Meet at 12:30pm in front of the Tourist Office in Thollon-les-Mémises or at 9:30am infront of Chamonix train station if you have chosen this option. A picnic lunch will be taken at the start of the walk.

PIC DES MEMISES - BALCON DU LEMAN
Take the cablecar and depart towards the balcony trail overlooking Lake Geneva. Picnic lunch and then cross the Mémises and the alpine pastures of Mottay before descending to the Novel valley. Night in a refuge in the pastures without luggage transfer.
3.5 hour walk / Elevation: +500 m ; -550 m / 8km

BISE PASS - BISE VALLEY
From the refuge, climb to Lake Neuteu and the Bise pass. Short detour possible to the beautiful glacial Lake Darbon under the watchful eyes of the ibex! After having crossed the "Pas de la Bosse", long descent to reach Chapelle-d'Abondance. Nigth in an Auberge in the typical village of La Chapelle-d'Abondance.
6 hour walk / Elevation: +900 m ; -1400 m / 12km

ABONDANCE - LAKE TAVANEUSE - LAC DE MONTRIOND
Short transfer. Climb to Lake Tavaneuse and to the mountain pass at 1997m. Descend through the pastures and the forest to Lake Montriond. Transfer to the Chardonnière refuge. Night in a dormitory.
7 hour walk / Elevation: +950 m ; -1600 m / 13km

DENTS BLANCHES MASSIF - PAS AU TAUREAU
Climb to the Tête de Bostan facing the superb and wild Dents Blanches massif. Cross the 'Pas au Taureau' (2555m) via a short cabled passage, then descend into the lunar-like valley of the Combe aux Puaires, an unusual area of lappiaz (eroded limestones). Night at the Vogealle refuge in a dormitory without luggage transfer.
7 hour walk / Elevation: +1300 m ; -750 m / 11km

BOUT DU MONDE AND CIRQUE DU FER À CHEVAL
From the Vogealle refuge, a beautiful descent facing the Tenneverge cliffs and on to Bout du Monde, continuing to the  amphitheatre at Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval and its multiple waterfalls. Night in the village of Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval.
6 hour walk / Elevation: +200 m -1250 m / 17km

ANTERNE LAKE AND PASS
The day begins through the woods, alongside the Rouget, Pleureuse and Souffraz waterfalls. Climb to the Anterne pasture at the heart of the Sixt-Passy Nature Reserve, a wide high plateau where one of the most beautiful lakes in the area is nestled. Here is the kingdom of marmots and rare bearded vultures! Skimming stone contest followed by a short climb to the Anterne pass and descent to the Moëde-Anterne refuge. Night in dormitory without luggage transfer and without shower.
7 hour walk / Elevation: +1550 m ; -400 m / 15km

ENVERS DU BREVENT - CHAMONIX
Short descent towards the Arlevé bridge. Here the landscape changes, the Fiz limestones give way to the red rocks of the Aiguilles Rouges range. Climb up to the Brévent pass (2368m) then descend to Planpraz to take the gondola down to Chamonix.
5 hour walk / Elevation: +750m -750m / 10km

LES HOUCHES - LES CONTAMINES
Take the cable car and depart on foot from 1800m. Crossing to the foot of the Bionnassay Glacier before climbing to the Tricot pass. Descend to the Miage chalets and on to Les Contamines. Night in a small dormitory in a village gîte.
5.5 hour walk / Elevation: +650m -1250 m / 11km

COL DE LA CROIX DU BONHOMME - CORMET DE ROSELEND
Climb via the Roman road to the famous mountain pass, 'Col du Bonhomme'. Descend via the Crête des Gittes and the vast Beaufortain pastures to arrive at Plan de la Lai. Night in a dormitory above Lake Roselend.
6.5 hour walk / Elevation: +1450 m ; -800 m / 17km

COL DU BRESSON, SOUS LA PIERRA MENTA - ROSUEL
Balcony trail overlooking Lake Roselend and climb to the Bresson pass (2469m) at the foot of the Pierra Menta mountain. Descend through the Ormette valley and alongside small water channels in the hamlets to reach Valezan, part of the Tarentaise valley. Taxi transfer to Peisey Nancroix and 'La Porte de Rosuel'. Night in a dormitory in a refuge.
7 hour walk / Elevation: +900 m ; -1200 m / 16km

COL DU PLAN SÉRY - CHAMPAGNY LE HAUT
Enter into the Vanoise National Park at the foot of Mont Pourri and Dôme de la Sache. After the Lake of La Plagne, the ascent of the Plan Séry pass leads into the Vallaisonnay valley and its amazing geology. A final descent along the Py waterfall to the various hamlets of the Champagny valley. Night in a gite at Champagny-le-haut.
7 hour walk / Elevation: +1050m -1150m / 18km

TOUR DU MERLE - REFUGE DU GRAND BEC
The hike starts in a large spruce forest, the path rises to pass through all levels of vegetation until it reaches the Grand Bec refuge. Set on its promontory, it enjoys a large view of the glaciers above and the Pralognan valley below. Possibility to go through the very alpine col des Galinettes (2750m) depending on the conditions.
Night in a dormitory in the refuge without luggage transfer (and without shower).
5.5 hour walk / Elevation: +1250m -300m / 10km
Add +/-100m by the col des Galinettes

CHAVIÈRE PASS - MAURIENNE VALLEY
Climb Chavière valley dominated by the Domes de la Vanoise in a lunar landscape punctuated by cairn forests (piles of stones). The Aiguilles de Péclet-Polset indicate the nearby Chavière Pass. Descend into the Maurienne Valley through the pastures. Short transfer to Modane from Porte de l'Orgère.
6 hour walk / Elevation: +1150m -950m / 16km

MODANE - VALLEE ETROITE
Transfer to Valfréjus (20min) to the famous departure point of the GR5, towards the Étroite valley. Gentle climb towards this mountain pass which acts as a natural border between the Northern and the Southern Alps. Here enter the Hautes-Alpes and Étroite Valley, a French enclave in Italy. Descent to the hamlet of Les Granges to spend the first night in a refuge.
5 hour walk / Elevation: +890m -720m

VALLÉE ÉTROITE - COL DU VALLON - NÉVACHE
Let's go at the heart of the Clarée Valley. In that very wild area, climb to the Vallon pass (2645m) dominating the great Lake Blanc. A nice descent towards the Nevache village in the upper Clarée Valley. Cross the traditional village of Ville Haute and transfer (35min) at the end of the day to the neighbouring Fonts de Cervières valley. Night in refuge.
6 hour walk / Elevation: +850m -1050m

FONTS DE CERVIÈRES - COL MALRIF - ABRIÈS
Reaching the Queyras National Park via the Malrif pass (2830m). A beautiful climb from the Fonts de Cervières hamlet. Cross the Marif 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.
6 hour walk / Elevation: +850m -1300m

ECHALP - LAKE VALLEY - COL VIEUX - LAKE BLANCHE
From the last hamlet of this high valley of Guil, up along the Italian border, the valley of Bouchouse which constitutes 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 luggage transfer.
6 hour walk / Elevation: +1400m ; -600m

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

MALJASSET - COL MARY - CHIAPPERA
At the foot of the highest range of Haute-Ubaye, the Chambeyron (3412m), an easy climb through the Col Mary Valley with its multitude of lakes cheerfully dotting the pastures. From the mountain pass enter Italy, to the Piedmont to reach the Val Maira and the beautiful village Chiappera. Night in a gîte, without luggage transfer.
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
Departure for the Lauzanier Valley at the gates of the Mercantour National Park. Climb via a pleasant path to reach the Lauzanier Lake before a final slightly steeper climb up to the pass. A magnificent view from Col de la Cavale of 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, the first hamlet in this high valley of Tinée. 
6 hour walk / Elevation: +1040m ; - 1100m

ISOLA 2000 - COL DE LA MERCIERE - LE BORÉON 
After an early transfer to Isola 2000 ski resort, climb to the Col de la Mercière (2342m). Descend and then cross through the old village of Mollière and up to Salèze pass. Depending on the wheather conditions and on the group, a detour is possible to Lake Negere. Descend into the Vésubie to the village of Boréon. Night in a 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) dominated by the Gelas, highest summit of the Mercantour. Descend to the hospices of the Madone de Fenestre passing near its cheese cave. Through the Poncet Valley to the lower lakes and then on to the 5 lakes of Prals before going up to Lower Prals. Beautiful descent into the Gordolasque Valley, in the Relais des Merveilles.
7.5 hour walk / Elevation: + 1550m ; - 1520m

VALLÉE LA GORDOLASQUE - REFUGE DE NICE - BAISSE DE VALMASQUE - VALLÉE DES MERVEILLES
Climbing through the Gordolasque Valley to Lac de la Fous and Refuge de Nice which dominates. Travelling light for a night without baggage transport to the Refuge des Merveilles.
From Refuge de Nice, climb to Baisse Basto to join the famous Vallée des Merveilles and its engraved caves. A succession of enchanting lakes in the middle of this mineral landscape typical of this valley full of history.
6.5 hour walk / Elevation: + 1300m ; - 790m

REFUGE DES MERVEILLES - PAS DU DIABLE - COL DU RAUX - L'AUTHION - CAMP D'ARGENT
Via a multitude of lakes, leave the Vallée des Merveilles by the Pas de Diable. Change of scenery starting from the Pas de Diable where we will cross several mountain passes at 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 is our 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
A magnificent day on a ridge awaits. Leaving these landscapes rich in military vestiges of the Second World War to reach Sospel via the Mount Ventabren and Mangiabo ridges. With a continuing view over the mouth of the Var and the outskirts of Nice. A Charming descent to the village of Sospel on the Bévéra river for the night.                                     
7 hour walk / Elevation: +570m -1750m

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 line this beautiful day. Enjoy the last mountain pass, Col du Berceau (1050m) to picnic overlooking the bay and harbour of Menton... and a final descent of 1050m to the waters edge!
6.5 hour walk / Elevation: +1110m -1450m

End point around 4:30pm in Menton harbour.

The itinerary is established according to the latest information available, the possibility of unknown factors affecting this itinerary is possible including situations beyond our control which may change the route, timings etc. (depending on the natural conditions and the fitness of the group).