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Hiking Tours in the Southern Alps

Discover the distinctive appeal of hiking in the Southern Alps, where mountain scenery and protected landscapes make for a memorable journey. Explore valleys and national parks such as Écrins and Mercantour, as well as the Queyras Regional Nature Park.

Whether you are planning a family trip or a more demanding adventure, our itineraries offer routes for different abilities. Around 300 days of sunshine a year make this region especially inviting for time outdoors.

Cassandre Estelle Cécile
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Cassandre Dufour

Cassandre Dufour

Travel expert in France, Switzerland and Italy.

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Estelle Torterotot

Estelle Torterotot

Travel expert in France and Switzerland

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Cécile Henard

Cécile Henard

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Despite a common misconception, the Southern Alps are high mountains. Two summits rise above 4,000 metres: Dôme des Écrins and Barre des Écrins (4,102 metres). Several others come close, including Pelvoux, Ailefroide and La Meije in Écrins National Park, and Monte Viso farther south on the Italian side. The mountains around Briançon, Queyras and Mercantour, and those in Italy’s Argentera area, include numerous summits above 3,000 metres. Farther south, the Mediterranean coast is visible from Mont Gélas (3,143 metres), the highest summit in Mercantour, around 40 kilometres away as the crow flies.

The valleys are high too: Clarée and Ubaye are notable examples, while Saint-Véran stands at 2,040 metres.

The sunny climate makes this an appealing area for walking holidays in summer and for skiing or snowshoeing in winter, when the altitude helps maintain good snow cover.

One great route is the Grande Traversée des Alpes from Briançon to Menton or Nice: a 13-day journey from edelweiss to orange trees, with sustained climbs and descents at altitude. You can also explore the quieter valleys of Écrins, Clarée, Queyras, Haut Verdon and Ubaye; the rugged peaks of Mercantour; and the neighbouring regions of Piedmont and Liguria. Along the way, discover the prehistoric rock engravings of the Vallée des Merveilles and the painted churches of the Roya Valley. Farther south, the Provençal character of the foothills comes through in places such as Les Monges and Dévoluy, and on the crossing from Vercors towards the sea.

Our articles about the Southern Alps

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94 reviews

Michel 9/28/26 Balcony trails and villages of the Oisans

—  A very beautiful and varied route set in an enchanting landscape, often with the Meije massif in the background—it's superb

Lucie 8/19/26

—  A guide who knows the subject inside and out and is a good listener. Excellent group management, with alternative routes planned whether there are any hiccups or not—that’s really appreciated.

Beatrice 8/14/26

—  A lovely loop with a particular favorite being the St. Véran–Chianale leg; we loved the stopover inns (Les Gabelous, L’Ancolie Bleue, Pramourel) for their warm atmosphere, great food, and very comfortable rooms. We weren’t as fond of the picnics (from the hotels) with cheeses that weren’t regional at all (Brie) and were pre-packaged in plastic—it’s a shame in a region like this. Overall, as far as the hiking goes, there were too many downhill sections; we didn’t love having to walk downhill so much every evening. Something to think about for next time.

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