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John Osaki's Blog
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| NEWS! Walking Softly's hiking trips are now offered under our "Mountain Hiking Holidays" label. You can access information about our hiking trips at the Mountain Hiking Holidays website at www.MountainHikingHolidays.com. | ||||||||
| For a more complete description of the Maritime Alps Inn to Inn hiking trip, please go to the Maritime Alps Inn to Inn page at the Mountain Hiking Holidays website. | ||||||||
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| Hike across the Alps on this "inn-to-inn" trek starting on the Italian side of the Alps and finishing at the Mediterranean Sea near the lovely French town of Menton. On your way from the mountains to the sea you'll hike through classic, high alpine landscapes, past Bronze Age petroglyphs, and through the picturesque villages and hamlets of the Roya Valley. Revel in the gems of the "Azure Alps," a largely unknown and beautiful mountain region. | ||||||||
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| Days 1-3: Arrive in Torino, Italy and travel to the town of Vernante at the foot of the Italian Alps. Warm up on a hike in the Palanfre basin at the foot of Monte Frisson which is known as "piccolo Cervino" ("little Matterhorn"). On the second day, begin your trek to the Mediterranean with a hike up the Vallone del Sabbione. Cross the Colle di Sabbione into France and continue to the mountain hamlet of Casterino. The next day, explore the high country around Casterino with a hike through the glacially-carved Fontanalba Basin (where you can also find Bronze Age petroglyphs) and the remote Valle de Valmasque. | ||||||||
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| Days 4-7: Hike from Casterino to the medieval town of La Brigue and the spectacular painted chapel of Notre Dame des Fontaines. Continue by way of the mountain hamlet of Granile to spectacularly-sited Saorge, a "village empilé" with rows of houses seemingly stacked one on the other. Spend a quiet evening in a remote mountain auberge above Saorge. As you continue your trek to the sea, you'll notice that mountain vegetation gives way to olive groves and fragrant, herb-cloaked hillsides. Arrive at the village of Breil-sur-Roya where you'll have a day to enjoy this old walled village, or if you prefer, set off into the mountains for a hike in the Vallon de Carleva. | ||||||||
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| Days 8-9: From Breil-sur-Roya, the GR-510 (one of France's long distance hiking paths) climbs into the mountains to the picturesque village of Piene Haute. The tiny square in front of the village chapel makes a great place for lunch! Leave Piene Haute and drop into the valley to reach the medieval town of Sospel. On your last day of hiking, climb a well-graded, shady forest path to the Col du Razet where you'll catch your first glimpse of the Mediterranean sparkling far below. Descend through pasturelands and past charming hill towns to reach the beach at Menton where a well-earned dip in the ocean is yours to enjoy! | ||||||||
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| For a more complete description of the Maritime Alps Inn to Inn hiking trip, please go to the Maritime Alps Inn to Inn page at the Mountain Hiking Holidays website. | ||||||||
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© Walking
Softly Adventures, Inc., PO Box 86250, Portland, OR 97286 |
Village of
Saorge, French Maritime Alps. Photo by John Osaki.
