Marmot spotting on a Cote d’Azur holiday might seem a bit far fetched but actually its only a couple of hours drive into the Alpes Maritime to the perfect spot.
I’ve always had a thing about Marmots, I don’t know what it is but there are such lovely creatures and really quite unusual. Whenever I’m on a walk in the high mountains of the Mercantour National Park, on the border with Italy, in the south of France, I’m always on the lookout for marmots.
The trouble is they are quite secretive and only really tend to show themselves in very high places. So unless you are on a major high mountain hike the chances of seeing one are pretty small.
However I recently discovered the perfect spot, the Lac d’Allos. Now the great thing about the Lac d’Allos is that you can drive nearly all the way up. Once parked you only have about half an hours fairly easy walking, which you can do in training shoes, then you are at the lake.
It takes around half an hour to walk around the lake and here you will find marmots, particularly late afternoon and early evening. It’s truly one of the most picturesque places in the southern Alps, dominated by massive rocky peaks and a popular place for those in the know, as its suitable for children, which is quite unusual so high up. There is a mountain refuge overlooking the lake where you can sit and admire the view and take a drink.
In summer the alpine flowers are absolutely stunning, there are various walks you can do, but be very careful to go on a sunny day. It’s a beautiful drive and a wonderful change from the coastal resorts, especially in the main summer months when you can enjoy the cool mountain air.
Access to the lake is restricted so you should check the pass is open before you go. It’s normally open from June to September but does depend on snow conditions. To see more photographs of Lac d'Allos (the biggest high altitude lake in Europe at 2230m) and marmots see our Lac d'Allos marmot spotting facebook album.
There is far more to a Cote d’Azur villa holiday than just beaches and glamorous resorts if you know what to look for. Let us help you make your villa holiday in France an exceptional one for all the family. Our freephone telephone service makes it easy for you to call us and if you prefer to send an email you can expect a prompt reply (maximum response time 24 hours). We know the French Riviera and the mountains nearby very well indeed so please make use of our local knowledge to plan your stay.