Mercantour family walking holiday, France. Helping Dreamers Do

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7 Days excluding flights

More info:Full board accommodation: ecolodge, hotels, mountain inns. Family rooms of 4/5 beds.Typically French homemade food. Luggage transport : donkey or car available for kids up to 5 years old. Included advice of a local guide in English.

Tailor made

“A firm family favourite, this self-guided holiday takes you not only through the Alps but from one bed to the next, with the help of a donkey to carry your bags.”

Highlights

Description of Mercantour family walking holiday, France

Donkey and You:

What is the secret to making unexplored hidden mountains accessible to a family? … a Donkey!
These affectionate animals have been part of our family for as long as we can remember. Each one of them has their own individual personality, their own life, their own specific tastes (some are happy with a chunk of bread, whilst others have more acquired tastes, saucisson being a favourite!)
They love the company of humans, especially that of children, who they will encourage to keep on walking without sulking.

Trained masters in the art of comedy, they will suddenly become all downcast and upset, merely for attention and cuddles. They are even capable of faking a limp in an attempt to earn some tabacco (gourmet donkey treat) and after they've got what they want, they will set off, fit as a fiddle, ready to tackle the tricky paths awaiting them!

Warning! You will be dealing with a skilled psychologist, an expert in the complexities of man, ready to take advantage of your weaknesses! Donkey is an experienced drama-queen, quite capable of collapsing Cinderella-style if he sees you are devastated with remorse at the amount of clothing and cereal bars piled on his back, when in truth he's really not too bothered.

The Mercantour Alps: Sunshine and blue skies
Because of the nearby sea, alpine and Mediterranean influences converge to produce a mild and sunny climate, ideal for hiking in the height of summer.

Protected mountains.
At altitudes ranging from 1200m to 3000m, chamois, marmots, eagles and wolves live undisturbed inside the boundaries of the Mercantour National Park.

Diverse and contrasted landscapes.
Lakes of turquoise nesting in lush alpine meadows scattered with gentian.
Breathtaking passages through a canyon with rocks the colour of red wine.
Woods of stern larch trees and stark mineral peaks.

Don't return home without having met the mountain folk
You will be in an undiscovered land, which remains a little secret for the tourist industry, where you will spend an entire day walking without meeting a single person. The welcome you will receive each evening from the old and new people of the valley will therefore add to the pleasure of trekking, one of the discovery of strong characters and genuine encounters with the inhabitants of our mountains.

Don't come expecting jacuzzi, breakfast in bed & automated toilet seats
The places you will refuel and rest your head at night offer a taste for diversity, from being welcomed as homestay guests and small hotels. Don't come expecting the norms of a cold, sterilised hotel with all your basic needs . If, for a week of alternative vacationing, you are able to adapt and to keep an open spirit, you will share heart-warming moments with real, full-of-life people around a well-garnished table.

Travel Team

If you'd like to chat about this holiday or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.

01273 823 700 Calling from outside the UK? rosy@responsibletravel.com

Map

Departure information

This trip departs from mid-May to end-September; best time to go is springtime for the flora

Our top tip:

Bring treats to entice young ones up the inclines. And buy proper boots. It can be slippery under foot.

Trip type:

Self-guided. Min. age 5.

Activity level:

Moderate.

Accomm:

Mix of ecolodge, yurt, hotels and mountain inns.

Included:

Accommodation, all meals, donkey to carry luggage.

Solos:

A family trip with family rooms.

Vouchers

Accepted

Responsible tourism

Mercantour family walking holiday, France

Carbon reduction

Your holiday will help support local people and conservation. We must also reduce CO₂. Learn about the CO₂ emissions of this holiday and how to reduce them.

Environment

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.

Community

Our commitments
To maintain the importance of providing an economic contribution directly to the locals of the valley who live here all year round, favouring a network of 'chez l'habitant' hosts and always choosing local products over their industrialised, cheaper versions. This has lead us to create an alternative alimentation; Picnics made up of mixed salads, crops and vegetables from the garden, organic bread, cheeses from the region, etc. With our hosts and clients alike, we are developing an alternative idea of nutrition whereby quality, natural, reasonable price, and specific tastes (especially those of children) are united.
To manage a tourism which we control, and not be tempted to delegate or to grow; To maintain the importance of quality and of improving our services.
A question of quality in response to your demands: This year, we are proposing for your last day, an alternative trek in contrast to the classic one (lac d'allos) in order to satisfy the desires of those of you who are passionate about secret and wild mountains.
To instruct visitors to the region about pastoralism, the roots of our culture, through encounters with shepherds on our guided treks.

You will share heart-warming moments with real, full-of-life people around a well-garnished table.

8 Reviews of Mercantour family walking holiday, France

5 out of 5 stars

SHOW

Reviewed on 03 Sep 2018 by Janne Thomsen

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

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

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?

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

Reviewed on 22 Aug 2018 by Sarah Dorkenwald

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

To reach the mountain top the last day if the 7 hiking days

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

To keep the smartphone at home

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?

Yes, very much

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

I did the hike together with my daughter who is ten years and I think from this travel she could more benefit for her life than from any other materialised
consumerism such as buying stuff ...

Reviewed on 03 Jun 2018 by Lucy Chadwick

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

The walking is fantastic and the donkey became a firm companion. We hardly met anyone on the trails. So different to walking in England.

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

Take lots of layers. There was still snow at the top in June (though this was
unseasonable).

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?

Yes very much

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

It was fantastic. We loved it (even when it rained).

Reviewed on 02 Jun 2018 by John Tyler

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

Travelling with a Donkey as companion - a delightful character. We were early in the season so it was very quiet . . . . and the Alpine Flowers were wonderful.
Though it can vary from year to year, this meant the weather was variable (fine in the mornings, cloud gathered at lunchtime, thunderstorms by mid-
afternoon). The mountain scenery was incredible. Very well-appointed accommodation and excellent French cuisine in the evenings. Everyone we met
(hosts, locals, one or two other visitors) was absolutely delightful. But Donkey was highlight of the whole experience . . .

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

Don't underestimate level of fitness required. My wife and I are in early 70s, used to walking/running and managed quite well, but it was NOT a doddle. Steep
ascents and descents and really good trekking boots ESSENTIAL. Going might be easier in High Summer when paths really dry. Be careful to follow directions carefully ; we got lost once, and I'm sure we are not the first. Be prepared to ford small mountain streams (Donkey didn't seem to mind). Some experience with dealing with animals (and a supply of carrots as judicious rewards) is a great help. A good poncho excellent for wet weather !

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?

This was an environmentally very low-impact holiday. the Family-run organisation was efficient from the word Go (quick response to email queries, etc.), very well organised on site (with welfare of donkeys given a very high priority). An excellent way to see some of the least-known alpine scenery of Europe and wonderful flowers at your own pace. Provided employment for local population, and allowed us to submerge ourselves in a fascinating area, enjoy glorious peace as well as athletic challenges - and practise our rather rusty French.

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

Absolutely brilliant.. It really provided us with a week to remember always. We thoroughly recommend it - but see tips above. Holiday is advertised as
suitable for children 5 years +. personally I would think twice before taking pre-teen children. Happy to answer any further queries.

Reviewed on 17 Sep 2017 by Rob Booth

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

Our children would say Kaia, our donkey who they bonded with. For me, the emptiness and the views. Possibly my favourite spot of all was the Chappelle St-
Barnabe near Val Pelens where we whiled away a couple of hours in glorious sunshine with spectacular views.

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

Don't expect luxury. But do expect some spectacular scenery in a surprisingly untouched area. There are no shops along the way (with the exception of one
bakery and a few cafes) so bring what you need. The pack lunches are generous and include a treat - but bring some other snacks if you have children who
need encouragement.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?

The area isn't at all developed and lacks infrastructure. The donkey treks are a creative way to bring people to the area with minimal impact on the environment but lots of benefit to locals.

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

We loved it. We want to visit the area again - and preferably with a donkey.

Reviewed on 21 Aug 2015 by Tony Johnson

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

The stunning scenery of the mountains. If you love being outdoors and don't mind being away from creature comforts you'll love this holiday.

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

Some breakfasts (not all) can be really basic, just bread and jam. We had nut and protein bars to fill us up before a day's walking. Take plenty of snacks we stopped every hour for snack breaks which the kids looked forward too.
Don't underestimate your kids ours (6 and 8 years) loved it and had no problems walking. They always had plenty of energy left at the end of the day.
A couple of places were in dormitory style shared accommodation (but never any problem) so if you feel you need privacy let them know when you book.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?

Yes. We stayed in some really nice local places where others were in bigger hotels. We had better food and better views.

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

Awesome, it has raised the bar for next year!

Reviewed on 26 Aug 2014 by Alison Godfrey

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

The whole thing! Our 6 year old and 4 year old leading "Leonidas" our donkey through the French Alps, sleeping in a beautiful yurt in an Alpine meadow, and feeling like we'd done something completely different to the typical "bucket and spade" type of holiday.

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

We expected our young children to grumble about the hiking but in fact they exceeded all expectations and walked 5 steep miles per day for 3 days in a row. It's easy to under-estimate what your kids (and you) can do.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?

Mercantour NP is a protected national park. It is very beautiful and the trip felt like it had low impact on the environment.

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

Excellent. Some aspects could be improved (we were given little for breakfast - some stale bread and butter, but the jam, tea and coffee had all run out). But as long as you are easy going about such things (we'd brought our own supplies, just in case!), you will have a great adventure in beautiful surroundings.

Reviewed on 21 Aug 2011 by Nick Lampert

. 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.