Wolf spotting in France
| country: | France |
| location: | Mercantour, French Alps |
| trip type: | Moderate walking holidays |
| departures: | 2010: 30 Jan, 20 Feb, 13 Mar, 3 Apr, 17 Apr, 5 Jun |
| price: | From £455 (8 days) excluding flights & transfers, based on self catering gite accommodation. Also available with B&B, H/B or F/B hotel option or joining in Nice. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
An extremely rare sight anywhere in Europe these days, but especially so this side of the Italian border, this magnificent animal had been hunted out of the region prior to the formation of the National Park. Gradually, les loups have returned, first seen by a local man in the early 1990s. Wild wolves live in the Park, albeit in very small numbers, and so one will be very lucky to spot this shy, elusive creature – but it is possible!
Throughout the year with the high peaks are still covered in snow, and the human element very seldom seen we’ll combine five fantastic days walking with searching out for signs of wolf activity and of course all the other fauna and flora with which the area abounds.
Alpha – The time of the wolf – Scénoparc in Le Boréon near St Martin Vésubie opened in 2005 – and gives you the chance to immerse yourself in the myth and legend of the wolf and come face to face with the centre’s 22 inhabitants. There have already been two litters of cubs born in Alpha which is a testament to their contentment in their new home. The centre has now received over 52000 visitors.
Local guides Patricia and Christian are passionate about this, their home ground, and the wolf. All activities are lead by fully qualified mountain leader/specialist activity personnel. Accommodation is in comfortable self catering gite, B&B or hotel options. The Mercantour National Park is just an hour’s drive north of Nice airport, easily accessible from most UK airports. Weekend and short breaks are also available.
Throughout the year with the high peaks are still covered in snow, and the human element very seldom seen we’ll combine five fantastic days walking with searching out for signs of wolf activity and of course all the other fauna and flora with which the area abounds.
Alpha – The time of the wolf – Scénoparc in Le Boréon near St Martin Vésubie opened in 2005 – and gives you the chance to immerse yourself in the myth and legend of the wolf and come face to face with the centre’s 22 inhabitants. There have already been two litters of cubs born in Alpha which is a testament to their contentment in their new home. The centre has now received over 52000 visitors.
Local guides Patricia and Christian are passionate about this, their home ground, and the wolf. All activities are lead by fully qualified mountain leader/specialist activity personnel. Accommodation is in comfortable self catering gite, B&B or hotel options. The Mercantour National Park is just an hour’s drive north of Nice airport, easily accessible from most UK airports. Weekend and short breaks are also available.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive Berthemont les Bains for gite accommodation or pick up in Nice. |
| Day 2: | Join Christian and Patricia on three discovery days out. Madone de Fenestre to Le Haute Boreon via Pas de Ladres and Lac de Trecolpas. Stay at the C.A.F. refuge at La Cougourde. |
| Day 3: | From La Cougourde via the Baisette Guilié to the North slopes of the Salèse valley – off the beaten track and known as “wolf valley”. Continue to the private refuge either at Les Adus or Mollières, depending on conditions. |
| Day 4: | Return to St Martin Vésubie/Berthemont via Mont Archas. |
| Day 5: | Visit the Wolf Sanctuary and Scénovision at Le Boreon. Afternoon free. |
| Day 6: | Join Mel and Liz for two stunning day walks in other areas of the park. Lac Autier in the Gordolasque. |
| Day 7: | Lacs des Millefont, Col du Barn and the Téte des Margés ridge. |
| Day 8: | Depart from Berthemont les Bains gite, or drop off in Nice. |
how this holiday makes a difference
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As permanent residents in the Mercantour, our business is fully integrated into the community in the Vésubie valley – using local qualified guides paid a living wage, and individually run hotels which ensures that all revenue generated is beneficial to the life of the area. In line with the published code of the National Park, our clients are encouraged to treat the region with respect and thus uphold the standards of conservation required in such a fragile area.
Our gite As we await permission to fulfill our vision for our centuries old farm house and land, we are keen to implement as many environmentally sympathetic measures as possible. We encourage the preservation of our pure water which comes straight off the mountain and use our splendid climate for laundry drying outside. As much waste as possible is re-cycled, including pony manure which goes straight onto our vegetable patch. We aim to be as self sufficient as possible from your own garden. Gite guests are welcome to help themselves to fruit and vegetables. When meals are provided they are prepared with local produce only, often solely from the Vésubie valley. Vegetarians are willingly catered for. Energy efficient bulbs are used throughout the house. We try to minimise the use of paper in our office. Guests are encouraged to shop locally and of course to respect the integrity of the National Park.  Working relationships We only work with qualified guides for all activities. These passionate locals create a genuine and rich experience for our visitors. They are paid the appropriate rate for professional guides. Our local accommodation partners are chosen for their warm welcome and a willingness to share their love for the region. Business development In the longer term we will use abundant natural resources (wood and sunshine) for heat and light as well as providing alternative accommodation on our land. A project for three bases in the Alpes-Maritimes is underway. This would provide an inspiring holiday venue for young and old alike. Access for the handicapped would be included. We are planning to use pack animals so our guests can share their adventures with a faithful companion, and leave directly from Berthemont. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |