide. She has lots of knowledge of the region, was always friendly and cheerful and was always well organised. I like her taste in coffee. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? I got a few insect bites but insects love me, so others might have no problems. Is there anything else you would like to add? Coming home was disappointing. No mountains, seaside or pain au chocolat.
Reviewed May 2015 Louise Lake Trip: Walking the French Riviera Enjoyed every minute My first solo walking holiday surpassed expectations. Every day was different. The walks varied from rocky steep mountain trails to flat coastal paths. The scenery was beautiful. The views of the Riviera from clifftops were spectacular. Wandering through quaint , quiet villages was a delight. An added bonus was the friendly company of everyone in the group and the laughter and different stories about life in other countries at dinner in local restaurants. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? I was very pleased to make the steepest ascent and descent of 460 metres on tricky mountain Paths. What did you think of your group leader? Stephanie was always cheerful and professional. I always felt confident as she guided us along many different paths and taught us how to negotiate some difficult terrain. The whole holiday was well organised, including evening dinners . A definite plus for solo travellers. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Don't hesitate to step outside your comfort zone and challenge yourself, at any age. Our ages ranges from mid 40's to late 60's . Despite a few aches and pains we all coped well. It is wise to train before hand, including walking up and down steps! Is there anything else you would like to add? I am looking forward to my next holiday and plan to do a slightly more challenging walk next time.
Reviewed April 2015 Christine Middleton Trip: Walking the French Riviera Walking the French Riviera A lovely holiday staying in Menton with the chance to visit Monaco and Italy on either side. Hotel was quiet and clean, very near the beach so always easy to locate. Some lovely walks with impressive views, and visits to picturesque old towns and villages. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Having packed lunch bought from the local bakers in Menton overlooking fabulous views in the sunshine What did you think of your group leader? Stephanie was excellent, she looked out for things of interest on the walk and gave us lots of information about the area. Exceptionally helpful and organised with very clear instructions when needed. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? I would thoroughly recommend the trip, excellent walks and very good food in the many various restaurants in Menton. I went in April and the weather was lovely for the whole week, although raining on the day we left. I found the walks were generally moderate standard and a couple can be done in trainers, however a couple of tricky downhill parts on other walks so bring good walking gear too.
Reviewed November 2014 Anonymous Trip: Walking the French Riviera Walking the French Riviera Wonderful holiday in stunning scenery. Menton is an ideal place for a base - its so easy to visit other places on the Cote D Azur from here. There is a great train and bus service and within an hour you can be in Monaco, Nice or even Italy. The walks are great with some wonderful views of the hills and coastline. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Probably the walk down to the charming village of Eze. What did you think of your group leader? Stephanie was great - nothing was too much trouble. She was informative and had a wonderful sense of humour. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Just go and enjoy!
Reviewed October 2014 Margaret Watson Trip: Walking the French Riviera Beautiful Riviera I wanted to try something different this year and this certainly ticks the box. It's a much better way to see the Riviera than a tour bus or cruise ship. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Although I've joined the Ramblers, I'm not an experienced walker. It's a fantastic feeling at the top of the hill looking down onto the Riviera. Some of the slopes are quite steep but at the end of the holiday, having managed to keep up with everyone and no scrapes or injuries, I returned home with a great sense of achievement that money can't buy. What did you think of your group leader? The group leader was excellent. I was travelling on my own and the flight was delayed. I made my way to Menton on the local bus where it was dark on arrival and I was so glad Stephanie came to meet me. On the walks, she was extremely helpful and gave lots of advice. She also explained well the local history of the area. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? I went in September because I thought it would be cooler but it was still quite warm and you need to drink plenty of water. This is not a problem as the water is good to drink and there are plenty of public taps in all the local villages. The route is accurately described as rocky and you need walking boots rather than shoes. Also take a swimming costume as the beach is just across the road from the hotel. Is there anything else you would like to add? I enjoyed sampling the local cheeses with hotel dinner and there is a small Carrefour near the hotel where you can buy some to take home. Instead of sandwiches, there is an excellent patisserie near the hotel where you can buy lovely quiche for lunch and it travels well in your backpack. Also the local honey is delicious and the soaps sold in the local market is a bargain. On the free day the basilica is worth a visit and the the Cocteau museum is a 'must do' and is just across the road from the hotel. Menton is very easy to find your way around and if you get lost just head for the promenade. There is a very reasonably priced and regular rail service to Monte Carlo or Nice if you want to go further afield on your free day.
Reviewed September 2014 Elaine Leitch Trip: Walking the French Riviera Fantastic trip A fantastic group walking holiday in the scenic South of France exploring hidden gems in the countryside. Our guide, Stephanie was absolutely great, organising us and looking after the well being of everyone. Menton was a good choice for base as it was a vibrant and pretty town, with a good beach (though stony), many shops and restaurants along with an interesting museum. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The trip combined local walking with using the areas transport system. It was lovely to explore on the local buses and trains and visit medieval villages in the hillsides. Having group lunches together overlooking a fantastic view of the riviera or a small hidden village was wonderful. Good team spirit in the group resulting in very chatty and lively group dinners. What did you think of your group leader? Stephanie was absolutely fantastic from start to finish. She welcomed us with a smile and was friendly and encouraging to all throughout the trip. Her organisational skills were superb and she was keen to give choices on the walks if some of the group wanted to visit a particular location. Stephanie was very knowledgeable about the area and always willing to answer questions and give advice. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? There was quite a lot of downhill walking, so worth practising if you don't like going downhill. Is there anything else you would like to add? Hotel was in a lovely position on the seafront, very friendly but the rooms were quite small.
Reviewed September 2014 Robert Parkinson Trip: Walking the French Riviera Walking the French Riviera We are both keen walkers and this holiday fully lived up to its expectations. A good mixture of coastal and mountain walking. Spectacular views every day. Menton is a great location from which to walk, being on the coast and just under the Alps. It is an attractive resort with lots to see and do outside walking time, e.g. gardens, museums, old quarter, churches and of course, the beach and marina. Made all the more enjoyable by fantastic weather! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? First time we've done a guided walk together and this has inspired us to do another sometime soon. The views, the coastal resorts and the pretty mountain villages, along with the super weather, have made us want to come back to this area again. We chose to travel to Menton by train and can thoroughly recommend the journey from Paris to Nice, passing through lovely countryside and along the coast east of Marseilles, which was spectacular. What did you think of your group leader? Stephanie was fantastic. Very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable about every aspect of the walks (the local geography, wildlife and history) which made them so much more interesting. Great sense of humour and fun, and great at including everybody in the group, both on the walks and at the group evening meals. She was a major factor in making the holiday a success for us personally. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Good advice on walking kit is given with the joining instructions. Good boots, a waterproof top and lots of water were needed daily; walking poles were very useful on most days. Don't underestimate the 'leisurely' grading of this holiday. If you plan to use the beach opposite the hotel, bring towels and rubber shoes/flip flops to cope with the shingle/stones! Is there anything else you would like to add? All the public transport arrangements (bus or train) were well organised. Great to have use of a tour guide like Stephanie who was brilliant at planning and decision making, leaving us walkers stress free to enjoy the holiday. NB. Our itinerary had slight variations from that publicised - on day 4 we took a train to Monaco, then a bus and walked from La Turbie to Eze then Eze-Bord-de-Mer; and on day 6 we took a bus to Castellar and walked to the Italian border and back to Menton. But we were given a revised itinerary which showed these changes.
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