Join UIMLA Mountain Leader Fabrice on an exciting Grand Capelet hike in the Mercantour National Park and discover the stunning forests, red-purple rocks and expansive views of the region on an unforgettable outdoor adventure in France.
Alps
1 Day
Jun - Oct
High
Intermediate
* Discover one of the best hiking routes in the Mercantour National Park.
* Let a pro local guide with knowledge about botany and geology show you the way.
* Enjoy the wild nature and awe-inspiring views of this rich region in France.
The Mercantour National Park is located in the Southern French Alps, just an hour away from the Nice international airport and the French Riviera. This popular wilderness haven boasts an area of 685 km2 (264 sq mi) and is home to beautiful mountains, forests and lakes.
On this 1-day Grand Capelet hike, we will discover forests, alpine meadows, red-purple rocks and more as we climb the stunning Mont du Grand Capelet. At an altitude of 2935 m. (1629 ft.), this gorgeous peak is one of the highest in the Mercantour National Park and offers one of the best 360° views of the region.
We will begin our ascent with a traverse through a subalpine forest rich in fir and spruce trees. Then, we will arrive at a place with mysterious red-purple rocks, and your geologist guide will reveal to you why they are that color. Finally, we will reach the alpine stage of the hike where we will enjoy awe-inspiring views from beautiful alpine meadows that overlook Nice and the Mediterranean Sea on one side and the Mercantour Range on the other.
Please keep in mind that this is a sporty hike that will require a good fitness level. However, although it will take some effort, the route has fairly regular terrain and gradual slope. Furthermore, I will be there every step of the way to help and guide you. This is an ideal hike to experience the adventurous side of the Mercantour peaks!
So, are you ready for an exciting outdoor adventure in the awe-inspiring Mercantour National Park? Then contact me now and join me on this unforgettable Grand Capelet Hike.
Or, if you prefer an easier program in the region, you can join me on this 1-day Fenestre Lake and Pass Hike.
- Guiding fee
Picnic lunch is not included but can be supplied for an additional 11 €.
You will require good real hiking shoes. We also suggest to bring warm clothes, a vest, sunscreen, and sunglasses.
4.90
(42)
Mountain Leader
I am a hiking guide (International Mountain Leader) who has been working all over France (including Provence and the Alps), Italy and Portugal since 2001. I speak fluent English due to my frequent trips to Taos Ski Valley (in New Mexico, USA where my family runs a great hotel and ski school), and my hiking trips in the American Southwest.
I live mainly in Nice (French Riviera), but I also move all over the Alps working in different alpine valleys. I often visit Martinique (French Caribbean island), where I enjoy rainforest and tropical hikes.
When I´m not guiding, I also work as a photographer, and like to climb, ski, play tennis, or kitesurf in my spare time. Additionally, I really enjoy botany and history.
I can guide you for a half day or for as many days as you like. I´ll take you to discover my favourite French Riviera alpine region, and the wild and large Mercantour National Park (counting 8 different valleys) near Nice, Monte Carlo and Cannes.
In my region we can enjoy the Mediterranean landscape at sea level. As we move into higher altitudes, we will discover alpine lakes, larch or pine forests, orchids and alpine flowers, open meadows, spectacular medieval perched villages and old baroque chapels and churches, with great historic value.
We can also discover the hiking hotspots in Provence such as Calanques National Park, Verdon gorges, Sainte Victoire and the Var region, with Saint Tropez a particular highlight.
I also love to hike in Italy in the very famous world heritage Cinque Terre (the amazing national park of the "Five Lands"), or in Liguria near San Remo.
And finally, I always enjoy taking my guests to the northern Alps: to Chamonix and Mont Blanc´s amazingly large panoramas or to the great Vanoise National Park, the largest in the heart of French Alps.
Languages
French | English
Certificates
UIMLA
Mark
5.00
Highly recommend hiring Fabrice as your guide for exploring southern France. As someone unfamiliar with the region, I wasn't up to the task of planning a hike on my own. Particularly a hike in the winter. Fabrice made it all easy. He is incredibly knowledgeable of the region's geography and weather and so was able to tailor a hike just based on the next day's weather forecast. A critical skill for hiking in December. I learned about the natural landscape, vegetation and even how to hike with less stress on my knees. He also taught me about Nordic hiking which is something I definitely want to try again. For sure, I'll be hiring Fabrice again on my next trip to France.
Sue
5.00
Fabrice is a first-class guide! Taking into account last-minute weather changes and after assessing our fitness, he quickly customised an exciting itinerary that led us from the Préalpes to the beautiful hilltop villages of Gourdon, Tourettes-sur-Loup and Saint-Paul-de-Vence. He pointed out great photo opportunities, so we managed to take plenty of nicely-framed photos on our smartphones. Fabrice also introduced us to the game of pétanque and thanks to him, we were able to understand and appreciate the games as they were being played by the locals during our trip.
Daniel
5.00
Fabrice was a wonderful guide with a wide knowledge of not only the history of the area but the flora and fauna of the French Mediterranean coast. The hike provided beautiful views of the cities along the coast as well as the mountains behind them. Highly recommend both the hike and the guide.
matthew
4.00
Fabrice is an adept guide. He took us on some amazing hikes. We were happy to have him guide us to get the most out of our 3 days in Chamonix.
Elias
5.00
Had a wonderful hike with Fabrice as our hiking guide. Highly recommend! If you are from the East Coast of the U.S., recommend going one skill level down from what you think is the right fit for you, since the elevation/altitude of the Alps makes the hike harder than you are likely used to (less oxygen in the air). I did the "moderate plus" thinking it would be easy for me--it was a serious workout! :)
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