What to do in Alpes Maritimes

Alpes-Maritimes is a department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in the extreme southeast of France. Its geographical location between the sea and mountains makes it ideal for a range of extreme sports.

The highest point of the department is the Cime du Gélas (3143 metres) situated on the French-Italian border, which dominates the Vallée des Merveilles further east.

The mountains of the Alps have an abundance of activities and trekking itineraries; notably in Mercantour National Park, a protected area that houses some magnificent downhill mountain biking trails.

And of course in winter you can visit numerous ski resorts located in the region. The most popular of them is Isola, it proposes many extreme sports such as ice climbing and backcountry skiing. It even houses a state of the art snow park where you can enjoy a great number of features.

However, you shouldn’t forget that when you’re visiting the Alpes-Martime, you’re only a few hours from the sea, giving you a chance to practice water sports, even in the middle of the winter, thanks to the Mediterranean climate. You can go kitesurfing or wakeboarding, depending on the wind conditions, but the mistral blows quite regularly.

Throughout spring and summer you can explore the subaquatic world, the lucky ones amongst you may even come across dolphins, whales and barracudas.

The rivers of the area are great for canyoning expeditions and white water outings in canoes and kayaks in the Vallée des Merveilles.

The Alpes-Martimes is a region overflowing with a large variety outdoor activities that can be consumed without moderation!