Col de Ventebrun (2758 m) walks

A very beautiful high-mountain hike at the foot of Cime de la Bonette between the Alpes Maritimes and Alpes de Haute Provence. Very little traffic. Magnificent, rocky landscape. The upper Braissette lake is a very beautiful spot for bivouacking.

A climb to a pass, followed by a descent of roughly the same length, with two beautiful lakes to admire. This walk also gives you the chance to compare the two sides of the mountain, which are quite different.

Second part of the circular. This second stage will take you to the village of Allos, starting from Mont Pelat, via the Trou de l'Aigle, the Cimet and its many waterfalls, including the Cascade du Pich and the Bois de Vacheresse.

This first stage of the Tour du Mont Aiga starts from Camp des Fourches on the Bonette road and, via the Col des Fourches, descends into the large Salso Moreno valley, which you climb back up to the Col de Pouriac. From the Col de Pouriac, you quickly reach Bassa di Colombart and then, after a long descent through the mountain pastures, the charming village of Ferrere. You may encounter flocks of sheep in Salso Moreno and, at night, the wolves that prey on them.

A first day to stretch your legs and discover the magnificent natural setting of the Vens lakes. Note: as this route ends in Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, it is advisable, if possible, to park a second car in Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée to shuttle back to the starting point. Otherwise, allow around €25 for the taxi journey from Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée to Le Pra, but please note that booking is required a few hours in advance.

Alternative route to reach the Cluite car park from the Lac d’Allos refuge. The route passes via the Tête de Valplane, which offers breathtaking views of Lac d’Allos, the Cirque de l’Encombrette and the valley leading to Colmars. You are in the Mercantour National Park; there are regulations to be observed, and failure to do so may result in a fine of up to €1,500 – see the practical information.This route takes you off the marked trails; please read the reviews.

A good walk to work up an appetite! Set off from Pra Loup to the La Dalle en Pente restaurant and return via the Chappe chairlift.

The first part of this two-day circular is challenging and breathtaking, taking you through the heart of Mercantour National Park from the village of Allos, via Lac d'Allos and its refuge, Mont Pelat, Lac du Trou de l'Aigle, Le Cimet and its many waterfalls, including Cascade du Pich and Les Bois de Vacheresse.

Before descending back to Saint-Etienne-de-Tinée, you climb to the Cime du Fer (2,700 m), which offers a superb 360° view, notably of the Tête de Moïse (3,104 m) and the magnificent Mont Viso (3,841 m). Then we descend alongside the Tortisse torrent before heading back towards the Lacs de Vens and climbing up to the Lac des Babarottes. We continue along a section of the Chemin de l’Énergie until we catch sight of Mont Ténibre. We then finish with a long descent (-1,200 m) down to the village.

Thisthird and final stage of the Tour du Mont Aiga starts from the Refuge de Vens and crosses a balcony below the slopes of the Aiguilles de Tortisse to the north-east of the Lacs de Vens. After passing the Crête de la Côte and descending to the Maisons Forestières de Tortisse, you will walk along a balcony path beneath the slopes of the Tête des Mourres to reach the Morgon plateau and climb back up to Laussets and finally to the Lacs de Morgon. At the large Morgon lake, you will descend eastwards into Salso Moréno to rejoin the path of thefirst stage and Camp des Fourches. It is possible to see chamois early in the morning and, of course, marmots throughout the day.