About this event
The GR52 is the wilder sibling of the famous GR5, cutting through the most rugged heart of the Mercantour National Park before dropping to the Mediterranean at Menton. Over nine days we cross the park from the alpine interior to the sea, taking in the Vallee des Merveilles - an open-air Bronze Age gallery of more than 40,000 rock engravings around the sacred slopes of Mont Bego.
We begin gently. Three warm-up days based in Nice and Saint-Martin-Vesubie let the group acclimatise, shake down gear and get the legs working at altitude before the main event. From there we walk the classic GR52 traverse: six days point to point from Saint-Dalmas-de-Valdeblore to Menton, crossing a series of high passes above 2,400m, threading past turquoise glacial lakes, and finishing with a long descent through olive groves to the Riviera coast.
This is a serious high-mountain route with roughly 5,000m of cumulative ascent and several exposed passes. It rewards hikers who arrive fit, sure-footed and comfortable with long days on rocky ground - but it asks no technical climbing skills. Nights are spent in mountain refuges and village gites, with hearty half-board meals along the way. If you want one trek that captures the full drama of the Maritime Alps, this is it.
Photos
No photos yet. Attendee photos will appear here once the event is underway.
What Wakahi Walks does
- Organise the event from start to finish
- Lead the group on the track
- Book huts, campsites or lodges (as applicable)
- Arrange logistics — transport and carpool coordination
- Group coordination and safety planning
- Organise training events
Your contribution covers this organising work — not just the hut bookings.
Logistics
- Departure point: Arrive Nice (Cote d'Azur airport, NCE). Meet point confirmed nearer the date; transfer up to Saint-Martin-Vesubie.
Costs
| Item | Amount | Group Booking |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | $2200-3000 NZ | No |
| Accommodation (8 nights) | $50-70 NZ/night, half-board | Yes |
| Meals (per day) | $40-60 NZ | No |
| Local transport | $30-50 NZ | No |
| Travel insurance | Required | No |
| Contribution - Regulars | $150 | No |
| Contribution - First-timers / International | $250 | No |
Contributions are due 2 months before the event and are non-refundable. No pulling out unless a suitable replacement is found.
Pre-event and post-event group dinners
We usually meet for a group dinner before the walk and a celebration dinner after it. Both are optional, but most attendees join.
Restaurant options (average cost per person):
- Village gites and refuges provide half-board dinners; farewell meal in Menton or Nice at the end of the traverse
Voting coming soon.
What to bring
Gear
- Backpack (40-50L)
- Waterproof pack liner
- Hiking poles
- Broken-in boots with ankle support
- Thermal base layers (merino)
- Insulated jacket
- Waterproof jacket and overtrousers
- Hat, sunglasses, high-factor sunscreen
- Headtorch and spare batteries
- Water bottles/bladder (2L)
- Sleeping bag liner for refuges
- Personal first-aid and blister kit
Food
- Half-board (dinner, bed, breakfast) is provided at refuges and gites along the traverse
- Lunches are picnic-style, bought at village stops or carried
- Food and drinks are available for purchase at each refuge
Important notes
- Trip: 14-22 July 2027, nine days, Nice / Mercantour / Menton. Difficulty 4 (very challenging). Group capacity 6
- DAY 1 - Arrive Nice. Settle in, gear check, group dinner on the Riviera. Transfer up to Saint-Martin-Vesubie (975m), gateway to the Mercantour
- DAY 2 - Acclimatisation walk from Saint-Martin-Vesubie: the Lacs de Prals circuit (approx 4 hours) through flowery pastures to a cluster of alpine tarns. An easy day to loosen the legs at altitude
- DAY 3 - Second acclimatisation walk in the Boreon valley to Lac de Trecolpas (moderate), through forest and mountain streams, chamois country. Optional visit to the Alpha wolf park. Transfer to the trailhead at Saint-Dalmas-de-Valdeblore
- DAY 4 - GR52 begins. Saint-Dalmas-de-Valdeblore towards the high country, climbing steadily into the park
- DAY 5 - Over the high passes towards the Refuge de Nice, past glacier-polished rock and alpine lakes
- DAY 6 - The shortest but demanding stage over the Baisse du Basto (2,693m, the high point of the GR52), descending into the Vallee des Merveilles. Refuge des Merveilles on the shore of Lac Long Superieur
- DAY 7 - Explore the rock engravings around Mont Bego, then continue south following the old Italian border, with far-reaching views
- DAY 8 - The landscape shifts from alpine to Mediterranean; a long descent begins towards the coast
- DAY 9 - Final stage down through maquis and olive groves to finish at Menton on the sea. Onward travel by train from Menton to Nice
- Rafick leads to control the pace of the group; please do not go ahead. We are in no rush to finish. This trip is open to hikers of reasonable fitness who can sustain days at altitudes approaching 3,000m. New members are encouraged to join a few NZ hikes beforehand
Safety
- The GR52 crosses several exposed high passes; weather in the Maritime Alps changes quickly and afternoon storms are common
- Warm and waterproof layers are essential even in July
- Snow can linger on north-facing slopes into early summer
- Comprehensive travel insurance covering multi-day hiking above 2,500m is mandatory
- Do not throw food waste on the trail; the Vallee des Merveilles is a protected historical monument with strict rules (no camping, no dogs, no marking of rocks)
YOUR SAFETY IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
Useful links
Reserve your spot
5 of 6 spots remaining.
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Who's going (1)
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Rafick Organiser
Discussion
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