Mont Saint-Honorat via Daluis

From the village of Daluis, drive up to the hamlet of Villars along a narrow tarmac road. Park near the abandoned village of Villars.

(S/E) Follow the track to marker 54 (signs).

(1) Turn left to follow the well-marked path towards the Coropatas ridge. Join the path coming from Villeplane (signpost) at marker 64.

(2) Continue towards the Cabanes de Daluis, along a ledge path on the left. Join the junction with the path to the Cabanes de Lavare at marker 65 (the path you will take on the return journey).

(3) Continue to the left, towards the ridge (easy), which you will follow to the stony area characteristic of the summit (a few large cairns visible from a distance).

(4) Leave the grassy area for the final stretch to the summit, across boulders where you will sometimes need to use your hands. After a direct climb of about 20m, you will find the easiest route on the right, then descend a small gully. Arrive at the foot of the rock pile that forms the summit.

Then veer right (north-east). The climb to the summit is not difficult but requires the use of your hands, and may be tricky for inexperienced climbers.

(5) Summit of Mont Saint-Honorat. It consists of a platform capable of accommodating 6 or 7 people.

From the summit, the route on the map (red dotted line) is marked towards the eastern ridge. However, this involves a long descent over boulders. It is advisable to descend via the same route back to the grassy area.

(4) Head left, traversing across a grassy area to reach the eastern ridge. This section is off-trail but not difficult; follow one of the many sheep tracks. You will reach a cairn.

(6) Continue the descent along the ridge, over terrain very similar to the ascent ridge. You will reach a shepherd’s hut (a recent construction) at marker 76.

(7) Take the yellow-marked path on the right. This path is sometimes in poor condition and can sometimes be confused with the numerous sheep tracks.
Caution: do not descend too far; it is better to stay more or less level until you pass a ridge from which you can see the clearly visible path after the valley

(8) Follow the well-marked path to the next valley, which you cross to reach the 1952-metre mark.

(9) From there, the well-marked path descends to marker 65, where you rejoin the path taken on the ascent.

(3) Retrace your steps in the opposite direction to descend to the starting point (S/E).

Take a drive through the magnificent and impressive Gorges de Daluis (road towards the Col de la Cayolle).