French Alps: Photo Expedition

Mountain peaks and waterfalls, streams and alpine lakes, plus some of Europe’s most picturesque valleys. Get excited for an unforgettable nine days traversing the mighty French Alps all the way down to glorious Mediterranean beaches. We’ll experience the Alps like few others have—and relish every moment—as we focus on our outdoor and adventure photography techniques.

We kick off our expedition in the mountain village of Aussois. We’ll meet up in the afternoon, set our photography intentions for the days ahead, review our route and organize our gear. Later in the evening we’ll reconvene for an epic welcome dinner and celebration.

From the small ski resort of Valfréjus, we’ll grab our day packs and begin an easy and scenic ascent toward the open col (a mountain ridge between two peaks) of Vallée Etroite. From our vantage point in this narrow valley at the foot of Mont Thabor, a borderland area that retains a strong Italian flavor, there are sweeping views of the summits of the Massif de la Vanoise—the third-highest mountain range in France—with unforgettable views that we’ll spend time capturing in the late-morning light.

Afternoon a picnic lunch, our descent takes us along wild streams and through alpine meadows to the huts of the Vallée Etroite. From here we’ll continue over Col des Thures and down to luminous Vallée de la Clarée, a visual wonderland of mountain lakes and green pastures under famously sunny skies, framed by the Alps’ most photogenic dolomite peaks. In the late afternoon we’ll transfer to Briançon, one of the highest mountain villages in France at 4,350 feet, where we spend the night.

Day 2: 13.5 miles, 7.5 hours, 3,669′ gain, 4,125′ loss

Photography Highlight: Vanoise summits, Vallée de la Clarée

After breakfast we transfer to the village of Villard St Pancrace, then hike into Queyras National Park. Famous for its dramatic rock formations and beautiful meadows, we’ll marvel at the towering spires cutting above the trees and keep our cameras at hand to capture the goat-like chamois we may encounter. From the hamlet of Chalets des Ayes our trail winds through forests and gorges and past mountain lakes, to a summer farming region just beneath the Col des Ayes.

In the afternoon, we make our way up to the exquisite hamlet of Clapeyto and enjoy a breathtaking view of the valley below. We’ll continue down to the village of Brunissard, then transfer to St Véran for the evening.

Day 3: 8 miles, 6.5 hours, 3,336′ gain, 2,250′ loss

Photography Highlight: Col des Ayes, descent to Brunissard

Set your alarm! Today we’re hitting the trail at 4:30am so we can experience and photograph an Alps sunrise. We start at Chapelle de Clausis, the photogenic chapel watching over the valleys of Aigueblanche, then hike out to Col Blanchet as the dark purples and blues blues of early morning are overcome by dawn’s pinks and reds, the sun rising above the mountains in a burst of brilliant color. It’s a sunrise like no other.

After breakfast on the trail, we’ll briefly set foot in Italy—since Roman times, this area has been the conduit for trans-Alpine invasions—before crossing back to France via the wide and scenic Col Longet. The descent from here is long and gentle, passing through Alpine meadows and along the Ubaye river valley to Maljesset. We’ll spend tonight in Barcelonnette, with dinner on our own and time to enjoy this scenic mountain village.

Day 4: 14 miles, 8.5 hours, 2,491′ gain, 3,680′ loss

Photography Highlight: Sunrise hike, Ubaye river valley

Enjoy a rest day, French Alps style! We’ll drive to St Martin de Vésubie—crossing the Col de la Bonette, the highest driving pass in Europe. The afternoon is for flaneuring our way around this once-fortified medieval mountain village, sipping a grand crème at an outdoor cafe and hopping over the gargouille (small mountain stream) that runs through the center of town. The nearby wolf education center, devoted to the wolves that returned to the region in the 1990s, is a worthy visit. You’ll have the option of making the scenic drive to watch and photograph wolves reintroduced into the upper valley, but prevented from causing havoc on lower-valley farms by barrier with viewing platforms.

Photography Highlight: Wolves in natural habitat

We’re back on the trail today. We’ll drive to the end of the Boreon Valley to start our trek through Mercantour National Park. Get ready to enter the home of ermine, chamois, ibex, and eagles. Starting from the stone barns at Vacherie du Boreon, we’ll pass through groves of larch trees toward shimmering Trécolpas lake, then continue to Pas de Ladres, our pass for today and another opportunity to capture sweeping mountain views that extend out to Corsica on a clear day. Our descent takes us to La Madone de Fenestre, a 14th-century high altar made of Lebanese cedar nestled at the end of the valley. Peaceful.

Day 6: 7 miles, 6 hours, 2,624′ gain, 1,771′ loss

Photography Highlight: Trécolpas lake, Pas de Ladres

We depart early for Camp d’Argent today. As we follow the GR5 trail along the ridge between the Roya and Bavera valleys, we’re be greeted by the heady fragrances of the world-famous herbes de Provence—rosemary, sage, oregano, marjoram and savory—which grow abundantly along our route. Next, we’ll approach the medieval village of Sospel, famous for its baroque church, newly renovated town square, and 13th-century toll bridge, one of the last of its kind in the world. We’ll have time to scout the village and set-up for a late-afternoon capture of Sospel’s cobbled streets and bridges, before transferring to our hotel in Menton.

Day 7: 11.5 miles, 7 hours, 1,596′ gain, 4,900′ loss

Photography Highlight: Roya and Bavera valleys, medieval Sospel

It’s our final day of trekking, and of course we won’t leave without one last epic hike. Our circuit of Le Grand Mont starts from Mediterranean village of Castellar then loops up through alpine lakes and one last panoramic view of the mountains, the perfect setting for a picnic lunch and some group shots. Then we’ll march triumphantly down to Castellar, its citrus- and sunshine-colored houses perched on the side of a steep slope overlooking the sea.

A short transfer takes us back to our hotel in Menton, where we’ll mark the end our journey by dipping our toes into the azure waters of the Mediterranean and capturing sunset from the seafront. Only a few miles from the Italian border, Menton is the warmest and most dolce vita of the Côte d’Azur resorts. And the perfect spot for us to convene for a farewell dinner overlooking the Mediterranean, to celebrate the end of our Alps adventure.

Day 8: 7.5 miles, 6.5 hours, 2,428′ gain, 4,600′ loss

Photography Highlight: Le Grand Mont, sunset in Menton

It’s time to say goodbye to France (actually, make that au revoir) knowing we’ve accomplished something special—a traverse of the French Alps from the heights of Mont Thabor all the way to the Côte d’Azur, with a treasure trove of images capturing glorious vistas and the natural beauty of the Alps. After a last breakfast we’ll pack up our gear, say farewell to our new friends, and head for the airport.