French Riviera on Foot

French Riviera on Foot

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8 Days From

$1398

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:

UTracks

Tour code:

UFR

Group Type:

Independent

Guide Type:

Self Guided

Physical rating:

introductory to moderate

Tour operated in:

English
From: $1398

NB: Prices correct on 19-Sep-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

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

  • Discover the high trails above the Riviera on foot

  • Explore the perfume town of Grasse

  • Walking to the hill top village of Gourdon with views to the Gorges du Loup

  • Soaking up the atmosphere in Vence, famous for its artistic heritage

  • Enjoying the fantastic cuisine of the region on the trip

  • Visit the famous Fragonard Perfume factory, museum and shop

  • Enjoy stunning scenery en route to Courmes

  • Loop walk to Courmettes mountain with views to Antibes

Itinerary

Expand All

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

Katharine McLennan (Google Reviewer)  

UTracks is awesome. My...

13-Jun-2024

UTracks is awesome. My Assisi trip was one of the most beautiful trips I have taken in my 56 years. I wanted to walk by myself, and Utracks teamed up with a local Italian travel company to do everything for me—book the hotels and move my bags from hotel to hotel as I walked the track. The app was AMAZING. It showed the daily itinerary, and the interactive map told me metre by metre where I needed to go and whether I was on track or not. It was far more accurate than Google Maps, and I loved all the commentary on what to look for and what not to. The places I stayed were known as "agriturismo places." They are hosted by families on working farms. Those gorgeous families had farms and accommodations that sometimes dated back to 800!!! But all of them had done a fantastic job updating them to be modern, beautiful rooms. I loved how warm the hosts were and how much they appreciated my stay. There were seldom more than 5 people staying each night. The walk was fabulous -- and incredibly well-researched and noted. I was often the only one on the trails, but I always felt safe and looked after by UTracks in their 24-hour cover. I never had to use it - but as a single woman walking on her own through the Italian hills -- it is great to know that people know where I am. The preparation pack sent to me was also incredibly organised with equipment lists, hotel directions-- with all the contacts, and the contacts of the lovely fellow who would be taking my bag from place to place. He was fantastic -- and I also felt supported by him if things were to go wrong. I will definitely be working with Utracks again and can't wait to plan my next adventure.

Addy K (Google Reviewer)  

Great hike to sample some...

04-Oct-2023

Great hike to sample some of the best locations along the Tour Du Mont Blanc. Our guide Sara was great at maintaining pace and knew the route very well. The scenery was amazing especially the tall mountains close to our accomodation. The accomodation provided great 3 course dinners, and we got to sample French, Swiss and Italian food. This is not an easy hike, but as long as you are able to do 1000 mtr elevation gain hikes, this is thoroughly enjoyable.

Patrick Shum (Google Reviewer)  

Hassle free self guided tour...

26-Jul-2023

Hassle free self guided tour around the most scenic Austrian hills and lakes. All our heavy baggage taken care of from hotel to hotel. Hiking not difficult at all, instructions are v clear. I recommend use online GPS map. In case someone want to shorten the walking, various options (bus / boat) provided.

Amanda Liddell (Google Reviewer)  

300km in 12 days from...

15-Jun-2023

300km in 12 days from Porto to Santiago de Compostela where a Cathedral stands as the most beautiful ‘Welcome’ imaginable. The accomodation arranged by UTRACKS was consistently excellent & the ease of only having to worry about carrying your backpack and what you’ll have for lunch is perfect. Yes, most days at breakfast you can make up your own bread roll and filling. Notes and directions were included but once you arrive in Spain you just need to look for the ‘shell’ and ‘yellow arrow’ to find your ‘way’. I am 67 years old & consciously chose to walk alone however I met some fabulous people along the way and finally had hours on end with ‘no headchatter’. There’s healing which catches you unaware & makes every step very worthwhile.

Kerry Andersen (Google Reviewer)  

We used UTracks to organise...

13-Jul-2023

We used UTracks to organise our self guided Portugal Coastal Camino walk. We were very happy with information provided for our walk and accommodation picked.

Ian Freestone (Google Reviewer)  

Recently two trips with utracks....

26-Aug-2024

Recently two trips with utracks. Mont Blanc self-guided and Austrian hike-bike. In summary, the experience is only as good as the local partner. In Austria, Helmut was amazing! Met with us prior - went over every detail of the trip, answered his phone if we had a concern. Mont Blanc, the partner would only communicate by text, did not meet us on arrival, and would not return calls even when we had an emergency. Other concerns we raised with utracks staff were not responded to adequately leaving the feeling that they had our money, job done.

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Book 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.