The Alps

Three contrasting areas of the Alps mountain chain are explored in a three week tour that takes you from limestones of the Dolomites in Northeastern Italy to the wilds of Mercantour a stone’s throw from the Mediterranean in Southern France.

Reckoned by many to be unsurpassed in Europe for their wealth of wild flowers, the Dolomites have some of the finest mountain scenery. The great pinnacles and buttresses which rise high above idyllic hay meadows and forests are truly spectacular.

At sunset, the many-hued cliffs of crystalline magnesian limestone from which the region takes its name are a photographer’s dream, and during the day a naturalist’s heaven! Our comfortable family run hotel, just a forty minute drive from wealthy Cortina, has been chosen for its proximity to some glorious flowers and butterflies as well as classic alpine wildlife such as Nutcracker, Golden Eagle, Chamois and the entrancing Alpine Marmot. The flowers really are amazingly beautiful and diverse. Black Vanilla Orchid, Globe Orchid, Bearded Bellflower and Dwarf Alpenrose adorn fragrant meadows, while no less than a dozen species of Gentian decorate splendid alpine turf.

Cliffs are festooned with the pink Potentilla nitida, a variety of pretty Saxifrages, Androsaces and Bellflowers, while wooded glades hold Rampions, Wolfsbane and Orchids such as the lovely Lady’s-slipper. In particular we will search out the enigmatic Devil’s Claw and beautiful King of the Alps! Butterflies feature Scarce Coppers and Alpine Blues as well as localised species such as Titania’s and Cynthia’s Fritillaries. We think that you will agree that this is among the best floral shows in Europe with an excellent supporting cast of butterflies and birds, and all set amidst the most magnificent mountain landscapes.

The variety and abundance of flowers to be found in the outstandingly scenic Stelvio National Park has to be seen to be believed. Usually scarce plants such as Soldanella pusilla and the orchids Nigritella rhellicani and Gymnadenia odoratissima occur in mind-boggling numbers.

Roads take us up to 2700m passes where we can admire alpine beauties such as Ranunculus glacialis and we’ll soon be enjoying Papaver aurantiacum, much Saxifraga caesia, Ranunculus parnassifolius, and abundant Ranunculus alpestris. Marmots whistle their annoyance as Lammergeiers pass overhead, whilst on rocks around us are pink-purple Saxifraga oppositifolia, endemic Saxifraga aphylla, Saxifraga androsacea, Arabis caerulea and Pritzelago alpina.

Silky Ringlet floats over gorgeous Primula glutinosa, the first of ten species of this choice genus. These include Primula daonensis and fine Primula glaucescens, the latter two much lower down in the wild Crocedomani where we’ll have superb views of the southern parts of Adamello Natural Park. This area is rich in orchids. Burnt-tip Orchids and Small White Orchids mix with various Dactylorhizas and the Globe Orchids are superb. There are several stunning Pedicularis species, Soldanella alpina, Astragalus penduliflorus, Centaurea rhaetica with fine feathery bracts, and superb Saxifraga hostii rhaetica on rocks. Apollo, Purple-edged Copper, Glandon Blue, Swiss Brassy Ringlet, Almond-eyed Ringlet and Alpine Heath are found on the approach to the Gavia Pass. Here we’ll find plenty of Edelweiss as well as Gentiana punctata, Saxifraga seguieri and the locally common and very pretty Phyteuma hedraianthifolium. A walk along the beautiful Val Viola will provide some choice butterflies such as Cranberry Blue, Scarce Copper, Eriphyle Ringlet and various Fritillaries. Here architectural Sempervivum wulfenii draws us to rocks where we’ll find smaller gems such as Arenaria marschlinsii and Draba thomasii. The Bergamasche Orobienne Alps are home to beautiful Aquilegia einseleana and the exceptional Campanula raineri. We’ll also find elegant Viola dubyana, endemic Telekiaspeciosissima and Linaria tonzigii, a very choice toadflax indeed. These glorious heights are also home to Nutcrackers, Snowfinches, Gentiana orbicularis, Cyclamen purpurascens, Paradisea liliastrum, Dianthus hyssopifolius, Yellow-banded Ringlet and the rare Little Fritillary…

Just an hour and a half’s drive north of Nice the idyllic Parc National du Mercantour offers the beguiling combination of beautiful unspoilt mountains, a warm and sunny climate and one of the richest arrays of butterflies and flowers anywhere in Europe.

A dazzling show of Saxifrages, Columbines, Louseworts, Violets and Gentians adorn alpine meadows over which floats that classic alpine butterfly, the beautiful Apollo. Its rarer cousin, the Small Apollo, can also be seen amid a tremendous variety of other butterflies. About 110 species are expected, among them some of Europe’s finest – Great Sooty Satyr, Lesser Purple Emperor, Large Blue, Meleager’s Blue and Cynthia’s Fritillary. We shall search for the shy-flowering Ancient King, a rare and primitive saxifrage, as well as beauties such as Aquilegia alpina and Gentiana burseri. Secluded valleys harbour meadows and forests festooned with Geraniums, Bellflowers, yellow Foxgloves and Delphiniums. From these flowery havens Alpine Marmots whistle at us from boulders bedecked with Cobweb Houseleeks. Golden Eagles, Citril Finches and Nutcrackers add interest in the bird line, and we will see many Chamois and maybe Ibex too!

Much of what we will see is within just a few miles of the hotels so if you want to enjoy a superb mountain holiday with as much time as possible amongst those wonderful alpine meadows, forests and rocky peaks, then try this one!