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The GR5 from Nice to Briançon is one of the most dramatic and rewarding sections of France’s great north–south long-distance route. Beginning at the edge of the Mediterranean and climbing deep into the southern Alps, this section offers a powerful sense of transition — from sea-level landscapes to high mountain passes shaped by altitude, weather, and time.
For walkers undertaking self-guided walking holidays and outdoor adventures, the Nice to Briançon GR5 delivers sustained challenge and immersion. Stages are long, terrain is demanding, and progress is shaped by elevation rather than distance. The route passes through Mercantour National Park and onward into the high Alpine landscapes leading toward the Écrins region, linking valleys, refuges, and remote settlements by foot alone.
This is not a route built for speed. It rewards careful planning, respect for conditions, and a willingness to move through the mountains day by day.
Distance: approx. 440 km / 273 miles (Nice to Briançon section)
Start Point: Nice, Alpes-Maritimes
End Point: Briançon, Hautes-Alpes
Time Required: 3–5 weeks (flexible staging)
Terrain: High mountain passes, alpine ridges, glacial valleys, forested slopes
Difficulty: Challenging — long days, sustained ascents, exposed sections
Accessibility: Train access at Nice and Briançon; limited public transport at intermediate valleys
The route begins dramatically above the Mediterranean, climbing rapidly from coastal landscapes into the hinterland. Early stages pass through olive groves and forested valleys before reaching higher Alpine terrain.
The GR5 enters the high mountains of Mercantour National Park, with longer stages, higher passes, and increasingly remote terrain. Alpine meadows, larch forests, and open basins dominate.
This is one of the most demanding and atmospheric sections of the route. Walkers rely on mountain refuges such as Refuge de Longon to break long stages and cross exposed high ground safely.
Beyond Mercantour, the route continues through high valleys and passes that lead toward the Briançon area. Terrain remains serious, with extended days and classic high-Alpine scenery.
Nice, Saint-Dalmas-le-Selvage, Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, Roure, upper Alpine hamlets, Briançon
Small hotels and guesthouses in valley towns
Mountain refuges positioned for multi-day crossings
Simple accommodation shaped by the needs of walkers
Limited in high sections — careful planning required
Valley towns provide resupply points between long stages
Refuges offer meals as part of the traditional hut-to-hut system
Ancient salt routes and transhumance paths
Borderland passes linking France and Italy
Working mountain landscapes shaped by farming and movement
High-level walking through Mercantour National Park
Sustained alpine stages with long ascents and descents
Hut-to-hut travel across remote mountain terrain
Clear transition from Mediterranean landscapes to the High Alps
One of Europe’s most serious self-guided long-distance routes
A route defined by geography, not convenience
