Planning Your 2026 Trip to France’s Mercantour National Park

Mercantour National Park is a beautiful part of the French Alps. While the hiking is obviously incredible, there is a lot of history here as well as incredible food.

Mercantour National Park is most famous for its paintings and petroglyphs dating back to before the Bronze Age (we’re talking 3300-1200 BC). These are best explored on a hiking tour, taking you deep into the mountains where these can be seen first hand.

But Mercantour is also a great place to hike and to eat. Every hike and every meal is going to knock your socks off. For us it’s the perfect lifestyle. We love hiking up to mountain refuges (huts), having a fantastic lunch, and then waddling back down the mountain.

You’re going to stay in one of the many charming villages while you’re here. Some of them look as though they sprouted right from the mountainside. You can easily tack some time along the Mediterranean at the beginning or end of this trip if you like. We always do!

Fontanalba trail in Mercantour National Park, France

Authion trail in Mercantour National Park, France

Which Airport to Fly Into to Get to Mercantour

The closest international airport is going to be the Nice Côte d'Azur Airport. It’s a good airport (it’s tempting to call it a “nice” airport, but we’re more mature than that right?) that services around 60 different airlines.

When to go to Mercantour

In order to avoid snow and still be able to easily access the Refuges, we recommend going between May and September. You can try April and October too, but you might still have snow in April and early flurries may come in October. The only problem with the shoulder seasons in Mercantour is you are going to have more rain.

Of course the summer months are going to be busier but warmer. In late September and into October you might still get good weather but, the Refuges may not be open on the weekdays or closed up for the season.

Average monthly temperature and precipitation:

How to Get Around Mercantour

There are trains, buses and taxis, but really this is a place where you should consider renting a car. It’ll save you lots of time and let you access a lot of places that are challenging and expensive if you want to rely on trains, buses and taxis.

Beware though, driving in Europe means smaller cars so you can’t pack as much luggage. There are also smaller roads, which can make some routes challenging to drive.

Col de Fenetre must be included when planning your trip to Mercantour National Park, France

Lac Negre trail in Mercantour National Park, France includes passing the river

Best Adventure Tours in Mercantour National Park

We obviously love Mercantour for the hiking. All the Refuges and little towns only add to the experience. However the one thing you’re not likely to find in Mercantour would be the kind of accommodation that drips in elegance; you’ll have to go to one of the larger towns along the coast for that.

• Walking the French Riviera. This 5-day tour walks from Vence to Menton, at the end exploring into Mercantour National Park.
• Hiking the Hidden Gems of the French Riviera. Another great 5-day, self-guided walking tour that lets you explore some exquisite dayhikes near Mercantour.
• French Riviera hiking from Seaside to the Hills. This 6-day, self-guided tour takes you inland and is a wonderful way to explore this region.
• Trekking the French Mediterranean Alps. This guided 5-day tour takes you into the Mercantour with a licenced guide and naturalist.

There are many other tours in Southern France if the above don't captivate you!

Lac Allos trail in Mercantour National Park, France

View from Pass du Lausson on Sommets des Garrets trail in Mercantour National Park, France

Where to Eat in Mercantour

It might almost be easier to list where not to eat. Even the most unassuming family run restaurants can wow you. Being so close to Provence you have wonderful olives and olive oil, while lots of fresh vegetables. With the Mediterannean so close you have great seafood as well. While from the mountains you can find great breads and cheese.  You won't go home hungry after a trip to the Mercantour!

Mount Mounier trail in Mercantour National Park, France

Lacs de Vence trail in Mercantour National Park, France has a beautiful view of the Mont Mounier

What else can you do besides hiking in Mercantour?

Hiking through beautiful valleys and mountains, and then eating gourmet meals paired with delicious wines, might not be enough for some people. It’s (somewhat) understandable. You might need to break up all that goodness with some new experiences.

Why not hang out with some amazing animals at the Alpha Park. This is a neat way to spend an afternoon. The park allows you to watch different wolf packs interact and feed all from a safe distance. There’s lots to learn here and lots of amazing animals. It has been one of the park’s most popular attractions since 2013.

We really love visiting the Town of Saorge. The town is beautiful to behold. It looks medieval, but also like a Tibetan mountain town. It’s striking. They have an amazing Monastery there too: the Monastère de Saorge.

Then, of course, you’ll have to visit the Musée des Merveilles after you complete our hike through the Valley of Wonders. The museum will be able to shed some light on the paintings you saw on your hike, revealing the secrets of the ancients that once lived there.

If you’re stuck indoors due to bad weather, but you still want to go be active, why not try the impressive Vesubia Mountain Park. They have pools, climbing walls and even indoor spelunking and canyoning. It’s quite the feat.

For some outdoor adventuring, why not go rafting? Mat & Eau from Nice Rafting are a great company that can take you out through a number of valleys in Mercantour. They do rafts, kayak-rafts, canyoning and more. They know how to make the waters of Mercantour fun for anyone.

Finally, you can get down to Menton and the French Riviera in 1-2 hours depending on where you are. The weather on the coast can vary dramatically from the mountains and a rainy day in the Alps can be sunny and hot on the coast.

Lac des Sagnes trail Mercantour National Park, France

The lower valley of Lauzanier is one of the beautiful places to visit in Mercantour National Park, France

Dangers when Hiking in Mercantour

• As cute and neat as the Chamois and Ibex might look, it’s never safe to approach wildlife. It’s better for everyone if you just give them their space.
• Stay on the trails. You can never be sure how the ground under your feet might react if you aren’t on the well-trodden trails.
• The weather in those altitudes can change quite quickly, and if you go hiking in April or May there’s a good chance you could get poured on (or snowed on in April!) quite quickly. Always be prepared and bring your layers.

What Else You need to Know about Mercantour

• There is sometimes a stigma about the French from other travelers. We don’t believe it. The key to having a good time while traveling in France is learning a few phrases and smiling. If you can start with some French and a smile chances are you’ll have a pretty good experience.
• If you’re renting a car, don’t leave anything valuable inside. Rental cars seem to stick out like sore thumbs. Don’t be a victim of theft!
• You don’t have to worry about tipping in France. If you do feel compelled, a 5-10% tip is the most you’d want to give.
• The French gastronomy is very refined, and staff at even humble restaurants are very knowledgeable. We simply go with the flow and eat and drink what is suggested, trying new things almost every meal. It always works out.