Walking France GR5

Itinerary – Walking France GR5

Day 1: ARRIVAL – Join Briançon
Possibility to come from Lyon airport then bus to Briancon, or Oulx train station then bus to Briancon or else train to Briançon from Marseille, Grenoble or Paris. Airport transfer on option.
Discover the beautiful fortified town of Briançon old town, a cité Vauban classified as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nestled in the French Alps near the Italian border, at an altitude of 1326 metres Briançon is the second highest town in Europe. It is known for its spectacular 17th century fortifications built by the architect Vauban, on the site of pre-existing medieval walls. Take the time to wander through the medieval streets of the fortified high part of the town, with its stone buildings, small squares, fountains and quaint café terraces.
Dinner not included.
Day 2: Briancon (640 m) – Vallée Etroite (1783 m)
After a transfer of 45 minutes to the Clarée river region, or Nevache, a splendid and remote part of the Alps, you will climb to the Thures plateau (2100 m), will then climb the Aguilles Rouge peak (2545 m) with amazing views of the Ecrins massif & National Park, the Vanoise and even as far as the Mont Blanc ! Then go down to the beautiful and out-of-the-way Vallée Etroite, or “Narrow Valley”, a high valley on the Italian border. Stay in a hut multisharing for the night, Italian flavours guaranteed!
Walk: Distance 12 km Ascent 680 m Descent 870 m
Breakfast and dinner included. Picnic lunch not included.
Day 3: Vallée Etroite (1783 m) to Valfrejus (1552 m).
In the morning you will cross the Haute Maurienne border at the “Vallée Etroite” pass (2434 m) and leave the Hautes Alpes county to join Savoie area.
Walk: Distance 16 km Ascent 670 m Descent 860 m
Breakfast included. Dinner and picnic lunch not included.
Day 4: Valfrejus (1552 m) to La Leisse hut (2487 m)
After a 1 hour transfer to Bellecombe car park, you will enter the Vanoise National park, first created national park in the French Alps. You will get spectacular views of the Vanoise glaciers and south face of La Grande casse (3855 m).
You will stay in the la Leisse with delicious food for the night (multisharing). Note that you won’t find your main luggage tonight.
Walk: Distance 12 km Ascent 470 m Descent 330 m
Breakfast and dinner included. Picnic lunch not included.
Day 5: La Leisse hut (2487 m) – Tignes (2090 m)
This stage will offer probably the most dramatic views and ambiance of the whole trip. You will leave the hut walking at the foot of the huge “Grande Casse” mountain climbing. Than you enter the Vanoise vallon where with a bit of luck you will see wildlife. Then you will go down to the ski resort of Tignes to your hotel (2 to 3 per rooms).
Walk: Distance 18 km Ascent 650 m Descent 1080 m
Breakfast included. Dinner and picnic lunch not included.
Day 6: Tignes (2090 m) – Peisey Nancroix (1320 m)
From Tignes, you will get to the Palet pass (2653 m).
then following the long and lovely valley of Plan des Eaux you will walk at the foot of the “Dome de la Sache” and the giant “Mont Pourri”.
Then you will join your hotel (2 to 3 per rooms) in Peisey Nancroix.
Walk: Distance 20 km Ascent 600 m Descent 1380 m
Breakfast included. Dinner and picnic lunch not included.
Day 7: Peisey Nancroix (1320 m) – Roseland lake (1550m)
Transfer your hotel to the village of Valezan. You will walk the valley of Ormettes to climb up to the Bresson pass (2469 m), at the foot of a huge iconic rocky mountain the “Pierra Menta”.
Then you will follow a balcony pass above Roseland.
Stay in a gite or hut multisharing for the night.
Walk: Distance 22 km Ascent 1670 m Descent 890 m
Breakfast and dinner included. Picnic lunch not included.
Day 8: Roseland lake (1550 m) – Les Contamines (1182 m).
For the last day, you will will discover the Gittes ridge incredible trail in the mountain set up by the Alpine troops at the beginning of last century and then walk up to Croix du Bonhomme pass (2510m) on the classic TMB trail. Following this trail, you will walk down to Notre Dame de la Gorge.
Transfer to your hotel in Les Contamines.
Walk: Distance 16 km Ascent 780 m Descent 1370 m
Breakfast included. Picnic lunch and diner not included.
Day 9: Farewell
From Les Contamines regular shuttle service to Geneva airport.
Airport transfer on option.
Breakfast included.