Snowshoeing day in Le Boreon, Mercantour National Park
Fabrice, an UIMLA-certified Mountain Leader, takes you on a guided snowshoeing day hike in Le Boreon, in the beautiful Mercantour National Park, with options for all levels.
Private
Alps
1 Day
Jan, Feb, Dec
Occasional
All Levels
Highlights
- Discover the stunning landscapes of the Mercantour National Park in winter
- Enjoy the view of beautiful larch and fir tree forests covered in snow
- You have the option of visiting the Alpha Wolf Park after the hike
Description
The Mercantour National Park is a very popular park in the southern French Alps, just an 1.30-hour drive from Nice International Airport and the French Riviera. With an extension of 685 square kilometres, it has a wide variety of wildlife and vegetation to admire.
From the Boreon to the Cougourde Refuge, I invite you to enjoy a guided snowshoeing day tour through some of the most amazing landscapes in France’s wilderness. This is where the wolf was seen for the first time when it came back to the French Alps in 1992.
The Cougourde Refuge, which is inside of the park, is situated near the Cougourde Peak (2,921 m). It is near Saint-Martin Vésubie, a village in the Alpes-Maritimes department that is also the main entrance to the Mercantour National Park.
We will walk through the snow-covered Boreon stream. After that, in the heart of the Mercantour park, we will discover a nice larch forest surrounded by the area’s highest peaks. At this point, you will get the chance to see many beautiful and elegant chamois. Then, we will reach the Cougourde Refuge where we can have lunch.
This trip is open to everyone. It may be customized to your physical conditions, from easy to sportier level, with a 3 to 5 hours duration and from 300 m to 600 altitude gain (900 to 1800 ft.). Many other hikes are possible in this area.
As an option you can visit the wolf park after the hike. There you will discover some wolves as well as stories about the shepherds life and the problems that they have with the wolves and how they can cohabit. It’s very interesting, as the wolf made its come back right around here in the French Alps. The entrance fee for this option is 12 € per person. It is a great for families!
If you want to discover breathtaking winter landscapes while enjoying a snowshoeing hike, just send me a request. Book your place and come discover the magical beauty of the Mercantour National Park in winter.
If you are near Chamonix, you could also check out my snowshoeing tour around the Chamonix Valley.
Price includes
- Guiding fee
Price details
If you don't have your own snowshoes I can provide them (with sticks) for 10 €/pers. Pic Nic may be provided with 10 € extra. Or you can buy all you need in Saint Martin Vésubie where we will meet.
Details
Accommodation You can find hotels in Nice, in the French Riviera, or in the alpine village of Saint Martin Vésubie which is 1.30 hour from Nice and nearby the hike departure.
From Nice, is a 1.45h-drive to get to the departure point. I may pick you up from a number of different places, from Nice, and the french Riviera. For this service, I will charge you from 30 to 50 € (much less than any taxi) only for gas and road fees. |
More info Price per person: -Group of 9/10 people: 30 EUR -Group of 11/12: 25 EUR -You need good real hiking shoes for this tour. Warm clothes may be useful (polar fleece), sunscreen and sunglasses. Equipment required: -Footwear: Insulated, waterproof boots are best. Leather hiking boots work well if they are waterproof. -Clothing: Wool or synthetic socks with wicking liners. Gaiters keep snow out of your boots. For deep powder, consider a knee-high style with waterproof/breathable lowers. Wear long underwear that wicks away moisture, insulates well and dries quickly. Avoid cotton! Insulating layer: Polyester fleece makes a good insulating mid-layer Outer layer: A waterproof, breathable shell jacket and pants keep you dry and fend off wind. A wool or synthetic hat, Waterproof ski gloves or mittens. Sunglasses and sunscreen will protect you from burning UV rays which are especially intense when reflected off snow. |
Meeting point Saint Martin Vésuvie |
About the guide
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.
What people are saying about Fabrice Morel
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