Trail Running the mountains of the French Riviera
Where: Saint-Martin-Vésubie, France (arrival and departure: Nice Airport)
When: 18 - 22 June 2020
What: A trail running experience from the French Riviera to the highest peaks of Mercantour National Park
Why: Enjoy the lavender fields of Provence and run the ancient paths of this UNESCO heritage national park
BOOK NOWWhy Provence?
Provence is renowned for its lavender fields, olive groves, as well as for its wine making and perfumery. But if you look up, there’s so much more to see!
The Mercantour National Park in the Alpes de Haute Provence is the home of a UNESCO heritage site. It’s also called the paradise of geologists, because it bears the traces of more than 300 million years of Earth’s history.
The landscapes are impressive here, with over 3000 meters peaks, and the biodiversity that we’ll see on our routes is remarkable. During our days there, we’ll cross this part of France from south to north, enjoying the mediterranean mountain views. On our way we’ll come across a few picturesque villages that are historical sites, preserving ancient objects of the past lifestyle.
There will be heights, green trails, wine, lavender, olive groves, and there will be that distinct joie de vivre that the places and the people in Provence are known for.
Let’s do a complete nature immersion in this wonderful land!
LEARN
Running technique Nutrition workshops
RUN
Explore new trails with people sharing the same passion
RELAX
In the lavender fields
taste
Provençal wines and cuisine
enjoy
Some of the oldest mountains in the world
disconnect
In a natural paradise
Favorite Secret Spots
We won’t lie.
Some of our favourite places in Provence are the famous lavender fields and olive groves. But in this camp we have some nice surprises for you. An incredible variety of landscapes, from high mountain passes and clifftop trails to the deepest canyon in France.
Natural diversity and the local joy of living will be our focus.
Our accommodation
In our camps, we like to choose places that are comfortable, but also keep the traditional architecture, cuisine, and way of living.
In the Alpes de Haute Provence, we chose a cosy chalet right in the heart of the mountains. It will be a pleasure to open the window and see such wonderful sights, letting the fresh air in.
The chalet has a restaurant with traditional French food based on locally sourced ingredients.
Price
- Private transfer from Nice Airport to the hotel in Saint-Martin-Vésubie (+ roundtrip ride)
- 4 nights accommodation in double rooms in a mountain chalet
- Guided group runs
- Breakfast and Dinners with delicious local food
- Snacks and drinks on the trails
- Running & nutrition workshops
- Surprise welcome package
- Flights to Nice, France
- Sports travel insurance
*The early bird price for this all-inclusive camp is €1149, available only for bookings made until 15.04.2020. The late booking price is €1249.
In order to secure your spot, you only need to make a deposit of €350.
Gallery
The iconic landscapes of the French Riviera
Schedule
Our meeting point is at Nice Airport. From there we’ll drive to Saint-Martin-Vésubie, where our hotel is located. After dinner, it’s time to meet the other runners, and then have a briefing about the adventure that awaits us.
Our second day starts with breakfast at our hotel, and then we’ll debrief the route of the day. Our trail run will take us through some of the most beautiful peaks of Mercantour, and the lakes around: Lacs des Millefonts. We’ll be back in time for lunch, followed by a sports nutrition workshop held by Carmen. She’ll teach us how to eat for better performance and how to build healthier habits. Afterwards, we’ll have free time to relax and get ready for another delicious dinner.
We’ll start the day with a breakfast and a route debriefing meeting. Then, it’s time to tie our shoelaces and go run. Challenge of the day: climbing the highest peak of the tour. When we return, we’ll have lunch, followed by a running technique session. It will be a longer day, but we’ll have some time left to rest before dinner.
Breakfast and the debriefing meeting will be early in the morning. Then, we’ll head out for the last route of the camp, tracing the geological history of these old mountains that will host us. A day with stunning views, although not an easy day for our legs. We’ll end the last running day of the camp with a dinner party, reliving the most fun moments of our adventure.
After breakfast, we’ll have our last briefing and conclusions about our week of adventure in the Camp Closing Meeting. Then, we’ll head towards Nice Airport in our private van, to make sure we’re all on time for the departure flights. If you wish to extend your vacation and have booked extra nights in France, you can choose to stay in the village or be dropped off in the city center of Nice.
About us
We’re those enthusiastic trail runners who left the big cities and moved to the mountains just to get to do what they love more often.
If you also forget the time when you’re in nature, love to spend quiet time on the mountains, days of adventure and running on trails, then you’re in the right spot.
Trails and Tales is the place we created to share stories from beautiful trails with you and others who share the same passion. The trail running camps we organize are also a way of sharing our favourite trails, the lessons that we’ve learned, and the passion that we have for the mountains.
The trail running camp in Provence and Alpes de Haute Provence is our way of mixing some serious mountain running with the French lifestyle, the iconic landscapes, and an invitation to disconnect.
Join us on this joie de vivre seeking adventure!
Carmen Albisteanu
Certified Nutrition Coach // Trail Runner
My two passions are trail running and traveling. By running and hiking in the mountains, I get to see so much more than the regular tourist attractions. I lived in Barcelona for a few years and the Pyrenees were one of the reasons why I chose Spain. Mountains are where I feel at home, and nature is my playground, my constant source of joy.
Andrei Tale
Mountain Runner // Adventurer
Competing and maybe even winning a race makes it a good day out there on the trails. But what makes it perfect? Living a memorable adventure that lasts forever, spending as much time you can get in nature with your friends or watching the sunset high up in the mountains late in the evening. You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.
What do runners say?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The Provence Camp will be focused on enjoying the mountains landscape between Nice and Mercantour. You should have an intermediate level of trail running. If you’re able to cover between 15 km and 30k m a day for three days in a row, even at a slow hiking pace, then you’re fit for this camp.
The price of this 5 day camp is 1149 € until April 15th 2020, or 1249 € between April 15th and May 15th 2020. Your booking is secured by first making a deposit of 350 €, after which you have time until May 15th to pay the remaining balance. Read more about our booking confirmation and refund policy HERE.
You can contact us if you want to extend your stay after the camp is finished or if you want to arrive a few days earlier. We can help with accommodation extension, as well as with ideas of fun activities and places to visit.
Our total distance in this camp can be adjusted, but we’re considering 50-60 km accumulated in 3 days. These can be done running or hiking, and the faster runners can cover more distance if they wish.
This will be an amazing culinary experience, thanks to all of the local French delicacies available in the area. There are plenty of vegan and vegetarian options. But if you have any special requests or intolerances please let us know in advance.
This camp is mainly dedicated to runners. However, we can offer two spots for non running friends, with a 10% discount from the regular price (either early bird or full price, depending on the booking date). First booked, first served.
