Walking France GR5 – The Essentials
From Briancon the capital of the French south Alps to Mont Blanc, you will take the best of the GTA and GR5 on our Walking France Gr5 holiday.
The GR5 or “Grande Randonnée 5” is an epic walking trail that runs from the North Sea all the way to the Mediterranean on the French Riviera. The Alpine GR5, or portion of the GR5 that traverses the French Alps, is perhaps the most spectacular part of this trail. It’s known as the GTA or “Grande Traversée Alpine” and runs through the most picturesque and scenic parts of the French Alps, on the border with italy and Switzerland.
This exclusive trek will bring you to some amazing and undiscovered part of the French Alps, starting by an incursion in the “Vallée étroite” (or narrow valley) at the border of France and Italy you will then discover Thabor, Vanoise and Beaufortain.
The best mix of hotels 2 to 3 max per rooms and multisharing in huts will offer you the best experience with comfort and total immersion in the mountain.
During the trip your main luggage will be transferred every day (except day 4) so just carry your day pack with you.
Start: Briançon, access by train, airports are Turin, Lyon or Marseille. Airport transfer on option, contact us.
Finish: Les contamines, near Saint Gervais, airport is Geneva. Airport transfer on option, contact us.
Included:
– Walks: 7 guided walks with a qualified mountain leader.
– Transports during the trip. Luggage transfers except Day 4.
– 3 nights in gites / huts multisharing. Half board.
– 1 night in Hotel 2 or 3 per room. Half board.
– 4 nights in Hotels 2 or 3 per rooms B&B.
– Local transports during the trip.
– Turin airport private transfer on arrival – 1 transfer to match at best arriving flights times
Not Included:
– Single room Supplement: from 280€ for 5 hotel nights. Please note that if you book a sharing place (twin rooms) without a sharing partner, we will do our best to find you one, however in failing doing so, extra single supplement will apply.
– Flights.
– Individual travel insurance.
– Arrival Airport transfer if not flying to Turin airport – other possible airport are Marseille and Lyon but longer transfers and with at least 2 changes if done by public transports (bus and/or train).
– Departure transfer. Good choice of public transport to leave St Gervais-Le Fayet
– Picnic lunches. Plenty of food store by the hotel to get the picnic for less than € 8 per day.
– 4 Dinners, plenty of restaurant around the hotels.
– Beverages.
– All extras not included in the itinerary page 1 or mentioned as optional.
– Card bank fees (can be avoided by paying by bank transfer)
Booking process:
– 30% deposit upon reservation
– Balance one month before departure
Marguerite –
Great trip in an as yet undiscovered part of the Alps. Thierry our guide was very knowledgeable, and was happy to share his knowledge of both the flora and the geology of the area. End of June was a great time to go as the flowers were amazing.
Sonia Newman –
A wonderful week’s walking in a less popular part of the Alps. Superb scenery and mountain flowers. The hiking was definitely challenging in places with steep terrain and a lot of soft snow higher up. But our guide Thierry made sure we coped with and enjoyed it. He had extensive knowledge on the flora and fauna, imparted to us in excellent English. For those interested in wildlife, we had many close encounters with Marmots. Thank you France Outdoors for a great trip.
Ann McVie –
Yet another fabulous holiday with France Outdoors. 😎 The guide, Thierry, looked after us superbly well, making the walking easy and pleasurable, sharing his extensive knowledge of the area. As before, the arrangements all went off without a hitch. A truly memorable 9 day trip.
Laura Muir –
Thank you for organising the GR5 Trek, 29 June – 7 July 2024. It was a wonderful and memorable experience.
Thierry, our guide, made the trip challenging, rewarding and very enjoyable for us all.
It was such a well organised trip. Everything ran smoothly and responses were quick and helpful throughout. The attention to detail at France Outdoors is truely excellent.
Thank you so much!
Anne & Nigel –
Vincent worked hard to make the trip a great success.
Great routes with scenery changing day by day. Outstanding walks every day
All transfers were efficient and friendly.
Steve –
Vincent, really enjoyed the GR5 trek with you and the Irish. Alas your special effort to explain the flowers was totally lost on me but helped my awareness. The days were sometime long but never unreasonable. Appreciated your guidance and assistance over the one hard col in the Vanoise. I enjoy those challenges and am not afraid to slide on my butt when needed. Quite honestly, I was expecting a lot more of that kind of challenge. Am still embarrassed for my fall and attribute it to being sloppy after lunch and a nap. You did a great job of cleaning up my scalp. Am working on the ski isometric position to strengthen my legs for the steeper downhills. In the past I have relied too heavily on leaning on my pole for those downhills which is a bad practice. Thank you for your assistance on how to use a better technique. I hope to find a trek to do with you again. If a Nepal trek becomes possible, please let me know.
Steve