From the Mountains to the Sea along the GR5
Mont Blanc to the Mediterranean
Overview
Hike from Mont Blanc, with its immense south face, to the palm-fringed beaches of the Côte d’Azur, where the Maritime Alps plunge into the Mediterranean. Our first hike brings breathtaking views of Mont Blanc (15,770') from a high ridge. Heading south, we follow trails through age-old villages and alpine meadows where cowbells echo and blue gentians bloom. Farther south, we follow the legendary GR5 trail across remote national parks, then enter brightly colored hill villages that announce the Mediterranean is near. Contouring the GR5 trail across the last of the Alps before they drop to the sea, we arrive on the coast and head for a celebratory dip in the sea. Our unique French adventure has been featured as one of Outside magazine’s “Trips of a Lifetime.”
Arrive: Megève
Depart: Nice
Highlights
- Hike the best sections of the GR5 trail in 12 well-paced days across a spectacular range of cultures and landscapes
- Explore secluded mountain villages and discover less-traveled national parks
- Enjoy a small group—maximum 12 people—and expert Trip Leaders
Itinerary
Amid the splendor of the French Alps, we hike up to Mont Joly for spectacular views of snow-capped Mont Blanc and all its southern satellites, then cross the Col du Bresson below Mont Blanc’s south-facing flanks.
Entering the Vanoise, our trails lead above treeline with views of the glaciated Pralognan Valley and the ice cap of the Dôme de la Vanoise. A ramble along an old Roman road leads us beneath the granite peaks of the Grande Casse to Col de la Vanoise (8,255'), with three alpine lakes along the way. One of our hikes is in the Vallée Etroite, a remote Italian-speaking valley.
We enjoy a day to explore Briançon, a pretty town with a strong medieval character, or take an optional day hike in the surrounding mountains. In Queyras, one of the most untouched areas of France, we hike across emerald meadows to the Col Cross, where Corsican mouflon sheep roam.
Auron, the gateway to Mercantour National Park, is one of the Southern Alps’ largest ski resorts and in the summer offers many wonderful hiking options. We follow the GR5 across the last of the Alps before they drop to the sea, then head to the coast for a swim in the Mediterranean. Depart on Day 14 via Nice.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 5, Strenuous, according to our trip grading system. You will need to be comfortable hiking 10 miles a day, being on your feet for up to 8 hours a day, and hiking significant distances for many days in a row. While no climbing or mountaineering experience is necessary, all trip members should have ample hiking experience and be able to keep up with the group as with the exception of one day, there are no alternative hiking options available. Trail conditions, weather, and the group's level of fitness can affect hiking times and pacing.
Average Hiking Day
Review Trip Level Details
Average Hiking Day
- 7-9 miles
- 4-6 hours
- 2,000-3,000 feet gain/loss
- Altitudes range from 6,000-9,400 feet
- Day 4 - 10 miles, 8.5 hours, and 3,500 feet gain/loss
Trail conditions can be primitive, and there is a good bit of up-and-down (often a 2,000- to 3,000-foot gain and loss in elevation per day). We will undoubtedly encounter snow on the highest passes, and trails can be very rugged. You will need to traverse areas with loose scree, large boulders, and sections of narrow, exposed trails. Your experienced mountain guides are there to assist you if needed.
The months we visit the Alps are the optimal ones, but mountain weather can be fickle. Temperatures are likely to reach the 70s°F (or even 80s°F) during the day, with cool breezes and occasional rain. At night, the temperature will drop quite a bit, depending on the altitude. We are likely to experience a full range of weather conditions, making rain gear and warm garments necessary items to carry with you on every hike.
Our accommodations are in small hotels and pensions with private en suite bathrooms. Our hotels have been chosen as much as possible for their ambience and local history. Please note these are hikers' hotels, not five-star resorts. The rooms are clean and comfortable, but are not always of uniform size or amenities. In some of the smaller hotels, a bathroom may have to be shared by two or three rooms. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Single rooms can be requested but are not always available, due to the limited space in the hotels. If you prefer a single room, please make your request as early as possible.
Lunch will be in a small village, at a mountain lodge, or at a picnic spot amidst the beauty of the surrounding mountains. Most evening meals will be taken at our hotels and will be hearty, nourishing mountain fare, often with the cuisine the region is known for. Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 7:30 pm.
Our van will transport the group's luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack for items you need during the day (rain gear, sweater, camera, water bottle, etc.). Trip members are always free to skip a day's hike and travel to the next destination in the support vehicle (or remain at the hotel if we are not transferring that day).
Client Testimonials
"I loved everything about the trip and just wish it could have lasted longer. Thank you for making my trip so wonderful."
Carrie M.
Boise, ID
"I loved it all. A great hike with extraordinary views, great company, delicious meals, cozy inns, and dramatic scenery changes. To end with a swim in the Mediterranean was perfection!"
Cathy C.
Sonoma, CA
"Another spectacular WT adventure!"
Christina S.
San Francisco, CA
"I’ll be doing more of these trips!"
Deborah C.
Santa Monica, CA
"The variety in scenery from day to day was wonderful. There was always something new to see!"
Elizabeth M.
Long Beach, NY
"What a grand adventure! We loved the varied terrain, the hikes, and our fantastic guides."
Ellen Q.
Irvine, CA
"This was the best world trip we have experienced in 25 years of travel—a truly great French Alps experience!"
George P.
Castro Valley, CA
"This was an ideal vacation for my wife and me: being in the mountains all day, at the peak of wildflower season, with two guides who were both knowledgeable and fun to be with, having a good hotel at night, and great French food in the evenings."
Guy A.
Woodacre, CA
"A trip I would highly recommend!"
Helen F.
Clancy, MT
"This trip was a wonderful blend of beautiful alpine scenery, great outdoor exercise, charming towns, and interesting foods. Each day was a treat, and our guide worked in special stops on the days we had to drive longer distances (like for cappucino in Italy!)."
Inge K.
Concord, MA
"Great trip! Excellent leaders and companions, food, scenery, and lodgings. Pretty much what we have come to expect from WT."
Larry A.
Golden, CO
"A superb trip with superb leaders."
Laura T.
Oakland, CA
"This is my second time on this trip! It’s a great hike."
Neil C.
Swampscot, MA
"We traveled to places that we would never have been able to see without the expertise of Wilderness Travel and the guides."
Penny A.
Los Angeles, CA
"A fabulous trip! Everything was terrific, really quite perfect!"
Randie B.
San Francisco, CA
"This was a very special trip. The variety of landscape, the length of time to feel like a real group of friends, variety of hotels and food—it was amazing."
Read P.
Castro Valley, CA
"This was a great trip—I have zero complaints and would recommend it to any capable hiker."
Richard S.
Branford, CT
"This is the second time I’ve traveled with WT. I’m noting consistent high quality, excellent planning, excellent Trip Leaders, and nice clientele."
Teddie G.
Pocatello, ID
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Itinerary
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With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.