Walking France GR5 – Les Contamines to Briançon

Itinerary – Walking France GR5

Day 1: ARRIVAL – Join Les Fayets (580 m)
Join the village of Les Fayet, easy access from Geneva Airport with shuttle transfers companies (not included) to your 2* hotel (2 to 3 per rooms if uneven number).
Dinner included.
Day 2: Les Contamines (1182 m) – La Balme hut (1500  m)
Short private transfer in the morning to les Contamines, at the foot of the Mont Blanc range and the famous dome des Miages. For the first day you will start from les Contamines and will follow a superb scenic trail (GRP tour du pays du mont blanc) at the foot of Dome des Miages to the famous Tre la tete hut. From there descend to the valley of Bon Nant and the nice la Balme hut.
Stay in La Balme hut multisharing for the night (Main luggage not transferred).
Walk: Distance 14 km Ascent 1210 m Descent 670 m
Breakfast and dinner included. Picnic lunch not included.
Day 3: La Balme hut (1500 m) – Plan Mya hut (1871 m)
Today you will start by following the taking the classic TMB trail to the Bonhomme pass (2510 m). Then a traverse will get you to the hut croix du Bonhomme. From there leave the TMB trail and follow down the superb Gittes ridge to the Cormet de Roseland, famous for the tour de France! The Gittes ridge is an incredible trail set up by the Alpine troops at the beginning of last century.
Stay in Plan Mya hut for the night (Main luggage transferred).
Walk: Distance 13 km Ascent 860 m Descent 730 m
Breakfast and dinner included. Picnic lunch not included.
Day 4: Plan Mya hut (1871 m) – Peisey Nancroix (1320 m)
In the morning walk the balcony path overlooking at the lake and climb up to the Bresson pass (2469 m), at the foot of a huge iconic rocky mountain the “Pierra Menta”. The descent is through the valley of Ormette, its hamlets to the village of Valezan. From there, transfer to your hotel (2 to 3 per rooms) in Peisey Nancroix. (Main luggage transferred).
Walk: Distance 22 km Ascent 930 m Descent 1570 m
Breakfast included. Picnic lunch and diner not included.
Day 5: Peisey Nancroix (1320 m) – Tignes (2090 m)
Today you will enter the Vanoise National Park, the first national park set up in France. Pass at the foot of the giant “Mont Pourri” and the “Dome de la Sache” following the long and lovely valley of Plan des Eaux. Then you will get to the Palet pass (2653 m) before going down to the ski resort of Tignes to your hotel (2 to 3 per rooms). (Main luggage transferred)
Walk: Distance 21 km Ascent 1100 m Descent 550 m
Breakfast included. Dinner and picnic lunch not included.
Day 6: Tignes (2090 m) – Felix Faure hut (2551 m)
This stage will offer probably one the most dramatic views and ambiance of the whole trip. You will quickly leave Tignes and its glacier behind you to enter the Vanoise vallon again, where with a bit of luck you will see wildlife. Then coming the Vanoise pass you will be at the foot of the huge “Grande Casse” mountain and will stay in the hut Felix Faure for the night, (multisharing), a place that saw generations of climbers . (Main luggage not transferred).
Walk: Distance 22 km Ascent 1080 m Descent 650 m
Breakfast and dinner included. Picnic lunch not included.
Day 7: Felix Faure hut (2551 m) – Pralognan (1430 m)
An easy and shorter day today, mainly downhill so you can enjoy a free afternoon in Pralognan la Vanoise and relax your feet !
It is possible to extend the day and enjoy a longer and more technical walk through Col Rosset and Mont Bochor before going down to Pralognan to your hotel (2 to 3 per rooms). (Main luggage transferred).
Walk: Distance 7 km Ascent 100 m Descent 1150 m
Breakfast included. Dinner and picnic lunch not included.
Day 8: Free day in Pralognan
Relax today in Pralognan, enjoy the hotel swimming pool, take a stroll in Pralognan, or a short walk towards Bois de la Rossa forest.
Breakfast included. Dinner and picnic lunch not included.
Day 9: Pralognan (1430 m) – Valfrejus (1552 m)
A long and steady climb in the morning surrounded by the Vanoise on one side and the Peclet Polset Aiguilles on the other side, and another opportunity to observe local wildlife like Chamoix or Ibex. You will then get to the Chaviere pass (2796 m) before going down to the Maurienne valley where you will get a transfer to the ski resort of Valfrejus to your hotel (2 to 3 per rooms). (Main luggage transferred) .
Walk: Distance 21 km Ascent 1380 m Descent 860 m
Breakfast included. Dinner and picnic lunch not included.
Day  10: Valfrejus (1552 m) – Refuge Mont Thabor (2502 m).
A really lovely walk where you will enter the south French Alps and the narrow valley. Stay in the hut Mont Thabor for the night (multisharing). (Main luggage not transferred). On option it is possible to climb up to col des Batailleres from the hut, nice views of Maurienne valley from there (5 km return, 300 m climbing).
Walk: Distance 12 km Ascent 940 m Descent 10 m
Breakfast and dinner included. Picnic lunch not included.
Day 11: Refuge Mont Thabor (2502 m) – Laval Hut (2010 m)
Today you will tackle Mont Thabor, the French Alps’ “best-kept secret”. Then you will enter the Vallée de la Clarée through the col des Muandes (2828 m). Passing the old CAF Drayeres hut you will get the charming Laval hut located above the Claree river.
Note that this walk takes you to the a challenging section with the Roche du Chardonnet ridge. This part requires care, good hiking skills and is not suitable if you fear heights. Alternative routes are possible through the Chardonnet lake or Blanc lake adding 250 m of climbing with no exposure.
Stay in the Laval Hut for the night (multisharing). (Main luggage transferred).
Walk: Distance 19 km Ascent 800 m Descent 1320 m
Breakfast and dinner included. Picnic lunch not included.
Day 12: Laval Hut (2010 m) to Monetier les Bains (1485 m)
For your last day, you will walk to the next valley south called Guisane valley. Passing by Buffere hut and further Buffere pass, the views of Ecrins National Park and its glaciers will be outstanding. You will slowly get back to civilisation walking down to your final point, the village of Monetier les Bains. You can then enjoy the state of the art thermal bath complex of the town to relax your muscles!
Stay in a hotel for the night (2 or 3 per room). (Main luggage transferred).
Walk: Distance 19 km Ascent 800 m Descent 1320 m
Breakfast included. Dinner and picnic lunch not included.
Day 13: Transfer to Briancon and visit
Transfer early afternoon to Briancon, visit this historical town at your own pace. Briancon is Unesco enlisted fortified town famous for its architecture built during the times of Vauban the architect of Louis the 14th.
Stay in a hotel for the night (2 or 3 per room). (Main luggage transferred).
Breakfast included. Dinner and picnic lunch not included.
Day 14: Farewell
Spend the morning at your own pace in Briancon.
Transfer to Turin airport included.
Breakfast included.