The Italian Alps
Sichuan
DOLOMITES, COTTIAN ALPS & MARITIME ALPS
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 second part of the tour takes us to the Great limestone ramparts of Monte Viso, the Stone King as it is known locally, overlooking 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.
The third part of our tour takes us to the idyllic Parc National du Mercantour just an hour and a half’s drive north of Nice. 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 Aquilegias, Phyteumas 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!
NB Trip reports for these magnificent longer tours are too unwieldy to download from the website, let alone read in one go, so trip reports are listed for each section of the tour.
Dates and Prices
20th June - 14th July 2027 (25 days)
* doesn't apply if you're willing to share and a room-mate can be arranged
Alpine and Meadow Flowers. Butterflies. Also Birds and Mountain Landscapes.
Paul Cardy , Andy Byfield , Stefano Doglio
One leader for a group of up to 6 and two leaders up to the maximum group size of 12. Paul Cardy is first leader throughout, aided by Andy in the first week, and Stefano in the second and third weeks
All flights. All transport, accommodation and meals in Italy and France. Services of your leaders. Please note: items of a personal nature including insurance, drinks and tips, are not included.
Flower, butterfly and bird checklists are available.
We start with two nights at the Albergo Borghese, a pleasant little hotel in Malnisio, in the Dolomiti Friulane. Then the Hotel Pineta will be your home for a week. The Hotel Pineta is a small friendly family run establishment close to pretty Caprile and in the Val Pettorina at the base of the Marmolada. This hotel has been run by the Nesello family for the past forty years and has recently been refurbished. Superbly situated for the sites we visit, the Pineta has marvellous mountain views and the restaurant serves great home-cooked food traditional dishes including canederli, casunziei, venison and roe deer. Our time in the Cottian Alps see’s us 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. We start the third week of the trip with three nights still on the Italian side of the mountains in the comfortable four-star Hotel Il Principe in lovely Limone in the Alpi Maritime Natural Park. The remaining four nights are at the warmly welcoming Hotel de Valdeblore on the French side, a characterful family-run establishment situated in the peaceful hamlet of the same name. All rooms on this tour have en suite facilities.
Relaxed and easy. Up to three or four miles on some days though less on others, and always at a slow pace, suited to flower and butterfly photographers. Mostly on well-constructed footpaths, but the best flowers and butterflies are often some yards away on steeper slopes or rougher ground.
UK direct flights are from London Gatwick, London Heathrow*, Edinburgh* or Manchester* to Venice Marco Polo, returning from Nice direct to the same airports. Indirect routes from other regional UK Airports* are available.
*These routes may incur a supplement.
Generally warm and sunny though cooler wet conditions may be encountered on the odd day. In the Cottian Alps sometimes quite hot in the valleys though we’ll be at higher altitudes in the daytime and there the temperatures will be pleasant. Occasional thunderstorms can be expected.
The first two weeks or the last two weeks can be done as stand alone tours, or each individual week. See The Italian Alps,The Cottian and Maritime Alps or the individual tours The Dolomites, The Cottian Alps or the Maritime Alps for further details.
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.
