GR5 (Briançon to Lake Geneva)

High passes, long valleys, and a journey across the French Alps.

The GR5 from Briançon to Lake Geneva follows a high-level route through the French Alps, linking mountain landscapes, alpine villages, and high passes between the fortified town of Briançon and the shores of Lake Geneva. Forming part of the Grande Traversée des Alpes, the trail crosses some of Europe's most celebrated mountain scenery through a continuous northbound journey shaped by elevation, distance, and changing terrain.

As a self-guided journey, the route connects places such as Briançon, Modane, the Vanoise region, Chamonix, and St-Gingolph while passing through alpine meadows, glacial valleys, rocky ridges, and high mountain passes. Long climbs and descents define the rhythm of the walk, with successive cols leading from one valley system to the next.

The landscape changes gradually as the route moves north. High Alpine valleys and mountain passes give way to broader glacial basins, forested slopes, and the dramatic scenery surrounding Mont Blanc and the Upper Arve Valley. Further north, the terrain softens as the trail approaches Lake Geneva, with lower ridges, woodland, and pasture replacing the highest mountain ground.

With well-established mountain paths, refuges, villages, and accommodation available throughout much of the route, the GR5 offers one of Europe's classic long-distance walking journeys. The trail combines alpine scenery, mountain culture, and varied terrain, revealing the changing character of the French Alps through a sustained crossing on foot.

Overview

Distance 230 miles / 370 km

Duration 3–4 weeks

Difficulty Challenging

Start Briançon, Hautes-Alpes

Finish St-Gingolph, Lake Geneva

Terrain Mountain passes, alpine tracks, balcony paths, rocky ridges, forest trails, and valley roads