The GR5 Trail

A guidebook to trekking the southern section of the GR5 trail between Lac Leman (Lake Geneva) and either Nice or Menton. Covering 674km (420 miles), this long-distance trek through the French Alps can be walked in 1 month and is suitable for moderately experienced hikers.

ContentsMap KeyOverview MapIntroductionWalking the GR5Alpine TraversesWho Walks the GR5?Route OutlineNorth-South/South-NorthTimingsWaymarkingGR5 GeologyAlpine FlowersAlpine WildlifeAlpine FarmingPastousLanguageTravel to the AlpsTravel Around the AlpsServices on the GR5AccommodationFood and DrinkTelephonesPath ConditionsAlpine WeatherWhen to Walk the GR5Kit CheckMapsCurrency and CostsEmergenciesKey PointsRouteStage 1 Lac L&##xe9;man to Les HouchesDay 1 St Gingolph to La Chapelle d'Abondance (direct route)Day 1 Thonon-les-Bains to Chevenoz (alternative Day 1)Day 2 Chevenoz to La Chapelle d'Abondance (alternative Day 2)Day 3 La Chapelle d'Abondance to Ch&##xe9;seryDay 4 Ch&##xe9;sery to SamoënsDay 5 Samoëns to Refuge de Moëde AnterneDay 6 Refuge de Moëde Anterne to Les HouchesStage 2 Les Houches to LandryDay 7 Les Houches to Les ContaminesDay 7a Les Houches to Les Contamines (high-level route)Day 8 Les Contamines to Plan de la LaiDay 9 Plan de la Lai to LandryStage 3 Landry to ModaneGR5 RouteDay 10 Landry to Refuge d'Entre-le-LacDay 11 Refuge d'Entre-le-Lac to Val d'Is&##xe8;reDay 12 Val d'Is&##xe8;re to BessansDay 13 Bessans to Refuge du Plan du LacDay 14 Refuge du Plan du Lac to Le MontanaDay 15 Le Montana to Modane/FourneauxGR55 High-level route (Refuge d'Entre-le-Lac to Modane)Day 11 Refuge d'Entre-le-Lac to Refuge d'Entre Deux EauxDay 12 Refuge d'Entre Deux Eaux to Roc de la P&##xea;cheDay 13 Roc de la P&##xea;che to Modane/FourneauxGR5E Low-level route (Bonneval-sur-Arc to Modane)Day 13 Bonneval-sur-Arc to LanslevillardDay 14 Lanslevillard to BramansDay 15 Bramans to Modane/FourneauxStage 4 Modane to CeillacDay 16 Modane/Fourneaux to Refuge du ThaborDay 17 Refuge du Thabor to PlampinetDay 17a La Valle troite to Plampinet (GR5B alternative)Day 18 Plampinet to BriançonDay 18a N&##xe9;vache to Briançon (GR5C alternative)Day 19 Briançon to BrunissardDay 20 Brunissard to CeillacStage 5 Ceillac to AuronDay 21 Ceillac to La Barge/MaljassetDay 22 La Barge/Maljasset to LarcheDay 23 Larche to BousieyasDay 24 Bousieyas to AuronStage 6 Auron to Nice - GR5Day 25 Auron to Refuge de LongonDay 26 Refuge de Longon to St DalmasDay 27 St Dalmas to UtelleDay 28 Utelle to AspremontDay 29 Aspremont to NiceStage 7 St Dalmas to Garavan/Menton - GR52Day 27 St Dalmas to Le Bor&##xea;onDay 28 Le Bor&##xea;on to Refuge de NiceDay 29 Refuge de Nice to Refuge des MerveillesDay 30 Refuge des Merveilles to Camp d'ArgentDay 32 Sospel to Garavan/MentonAppendix 2 Route Summary - South to NorthAppendix 3 Accommodation ListAppendix 4 Basic French for the GR5