Walk the Cote d’Azur
8 days / 7 nights
Location: Provence (Villefranche-sur-Mer, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Menton, Sainte-Agnès, Gorbio, Bormes-les-Mimosas, Le Lavandou, Pellegrin beach, Cabasson beach, Bregançon Fort, Calanques de Cassis, Col de la Gardiole, Cassis)
Price: From 2,995€
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* Click right arrow in photo to continue reading the itinerary *
Highlights
It's the French Riviera at its finest: its glamour of course, but also its spectacular coastal walking paths and hidden coves. You explore the back country of Nice, the infinite beaches of Le Lavandou, and the limestone peaks and turquoise inlets of the Calanques of Cassis. And to top it all off, a celebratory champagne lunch on a private boat. Just for us.- The French Riviera at its finest, off the beaten track
- Nice's back country: breathtaking hilltop villages
- Scenic coastal walking in Villefranche-sur-Mer, Le Lavandou & Cassis
- Swimming opportunities nearly every day
- The magnificent perched village of Sainte Agnès
- The beaches of Le Lavandou
- The Calanques of Cassis: turquoise inlets and beautiful paths
- A private boat excursion along the coast including a champagne lunch
♦ Level 1 walking: it’s an easy walking holiday that’s 100% coastal. This means that there won’t be any prolonged climbs or descents. You can however expect about 3 hours of walking time per day, on well-marked paths. Though there’s nothing truly difficult underfoot, and no scrambling (using your hands), you won’t be walking on pavement or sidewalks – the coastal paths are rocky and require you to have steady feet and balance.
Day 1: Villefranche on the Mediterranean sea
Our walking tour begins with a welcome meeting with your guide at the hotel in Villefranche-sur-Mer, set on the shining Mediterranean sea.
Located just beside Nice, Villefranche has a little town feel, with its small fisherman’s port lined with cafés and local restaurants. The streets of the town have a distinct medieval flair, especially its 14th century Rue Obscure, a covered and vaulted street, dimly lit, haunting and majestic in design. Don’t forget to visit the citadel and its gardens, and the 14th century Romanesque chapel.
Dinner and night in Villefranche-sur-Mer.
Day 2: Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Villefranche-sur-Mer > Cap Ferrat > Villefranche-sur-Mer (4h, 12km, +50m/-50m)
The peninsula of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is an eden of luxurious villas and finely manicured gardens. Despite its wealth and exclusiveness, a superb walking path is traced around the entire length of the peninsula. The sounds of the sea will be with us all day, while the wealthy homes of celebrities and royalty are within grasp. The most astonishing is the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, formerly owned by the Baroness de Rothschild, the opulent villa is surrounded by some of the most magnificent gardens on the Côte d’Azur.
Nearing the end of our walk, the port area is full of quaint cafés, where we can contemplate (and people watch!) along one of the prettiest sections of the French Riviera.
Own arrangements for dinner. Night in Villefranche-sur-Mer.
Day 3: Nice’s back country and its breathtaking perched villages
Villefranche-sur-Mer > Sainte-Agnès > Gorbio > Menton > Villefranche-sur-Mer (2h, 5km, +50m/-350m)
A lovely train and bus transfer will guide you to the town of Sainte-Agnès, perched like an eagle’s nest high above the sea, and listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France. Its colourful granite stone houses and cobbled streets are complete with small artist shops and traditional restaurants.
On a walking path high above the waters, with marvelous panoramic views of the Côte d’Azur, we begin a gentle descent.
The path leads you to the equally beautiful town of Gorbio, where you are first welcomed by the 300 year-old elm tree in the main square. Its centuries-old limestone homes and churches give the town a true feeling of timelessness and authenticity, a far cry from the glitz of the Riviera below.
Before heading back to Villefranche-sur-Mer, you will have time to explore Menton, its shaded medieval streets, its architecture, and its exceptional gardens. The Côte d'Azur at its best.
Own arrangements for dinner. Night in Villefranche-sur-Mer.
Day 4: Mimosas and garden paths
Villefranche-sur-Mer > Bormes-les-Mimosas > Le Lavandou (2h30, 8km, +100m/-300m)
A private transfer (about 90 minutes) takes us to Bormes-les-Mimosas, a veritable storybook village of spectacular gardens, with proud displays of bougainvillea, mimosa and countless other flowers. It's market day, and we take the time to meander through the colourful stalls and collect our picnic items.
Our walk takes us up through the golden-glistening shale, and under the sparse shade of cork trees to reach the chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Constance. Perched up at 300m in altitude, our views extend along the entire Riviera.
We then find a path wedged in between the impressive villas, and leading its way down to the seaside town of Le Lavandou, our home for the next two nights. Le Lavandou is active with quaint cafés and great seafood restaurants, little boutique shops and one of the best beaches along the Côte d’Azur.
Dinner and night in Le Lavandou.
Day 5: The coastline path
Le Lavandou > La Londe > Estagnol beach > Le Lavandou (4 hours, 10km, -50m/+50m)
The day begins along the sentier littoral: a protected coastline path. It heads through untamed inlets of turquoise waters, lined with wild lavender and cistus flower, with no buildings in sight. Could this be the Côte d’Azur? It's a perfect postcard with each new scene revealed: a lone pine tree stranded on a tiny island, the lone sailboat rocking gently in a quiet bay, the white sands capturing the prints of our bare feet entangled in posidonia leaves...
Halfway through our walk a timely beach appears, an opportunity for a swim and to try one of the best restaurants along the coast. And with our stomachs full of food we continue our journey along the coastal path. We reach the centuries-old Brégançon fort, now used as a summer retreat for the French President. Unfortunately we don't have open invitations, but we'll make up for it...
Transfer to Le Lavandou. Own arrangements for dinner. Night in Le Lavandou.
Day 6: Calanques de Cassis
Le Lavandou > Cassis (3 hours, 10km, +50m/-300m)
A private taxi transfer (1 hour and 30 minutes) takes us to the Col de la Gardiole pass, high above the Calanques of Cassis, where the golden shale has given way to jagged, white limestone.
A gentle descent takes us to the the Calanque of Port Pin, a narrow finger-of-an-inlet complete with a sandy beach, the perfect stop for our secluded picnic. The next Calanque is Port Miou, over a kilometre long but ultra-thin, lined on both sides by picturesque sailboats sheltered in a quiet cove. Our walk takes us straight into the centre of Cassis, a small fishing village set on the Mediterranean, just a handful of narrow streets, restaurants huddled tightly around its port.
Dinner and night in Cassis.
Day 7: Champagne lunch on a private boat
3-hour boat cruise along the Calanques
That's right: a champagne lunch on a boat - a private cruise along the perfect inlets of the Calanques, admiring the jagged limestone peaks that soar above the sea, casting their turquoise glow on the shining waters. With our flip-flops dangling on the side of the boat, it's a well-deserved time to relax and celebrate after a week of walking.
Farewell dinner before our last night in Cassis.
Day 8: Au revoir in Cassis
Cassis > Cassis SNCF train station
Though you can choose to remain in Cassis for days or weeks or months, we've included a transfer to the train station to help you continue your journey. End of your trip in Cassis.
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Walking the French Riviera – 8 days / 7 nights
Price from 2,995€* per person in twin or double occupancy.
Single supplement: from + 620€Available departure dates:
16-Apr-17 / 21-May-17 / 10-Sep-17* Minimum of 4 participants for a guaranteed departure. Maximum 12 participants.
Included in prices
- 7 nights double occupancy with private facilities
- 7 breakfasts, 1 café lunch, 3 picnic lunches, 4 dinners,
- All taxi, train and bus transfers from day 1 to 8
- Luggage transfer
- An English speaking private guide during the whole tour
- All visits described in the itinerary
- Day 7: Private boat cruise including a champagne lunch
Not included in prices
- Lunches & dinners not mentioned in the itinerary
- Entrance fees to museums (not included in the itinerary)
- Drinks
- Personal spending
- Insurance
- Services not mentioned in the program
CONTACT US TO BOOK*
* Please quote the following reference: FV17WIP1W
