Right throught the Alps towards people and mountains... Grande Traversée des Alpes (GTA) between Lake Geneva and the Mediterranean is a long-distance journey. That's a chance to take a long break and put your daily life aside.
This itinerary runs along Swiss and Italian borders crossing five departments and some of the most famous massifs of the Alps.
1st section: Chablais, Haut Giffre, Aiguilles Rouges, Mont Blanc
This first stage takes us from the shores of Lake Geneva to the ice capital of Chamonix. We discover the Chablais massif with it's characterful limestone relief and the rich green alpine pastures of Abondance! The wild and preserved Dents Blanches massif opens the doors of the Faucigny area. Land of giant waterfalls, lappiaz and abysses and also land of heavenly mountain pastures. A few hours of hiking later we are at the Aiguilles Rouges from where we finally discover the whole Mont Blanc range, a spectacular display of glaciers and rocks. To be continued…
Daily departure from 18th of June to 5th of September 2023
Classic version in 7 days
Without baggage transport
565€ per person in classic accommodation (based on 2 people)
Single person supplement: 60€
With baggage transport (except days 1, 4 and 6)
780€/ person for groups of 2, classic accommodation.
705€/ person for groups of 3, classic accommodation.
675€/ person for groups of 4, classic accommodation.
650€/ person for groups of 5, classic accommodation.
630€/ person for groups of 6 and more, classic accommodation.
Single person supplement: 260€
Supplement for baggage transport to Moëde Anterne refuge (price on request)
Comfort option (double/twin bedroom 5 nights/ 6) : +90€/pers.
Information and reservation by telephone or mail.
Secure payment
The price includes:
The price does not include:
The price is all inclusive from departure to end point.
THOLLON LES MEMISES - PIC DES MEMISES - ALPAGE OF NEUVA
Way up with the cablecar (where you will let your baggage) and depart towards the balcony trail overlooking Lake Geneva. Then traverse the Mémises range and Mottay alpine pastures before descending to Novel valley. Night in a refuge without baggage.
3.5 - 4 hour walk / Elevation: +350m -500m
BISE PASS - CHAPELLE D’ABONDANCE
From the refuge, climb to lake Neuteu and Bise pass. Detour possible by Lake Darbon, under the mocking eyes of the ibex ! Descend into Bise Valley, climb to Pas de la Bosse and descend to La Chapelle d'Abondance, a typical village. Night in a gite.
6 - 6.5 hour walk / Elevation: +900m -1350m
COL DE BASSACHAUX - LINDARETS (Goat village) - VALLÉE DE LA MANCHE
Climb to Pointe des Mattes in the Mont de Grange nature reserve, home to chamois. Traverse through the pastures of Abondance to reach Bassachaux pass overlooking Lake Montriond. Descend to the pretty Lindarets village, known for its goats! Transfer to Vallée de la Manche. Night in a refuge.
6.5 - 7 hour walk / Elevation: +1250m -750m
COL DE LA GOLÈSE - FOLLY REFUGE
Climb to the pastures and farm of Fréterolles, its cows, its goats and its cheese! Cross at the foot of the Terres Maudites and short climb to Golèse pass (1666m), descend to the hamlet Les Allamands. Climb under the rock slabs of Tuet to reach Folly refuge for a night overlooking the distant lights of the Giffre Valley. Night in refuge (without your baggage).
6 - 6.5 hour walk / Elevation: +1050m -990m
VOGEALLE LAKE - SIXT-FER-À-CHEVAL
Day in the wild range of Dents Blanches. Depart towards the Combe aux Puaires an unusual area of lappiaz (eroded limestones). Descend to Lake Vogealle. Follows a beautiful descent facing the waterfalls of the cirque of Bout du Monde and Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval. Night in the village Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval.
5.5 - 6 hour walk / Elevation: +700m -1250m
COL D'ANTERNE - REFUGE MOËDE-ANTERNE
Climb to the Rouget waterfall and then to the Pleureuse and the Sauffaz waterfalls. The path reach the pastures of Anterne at the heart of the nature reserve of Sixt-Passy, a vast and high plateau where one of the most beautiful lakes of the region nestles. Kingdom of marmots and rare bearded vultures! Another small climb to Col d'Anterne and descend to Moëde-Anterne refuge. Possible swim at Lake Pormenaz, 15mins from the refuge. Night in refuge, without your baggage.
6 - 6.5 hour walk / Elevation: +1500m -350m
COL DU BREVENT - CHAMONIX
Short descent towards the Arlevé bridge. Here the landscape changes, the Fiz limestone gives way to the rocks of the Aiguilles Rouges range. Climb up to Brévent pass (2368m), then descend to Planpraz to take the cable car down to Chamonix.
5 hour walk / Elevation: +800m; -800m
Extra 1.5 hour walk if descending by foot to Chamonix: -1000m added
End point in Chamonix during the afternoon.
Elevation: +/- 600m to 1200m approximately per day.
Walking time: 5 to 6h30 per day.
Type of trek: this tour is not technically difficult and is open to children from 12 years.
Before departure, we send you a travel folder containing:
In France trails are marked with red and white stripes for Grande Randonnée (in both directions).
It is preferable to know how to read a topographical map at 1/25000.
Two options:
Without baggage transport: you carry your baggage.
With baggage transport: your baggage is transported by our vehicle, except on days 1, 4 and 6.
For the night without your baggage at the accommodation (you will get it back the night after), here are the things to add to your backpack (about 2 kilos are enough!):
- small toilet bag
- sleeping bag liner sheet
- change of clothes (bare necessities!)
CLASSIC: 6 nights in a dormitory of 4-8 persons, in refuge or gite
COMFORT: 5 nights in hotels or gites in a twin/double bedroom.
1 night in a refuge dormitory
All accommodation offers hot showers.
Breakfast and dinner are provided in each accommodation.
Picnics are not included and can be pre-ordered at each accommodation in the evening.
To be able to easily walk 15km (on flat trails) in 3 hours maximum.
If this is not the case, at least 3 weeks before departure, 2 to 3 times a week, we advise you to undertake some prior fitness training: 4 to 5km of jogging or 3 to 4 hours hiking or cycling. Your physical preparation will enable you to enjoy your trek to the maximum.
We can personalise a tour according to your requirements (number of days, participants, level of route, accommodation, etc.)
IGN Top 25 - 3528ET/ Morzine and Top 25 - 3530ET/ Samoëns (1/25 000).
From mid June to mid September.
Depart from Thollon-les-Mémises tourist Office.
BY TRAIN
Inbound: depart Gare de Lyon (Paris) TGV Paris/Bellegarde/Evian.
There are regular buses from Evian to Thollon Les Mémises (40mins) www.thollonlesmemises.com
Return the day after : departure from Chamonic at 11:57am arrive in (Paris) Gare de Lyon at 5:42am.
Times given are indicative and should be verified at a train station or at www.oui.sncf
BY CAR
Take the A40 motorway to Annemasse, free parking.
Train or bus to Evian : ligne-141-evian-annemasse or www.oui.sncf
Bus to Thollon les Mémises: www.thollonlesmemises.com Return: Chamonix to Annemasse by train.
Or
Taxi transfer before or after your hike.
Parking: free parking in Annemasse, Thollon-les-Mémises and Chamonix.
In Chamonix: free parking at the Biolay car park opposite the Montenvers train station, if you wish to leave your car in a covered garage, contact: Chamonix Auto Park: 04 50 53 65 71.
CLOSEST AIRPORTS
Geneva (GVA)
1 hour by car to Chamonix.
Bus and minibus services direct to your accommodation (25-35€ pp each way)
Lyon (LYS)
2.15 hours by car to Chamonix.
Train every 2 hours to Chamonix, 4.15 hour journey (40-45€ pp return)
Paris (PAR)
7 hours by car to Chamonix.
Train every 2 hours to Chamonix / 5-6 hour journey (80-120€ pp return)
End point in Chamonix.
Thollon Les Mémises: www.thollonlesmemises.com
Hotel Bellevue***: +33 (0)4 50 70 92 79 www.hotellebellevue.com
Hotel Bon-Séjour**: +33 (0)4 50 70 92 65 http://bon-sejour.com/indexen.php
Evian-les-Bains: www.evian-tourisme.com
Hôtel Evian Express: 04 50 75 15 07 www.hotel-evianexpress.fr
Hôtel Continental: 04 50 75 37 54 www.hotel-continental-evian.com
Hôtel Arc en Ciel: 04 50 71 90 63 www.hotelarcencielthonon.com
Hôtel Le Comte Rouge: 04 50 71 06 04 www.lecomterouge.com
Chamonix Tourist Office: +33 (0)4 50 53 00 24 www.chamonix.com
If you book a night in the Chamonix valley, you can ask to your hotel reception a bus/ train pass so you can use public transports for free in the Chamonix valley.
www.chamonix.montblancbus.com/en/bus-lines
If you are late please contact the agency as soon as possible on: +33 (0)4 50 79 09 16 or +33 (0)6 42 49 76 07
Clothing
Other Equipment
Bring a comfortable backpack of 30 to 40 litres for your personal belongings for the day (warm clothes, waterproofs, water, plate and cutlery for your picnic, sunscreen and your identity papers) and please keep a little room to carry a picnic and snacks.
Your baggage will be transported daily (except Days 1, 4 and 6) between accommodation by our logistics vehicle. You are allowed 1 soft, sports type bag with all your possessions inside, no heavier than 10kg. Your bag has to be carried everyday by the driver, where access is not always easy, please think of their backs! Baggage which is too big and too heavy won't be accepted by the drivers!
If you wish to prolong your holiday, we can safely hold another bag for you which you may leave with us at the departure point and it will be deposited at the end point with your other baggage.
All the arrangements worked well, especially the two transfers.
Perry le 06/09/2022