Tour departs from the Thollon-Les Mémises gondola (where your luggage will be picked up, if you have chosen this option).

THOLLON LES MEMISES - PIC DES MEMISES - ALPAGE OF NEUVA
Take the gondola up to the balcony path overlooking Lake Geneva. Cross the Mémises and Mottay mountain pastures before descending to the Novel valley. Overnight on the mountain pasture without luggage transfer.
3.5 - 4 hour walk / Elevation: +350m -500m

BISE PASS - CHAPELLE D’ABONDANCE 
From the mountain pasture, climb to Lake Neuteu and 'Col de Bise'. A short detour is possible to Lake Darbon, a magnificent glacial lake - open your eyes wide, you're in Bouquetin country! Descend to the Bise mountain pasture and climb back up to the 'Pas de la Bosse' before a final descent to the picturesque village of 'La Chapelle d'Abondance'. 
6 - 6.5 hour walk / Elevation: +900m -1350m

COL DE BASSACHAUX - LINDARETS (Goat village) - VALLÉE DE LA MANCHE
Climb to the 'Pointe des Mattes' in the 'Mont de Grange' reserve, home to the chamois. Cross some of the alpine pastures of the Abondance region to reach the Bassachaux pass overlooking the lake of Montriond. Descent to the Lindarets village, famous for its goats! A short visit is a must before being transfered to the bottom of the 'Vallée de la Manche'.
6.5 - 7 hour walk / Elevation: +1250m -750m

COL DE LA GOLÈSE - FOLLY REFUGE
Climb to the Fréterolles alpine farm, with its cows, goats and cheese! Cross to the foot of the 'Terres Maudites' and short ascent to the Golèse pass (1666 m), then descent to the hamlet of 'Les Allamands'. Climb back under the Tuet slabs to reach the Folly refuge. Night in refuge without luggage transfer, but with the lights of the valley in the background!
6 - 6.5 hour walk / Elevation: +1050m -990m

VOGEALLE LAKE - SIXT-FER-À-CHEVAL
Enjoy a day in the wild Dents Blanches massif. Departure for the 'Combe aux Puaires', an unusual lapiaz (eroded limestone) site. Descent to 'Lac de la Vogealle'. A beautiful descent follows to the 'cirque du Bout du Monde' and the 'cirque du Fer à Cheval' with their many waterfalls. Night in the village of Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval.
5.5 - 6 hour walk / Elevation: +700m -1250m

COL D'ANTERNE - REFUGE MOËDE-ANTERNE
Climb to the Rouget waterfall, then to the Pleureuse and Sauffaz waterfalls. The trail then joins the Anterne mountain pasture in the heart of the Sixt-Passy nature reserve, a vast plateau where one of the region's most beautiful lakes nestles. Another short climb to the Anterne pass, then down to the Moëde-Anterne refuge. You can swim in Lake Pormenaz, 15 minutes from the refuge. Night at the refuge without luggage transfer or shower.
6 - 6.5 hour walk / Elevation: +1500m -350m

COL DU BREVENT - CHAMONIX
Short descent to the Arlevé bridge. The landscape is changing, with the limestone of the Fiz giving way to the soft rock of the Aiguilles Rouges massif. Ascent to Col du Brévent (2368 m), then descent to Planpraz, where we take the gondola to Chamonix.
5 hour walk / Elevation: +800m; -800m 
Extra 1.5 hour walk if descending by foot to Chamonix: -1000m added

LES HOUCHES - COL DU TRICOT - CONTAMINES
Take the gondola up, then wander through valleys and forest before climbing the 'Col du Tricot', facing the Bionnassay glacier. After a coffee break at the 'Chalets du Miage', descent to the village of Les Contamines Montjoie, then on to 'Notre-Dame-de-la-Gorge'.
5 - 5.5 hour walk / Elevation: +600m -1250m
1 hour walk / Elevation: +250m from Les Contamines to Nant Borrant

COL DU BONHOMME - CORMET DE ROSELEND
Climbing the Roman road to the famous 'Col du Bonhomme' on the Tour du Mont-Blanc. Cross the 'Crête des Gittes' between heaven and earth, before joining the great alpine meadows of the Beaufortain at 'Cormet de Roselend'.
6 - 6.5 hour walk / Elevation: +1350m -700m

COL DU BRESSON - PORTE DE ROSUEL
Balcony trail overlooking Lake Roselend and ascent to 'Col du Bresson' at the foot of the legendary 'Pierra Menta'. Descend through the Ormette valley, then between waterways and hamlets to reach the Tarentaise valley. Transfer by cab from the 'Chapelle St Guérin' to Peisey Nancroix and the Porte de Rosuel.
6 - 6.5 hour walk / Elevation: +950m -1170m

COL DE LA SACHETTE - TIGNES
Entering the Vanoise National Park at the foot of 'Mont Pourri' and 'Dôme de la Sache'. Possible detour to 'Lac de la Plagne' before climbing to 'Col de la Sachette' (2713 m). Then down through the Sache valley and the Tignes-Champagny nature reserve to the village of Tignes-les-Boisses (alternative via the 'Col du Palet'). Night in hotel, without luggage transfer.
6 - 6.5 hour walk / Elevation: +1200m -850m

VALLEY OF LA LEISSE - COL DE LA VANOISE
Short transfer by local bus to the Val Claret resort. The hike takes you back to the wide-open spaces of the Vanoise Park and up to the 'Col de la Leisse'. Descent of the Leisse valley dotted with lakes. The 1700 m south face of 'Grande Casse' overlooks the trail. Night in refuge without luggage transfer.
6.5 - 7 hour walk / Elevation: +1100m -650m

CIRQUES DU PETIT AND GRAND MARCHET
After leaving the refuge, cross over to the balcony paths overlooking the Pralognan valley: Combe de l'Arcelin, Cirque du dard, Grand Marchet and Petit Marchet, Lac de la Valette, Combe des Nants. Then down to the Prioux valley (easier option via Pralognan).
6.5 - 7 hour walk / Elevation: +1000m -1800m

COL DE CHAVIERE - VALLEE DE LA MAURIENNE
Climb up the Chavière valley, overlooked by the 'Dômes de la Vanoise', in a lunar world punctuated by forests of cairns. The Aiguilles de Péclet-Polset point the way to the nearby 'Col de Chavière'. Descent into the Maurienne valley through the mountain pastures towards Modane.
6 - 6.5 hour walk / Elevation: +1150m -950m to the Orgère refuge
1.5 hour walk / Elevation -880m additional descend to Modane on foot

MODANE - VALLEE ETROITE PASS
Transfer to Valfréjus (20mins) to the famous departure point of the GR5, towards the Étroite Valley. Gentle climb towards the mountain pass which acts as a natural border between the Northern and the Southern Alps. Enter the Hautes-Alpes and Étroite Valley, a French enclave in Italy. Descent to the hamlet of Les Granges.
5 hour walk / Elevation: +850m -720m

VALLÉE ÉTROITE - COL DU VALLON - NÉVACHE
Turn back on the trail to sink into the heart of the Clarée Valley. In an extremely wild area, climb to the Vallon pass (2645m) overlooking the magnificent Lake Blanc. A beautiful descent towards the Nevache village in the upper Clarée Valley. Cross the traditional village of Ville Haute.
6 hour walk / Elevation: +850m -1050m

FONTS DE CERVIÈRES - COL MALRIF - ABRIÈS
Transfer to Fonts de Cervières (50 min). Reach the Queyras National Park via the Malrif pass (2830m). A beautiful climb from the Fonts de Cervières hamlet. Cross the Malrif pass with a breathtaking view of the famous Mont Viso, the Lord of the Southern Alps. A long descent to Abriès via the Malrif lakes which are among the largest in the Queyras region. Night in gite.
6 hour walk / Elevation: +850m -1300m

ECHALP - LAKE VALLEY - COL VIEUX - LAKE BLANCHE
Going up along the Italian border, the valley of Bouchouse is a biotope reserve. Passage to Egorgeou and Foréant lakes and then to "Col Vieux" (2806m) to reach "Col de Chamoussière". Descent into this wide valley of the "Aigue Blanche" to reach the refuge de la Blanche by the lake, nestled at the foot of the "Tête des Toilies". Night without baggage.
6 hour walk / Elevation: +1400m ; -600m

LAKE BLANCHE - COL DE LA NOIRE - MALJASSET
From the refuge, in this extraordinary landscape, climb to the mineral area of Col de la Noire. Leaving behind the Queyras region to enter the wild valley of Haute-Ubaye. Gently descending into the flowered Longet Valley to the hamlet of Maljasset. Night in gite.
7.5 hour walk / Elevation: +550m -1300m

MALJASSET - COL MARY - CHIAPPERA
At the foot of the highest point of the range of Haute-Ubaye, the Chambeyron (3412m) climb via the Col Mary Valley with its multitude of lakes cheerfully dotting the pastures. From the mountain pass, enter Italy, to reach the Val Maira and the beautiful village of Chiappera. Night in gite, without baggage.
5.5 hour walk / Elevation: +815 m ; -1150 m

CHIAPPERA - COL DES MONGE - ORONAYES VALLEY - LARCHE
Nice traverse in the unusual Maira Valley to reach the "Col des Monges" (2542m) marking the border between France and Italy. Descend into the Montagnette Valley dominated by the fortresses of Maginot erected during the Second World War... Arrive in Larche, a small village of Haute-Ubaye.
6 hour walk / Elevation: +1150 m ; -1150 m

LARCHE - VALLON DU LAUZANIER - PAS DE LA CAVALE
Depart towards the Lauzanier Valley at the gates of the Mercantour National Park. Climb via a pleasant trail to reach the Lauzanier Lake before a final slightly steeper climb up to the pass. Great view from Col de la Cavale on the Tinée and the surrounding mountains. Descend into the high valleys of the Alpes Maritimes passing via the Col des Fourches and the magnificent promontory of Mont des Fourches. Reaching the Bonnette Restefond road (the highest road in Europe) encountering poignant vestiges of the Maginot line. Night in Bousseyas.
6 hour walk / Elevation: +1040m ; - 1100m

ISOLA 2000 - COL DE LA MERCIERE - LE BORÉON
Early transfer to Isola 2000 ski resort, then climb to the Col de la Mercière (2342m). Descend and then cross through the old village of Mollière and up to Col De Salèze. Depending on the condition and the fitness level of the group a detour is possible to Lake Negere. Descend into the Vésubie to the village of Boréon. Night in gite.
5.5 hour walk / Elevation: + 550 m ; - 1090 m

LE BORÉON - PAS DES LARDES - MADONE DE LA FENESTRE - LACS DE PRALS - LA GORDOLASQUE
From Boreon, climb through the valley towards the lakes of Trécolpas to cross the Pas de Lardes (2448m) overlooked by the Gelas, highest summit of the Mercantour. Descend to the hospices of the Madone de Fenestre passing near the cheese cave. Climb up the Poncet Valley to the Baisse des lacs and then to the 5 lakes of Prals before going up to the Baisse des Prals. Beautiful descent into the Gordolasque Valley. Night in refuge.
7.5 hour walk / Elevation: + 1550m ; - 1520m

VALLÉE LA GORDOLASQUE - REFUGE DE NICE - BAISSE DE VALMASQUE - VALLÉE DES MERVEILLES
Climb through the Gordolasque Valley to Lac de la Fous and Refuge de Nice which dominates. Light package for a night without baggage at refuge des Merveilles.From Refuge de Nice, climb to Baisse Basto to join the famous Vallée des Merveilles and its engraved caves. Be enchanted by numerous enchanting lakes in that mineral landscape.
6.5 hour walk / Elevation: + 1300m ; - 790m

REFUGE DES MERVEILLES - PAS DU DIABLE - COL DU RAUX - L'AUTHION - CAMP D'ARGENT
Leave the Vallée des Merveilles by the Pas de Diable. Change of scenery starting from the Pas de Diable while crossing several mountain passes of medium altitude, through sheep pastures. At the Col du Raux, heading back to the small plateau of Authion dominated by a remarkable redoubt, a high place of confrontation during the Second World War. From Authion, on a clear day, first sighting of the Mediterranean. Descend to the small ski resort of Camp d'Argent.
5.5 hour walk / Elevation: + 625m ; - 1000m

CAMP D'ARGENT - MONT VENTABREN - MANGIABO - SOSPEL
Let's go for a great day on the ridges. Leaving these landscapes rich of military vestiges of the Second World War to reach Sospel by the Mount Ventabren and Mangiabo ridges. With a continuing view on the Var and the outskirts of Nice. Charming descent to Sospel village on the Bévéra river.
​7 hour walk / Elevation: +1050 m -1750 m

SOSPEL - COL DU RAZET - VIEUX CATSELLAR - MENTON
Last day of the GTA, not there yet... but can you smell the sea?! Beautiful climb to the Col de Razel (1032m) on an old paved path between ruined shepherd huts. Passing flocks of sheep and goats from Rove, testifies to the arrival in Provence. The vegetation becomes much more leafy and fragrant. Chestnut trees, maples and rosemary... Enjoy the last mountain pass, Col du Berceau (1050m) and a picnic lunch overlooking the harbour of Menton... final descent of 1050m to the waters edge!
6.5 hour walk / Elevation: +1110m -1450m

End point in Menton harbour.