Located on the Franco-Italian border, on the edge of the warm Mediterranean sea, Menton is a delight for any visitor. It is easy to see how it earned its nickname 'The Pearl of France,' combining a city of gardens, seaport, beach resort and a paradise for hikers all rolled into one! With the Alpine chain dropping into the sea at the level of French/Italian border, it is also an ideal location for an Headwater guided walking holiday. Many of the trails start directly from the town and gain altitude in a short distance, offering some of the finest views of the French Riviera.
This trip is graded activity level 2 (Leisurely/Moderate).
Although the pace of the walks is leisurely and there is plenty of time to rest and enjoy the views, we place this itinerary at the tougher end of the leisurely/moderate scale due to several of the walks heading to or descending from hilltop villages. You should expect some ascent and descent and read the daily itinerary carefully. The terrain and type of path/track will vary from manmade paved tracks (which are occasionally rocky) to tarmac. All walks take between 4 and 6 hours including lunch stops and require a moderate level of fitness. Public transport can be subject to delays and seasonal timetables, so some waiting at bus stops should be expected.
All walks are optional and there is plenty to do in and around Menton should you wish to take extra days out of the walking itinerary. On some days walks may be shortened if you wish to take public transport (again this is dependent on the time of year), however please be aware this may be at your own expense and the leader will continue with the group (they will happily advise and ensure you know which bus or train you need to take).
Our start point is a comfortable 3-star hotel in Menton. Situated just a short stroll from the train station, beach and shops, it is ideally located for a week of centre-based walking. In the evening our guide will hold a welcome meeting to discuss the week ahead, give advice on the local area and answer any questions.
Today we discover the region. Starting from the hotel we stop at the local market where we discover local food ingredients, then we take the train or the public bus to Carnoles. From there we will start our walk around the beautiful Cap Martin Peninsula where we stop for picnic lunch. After lunch we will visit Carnoles Garden, originally surrounding the summer residence of the princes of Monaco. It is one of the notable gardens of France, known for its citrus trees.
We begin our day by taking the train for a 20 minute journey to Eze plage, and carry on by bus to Eze, a medieval village established in the 14th century, offering magnificent views over the coast. From there we will have the option to walk to Mont Bastide castle ruins to admire amazing views before we visit the Exotic Garden which is built 429 meters above sea level on the site of an ancient fortress. It is overlooking the Provencal hill village providing home for cacti, succulents, xerophytes and various Mediterranean species. After some free time in town we will walk down the Nietzsche path to join Eze plage.
Today we take a train or bus to Carnoles followed by a walk to Roquebrune where we enjoy stunning views. Then we walk down to Monaco where we will take the ferry shuttle to cross Monaco harbour. We will discover Monaco’s old town with tiny streets and beautiful buildings as well as the Casino are before we take the train back to Menton.
On your free day you could choose to explore Menton old town. During the 19th century, the British and Russian aristocracy met here in fabulous palaces and villas. The architecture is stunning with the unique baroque style of the Saint-Michel and Conception squares as well as the Saint-Michel Basilica façade. Alternatively you could visit one or more of the 8 gardens of Menton or head further afield to Nice by train or bus and visit its renowned market as well as the 'Promenade des Anglais'. Monaco also has much to offer, particularly its exotic garden which is hanging over the 'Rocher' giving a beautiful view over the city and the sea.
This morning we take the train to Villefranche from where we will walk to the Gavinette point to admire the spectacular view of Villefranche bay. We will continue our walk to Cap Ferrat where we will be charmed by the beauty of Villa de Rotschild.
In the morning there will be an option to take the public bus to the Serre de la Madone garden for a visit (payable locally). In the morning we will take the public bus to the Serre de la Madone garden for a visit. Created by Sir Lawrence Johnston he turned terraces of vines and olives into a garden bright with drifts of agapanthus and strelitzia. After our visit, a private bus will collect and take us to the village of Sainte Agnès. High above Menton town, this village is registered as 'one of the most beautiful French villages'. It hides picturesque streets and artist studios. Perched at 800m of altitude, it offers a breath-taking view over the blue Mediterranean Sea. We then take the bus or walk back to the hotel.
After a relaxed breakfast we say our goodbyes.
This single-centre holiday is based at the following hotel. If you'd like to extend your stay here, or upgrade your room, just let us know at the time of booking.
To find out more call our sales team on 1-800-267-3347, use our live webchat or email usa@exodustravels.com
Our aim is to provide holidays that are unbeatable for choice and flexibility. We've listed our most popular travel options below, however you aren't limited to these - we can tailor-make virtually any holiday to suit.
To find out more about the travel options available call our sales team on 1-800-267-3347, use our live webchat or email usa@exodustravels.com
Here at Headwater we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can continue to develop, and where necessary improve, our services and ensure our holidays continue to be the best they can be. As this is a relatively new holiday, we don't yet have any customer reviews available from our customers, but here are the comments that have been received from previous Exodus travellers.
This was another delightful walking trip with a good group. The leader Jessica was born locally and is passionate about the history of her region, so that we now know all about the mountain paths along which the donkeys carried the salt over to Italy. Hotel Mediterranee is very comfortable, and close enough to the sea that we were able to have some lovely evening meals in a variety of French and Italian restaurants. on the front.
Excellent guide, Sandrine. Exodus must retain her!! Routes, excellent variety, interest and length. Good hotel. Below average breakfast. I had a very good room, but too much vegetation outside window!! Very good roof top bar. Good transport. Flights, don't like late day flights.
Stunning scenery. Walks a little slow as we stopped a lot to look at the flora but sufficiently challenging.
Perfect break away - good capable leader - perfect hotel and wonderful location in Menton. We had a good week and walked to some super places. We enjoyed great meals out in the evening and altogether with the super October weather experienced a truely wonderful holiday
The trip was great, really nice group of people ands very knowledgable guide with a great sense of humour. The location was beautiful and the hikes very satisfying.
This was my first walking holiday and I really enjoyed it. The Riviera is beautiful. The walks along the spectacular coastline, up in the hills and through the seemingly timeless villages were all excellent. It's hard to believe that some people live there all the time. The other people on the holiday were all nice and friendly, so I should not have worried before booking.
My first solo walking holiday surpassed expectations. Every day was different. The walks varied from rocky steep mountain trails to flat coastal paths. The scenery was beautiful. The views of the Riviera from clifftops were spectacular. Wandering through quaint , quiet villages was a delight. An added bonus was the friendly company of everyone in the group and the laughter and different stories about life in other countries at dinner in local restaurants.
A lovely holiday staying in Menton with the chance to visit Monaco and Italy on either side. Hotel was quiet and clean, very near the beach so always easy to locate. Some lovely walks with impressive views, and visits to picturesque old towns and villages.
Wonderful holiday in stunning scenery. Menton is an ideal place for a base - its so easy to visit other places on the Cote D Azur from here. There is a great train and bus service and within an hour you can be in Monaco, Nice or even Italy. The walks are great with some wonderful views of the hills and coastline.
I wanted to try something different this year and this certainly ticks the box. It's a much better way to see the Riviera than a tour bus or cruise ship.
A fantastic group walking holiday in the scenic South of France exploring hidden gems in the countryside. Our guide, Stephanie was absolutely great, organising us and looking after the well being of everyone. Menton was a good choice for base as it was a vibrant and pretty town, with a good beach (though stony), many shops and restaurants along with an interesting museum.
We are both keen walkers and this holiday fully lived up to its expectations. A good mixture of coastal and mountain walking. Spectacular views every day. Menton is a great location from which to walk, being on the coast and just under the Alps. It is an attractive resort with lots to see and do outside walking time, e.g. gardens, museums, old quarter, churches and of course, the beach and marina. Made all the more enjoyable by fantastic weather!
This is a wonderful way to experience a beautiful part of France and includes small villages, mountains and the seaside. There is more moderate than easy walking involved but it is well worth the effort.
It was a lovely trip and I would do it again.
Beautiful villages to explore with spectacular views and a hotel right on the beach - what more could you ask for?!
I would certainly recommend this walking holiday, it proved very interesting.The location is marvellous with the hotel front overlooking the sea and the hills behind encompassing these wonderfull walks with such splendid views.
You can be confident that our pricing includes all the standard requirements of your holiday and many additional extras. Always ensure that you are comparing like for like when booking your holiday.
This 7 night guided walking holiday includes:
All breakfasts
All accommodation
All transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout
Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)
How to book:
For further details, or to check availability, speak to our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or complete our holiday enquiry form (we'll contact you at a time that's most convenient for you).
To enquire about this holiday, or for further information, call our sales team on 1-800-267-3347 or complete our holiday enquiry form.
| Departure date | Tour only | Prices | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd Oct 2021 | US$2249 | Tour only: US$2249 | Check availability |
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| 21st May 2022 | US$2249 | Tour only: US$2249 | Check availability |
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| 4th Jun 2022 | US$2249 | Tour only: US$2249 | Check availability |
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| 27th Aug 2022 | US$2349 | Tour only: US$2349 | Check availability |
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| 10th Sep 2022 | US$2349 | Tour only: US$2349 | Check availability |
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| 24th Sep 2022 | US$2349 | Tour only: US$2349 | Check availability |
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The prices quoted for each individual departure supercede those published in our current brochures. Air prices are subject to change and we advise early booking to obtain the best prices. Please see our Planning your holiday and What's included in the price? pages for additional information.
This holiday is operated by our sister company, Exodus
7 nights comfortable hotel with en suite facilities
5 days centre-based walking
Low altitude throughout
Altitude maximum 751m, average 350m
