GUIDED WALKING SAFARI

1 HOUR 45 MINUTES, UP CLOSE WITH WILDLIFE

THE EXPERIENCE

Set off on a rare experience in France, in the heart of the country’s only nature reserve where you can approach Europe’s megafauna roaming freely in its natural habitat.

Here, there are no enclosures and no bars. Accompanied by a passionate naturalist guide, you will follow the trails through La Réserve and observe European bison, Przewalski’s horses, red deer, fallow deer and wild boar at close range, all living completely freely across more than 700 hectares of protected wilderness. Between you and them: around twenty metres of open nature and an exhilarating sense of freedom.

Here, humans are not masters of the land, but discreet guests. Exploring on foot becomes an act of humility and respect – a way of connecting with nature without disturbing it. Your guide will help you understand the living world, its delicate balances and vulnerabilities, as well as La Réserve’s practical commitments to protecting this wild heritage.

An authentic, educational and deeply moving adventure for anyone wishing to experience nature differently: through observation, listening and wonder.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Even when the weather is less than perfect, safaris go ahead in all conditions. Walking in the rain, listening to the rustle of wet leaves and watching animals move through the mist are all part of the magic of the experience. There is no need to cancel your visit: unless weather conditions pose a risk to your safety, outings will go ahead. So pull on your wellies, put on your best rain poncho and let yourself be surprised by the wild beauty of a living landscape, even in the rain.

• In winter, when snow covers the reserve, enjoy this safari on snowshoes and set off along the snowy trails. Snowshoes are provided.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

→ Available times for this activity are shown when you select your date on the calendar. Green: available; blue: limited availability; red: unavailable.

→ Children under the age of 5 are not permitted to take part in this activity. They will need to join a horse-drawn carriage safari with their parents.


RESPECTING WILDLIFE

To prevent any risk of transmitting infectious diseases to the animals at La Réserve (brucellosis, Aujeszky’s disease, echinococcosis, etc.), picnics and pets are not permitted on site. Food and drinks from outside are therefore not allowed.


NATURAL SWIMMING POOL

Reserved for guests staying at La Réserve, the natural swimming pool is open from June to September, every day from 3.00 pm to 7.00 pm.

→ Its water is naturally filtered thanks to the presence of plankton and contains no chemicals. To preserve this delicate balance, sun creams and tanning oils are strictly prohibited.

→ The pool is unsupervised: children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Available dates:

Click on the desired date

  • Caption:
  • Available
  • Full or exceptionally closed

What they have to say
about our experiences

“

Joan Dulera

Sun. 25 August 2024

A unique experience that our family did yesterday at the Reserve des Monts-Azur. We've seen the wild european buffalos, the deers and the wild horses that originated in Mongolia. This reserve is a 700 hectares with free wild animals roaming around the place without human help. They co-exist in this habitat. I was amazed to see them sooo close! It's a different experience than seeing animals on captivity. I recommend for families visiting this place:-)

“

Angelique Amable

Wed. 10 July 2024

Not far from the city, nice drive!
If you’re gonna take a carriage, you can see the animals closer and there’s no need to wear sneakers if you’re not gonna do the promenade.
Carriage: 1 hour
Walking: 1.5-2hrs

“

Kirill Abikus

Sun. 23 June 2024

This is a great mini safari in the mountains! You can see horses and bisons in the wild. Walking tours or in the carriage. Very beautiful nature and nice staff.
Please note that it is usually cold in the mountains so dress appropriately (long sleeves and trousers are recommended).
You can have a very good lunch at moderate price in the restaurant. Book in advance.
Nice boutique with souvenirs.
Children liked the tour very much.
We did not stay for the night.

“

Schas Mien

Mon. 20 May 2024

Very beautiful reserve with stunning views. You can observe the animals in peace. Don't forget the binoculars! The crepes were very delicious.
Attention for non-French speakers: we had asked before booking if an English-speaking tour guide is available and this was not a problem. Unfortunately, on-site this was limited to just a few sentences and we understood almost nothing. That was very unfortunate!

“

Joanne Storey

Wed. 23 August 2023

Where do i start... Amazing place, the guide was very knowledgeable and friendly, great fun and spoke excellent English! We booked private carriage tour for our family. We loved seeing all the animals and learning a lot. We went to the restaurant for lunch, they had a great selection including children's menu. The food was beautiful and plentiful. I would highly recommend this place to anyone local or tourists! Thank you

See all reviews

Frequently asked questions

Do you have another question? Contact us at contact@haut-thorenc.com

The ecolodges are not heated. For your comfort, we make them available only during the summer season, from May 17 to October 15. Outside these dates, you can enjoy our other accommodations: Le Petit Manoir and Villa Bioclimatique.

Yes, of course! Children of all ages are welcome at La Réserve. Only guided walking safaris and our Lodges are not available for children under 5, for insurance reasons.
The Brame and Privilège stays can be enjoyed by families with young children, but only if the safaris are fully privatized.

For your safety, but also for health reasons, pets are not allowed.

We strongly advise you to book your safari or stay in advance.

No, our restaurant will be delighted to welcome you for lunch and dinner.

Here's all the information you need to get to La Réserve des Monts d'Azur :

  • 651 route des châteaux
    06750 THORENC
  • GPS coordinates:
    43°48'20 " N - 6°50'43 " E
    43.8049886,6.8431416
    GoogleMaps

We can be reached on the following telephone numbers:

Please note, annual closure from November 6 to December 1, 2023.