Argentera walks

On thissecond day of the Tour of Mount Aiga from the Ferrere Refuge, you will pass through Plan de Belvédère, where there is a tin shelter overlooking the Rio Forneris valley and a fountain. You will also pass below Lake Emma, Monte Peiron at 2,796 m and Pointe Testa di Garbe at 2,749 m, to arrive, after a few hairpin bends, at Col de Fer at 2,584 m. You will then head towards Small Pass of Tortisse and the Vens Refuge, the end of this stage.

This route takes you on a circular hike up Mont Ténibre on the Italian side, starting from the Alfredo Talarico Refuge. The route passes by the Ervedo Zanotti Refuge and Lake Mongioie. The final 500 metres, between the Pas de Ténibre and the summit, are within the Mercantour National Park.

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.

Second part of the circular route to explore the magnificent Lacs de Vens. Starting from the Vens Lakes and Vens Refuge, the route leads to the hamlet of Le Pra via the small pass of Tortisse, the Col du Fer, the Pas de Morgon and the Morgon Lakes.

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.

A beautiful family hike with the chance to see marmots just a few metres from the path (from the start and also at the lake).

This is a pleasant hike, starting off easy and leading to Lac du Lauzanier. Hikers will encounter many marmots, lakes and waterfalls, ending with a beautiful view from Pas de la Cavale.

One of the most beautiful lakes in Haute-Ubaye. An easy hike with a slightly steep start, but it can be shortened if necessary.

A magnificent and very varied hike, offering superb panoramic views of numerous peaks and lakes. Numerous military remains bear witness to the strategic importance of this summit (bunkers, shelters, tunnels, cable car with the wheel still in place). The return route, equipped with chains and handrails on a fairly short section, then follows a splendid balcony path in a dolomitic landscape. This is an aerial route, so you must not be prone to vertigo.

A magnificent hike in the Haute-Tinée offering varied panoramas and one of the most beautiful series of lakes in the Mercantour! The climb from Le Pra is gradual and easy, with the Cime de la Bonnette behind you. You then pass under the strange Aiguilles de Tortisse before arriving at the Col du Fer (view of Mont Viso). After the Collet de Tortisse, you arrive at the arch, where you can enjoy a splendid panorama of the Lacs de Vens and the peaks of the Trou de l'Âne!

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.

A little-known viewpoint above the Lakes of Vens and Babarottes. A 360° panorama stretching from Mont Ténibre to Mont Mounier, as well as the Tête de l’Enchastraye and the Cime de Pal...

This is a variation on the traditional hikes to the magnificent lakes of Vens. Although the last section on tarmac between Le Pra and the car park at the start is not the most attractive, this circular route takes you through both the Vens and Tortisse valleys, with a more pleasant climb along the torrent and a breathtaking descent from the Col de Fer.

A beautiful, accessible hike starting from Camp des Fourches. You will cross the Salso Moreno sinkholes to discover the superb lakes of Morgon and Laussets. You are in the Mercantour National Park, where there are regulations to be observed, with fines of up to €1,500 for non-compliance. See practical information.

This hike, starting from Camp des Fourches, will take you through the magnificent Salso Moreno valley, characterised by its many winding streams amid marmot meadows and numerous sinkholes. You will climb to the small Lacs d'Agnel lakes, overlooking this pretty cirque at the foot of the Roubines Nègres. You are in the Mercantour National Park, where there are regulations to be observed, with fines of up to €1,500 for non-compliance. See practical information.

A beautiful climb takes you to a summit at 2,757 metres, from where you can enjoy a 360° panorama of many of the high mountains in the surrounding area. These forts were built at the end of the 19th century to prevent Italian troops from entering the country via the Salso Moreno valley. They were occupied during both World Wars but were never actually used.

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.

Three days of hiking in Haute-Tinée and Alta Val Stura in Italy, starting from Camp des Fourches, with balanced stages and no technical difficulty. This tour will allow you to discover Salso Moréno, the charming village of Ferrere in Italy and the Refuge des Lac de Vens.

A summit off the beaten track. This is a challenging hike with a significant elevation gain and difficult terrain.

Circular hike from the beautiful village of Sambuco in the Valle Stura, Provence of Cuneo. The high point is Monte Bersaio directly above the village. The majority of the walk is through high alpine meadows. If done in late June or early July there will be a profusion of wildflowers and the final meadows, just below the summit of Monte Bersaio, are full of Edelweiss.

Étape de la traversée des Alpes par le GR®5 de Larche à Saint Dalmas le Selvage. Passage dans le Parc National du Mercantour sauvage et authentique puis transition entre la Haute Tinée et le Vallon de Jalorgues avec un passage sur la plus haute route d'Europe vers le Col de la Bonnette.

If you’re heading to Col de Larche to see the classic lakes of Lauzanier and Oronaye, stop off at Larche; this quiet village offers numerous opportunities for circular walks, including this one which will take you up to the heights of Tête Dure, aptly named, after a moderately challenging walk through the varied landscapes of the Rouchouse valley.

Route starting from Larche for lovers of flora and fauna.

A summit in the Alpes-Maritimes that is rarely visited but is nonetheless well worth the detour. Long and steep, but with a gradual ascent and a magnificent route through one of the region’s most beautiful valleys, which apparently nearly became a ski resort before the creation of the Mercantour National Park. 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.

Étape de la traversée des Alpes de Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage jusqu'à Roya. Randonnée offrant un très beau panorama sur la Haute Tinée avec passage de la station de ski d'Auron puis après le Col du Blainon entrée dans le vallon de Roya où le mouton est roi.

A lovely walk starting from Saint Dalmas le Selvage, this route takes you on foot to the Sestrière plateau via an old path leading to alpine barns and overlooking the Sestrière torrent canyon. The return route follows a pleasant forest track for part of the way and leads to the Pras viewpoint, overlooking the village. This walk is particularly recommended in autumn when the larch trees are decked out in their crimson finery.

A beautiful walk to a secret valley with a lush green meadow surrounded by rocky mountain peaks.