R2

NICE'S ROOFTOPS MOUNTAINS HIKE

GR5 PATH - 360° PANORAMAS - SUMMIT OF NICE - BOTANY & FLOWERS - RUINS & FORTRESSES

A unique walk to the most emblematic summit of Nice. We will discover several natural spots & discover famous trails like GR5 opening new perspectives on the Pearl of the French Riviera.  These belvederes are absolutely the most impressive ever, not only for the perspectives over Nice, but they offers also a bird's eye view at 360° on the whole French Riviera & the high peaks of the Alps. The guide is specialized & botany passionate to gives you all the informations about the unique flora & medicinal plants : their diversity, properties, virtues, story & traditional ways to use them. We will also take the opportunity to discover hidden monuments, totally unknown to mass tourism, like a mysterious pyramid, a military fort & ruins of a medieval village. A generous & authentic niçois pic-nic as a reward for the effort will be given to you.

Let's meet early in the morning with our specialized guide (at 8am or 8:45am) and take a public bus (30 minutes drive) to the starting point of the hike. The guide will explain you the program and details of the day. At the beginning, through the typical aromatic Mediterranean scrubland & its abundant vegetation, we will sight some ruins of old houses, and then make a first stop to observe an unknown and secret monument lost in the middle of nature, and the guide will tell you its unusual & mysterious history. The 1rst panoramic lookout is already impressive & delightful overwhelming Nice and the Angels' Bay (Baie des Anges).

We will continue our ascent to the highest point of the day, at 850 meters high, by taking the famous GR5, a great long distance hike, beginning of the major trail to cross all the chain of the Alps which starts from Nice and goes up to the Vosges Mountains in the North of France. When we will reach the summit, emblematic of Nice, we will go under and inside a huge 19th century military fort classified "Séré de Rivières" which had been part of the French military defense system against the Italian border. Its privileged position gives the benefit of incredible 360° panoramic lookouts.

We will enjoy a walk around the military fort to observe the botanical richness of the surroundings with many wild edible endemic plants typical of Nice hinterlands. Then, after a significant effort, you will be glad to enjoy a delicious picnic with local specialties (Pan Bagnat, farcis niçois, pissaladière, etc. (Call us before for special food requirements).

After our lunch, let yourself be transported by the pleasant descent before to join again the famous trail GR5 until a nice perched medieval village, overwhelming the Var Valley, main river of Nice. We can either consider the hike long enough to relax or, for the sporty ones, we will propose another ascent to old ruins of a medieval village, then deserted, from where the panoramic views are even more spectacular (30-45 mn of steep uphill, but the beauty really worth the effort).

Optionally, another hike downhill in a mysterious dark valley, rich in a unique and particular biodiversity in the hollow of a canyon.

A PANORAMIC, SPORTY & BOTANICAL HIKE!

Highlights of "Nice's Rooftops Mountains Hike":

•     A unique hike to the summit of Nice, very emblematic rooftop of Nice

•     An enriching botanical discovery on edible and wild plants, properties, virtues & tradition

•     The most spectacular panoramic points over Nice, the French Riviera and the Alps

•     Visit the ruins of an old medieval village, deserted today

•     A sporty hike, deep breath of fresh air from the Alps

•     A delicious gourmet basket for an authentic & generous picnic.

•     A local, professional and passionate guide, expert in nature, botany & history.

Pricing conditions :
* These excursions are adapted to children/families: (Student rate (from 18 years old) = -20%; 12-17 years old = -25%; 6-12 years old = -50%; 1 - 6 years old = -70%)