French Riviera on Foot
French Riviera on Foot
French Riviera on Foot
8 Days Starting in Grasse, France and ending in Vence, France
Visiting: Grasse, Pont du Loup, Gourdon, Courmes, Vence
Tour operator:
Tour code:
UFR
Group Type:
Independent
Guide Type:
Self Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey with "French Riviera on Foot," a self-guided walking tour through the stunning landscapes of France's Côte d'Azur. Begin in the perfume capital of Grasse, exploring its fragrant heritage before setting off on scenic trails to picturesque villages like Gourdon and Pont du Loup. Marvel at panoramic views from the Courmettes mountain and the Saint Barnabé plateau, and soak in the artistic ambiance of Vence, a town beloved by artists. Enjoy the region's fantastic cuisine with included breakfasts and dinners, and rest in charming accommodations ranging from 2-4 star hotels to welcoming gîtes. This adventure promises breathtaking vistas, cultural treasures, and culinary delights.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive Grasse
Location: Grasse
Accommodation Name: hotel
Grasse is the perfume capital of the world and a gateway to many walking trails. Check in at your hotel, located in a quiet area with bus access to the town centre. This evening, enjoy dinner at leisure in a local restaurant of your choosing.
Day 2 : Walk To Pont Du Loup (5-6Hrs)
Location: Pont du Loup
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Before setting out on your walk, we recommend visiting the famous Fragonard Perfume factory, museum and shop. Setting out, the walk takes you up to the village of Bar-sur-Loup, an old, lovingly restored perched village with a church and 13th century castle. Finish the day's walk at the gateway of the Gorge du Loup in the village of Pont du Loup. You stay in a small hotel in the village and enjoy the evening meal at the hotel.
Walk: 14km/8.7mi, 300m/984ft ascent, 5-6hrs including breaks
Day 3 : Walk To Gourdon And Return To Pont Du Loup Via The Plateau (5Hrs)
Location: Gourdon
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today starts with a relatively steep ascent, which will be very quickly rewarded when you reach Gourdon. Rated one of the most beautiful villages of France ('Plus Beaux Villages of France'), Gourdon is really worth exploring. You can choose to stay in the village for an extended visit or keep walking up to the plateau (at 1000m) and enjoy more fabulous views of the Gorges du Loup. Return to your hotel in Pont du Loup for dinner and overnight.
Walk: 8km/5mi, 850m/2788ft ascent to the plateau, 5hrs including breaks
Day 4 : Enjoy Stunning Scenery En Route To Courmes (6Hrs)
Location: Courmes
Accommodation Name: gite
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today you will walk at the foot of Pic de Courmettes on quiet roads and easy paths, with nice views over the Loup valley. Arrive in Courmes, another lovely village of the Maritime Alps, where you dine and spend the next 2 nights in a welcoming gite.
Walk: 14km/8.7mi, 425m/1395ft ascent, 6hrs including breaks
Day 5 : Loop Walk To Courmettes Mountain With Views To Antibes (6Hrs)
Location: Courmes
Accommodation Name: gite
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today's walk takes you to the top of the Courmettes mountain, where you can discover rich flora and a panoramic view down to the Riviera, to Cagnes-sur-Mer and Antibes and possibly even Corsica on a clear day! Return along the same path and enjoy the views from a different angle down to the Gorges Du Loup. Dinner and overnight in Courmes.
Walk: 10km/6.2mi, 600m/1969ft ascent, 6hrs including breaks
Day 6 : Walk To The Market Town Of Vence Via The Saint Barnabe Plateau (6Hrs)
Location: Vence
Accommodation Name: 3 star hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
After a relatively steep and short ascent, you will enjoy the views of the Saint Barnabé plateau. Over 1000m high, it feels like you're in the Alps, and yet so close to the busy French Riviera! Some deep valleys will bring you gently down to the charming town of Vence. Many famous artists such as Matisse and Dufy were
inspired by the area and spent some time in Vence, and it remains popular with artists and writers today. It is also a big market town with markets every day (the two largest are on Tuesday and Friday mornings). Tonight you will stay in a comfortable 3 star hotel.
Walk: 12km/7.5mi, 450m/1476ft ascent, 6hrs including breaks
Day 7 : Loop Walk From Vence With Views Of The French Riviera Coastline (6.5Hrs)
Location: Vence
Accommodation Name: 3 star hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Vence is also a gateway to many walking trails, so today you can choose to walk to the majestic village of Saint Paul de Vence (moderate), do a loop walk to the medieval village of La Tourettes-sur-Loup (active), or climb the Baou des Blancs / Baou des Noirs (challenging) and enjoy the breathtaking views over the coast and the Riviera. Return to Vence in the evening.
Walk, dependent on your chosen option: from 4-14km/2.5-8.7mi, from 150-600m/492-1969ft ascent, up to 6.5hrs including breaks
Day 8 : Trip Concludes
Location: Vence
Meals Included: Breakfast
The trip concludes in Vence after breakfast. You can enjoy the local market before departing for Nice or beyond.
What's Included
-
Meals
7 breakfasts and 4 dinners – continental breakfasts are served and usually consist of breads, jams, coffee, tea and juices. Dinners will be 2-3 courses with a main plus entree and/or dessert. The dinners are based on good quality cuisine using local ingredients.
-
Accommodation
5 nights in 2-4 star hotels, 2 nights gîte on a twin share basis.
-
Luggage Transfers
Luggage transfers are included.
-
Information Pack
Information pack including route notes, maps and tourist information per room booked.
-
Emergency Hotline
Access to an emergency hotline.
-
Travel
Travel to Grasse and from Vence.
What's Not Included
-
Meals and Beverages
Lunches daily, dinners on day 1, 6 & 7 and all beverages are not included.
-
Entrance Fees
Entrance fees to museums, parks and archaeological sites are not included.
-
Personal Items
Items of a personal nature are not included.
-
Tour Guide
A tour guide is not included – this is a self-guided trip.
-
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included.
Grading
This trip involves 6 days walking usually along coastal trails. You need to be sure footed as some tracks have rolling stones which requires care and a good balance; also the descents may be tiring for the knees. The trip requires a good level of fitness to fully participate in this adventure. During the walking stages you will need to carry your daily requirements in a day pack such as water bottle, camera, waterproofs and lunch.
Mode of Transport
Travel to Grasse and from Vence is included, ensuring a smooth start and end to your journey.
Accommodation
Enjoy 5 nights in 2-4 star hotels and 2 nights in a welcoming gîte, all on a twin share basis, providing comfort and local charm throughout your stay.
Check out our Q&As
-
What kind of meals are included in the tour?
The tour includes 7 breakfasts and 4 dinners. Continental breakfasts typically consist of breads, jams, coffee, tea, and juices. Dinners are 2-3 courses with a main dish plus an entrée and/or dessert, featuring good quality cuisine using local ingredients.
-
What type of accommodation is provided during the tour?
The tour provides 5 nights in 2-4 star hotels and 2 nights in a gîte on a twin share basis.
-
Is luggage transfer included in the tour?
Yes, luggage transfers are included in the tour.
-
What kind of support is available during the tour?
An information pack including route notes, maps, and tourist information is provided per room booked. Additionally, there is an emergency hotline available.
-
Is this a guided tour?
No, this is a self-guided trip.
-
What is the level of difficulty for the walks on this tour?
The trip involves 6 days of walking usually along coastal trails. You need to be sure-footed as some tracks have rolling stones which require care and good balance. The descents may be tiring for the knees, and the trip requires a good level of fitness to fully participate.
-
What should I carry during the walking stages?
During the walking stages, you will need to carry your daily requirements in a day pack such as a water bottle, camera, waterproofs, and lunch.
-
What are some of the highlights of the tour?
Some highlights include discovering the high trails above the Riviera on foot, exploring the perfume town of Grasse, walking to the hilltop village of Gourdon with views to the Gorges du Loup, soaking up the atmosphere in Vence, famous for its artistic heritage, and enjoying the fantastic cuisine of the region.
-
How fit do I have to be?
Our adventures are first and foremost holidays and can be undertaken by anyone in a reasonable state of health and fitness - however, please carefully read our Terms & Conditions when booking and view the trip grading. We rank our trips according to our honest Trip Grading System. We recommend that you familiarise yourself with our grading system by reading our detailed trip notes (which you can order through this site) and to speak with us about the physical requirements of your chosen trip.
-
What happens if something goes wrong?
On our guided tours, you travel in small groups with a local multi-lingual guide whose knowledge of the terrain, flora, fauna and history of the region is exemplary. Our self guided tours give you the freedom to explore at your own pace - but they're not unsupported. We provide detailed route notes and maps and our local partners are on hand throughout the day in the unlikely event that something goes wrong. All we request is that you select a program that matches your level of fitness to ensure that you have a comfortable experience.
-
I'm travelling solo on a self-guided trip. Do I pay the single supplement or the single traveller surcharge?
Most of our self guided trips are priced based on twinshare. If you are travelling solo the single traveller surcharge will apply. The single supplement would apply if you were travelling in a party with others and you had chosen to book a single room. You would never pay a single traveller surcharge and a single supplement.
Reviews of this operator
1 Select your preferred date
Monday - Monday
Sep 23, 2024 - Sep 30, 2024Tuesday - Tuesday
Sep 24, 2024 - Oct 01, 2024Wednesday - Wednesday
Sep 25, 2024 - Oct 02, 2024Thursday - Thursday
Sep 26, 2024 - Oct 03, 2024Monday - Monday
Sep 30, 2024 - Oct 07, 2024Tuesday - Tuesday
Oct 01, 2024 - Oct 08, 2024Wednesday - Wednesday
Oct 02, 2024 - Oct 09, 2024Thursday - Thursday
Oct 03, 2024 - Oct 10, 2024Monday - Monday
Oct 07, 2024 - Oct 14, 2024Tuesday - Tuesday
Oct 08, 2024 - Oct 15, 2024Wednesday - Wednesday
Oct 09, 2024 - Oct 16, 2024Thursday - Thursday
Oct 10, 2024 - Oct 17, 2024Monday - Monday
Oct 14, 2024 - Oct 21, 2024Tuesday - Tuesday
Oct 15, 2024 - Oct 22, 2024Wednesday - Wednesday
Oct 16, 2024 - Oct 23, 2024Thursday - Thursday
Oct 17, 2024 - Oct 24, 2024Monday - Monday
Oct 21, 2024 - Oct 28, 2024Tuesday - Tuesday
Oct 22, 2024 - Oct 29, 2024Wednesday - Wednesday
Oct 23, 2024 - Oct 30, 2024Thursday - Thursday
Oct 24, 2024 - Oct 31, 2024Monday - Monday
Oct 28, 2024 - Nov 04, 2024Tuesday - Tuesday
Oct 29, 2024 - Nov 05, 2024Wednesday - Wednesday
Oct 30, 2024 - Nov 06, 2024Thursday - Thursday
Oct 31, 2024 - Nov 07, 2024Book with Confidence
-
Transfer as credit to Future Tours
UTracks allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform utracks, 70 days before departure.
-
Low Deposit
UTracks requires a minimum deposit of 250 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.
-
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of utracks charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 69 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 35 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.