Austria
Cottian Alps and Maritime Alps
THE STONE KING
The Great limestone ramparts of Monte Viso, the Stone King as it is known locally, overlook Casteldelfino, now in Italy though two centuries previously part of French Delfinato.
From here the Varaita River descends a few kilometres before passing our hotel en route to joining the Po on the floodplains of Piedmont. The limestone of the Cottian Alps changes abruptly to the acidic rocks of Queyras a few miles to the west of high passes where we’ll encounter a rich tapestry of alpine wonders. For this is marvellous butterfly and flower country. One can expect up to sixty species of butterfly in a single day. All three European Apollo species float above the flowery slopes along with Moorland Clouded Yellow and any number of confusing Ringlets.
The local Glandon Blue flies with Titania’s Fritillary while colourful subalpine meadows are further enlivened by shimmering Scarce and Purple-shot Copper, and lower warmer slopes will have Large Blue, Great Sooty Satyr and Foulquier’s Grizzled Skipper. Fine Saxifrages adorn rocks and this is the best time to see them – diapensioides, adscendens and strange biflora among them. Gentians and Primulas, Lilies and Pinks, alpine buttercups both white and yellow, delicate Snowbells, gorgeous King-of-the-Alps and the lovely ‘Vanilla Orchid Nigritella corneliana.
Dates and Prices
1st July - 8th July 2026 (8 days)
* doesn't apply if you're willing to share and a room-mate can be arranged
Butterflies and Flowers. Also Mountain Landscapes.
One leader for a group of up to 6, two leaders up to the maximum group size of 12.
All flights. All transport, accommodation and meals in Italy. Services of your leaders. Please note: drinks, tips and items of a personal nature such as travel insurance, are not included.
The whole tour is based at La Caso d’Elva, nestled in the greenery of the Maira Valley in the heart of the Cuneo Alps. This lovely stone and wood built traditional building has nicely furnished rooms and an elegant restaurant where the mantra of ‘slow cooked food’ holds sway. Indeed the restaurant, La tàula de m’aura, is locally well-known with long-time resident chefs Maura, Andrea and Gepis producing wonderful repasts every evening. All rooms on this tour have en suite facilities.
Relaxed and easy. Up to three or four miles a day and always at a slow pace, perfectly suited to flower and butterfly photographers.
UK direct return flights are from London Gatwick to Turin . Other indirect routes from regional UK Airports* are available.
*these routes may incur a supplement.
Usually sunny and warm and in Sampeyre itself quite hot though we’ll be at higher altitudes in the daytime and there the temperatures will be pleasant. Occasional thunderstorms can be expected.
You can combine this wonderful tour with a week in the Dolomites, reckoned by many to be unsurpassed in Europe for their wealth of wild flowers. See The Italian Alps page for further information.
Alternatively, you could add a relaxing week in the Maritime Alps, where a dazzling show of Saxifrages, Columbines, Louseworts, Violets and Gentians adorn alpine meadows in the the idyllic Parc National du Mercantour. See the Cottian and Maritime Alps page for further information.
Or you could go alpine crazy and combine all three weeks for a 25 day trip of a lifetime! See The Alps page to be further tempted.
Contact us to check if there is availability for the number of places you require. Click on the ‘Book this Tour’ button on this page to be taken to the online booking form or contact us and we will send one to you which you can complete and send back to us. You will receive confirmation of your place, and then a detailed information pack will be dispatched to you about twelve weeks before departure. This will contain up-to-date health information.
