Hiking - The 3-day tour of Mont Bego

Stage 1: Casterino - Refuge de Valmasque

Ascent: + 540 m / - 30 m
Distance: 6 km
Duration: 4 hours

From the "Potamou" parking lot (beacon 394), the entrance to the Mercantour National Park, follow the military trail along the right bank of the Valmasque valley towards beacon 393.
Continue along the same bank to Vastière des Dragons (b.374).
Climb the path (b.98) to reach marker 98a.
Continue northwards to reach the CAF Valmasque refuge on the shores of Lac Vert.


Stage 2: Refuge de Valmasque - Refuge des Merveilles

Ascent: + 390 m / - 480 m
Distance: 8.5 km
Time: 5 hours

Return to marker 98a and follow the eastern shore of Lac Vert to marker 97.
Continue along Lac Noir and Lac Basto (b. 96), then join the GR52 (b. 95).
Follow the red and white markers to reach the summit of the Valmasque drop (b. 94).
Descend to the south to reach the Vallée des Merveilles. At this point, you enter the Vallée des Merveilles restricted area. Do not leave the hiking trail without an authorized guide.
After the Roche de l'Eclat, pass marker 93 to reach the Refuge des Merveilles (b. 92).


Stage 3: Refuge des Merveilles - Casterino

Ascent: + 700 m / - 1,120 m
Distance: 13.5 km
Time: 5 hours

From the Merveilles refuge, head east on the Merveilles trail to marker 90.
Turn left into the vallon de la Minière (b. 89), then left again to cross the vallon (b. 89a).
Continue along the left bank to marker 383, then turn west to join the Gias Valauretta (b. 384) and reach the summit of the Valauretta drop (b. 385).
Descend to the north side and follow the Fontanalba military track (b. 386 and 387). Turn left (b. 388) and climb up to "Vacherie supérieure", then right on the new path to the Fontanalba refuge.
Follow the track (b. 389) and reach marker 390 below.
Head for Lac des grenouilles, then return to the starting point via beacons 392 and 395.

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