Activities on Roya

What to do on the Roya ?

The Roya is a river that originates at the Col de Tende, in the Southern Alps of France, and joins the Mediterranean after almost 60 km of mountain crossing, in Ventimiglia, Italy. It collects the waters of about twenty tributaries, the vast majority of which are located on French territory.

Activities to do in the Roya Valley

In addition to being rich in wild fario trout, the Roya is a watercourse adapted to water sports on some parts. For example, you can do a beautiful descent by kayak-raft or rafting not far from Monaco for almost twenty kilometres, accompanied by professionals who will provide you with their equipment and experience so that you can safely enjoy the beauty of this wild landscape.

And if you want even more adrenaline, then why not do the same descent in Hydrospeed by linking rapids, waves and rollers?

Or, if you are in good physical condition, you can opt for a sporty canyoning descent in the Maglia canyon with abseiling descents in the waterfalls, vertiginous jumps, swimming or walking between the vertical walls sculpted by the Roya.

Water activities in the Roya Gorge for all levels and tastes!

The main tourist attractions of the Roya Valley

One of the most famous tourist spots on the Roya is probably Breil-sur-Roya, a village located between the sea and the mountains in the heart of Mercantour National Park. Rich in a very varied religious heritage, Breil-sur-Roya offers several churches and chapels such as the Notre-Dame-du-Mont Chapel, the one of Saint-Antoine-l'Ermite near the Genoa gate or the former chapel of the Pénitents blancs.

Don't miss Piène-Basse with its old station built above the road near the Italian border.

Finally, for nature lovers, the Mercantour Natural Park is full of treasures such as the famous Merveilles valley with several tens of thousands of prehistoric engravings and its glacial lake, Allos, perched at an altitude of over 2,000 metres at the foot of Mount Pelat, which rises to over 3,000 metres. A truly majestic place accessible by foot from the car park located on the Laus plateau, near Villard. And if you want to go around the lake, it will take you an hour during which you can admire a beautiful natural setting!

Saorge can also be a stopover on your journey, with its beautiful monastery, but also its tourist train, the "Train des Merveilles", which runs from Nice to Tende via Breil-sur-Roya.

The Roya Valley is a resort that will suit both whitewater water sports enthusiasts and nature lovers who can explore the Mercantour Natural Park on several hundred kilometres of marked trails to discover a rich natural and historical heritage. This will ensure a successful holiday for the whole group!