A guidebook to trekking the GR5 from Lac Leman (Lake Geneva) through the French Alps to the Mediterranean at Nice or Menton. Covering 600km (373 miles), this long-distance trek through the Vanoise, Queyras and Mercantour National Parks takes around 1 month to hike and is suitable for alpine trekkers with a good fitness level.

The route is described from north to south in 28 stages, each between 15 and 29km (9–18 miles) in length. The route is divided into 6 sections with transport options given for those wanting to break the route into shorter sections. The GR55 and GR5E variants are included through the Vanoise region and the optional finish taking the GR52 to Menton is also described.

• 1:100,000 maps and profiles included for each stage 
• GPX files available to download 
• Handy route summary tables and accommodation listings help you plan your itinerary 
• Refreshment and facilities information given for each trek stage
• Part of a 3-volume set, accompanying Cicerone guidebooks The GR5 Trail - Vosges and Jura and The GR5 Trail - Benelux and Lorraine are also available 

Map key

Mountain safety

Overview profile/staging options

Route summary tables

Introduction

Walking the GR5

Alpine Traverses

Who Walks the GR5?

Route Outline

North–South/South–North

Timings

Waymarking

GR5 Geology

Alpine Flowers

Alpine Wildlife

Alpine Farming

Pastous

Language

Travel to the Alps

Travel Around the Alps

Services on the GR5

Accommodation

Food and Drink

Telephones

Path Conditions

Alpine Weather

When to Walk the GR5

Kit Check

Maps

Currency and Costs

Emergencies

Key Points

Section 1 Lac Léman to Les Houches

Stage 1           St-Gingolph to La Chapelle-d’Abondance (direct route)

Stage 1a         Thonon-les-Bains to Vinzier (alternative Day 1)

Stage 1b         Vinzier to La Chapelle-d’Abondance (alternative Day 2)

Stage 2           La Chapelle-d’Abondance to Chésery

Stage 3           Chésery to Samoëns

Stage 4           Samoëns to Refuge Moëde Anterne

Stage 5           Refuge Moëde Anterne to Les Houches

Section 2 Les Houches to Landry

Stage 6           Les Houches to Les Contamines

Stage 6a         Les Houches to Les Contamines (via Col de Tricot)

Stage 7           Les Contamines to Plan de la Lai

Stage 8           Plan de la Lai to Landry

Section 3 Landry to Modane

GR5 Main route

Stage 9           Landry to Refuge d’Entre-le-Lac

Stage 10         Refuge d’Entre-le-Lac to Val d’Isère

Stage 11         Val d’Isère to Bessans (via Col de l’Iseran)

Stage 11a       Val d’Isère to Bessans (via Col des Fours)

Stage 12         Bessans to Refuge du Plan du Lac    

Stage 13         Refuge du Plan du Lac to le Montana

Stage 14         Le Montana to Modane/Fourneaux

GR55 High-level route (Refuge d’Entre-le-Lac to Modane)

Stage 1           Refuge d’Entre-le-Lac to Refuge d’Entre Deux Eaux

Stage 2           Refuge d’Entre Deux Eaux to Roc de la Pêche

Stage 3           Roc de la Pêche to Modane/Fourneaux

GR5E Low-level route (Bonneval-sur-Arc to Modane)

Stage 1           Bonneval-sur-Arc to Termignon

Stage 2           Termignon to Modane/Fourneaux

Section 4 Modane to Ceillac

Stage 15         Modane/Fourneaux to Refuge du Mont Thabor

Stage 16         Refuge du Mont Thabor to Roubion

Stage 17         Roubion to Briançon

Stage 18         Briançon to Brunissard

Stage 19         Brunissard to Ceillac

Section 5 Ceillac to St-Dalmas

Stage 20         Ceillac to La Barge/Maljasset

Stage 21         La Barge/Maljasset to Larche

Stage 22         Larche to Bousieyas

Stage 23         Bousieyas to Auron

Stage 24         Auron to Refuge de Longon

Stage 25         Refuge de Longon to St-Dalmas

Section 6 St-Dalmas to Nice or Garavan/Menton

GR5 Main route

Stage 26         St-Dalmas to Utelle

Stage 27         Utelle to Aspremont

Stage 28         Aspremont to Nice

GR52 route to Garavan/Menton

Stage 1           St-Dalmas to Le Boréon

Stage 2           Le Boréon to Refuge de Nice

Stage 3           Refuge de Nice to Refuge des Merveilles

Stage 4           Refuge des Merveilles to Camp d’Argent

Stage 5           Camp d’Argent to Sospel

Stage 6           Sospel to Garavan/Menton

Appendix A     Accommodation listings

Appendix B     Basic French for the GR5

Seasons

The GR5 is primarily a summer trek: starting too early or late in the season may lead to problems with snow, and mountain huts may be closed. The French summer holiday runs from mid-July to mid-August: this coincides with the best weather, but accommodation will be busy.

Centres

Geneva; Chamonix; Modane; Briançon; Nice

Difficulty

Despite its length, and despite crossing the Alps, the GR5 is no more than a long mountain walk, paths are well-graded and the route can be varied from 600 to 625km (373–388 miles)

Must See

One of Europe's best Alpine treks crossing the Alps from Lac Leman to Nice. Includes variant routes such as the GR55 through the Vanoise National Park, and the GR52 through Mercantour National Park

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