Tour of Val Maira – wide open spaces and traditions
Activity
Difficulty
Duration
Dates
Price
From 1265.00 €
About the Tour of Val Maira, Italy
Val Maira is an astonishing valley on the French border. With its Occitan culture, it is rich in heritage and gastronomy of the highest quality.
Our tour takes you to this hiking paradise with no ski resorts. You’ll enjoy an authentic experience in an unspoilt environment. Traditional mountain pastures, ridges with breathtaking views, historic villages, enchanting forests, grandiose limestone massifs: our tour harmoniously combines culture and wild mountain beauty, not to mention excellent Italian cuisine!
An original trek, far from the crowds and close to the essentials.
You will leave with :
Julien.D
Trekking Guide
“Every step is an invitation to contemplation, every sunset a reminder of nature’s simple, profound beauty.”
Photo gallery of the Tour of Val Maira, Italy
The route of the Tour of Val Maira, Italy
Upcoming departures
What's included in the formula
- Supervision by a qualified French mountain leader.
- Overnight stays in a gîte or refuge
- Half board
- Picnic lunches
- Transfers as indicated in the program
- Luggage transfer
What's not included in the package
- Cancellation assistance insurance to be taken out upon registration
- Your personal consumption (drinks in general)
- Transport to and from the meeting point on D1 and D7
- All transfers related to program changes
- Your travel and hiking gear
- Everything not included in the price
Day 1: Over the Italian border
This morning we meet the guide and the rest of the group at the Gap SNCF train station to get acquainted. Then a two-hour transfer takes us to the Col de Larche, where our hiking adventure begins.
We head up the Orrenaye valley towards the Col de Feuillas. The border is on the other side of the tapering ridges above us. The Lac de l’Orrenaye is the perfect place to take a break in this grandiose setting. At the pass, we’re in Italy. The steep descent takes us along a path carved out by the Italian military, into the Enchiausa valley with its sharp peaks. We finish the stage at the Vivière refuge, where we’ll enjoy a warm and authentic welcome.
Day 2: The wide open spaces of Val Maira
7 hours 30 mins walk – Overnight in refuge – D+ 1100 / D- 550 m
From the Vivière refuge, we climb up to the Passo Gardetta through the remnants of the Second World War. Behind us, the Enchiausa and Coletto passes delight the eye. Arriving at the pass, we start crossing a huge plateau beneath the impressive Rocca la Meija, following an old military track. The path crosses several small passes and arrives at the Fauniera refuge, at 2300 m altitude.
Day 3: Through the traditional mountain pastures of Val Maira
6 hours’ walk – Overnight in refuge – D+ 400 m / D- 1500 m
A magnificent, easier day that begins with an ascent of the Pic des Tempêtes at 2679m, conditions permitting. We then cross the Alpage de Tibert, with its beautiful traditional barns. The trail remains on a ridge, rewarding us with a vast panorama of the Val Maira. We arrive at Celle di Macra, a village steeped in Occitan culture.
Day 4: Panoramic day and typical villages
After a 45-minute transfer from Celle Di Macra to Chesta, an authentic village in the valley, we take to the crests and enjoy a beautiful day with a privileged panorama of the great peaks of the southern Alps, such as Mont Viso. At the end of the day, Elva, another typical village, welcomes us and we can enjoy the light at the end of the day.
Day 5: Lake and high mountain passes
Immerse yourself in the wilderness of the Southern Alps. First we take the ridge path, then pass beneath the Pelvo d’Elva massif. The balcony path leads us to the magnificent, photogenic Lake Camoscere. We walk between peaks over 3000 m high, and it’s not unusual to come across chamois in these little-visited highlands. We reach the Col delle Sagnere, the highest pass on the route, at almost 3000 metres, before descending into the Val Camosciera to our accommodation.
Day 6: From one high valley to another
We climb up the Val di Bellino towards the pass of the same name. High peaks, alpine pastures, old barns and remnants of the war mark our path. France is just around the corner, on the other side of the valley ridges. At the pass, time and fitness permitting, we can make an easy detour to Monte Bellino, at 2935 m, to enjoy an immense view of Val Maira and the Ubaye peaks. We then descend into the upper Val Maira towards Chiappera.
Day 7: Forests, lakes and return to France
Departing from Chiappera, we start the day climbing through the beautiful larch forests typical of the Southern Alps. Soon, we arrive in a grandiose limestone environment of sharp peaks and verdant meadows. No fewer than three lakes mark our route to the Col du Boeuf, where we cross into France.
Once we reach the Col de Larche, a vehicle takes us back to Gap. We celebrate our wonderful week together before going our separate ways.
Highlights of the trip
General information
REGISTRATION
By post:
Ask us for a registration form
- by phone: 06 65 93 29 29
- or e-mail: contact@watse.fr
Send us your registration with a copy of your passport, your postal address, telephone number and e-mail address, together with a deposit of 30% of the cost of the trip.
Also, if you wish to take out a Comfort or Comfort Multirisk cancellation insurance policy, this must be paid at the same time as the deposit when you register. You can consult our insurance contracts on our website.
By internet:
Book your holiday directly on our website: directly on the holiday page, choosing your dates and insurance options.
ASSISTANCE AND SAFETY
We strongly advise you to take out assistance insurance for the duration of your trip.
We offer two different types of insurance: Comfort Cancellation and Comfort Multirisk, to be taken out when you register for your trip.
Details of this insurance are available on request or can be viewed by by clicking here.
Other offers include Mondial Assistance, your own insurance company or Club Alpin Français. Check that your trekking activity is covered.
Make sure your insurance covers all medical expenses in the event of an accident.
You must make sure that you are covered for mountain rescue costs. If this is the case, you must provide us with the following information before you set off on your trek:
- a certificate from the insurance company covering mountain rescue costs.
- the contract number and telephone number of the assistance center
Beware of restrictive clauses in certain insurance policies (particularly those linked to Visa Premier, Gold or other cards), such as mountain insurance limited to snow activities, or altitude sickness not recognized as an illness requiring repatriation, which will be refused.
Please check the actual content of your insurance and take the necessary steps if necessary.
Health & climate
CLIMATE
Temperatures vary according to altitude. It can reach 30°C in summer on the plains, or sub-zero on the summits.
Summer thunderstorms are common in the French Alps.
HEALTH AND VACCINES
No vaccinations required.
Make sure you are up to date with your usual vaccinations.
We recommend that you have a check-up with your dentist before you leave.
You can take along the European Health Card issued by your social security.
Transport and conditions
Intermediate trips mentioned in the itinerary are by private cab.
LUGGAGE
Your personal belongings will be transported as indicated in the program. We recommend that you pack your belongings for the trek in a duffle bag, not a suitcase. Please ensure that your bag does not exceed 12 kgs.
The stay
MEALS
Breakfast and dinner will be served in the accommodation. We provide a picnic lunch every morning (except the first day).
ACCOMMODATION
Nights in mountain huts, in dormitories
TRAINING
Supervision by a state-qualified French mountain leader.
Practical info
Some (but not all) refuges offer charging facilities for small electronic devices (smartphones, cameras). We advise you to bring portable batteries or solar panels.
FORMALITIES AND VISA
No visa required for French nationals and citizens of bordering countries.
BUDGET, CHANGE AND TIPS
Meals not included (cold drinks, snacks, etc.) and accommodation are included in the price of the stay. Tipping is not necessary and should reflect your satisfaction with the team.
Watse added value
AN EXPERT GUIDE
TO THIS REGION
A French Watse guide specializing in the area is on hand throughout.
THE BEST
ACCOMMODATION
The refuges and lodges on this trek have been selected by our teams for their ideal location and the quality of their welcome.
A UNIQUE AND EXCLUSIVE
ITINERARY
This holiday has been lovingly designed by the Watse team in a little-visited region far from the tourist circuit.