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Hilltops Of The French Riviera (Self Guided)


Venture into the hills that form the backcountry of the French Riviera and discover ancient perched villages and stunning coastal and mountain views




On this week-long self-guided holiday above the hills of Nice and Menton you’ll explore a unique piece of France unknown to many. A short distance from the French Riviera, these hills are home to timeless villages and authentic scenes and you’ll enjoy fresh mountain air and wander through pristine countryside. The area is generously draped in forests and fields of wildflowers and you’ll experience some of France’s most breathtaking scenery. High up and far above the hustle and bustle of the coastline, you can enjoy remote pathways and beautiful villages way off the beaten track. Perched medieval towns such as Sainte Agnès and Saorge offer endless charm with their ancient cobbled streets, majestic old buildings and jaw-dropping views. Ancient trade routes, forgotten in time, will lead you down towards Menton and the shimmering blue sea of the Mediterranean.



Gallery View map

Tour Highlights

  • Luberon’s lavender landscape

Inclusions

  • Transfer on Day 2 by local train, luggage transfers Days 3-5, taxi transfer on Day 4, route notes with maps.

  • 6 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners

Hilltops Of The French Riviera (Self Guided)

Day 1
Arrive Breil sur Roya
Meals Privided:
, Dinner
Your trip starts with your arrival in the town of Breil sur Roya. At 300m in altitude, Breil sur Roya is a town divided between mountains and sea, set close to the Mediterranean yet a playground for beautiful walks in the hills. The town is formed like a crescent below a rocky spur, and has a definite feel of a centuries-old mountain village. The Baroque church in the centre of town is a testament to its Italian heritage, as the region belonged to what is now Italy for 600 years, annexed back to France in 1860. Please make your own way to the joining hotel which is centrally located (further details are in your travel documents). We recommend arriving/departing by train where possible within Europe due to this method of transports minimal carbon emissions. Breil sur Roya is easily accessible from Nice on a short, scenic train ride. The train station is close by the hotel. On arrival your route notes outlining everything you need to know for the week ahead will be waiting for you at the hotel reception. Tonight you have an included dinner in Breil sur Roya.
Day 2
Breil sur Roya – Saorge - Breil sur Roya
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
Leaving Breil by foot, you take scenic pathways through the timeless and pristine hills, and up to the magnificent perched village of Saorge. Its high and narrow houses from the 15th to 17th centuries sit vertiginously atop a rocky spur, while the views from anywhere in the village are simply spectacular. Views of the rushing white water below are topped only by those of the snow-capped mountains in the distance. Enjoy a coffee break in town before descending back into the valley. You return to Breil via a short, 10-minute transfer on the Train des Merveilles (included). Overnight in Breil. (Walking – 5 hours)
Day 3
Breil sur Roya – Sospel
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
Today you depart Breil on foot and head south on an ancient and panoramic path which was once a salt trading route. The stunning mountain landscapes paint the backdrop as you arrive in the village of Sospel, nestled in the foothills. An authentic mountain town, Sospel harbours a 12th century stone toll bridge crossing the Brévera river complete with a covered guard tower. Sospel’s high stone homes and narrow streets offer a distinct medieval feel, as well as cool shade even in the hottest of summers. (Walking – 5 hours)
Day 4
Sospel – Sainte Agnès
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Dinner
After a short taxi transfer you continue your southern route, near the Italian border and to the perched village of Sainte Agnès. Perched vertiginously at 700m over the Mediterranean, and as the crow flies only 3 kilometres from the sea, the entire Riviera is laid out for you to see. Sainte Agnès’ pink stone homes are separated by ancient cobbled streets, with vaulted passages leading around town. You can walk up to the ruins of its castle, perched above the village, now housing a pleasant and curious medieval garden. Sainte Agnès is listed among the most beautiful villages in France. Tonight dinner is included at the hotel located in the hotel, in the heart of the medieval town. (Walking – 5 hours)
Day 5
Sainte Agnes - Menton
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch
From Sainte Agnès, through the thyme and rosemary-laden hills, you make your way to the coast, with the Mediterranean always in view, arriving at what is probably the prettiest town on the French Riviera; Menton, known for its exquisite gardens, lemon trees, and magnificent medieval centre, with its lovely homes and Baroque churches. Menton will be your base for the next two nights; the Riviera ambiance proves a nice contact to the earlier mountain experience. (Walking – 5 hours)
Day 6
Menton (Free Day)
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
Today is a free day in Menton to explore the town and the coastline, its cafés and homemade ice cream shops, and perhaps the chance for a well-deserved swim in the Mediterranean.
Day 7
End Menton
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
The trip ends in this morning in Menton, after breakfast. From here there are onward train connections to Nice and other connecting towns.

IN A NUTSHELL

7 days
$1,450

TOUR INFORMATION

Start End Price
07/09/201213/09/2012 $1,450
24/08/201230/08/2012 $1,450
23/08/201229/08/2012 $1,450
22/08/201228/08/2012 $1,450
21/08/201227/08/2012 $1,450
20/08/201226/08/2012 $1,450
19/08/201225/08/2012 $1,450
18/08/201224/08/2012 $1,450
17/08/201223/08/2012 $1,450
16/08/201222/08/2012 $1,450
15/08/201221/08/2012 $1,450
14/08/201220/08/2012 $1,450
25/08/201231/08/2012 $1,450
26/08/201201/09/2012 $1,450
06/09/201212/09/2012 $1,450
05/09/201211/09/2012 $1,450
04/09/201210/09/2012 $1,450
03/09/201209/09/2012 $1,450
02/09/201208/09/2012 $1,450
01/09/201207/09/2012 $1,450
31/08/201206/09/2012 $1,450
30/08/201205/09/2012 $1,450
29/08/201204/09/2012 $1,450
28/08/201203/09/2012 $1,450
27/08/201202/09/2012 $1,450
13/08/201219/08/2012 $1,450
12/08/201218/08/2012 $1,450
11/08/201217/08/2012 $1,450
28/07/201203/08/2012 $1,450
27/07/201202/08/2012 $1,450
26/07/201201/08/2012 $1,450
25/07/201231/07/2012 $1,450
24/07/201230/07/2012 $1,450
23/07/201229/07/2012 $1,450
22/07/201228/07/2012 $1,450
21/07/201227/07/2012 $1,450
20/07/201226/07/2012 $1,450
19/07/201225/07/2012 $1,450
18/07/201224/07/2012 $1,450
29/07/201204/08/2012 $1,450
30/07/201205/08/2012 $1,450
10/08/201216/08/2012 $1,450
09/08/201215/08/2012 $1,450
08/08/201214/08/2012 $1,450
07/08/201213/08/2012 $1,450
06/08/201212/08/2012 $1,450
05/08/201211/08/2012 $1,450
04/08/201210/08/2012 $1,450
03/08/201209/08/2012 $1,450
02/08/201208/08/2012 $1,450
01/08/201207/08/2012 $1,450
31/07/201206/08/2012 $1,450
17/07/201223/07/2012 $1,450
08/09/201214/09/2012 $1,450
31/10/201206/11/2012 $1,450
17/10/201223/10/2012 $1,450
16/10/201222/10/2012 $1,450
15/10/201221/10/2012 $1,450
14/10/201220/10/2012 $1,450
13/10/201219/10/2012 $1,450
12/10/201218/10/2012 $1,450
11/10/201217/10/2012 $1,450
10/10/201216/10/2012 $1,450
09/10/201215/10/2012 $1,450
08/10/201214/10/2012 $1,450
07/10/201213/10/2012 $1,450
18/10/201224/10/2012 $1,450
19/10/201225/10/2012 $1,450
30/10/201205/11/2012 $1,450
29/10/201204/11/2012 $1,450
28/10/201203/11/2012 $1,450
27/10/201202/11/2012 $1,450
26/10/201201/11/2012 $1,450
25/10/201231/10/2012 $1,450
24/10/201230/10/2012 $1,450
23/10/201229/10/2012 $1,450
22/10/201228/10/2012 $1,450
21/10/201227/10/2012 $1,450
20/10/201226/10/2012 $1,450
06/10/201212/10/2012 $1,450
05/10/201211/10/2012 $1,450
04/10/201210/10/2012 $1,450
20/09/201226/09/2012 $1,450
19/09/201225/09/2012 $1,450
18/09/201224/09/2012 $1,450
17/09/201223/09/2012 $1,450
16/09/201222/09/2012 $1,450
15/09/201221/09/2012 $1,450
14/09/201220/09/2012 $1,450
13/09/201219/09/2012 $1,450
12/09/201218/09/2012 $1,450
11/09/201217/09/2012 $1,450
10/09/201216/09/2012 $1,450
21/09/201227/09/2012 $1,450
22/09/201228/09/2012 $1,450
03/10/201209/10/2012 $1,450
02/10/201208/10/2012 $1,450
01/10/201207/10/2012 $1,450
30/09/201206/10/2012 $1,450
29/09/201205/10/2012 $1,450
28/09/201204/10/2012 $1,450
27/09/201203/10/2012 $1,450
26/09/201202/10/2012 $1,450
25/09/201201/10/2012 $1,450
24/09/201230/09/2012 $1,450
23/09/201229/09/2012 $1,450
09/09/201215/09/2012 $1,450
23/05/201229/05/2012 $1,450
09/05/201215/05/2012 $1,450
08/05/201214/05/2012 $1,450
07/05/201213/05/2012 $1,450
06/05/201212/05/2012 $1,450
05/05/201211/05/2012 $1,450
04/05/201210/05/2012 $1,450
03/05/201209/05/2012 $1,450
02/05/201208/05/2012 $1,450
01/05/201207/05/2012 $1,450
30/04/201206/05/2012 $1,450
29/04/201205/05/2012 $1,450
10/05/201216/05/2012 $1,450
11/05/201217/05/2012 $1,450
22/05/201228/05/2012 $1,450
21/05/201227/05/2012 $1,450
20/05/201226/05/2012 $1,450
19/05/201225/05/2012 $1,450
18/05/201224/05/2012 $1,450
17/05/201223/05/2012 $1,450
16/05/201222/05/2012 $1,450
15/05/201221/05/2012 $1,450
14/05/201220/05/2012 $1,450
13/05/201219/05/2012 $1,450
12/05/201218/05/2012 $1,450
28/04/201204/05/2012 $1,450
27/04/201203/05/2012 $1,450
26/04/201202/05/2012 $1,450
12/04/201218/04/2012 $1,450
11/04/201217/04/2012 $1,450
10/04/201216/04/2012 $1,450
09/04/201215/04/2012 $1,450
08/04/201214/04/2012 $1,450
07/04/201213/04/2012 $1,450
06/04/201212/04/2012 $1,450
05/04/201211/04/2012 $1,450
04/04/201210/04/2012 $1,450
03/04/201209/04/2012 $1,450
02/04/201208/04/2012 $1,450
13/04/201219/04/2012 $1,450
14/04/201220/04/2012 $1,450
25/04/201201/05/2012 $1,450
24/04/201230/04/2012 $1,450
23/04/201229/04/2012 $1,450
22/04/201228/04/2012 $1,450
21/04/201227/04/2012 $1,450
20/04/201226/04/2012 $1,450
19/04/201225/04/2012 $1,450
18/04/201224/04/2012 $1,450
17/04/201223/04/2012 $1,450
16/04/201222/04/2012 $1,450
15/04/201221/04/2012 $1,450
01/04/201207/04/2012 $1,450
24/05/201230/05/2012 $1,450
16/07/201222/07/2012 $1,450
02/07/201208/07/2012 $1,450
01/07/201207/07/2012 $1,450
30/06/201206/07/2012 $1,450
29/06/201205/07/2012 $1,450
28/06/201204/07/2012 $1,450
27/06/201203/07/2012 $1,450
26/06/201202/07/2012 $1,450
25/06/201201/07/2012 $1,450
24/06/201230/06/2012 $1,450
23/06/201229/06/2012 $1,450
22/06/201228/06/2012 $1,450
03/07/201209/07/2012 $1,450
04/07/201210/07/2012 $1,450
15/07/201221/07/2012 $1,450
14/07/201220/07/2012 $1,450
13/07/201219/07/2012 $1,450
12/07/201218/07/2012 $1,450
11/07/201217/07/2012 $1,450
10/07/201216/07/2012 $1,450
09/07/201215/07/2012 $1,450
08/07/201214/07/2012 $1,450
07/07/201213/07/2012 $1,450
06/07/201212/07/2012 $1,450
05/07/201211/07/2012 $1,450
21/06/201227/06/2012 $1,450
20/06/201226/06/2012 $1,450
19/06/201225/06/2012 $1,450
05/06/201211/06/2012 $1,450
04/06/201210/06/2012 $1,450
03/06/201209/06/2012 $1,450
02/06/201208/06/2012 $1,450
01/06/201207/06/2012 $1,450
31/05/201206/06/2012 $1,450
30/05/201205/06/2012 $1,450
29/05/201204/06/2012 $1,450
28/05/201203/06/2012 $1,450
27/05/201202/06/2012 $1,450
26/05/201201/06/2012 $1,450
06/06/201212/06/2012 $1,450
07/06/201213/06/2012 $1,450
18/06/201224/06/2012 $1,450
17/06/201223/06/2012 $1,450
16/06/201222/06/2012 $1,450
15/06/201221/06/2012 $1,450
14/06/201220/06/2012 $1,450
13/06/201219/06/2012 $1,450
12/06/201218/06/2012 $1,450
11/06/201217/06/2012 $1,450
10/06/201216/06/2012 $1,450
09/06/201215/06/2012 $1,450
08/06/201214/06/2012 $1,450
25/05/201231/05/2012 $1,450
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