The area around Nice is ideal for adventure activities, it’s an adrenaline junkie’s dream. It is close to mountains, gorges, fast-flowing rivers and rock faces all screaming out to be climbed, jumped off, slithered down, scrambled over and enjoyed to the full – if you like that kind of thing! Here are 3 of the best adventure activities near Nice in the Alpes-Maritimes, France.
Best Adventure Activity near Nice #1 – Climbing
The first adventure activity near Nice I propose is climbing. Just outside the pretty village of La Colle sur Loup, there’s a small but popular and reasonably challenging natural rock face set up for climbing called la Bagarée.
This climbing area is beautifully located on the Loup river, at the end of one of my favourite walks. The area was redone a few years ago so the anchors and bolts are in good condition. It has 90 routes from beginners to advanced.
Climbing friends assure me it’s a fun place to climb and my brother makes a beeline for there each time he visits. I’m not a climber but he is and he takes my boys and his twins regularly. It’s a great place for families with young kids to try out this adventure activity as there’s the river to splash in while not climbing.
There are plenty more mountaineering and climbing sites in the Alpes-Maritimes, all within an hour, at the most, from Nice. One of the most well-known is on the spectacular rocky outcrop, the Baou de St Jeannet (photo below). More information can be found here.
Adventure Activity #2 – Canyoning
Another crazy adventure activity to be found in the rivers nearby is canyoning (canyoneering in US English). Here’s the definition, maybe you’ll see why I think it’s crazy! “The sport of jumping into a fast-flowing mountain stream and allowing oneself to be carried downstream at high speed”.
This is another thing I haven’t actually done myself but my boys love it. The first time they went in a group of friends with children aged 10-15. It took double the time expected owing to the fear factor amongst some of the group but the instructor was supportive and didn’t charge extra.
Since then they have done it many times and relish the sensations of this adventure activity. You are provided with wetsuits, helmets, ropes etc and accompanied by a guide. These photos are all taken in the Gorges du Loup, one of the best places for canyoning near Nice.
Having said I think it’s crazy, I do wish I had the guts to do it as I secretly think it looks amazing. More information can be found here.
Adventure Activity #3 – Via Ferrata
The third adventure activity that friends and family have tried locally is Via Ferrata and guess what? I haven’t! If you haven’t come across this before it’s rock climbing permanently rigged with rungs and cables making it safer and more accessible for non-climbers.
Typically you’ll find things like rope and cable bridges across ravines, and ladders bolted to the cliff face. It’s spectacular just to look at the circuits, my favourite one being at la Colmiane where a rope bridge crosses between two crags (pictured below).
I can’t imagine actually doing it though my younger son adores it! There are 8 Via Ferratas in the Alpes-Maritimes (including one underground). They are located at Puget-Théniers, Auron, la Colmiane, Lantosque, Tende, la Brigue, Peille and la Moulière, all of which are possible to get to and do in a day trip from Nice.
A free booklet is produced by the Conseil Général available online here (in French). Climbing a Via Ferrata is tough, takes a good deal of stamina and is certainly not for anyone afraid of heights but apparently it’s totally awesome if you like that kind of thing! (And it is suitable for children from about 8, depending on the child of course).
All these crazy sports are not only close to Nice, but actually even closer to Lou Messugo gite, so if you are staying with us they make very easy day trips.
Do you enjoy adventure activities like these? Would you like to try any of them? Leave me a comment, I do love getting them!
Related Reading:
Rafting – an extreme family sport
Fun mountain activities for families near Nice
Wild swimming in rivers on the Côte d’Azur
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This post was originally published in August 2014, updated in 2022
Indeed looks like a perfect spot for canyoning. I love the photos as well, it definitely sold it for me!
Hello, on behalf of Christa, host of The Sunday Traveler, I was stopping by to check out your article. This looks AWESOME! I would try all of the above. Looks like it would make for great time and memories.
Oh I’m so pleased to have an adrenaline junkie here! I’m glad you’d give them a go, definitely braver than me!
I have no desire to jump into a fast moving stream to be swept away by the water. That just sounds like a recipe for disaster. I might have to watch a few people do it first before I even consider attempting it. Via Ferrata sounds a little less frightening, but the photo makes that rope bridge look impossibly high and I might be sick.
I think I’d be sick on that bridge too Adelina!
Ohhh what fun!!! I’d watch 2/3, but I’d be a great cheer squad. Thanks for linking up with us again.
Which 2/3 would you watch???
This really does look like an adventure-lover’s dream. A dislike of heights might keep me from some of the activities, but hiking with these view surrounding is enough reason for me to plan a summer visit.
I know we’re lucky having such a great variety of things to do here. It’s why we love living here so much (and welcoming guests to our holiday rental!!)
My mates are climbing fanatics so I’ve attempted to climbed at La Bagarée (I’m not vary good 🙂 ) and it’s a perfect spot since you can picnic, swim and climb all at the same time! There’s another great climbing site at Contes, just behind Nice, in fact the 06 is full of them! Great post Phoebe!
Thanks for telling me about Contes, I didn’t know about that one, though I’m aware there are loads I don’t know about.
I enjoy watching these sports but I’m not sure my heart can take participating in them. How lucky for you to have these practically in your backyard. Those pictures make me nervous just looking at them.
I know, it’s wonderful having these sort of activities near by to try (or not in my case!!)
Can’t believe you did all of that.. 🙂 Looks great though, but I don’t think I have the guts to do it.
Not me!! My kids, hubby, brother and friends, but definitely not me Tina!
It all sounds so good and theory, I feel up to them all…goodness, that canyoning might send me back with an extra wrinkle or two from the adrenaline and the screaming, but I so want to do it all. You are fabulous at selling me things I wouldn’t have thought of myself, Phoebe 🙂 x
Come on over and give it a go Kanchan! Why am I not surprised that you’d try! :p
This looks like great fun – I’m terrified of heights but don’t mind climbing up – it’s the coming down I can’t do!
Slight problem there! You need to find a place where there’s a chair lift or luge down again then!
I think I would rather jump out of the plane again.
Fab photos
Now that’s something I don’t think I could ever do! You are very brave to have done that Clare.
My son would probably love all of these, but I’m afraid to show him your post because he’ll then want to try them one day!
It’s hard when your kids get into scary things. I always worry when mine do crazy stuff like this.
Just looking at the photos gives me the hebejebes!
Sorry Rin!!
I was once a rock climber, but the very idea of it now gives me the creeps. Something to do with getting older. But Phoebe is right; those climbs a few minutes away from Lou Messugo look pretty good.
It’s funny how we lose our nerve as we get older! Maybe you should give it a go again Richard to conquer your fears.
I’m feeling like there is a ladder and pont de singe that I still need to conquer!
You crazy person, you must come back and do it again then Rachel. Thanks for letting me use your photos!
I love rock climbing and used to do it regularly before I had children. The adventure walking also looks amazing. I don’t think I’ll be trying the canyoning any time soon though!
Pleased to hear from someone who likes this kind of thing. Thanks for commenting Laura
You’ve got to be joking. I’m terrified just looking at the photos.
A bit like me then Catherine!