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Mercantour National Park self guided walking holidays

COUNTRY:
France
LOCATION:
Mercantour, South of France
HOLIDAY TYPE:
Self guided, moderate / strenuous walking holidays
DEPARTURES:
Depart from Villeplane, every day according to availability from Jun to 25 Sep
PRICE:
From €618 (7 days) excluding flights
MORE INFO:
From €618 (7 days) per adult and €509 per child (Under 12 yrs) excluding flights. Optional single room where possible €657
VOUCHERS:
Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
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Mercantour National Park self guided walking holidays
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Mercantour National Park self guided walking holidays

How this holiday makes a difference

For travellers who want more real and authentic holidays that also benefit the environment and local people, we provide direct benefits to the local population. Our walks are a sample of sustainable development project for abandoned rural areas. We support small local accommodations and work exclusively with local partners, helping them to generate the bookings that they need to survive in a depopulating and remote area.

In 1993, the park received the European Year of the Environment label and an award for nature conservation aimed at recognising international conservation efforts. This award was renewed in 1998 by a decision of the ministerial committee of the Council of Europe.

Guests will be encouraged to respect the nature in the national Park, through ecological information. Documents and information are available, for example concerning marked walking trails or the network of mountain refuges, to facilitate the visitor's understanding of the Park territory and conservation policies.

We run guided tours to teach visitors how to interpret the landscape, for example at the Lac d'Allos. This type of activity, particularly suitable for children, contributes to a sense of eco-citizenship.

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How we choose providers
Mercantour National Park self guided walking holidays
Mercantour National Park self guided walking holidays

Mercantour National Park self guided walking holidays

Reviewed 21 Aug 2011 by Nick Lampert4 star rating

. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The mountains, flora and fauna in an exceptionally beautiful and unspoilt part of the world, within and on the periphery of the Mercantour National Park in the French maritime Alps. Also staying in auberges and gites among friendly people, with excellent breakfasts, picnic lunches and evening meals provided as part of the package.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


The key thing is to be adaptable. We were lucky with the weather, which was consistently good for the week we were there (mid-August) but it is not always perfect even in summer. However, the tour operator provides a choice of routes in getting from one rest place to another, and this flexibility is a huge advantage.

Don't go if five star accommodation is what you want, but having said that, the level of service at the rest places was generally very good. The contact with like-minded walkers looking for quiet communication with nature, away from large crowds, was also very rewarding.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Yes, it was clear that the Itinerance walking holidays were very important to the local economy, yet at the same time organised in a way that was very friendly to the local environment.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


Excellent.

Reviewed 31 Jul 2008 by Lesley Eddleston4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


The fantastic alpine flora high in the mountains.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


Practical advice about getting there, but otherwise just do it - the info we had in advance was thorough and meant there were no real snags to advise people of.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Yes, definitely.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


A great experience for the whole family.

Reviewed 26 Aug 2006 by Andrew Baxter5 star rating

Great holiday - five-star trip. Superb scenery; walks outstanding capped by 10,000-foot climax (Mont Pelat); well organised; easy to follow route; very amenable hosts at night stops; honest mountain fare (and plenty of it); mostly off the tourist trail; good value for money; under our own steam but companionship from other trekkers in eves; accommodation basic but, on the whole, charming; glad to support local economy in lesser visited valley; no Brits (that's a plus!). How do we beat that next year?
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Holiday Reviews

We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!

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Mercantour National Park self guided walking holidays
Mercantour National Park self guided walking holidays
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