Accommodation & Meals
You’ll be staying in private rooms for 2 in gites, simple hotels, and mountain refuges, except for 2 nights in a dormitory. A mixture of private bathrooms and shared bathrooms. You’ll be served wholesome local cuisine. All evening meals are included in your holiday price except 2 nights.
When to Travel
Our self-guided walking tour along the second half of the GR5 trail is available from mid-June to the end of September. The first part of the holiday passes over high passes above 2500m and so, depending on the spring weather conditions, there is a risk that several snow fields remain on the higher slopes. The risk of encountering winter snow reduces as you progress into July. The weather is fairly similar in July and August. For the most part, it is stable and dry with the risk of afternoon storms, so setting off early is advisable. The busiest period in terms of fellow walkers is from mid-July to mid-August. Early in the season is best for the wonderful alpine flowers and meadows. Early September also has good weather. From mid-September onwards you run the risk of encountering some cold conditions at night and even some early fresh snow.
Navigation, Walking Notes & Maps
The vast majority of this walking holiday follows the GR5 (Grande Randonnee) long-distance trail which is way-marked with red and white markings. There are also several signposts along the trail. The walking follows clear paths for its entire duration. Some small sections follow local or unmarked trails, to access accommodation for example, but these are easy to follow. Our walking notes are detailed (more information here) and include intermediate distances for sections of the trail. They also include information about the sites which can be explored along the route. We supply one walking guide per person on this holiday. You’ll be provided with a large-scale map usually of 1:50,000 for the whole trail and more detailed 1:25,000 maps within your guidebook. Please look at our blog article for more information about French walking maps
Luggage Transfers
On this walking holiday, you can choose to have your main luggage transferred between accommodation so you only have to carry a day rucksack with a picnic lunch (supplied by the guest houses and included in the holiday price), water and spare clothes, waterproofs, camera etc. On this hike several local taxi companies are responsible for transporting your main luggage. The contact details for the taxis are included in your walking notes. Please limit the weight of your bags where possible to 15kg.
Travel Info
By Train
Eurostar and the TGV provide a relaxing journey from London to Lyon Part Dieu via Lille or direct. From Lyon you’ll need to take a local train services to Briancon station, going via Grenoble or Valence. Some trains go direct to Briancon from Grenoble, whilst others require a further change. The section between Grenoble and Briancon takes a minimum of 3hrs. You can also take trains from Lyon to Valence and change at Valence going via Gap. There are also overnight TGV trains to Briancon from Austerlitz station in Paris. If flying to Marseille there are TER trains from Marseille to Briancon. Also TGV trains from Paris to Oulx in Italy and shuttle bus to Briancon.
At the end of the holiday shuttle bus to Nice. TGV trains from Nice to Lyon and Paris.
By Air and rail
Regular direct flights to Lyon St Exupery from the UK and then train as above. Also possible to fly to Marseille and take TER trains from Marseille.
Please contact us for assistance in organising your travel arrangements
Further Information & Advice
For useful advice about travel and preparing for your self-guided walking holiday please take a look at the articles in our top-tips section of our blog. Learn more about how to prepare for your walking trip or what to carry on your rucksack. Once you have booked this independent walking or trekking holiday, further information about the walking, the region and what to bring, will be sent to you.
Extra Nights
Accommodation in Nice is not included in the standard holiday price. We can include one or more nights in Nice as required and book the standard of hotel you wish.
We can also book an additional night in Briancon at the start if required to explore the town as well as booking an extra night during the trek to have a rest day. The largest village along the trek is St Etienne de Tinee and so it would make sense to have your rest day there.
Combining trips
Finishing in Nice means that you can easily combine this holiday with our Alps to Med Trail from Tende to Menton in the Maritime Alps.
Changing or Tailor-made holidays
Parts 3 and 4 of this alpine trekking holiday can be booked apart. There are two versions of part 4, one going from Roya to Nice, as per this holiday and the other following a longer and more difficult trail from Roya to Menton along the GR52. Although we do not have a separate webpage for combining part 3 and the alternative part 4 to Menton, it would be possible to book this combined alternative.
Please consult us for a price on any of the above options.
Tailor Made Trips
If you want to learn more about the region’s culture through tailor-made activities and visits, check out this trip that includes a few days in the Alps. Contact us to add them to your hike.
Local Winter Tales: Immersing in France and Italy’s Winter Traditions
Experience the winter traditions of France and Italy as you witness stunning scenery from Annecy to Briançon, Saint-Véran, Turin and Chamonix.
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