Hiking in the Vallée des Merveilles

From the Lac des Mesches parking lot, take the wide path up through the mélézin towards marker 86. Continue left along the Minière valley, following the carriage path to Gias Vioré (b.88). After a slight descent, go up the valley on a path alongside the torrent to marker 89. Then follow a path that avoids the switchbacks and rejoins the trail at marker 90. Continue along the mountain lakes to reach the Club Alpin Français refuge (b.92).
From this point, you enter the restricted area of Les Merveilles. It's important to stay inside the hiking trail, and an authorized guide is required if you wish to go out and see more of the engravings.
Follow the GR52 into the Vallée des Merveilles, a vast amphitheater of smooth rock and erratic boulders. An educational circuit presents the famous protohistoric engravings (Christ, the Sorcerer, the Tribal Chief).
Return by the same route.

Hiking time: approx. 3 hrs. to the Refuge des Merveilles (start of the tour) + duration of the tour:
- with an accredited guide: approx. 2h30 (reservation required on vallée-merveilles.com): .
- without a guide: crossing the Vallée des Merveilles to the Valmasque drop takes around 2h (one way).
Total duration of the day (hike + visit): 8h30 AR.

The Vallée des Merveilles takes its name from the thousands of engravings dating from prehistoric times on colored stone slabs known as "ciappe".

You can continue on to the Valmasque refuge from the Valmasque drop and return to the Valmasque car park-entrance to the Park-then on to Castérino and Lac des Mesches (see "Le Tour du Mont Bégo" hiking trail).