Outdoor activities

The Alpes Maritimes department is one of the richest in France in terms of outdoor activities. From hiking and mountain biking trails to canyoning, climbing and paragliding, there’s something for everyone. In a single day, you can enjoy several of these outdoor activities, taking in some of the most remarkable landscapes, from the peaks of the Mercantour to the azure beaches of the Mediterranean. A 100% natural experience between Nice and Italy!

The Alpes Maritimes is full of ideas for outdoor activities suitable for children and families. Canyoning in the Roya gorges is an adventure accessible from the age of 8, with courses supervised by qualified guides. Hiking in the Mercantour National Park, particularly around Castérino, is a great way to immerse yourself in Alpine nature, with the chance of spotting chamois and marmots. For children who prefer the thrills of two wheels, there are specially adapted mountain bike trails around Limone Piemonte.

Yes, and it’s one of the most emblematic outdoor activities in the Alpes Maritimes. The gorges of the Haute Roya, Vésubie and Var offer canyoning routes for all levels, from the most accessible for families to the most technical descents reserved for experienced enthusiasts. The ideal season is from June to September, when the waters are both practicable and refreshing. The Mercantour National Park provides an exceptional natural setting for these experiences.

Good to know: some routes combine abseiling, natural slides and jumping. For a complete outdoor trip, you can combine a day of canyoning with a hike on the RivierALP trails the next day.

The Alpes Maritimes department is one of France’s top paragliding destinations, thanks to its close proximity to the Alpine peaks and the Azur Sea. The high-altitude take-off sites offer powerful thermals thanks to the thermal contrasts between the mountains and the Mediterranean. The peaks around the Roya valley and the border ridges of RivierALP are the most popular flying areas. Tandem first flights are organised throughout the season for beginners wishing to experience the thrill of flying without any prior training, and paragliding sessions at Roquebrune Cap-Martin are well attended. At altitude, the views encompass both the Piedmont Alps and the Riviera coastline, as far as Corsica on a clear day.

The Alpes Maritimes are less than two hours’ drive from Nice, thanks to an exceptional network of hiking trails. The Mercantour National Park, accessible via the Roya or Vésubie valleys, offers routes to suit all abilities, from family walks around Castérino to the major crossings of RivierALP. From the Côte d’Azur, the hinterland offers ideas for walks through unusual villages perched between the sea and the mountains, often overlooked by traditional tourist routes. RivierALP’s flagship route, the Limone Piemonte – Menton crossing (8 stages, 124 km), links the Piedmontese peaks to the Mediterranean on foot, crossing the Franco-Italian border in the heart of the Alpes Maritimes. A complete tour between two countries, between mountains and sea, that few other destinations in France can offer.

The great strength of the Alpes Maritimes when it comes to outdoor activities is that the destination is open almost all year round. In summer (June to September), hiking at altitude, canyoning in the gorges, mountain biking on the RivierALP network trails and coastal water sports are all available simultaneously. Spring (April-May) is ideal for hiking at low and medium altitudes and discovering the flower-filled villages of the hinterland. Autumn offers exceptional natural colours, particularly in the Bosco delle Navette and the larch forests of the Mercantour. In winter, the resorts of Limone Piemonte offer skiing, snowshoeing and other winter sports less than two hours from Nice and the Côte d’Azur. One department, four seasons of outdoor experiences!

RivierALP is not limited to classic hiking trails. The network opens the door to unusual outdoor experiences that few destinations in France can offer. A 100km cyclo rando on the old military road of the Via del Sale between 1,800 and 2,100 metres above sea level, the creation of a personalised tour between the Piedmont Alps and the Ligurian Sea by combining several stages, or the speleological exploration of the caves of the Piaggiabella complex with more than 40km of underground galleries. For family holidays, there are workshops to discover Alpine fauna in the Mercantour and guided tours of the hilltop villages of the Haute Roya, offering outdoor days based on culture and adventure. And for thrill-seekers, the cross-border bikepacking between France and Italy at RivierALP remains one of the department’s most complete outdoor experiences.