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Hiking in the Vallée des Merveilles
Sport, Pedestrian sports, Hiking itinerary
in Tende
21.9
km
9h
Quite difficult
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Departure from Lac des Mesches. Route through the Vallon de la Minière, in the undergrowth, then mineral and austere landscape in the mystical Vallée des Merveilles, with its mysterious engraved signs... Total about 9h visit of the engravings included (6h walking).
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From the Lac des Mesches parking lot, take the wide path up through the mélézin towards marker 86. Continue left along the Minière valley, following the carriage path to Gias Vioré (b.88). After a slight descent, go up the valley on a path alongside the torrent to marker 89. Then follow a path that avoids the switchbacks and rejoins the trail at marker 90. Continue along the mountain lakes to reach the Club Alpin Français refuge (b.92).
From this point, you enter the restricted area of Les...From the Lac des Mesches parking lot, take the wide path up through the mélézin towards marker 86. Continue left along the Minière valley, following the carriage path to Gias Vioré (b.88). After a slight descent, go up the valley on a path alongside the torrent to marker 89. Then follow a path that avoids the switchbacks and rejoins the trail at marker 90. Continue along the mountain lakes to reach the Club Alpin Français refuge (b.92).
From this point, you enter the restricted area of Les Merveilles. It's important to stay inside the hiking trail, and an authorized guide is required if you wish to go out and see more of the engravings.
Follow the GR52 into the Vallée des Merveilles, a vast amphitheater of smooth rock and erratic boulders. An educational circuit presents the famous protohistoric engravings (Christ, the Sorcerer, the Tribal Chief).
Return by the same route.
Hiking time: approx. 3 hrs. to the Refuge des Merveilles (start of the tour) + duration of the tour:
- with an accredited guide: approx. 2h30 (reservation required on vallée-merveilles.com): .
- without a guide: crossing the Vallée des Merveilles to the Valmasque drop takes around 2h (one way).
Total duration of the day (hike + visit): 8h30 AR.
The Vallée des Merveilles takes its name from the thousands of engravings dating from prehistoric times on colored stone slabs known as "ciappe".
You can continue on to the Valmasque refuge from the Valmasque drop and return to the Valmasque car park-entrance to the Park-then on to Castérino and Lac des Mesches (see "Le Tour du Mont Bégo" hiking trail).
- Departure
- Tende
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Difference in height
- 1106.31 m
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Plain text period
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All year round.
Access to the rock engraving site is allowed without a guide by staying on the marked trails.
Provide special equipment (snowshoes or touring skis) and find out about the risks of avalanches during the winter season.
Subject to favorable snow and weather conditions.
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Spoken languages
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Documentation
- GPX / KML files allow you to export the trail of your hike to your GPS (or other navigation tool)
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- See all reviews
- 1106 meters of difference in height
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- Maximum altitude : 2351 m
- Minimum altitude : 1397 m
- Total positive elevation : 1106 m
- Total negative elevation : -1106 m
- Max positive elevation : 453 m
- Min positive elevation : -427 m
Services
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Services
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