Top 5 most beautiful treks in France
Hiking enthusiasts will tell you; France is full of trails and scenery that are worth a detour! Out of all these trails, some loops and traverses have become legendary for those who are enthusiastic and passionate about trekking. Long-distance hiking trails (GRs) are famous for offering unique panoramas and scenery that can only be discovered on foot. Listed below are five ideas for destinations for your next adventures! Experienced hikers can attempt these five GRs in their entirety while newcomers to the world of trekking can tackle them section by section. Hiking over several days or weeks cannot be improvised. It’s essential to be well-prepared and fully organized before you set out on the trails. So that your GR adventure will be nothing but pleasure, we suggest you ease in gradually and in so doing, fully enjoy all the benefits of hiking.
The Tour du Mont Blanc
- Type of route: loop
- Distance: 155 kilometers
- Elevation gain: 8,500 meters
- Highest point: 2,655 meters above sea level
- Average time needed: 10 days
- Best time to go: mid-June to end of September
- Bonus: three countries and the most beautiful scenery from the rooftop of Europe!
The Tour du Mont Blanc is without a doubt one of the most iconic hikes in the Alps. This trek has become a must for all mountain walking enthusiasts. The approximately 155-kilometer route provides breathtaking views of the landscape surrounding the Mont Blanc massif. While not technically too difficult, the loop nevertheless allows you to experience all the ambiance of the high mountains including summits and glaciers. This route also provides exposure to the alpine charm and authenticity of French, Swiss and Italian villages, hamlets and mountain pastures! And of course, you’ll experience the high alpine as you hike the Tour du Mont Blanc! Don’t forget your passport!
Prior to June, the last remaining snow at altitude makes the trails difficult, therefore we recommend going when the weather is nice. The best time to hike the Tour du Mont Blanc is from mid-June to the end of September. Magnificent and mythical, the trail is unfortunately a victim of its success and very popular during the summer season. So, remember to check the refuges that lie ahead for availability.
In the shadow of 4,807m Mont Blanc the temperature differences can be significant. Dress according to the three-layer system by taking lightweight clothes for days when you’ll be walking, some warm clothes, and also a waterproof layer to protect you from possible bad weather and chilly mornings!
The Tour du Mont Blanc usually starts in Chamonix but you’re free to start from wherever you want! The various stopover towns along the route – Les Houches, Les Contamines, St Gervais, Vallorcine, Chapieux on the French side; Orsières and Trient in Switzerland; Courmayeur in Italy –also make it possible, if necessary, to easily use public transportation to skip sections of the tour or return to your starting point.
If you want a taste of what the Tour du Mont Blanc is like in one day of hiking, take a tour of the Lac Blanc section above Chamonix. Several routes to the Lac Blanc refuge are possible, with varying amounts of elevation gain/drop. At the refuge you’ll enjoy the magic of the Aiguilles Rouges National Nature Reserve.
The GR10 through the Pyrenees
- Type of route: traverse
- Distance: 916 kilometers
- Elevation gain: 55,000 meters
- Highest point: 2,736 meters above sea level
- Average time: 55 days
- Best time to go: mid-June through end of October
- Bonus: the ocean, the mountains, and the sea all on the same route
The GR10 is a great adventure. By hiking the trail you’re actually traversing the Pyrenees mountains from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea (or vice versa. You choose which direction!). The route travels 916 kilometers from the town of Hendaye in the Basque Country to Banyuls in the eastern Pyrenees. The GR10 is long, features lots of elevation gain/drop, and requires good mountain skills and solid physical conditioning. It fluctuates between peaks and valleys (we climb up for 360˚ panoramas and then descend to the valleys to refuel. In total, the GR10 has nearly 55,000 meters of elevation gain! It’s therefore necessary to be well prepared and to only take what’s needed to successfully make the crossing from one end to the other. The weight of your backpack should be between 20% to 25% of the hiker’s weight so take the time to pack your backpack with only what’s needed to travel light and safe.
The GR10 is an iconic trek and a great adventure. Wild and natural, the Pyrenees provide access to to a place of pristine flora and fauna that’s far removed from everything. If you’re an experienced hiker, you can also explore the HRP (Haute Route Pyrénéenne) which is a variant that follows the ridges of the massif at a higher elevation.
The GR34 in Brittany
- Type of route: traverse
- Distance: 2,090 kilometers
- Elevation gain: 22,811 meters
- Highest point: 128 meters above sea level
- Average time: 70 to 80 days
- Best time to go: mid-June to the end of October (can be done all year round)
- Bonus: a maritime trail with a thousand and one experiences
Long-distance hiking trails don’t always have to be mountainous! The GR34 covers around 2000 kilometers of trail along the Breton coast from Mont Saint Michel to Saint Nazare. Nicknamed the Customs Trail, this coastal path was used by customs officers responsible for preventing smuggling on the outskirts of Brittany. These days the trail is reserved for walkers and nature lovers and provides scenery including both land and sea like you won’t find anywhere else.
To connect the two ends of the GR34, you’ll need to have a bit of time available and be well prepared! Especially since the elevation gain over the entire route amounts to 22,811 meters, and this even though the highest point of the route is just 128 meters! But don’t worry! For those who prefer to embark on a smaller adventure, the different stages of the GR34 are very easy to accomplish as day trips.
You can hike the GR34 in any season, but spring and summer remain the best periods for strolling around the Breton coasts. We won’t stick our necks out by trying to explain the weather in Brittany, so let’s just say it’s best to play it safe and take warm clothes and a waterproof layer whenever you go for a hike there.
Some key sections if you want to enjoy the route for only a day or a long weekend:
- Crozon to Camaret – discover the capes of the Preton peninsula (37 kilometers)
- Vannes to Arradon – between fishing ports and the wild coast (25 kilometers)
- Arzal to Pointe du Bile – a dive into the coastal region (22 kilometers)
Traverse of the Vosges via the GR5
- Type of route: traverse
- Distance: 430 kilometers
- Elevation gain: 14,241 meters
- Highest point: 1,423 meters above sea level
- Average time: 17 to 18 days
- Best time to go: April to November
- Bonus: An accessible route with enchanting landscapes
The GR5 is a 2,200-kilometer trail that links the North Sea at Hoek van Holland in the Netherlands to the Mediterranean Sea at Nice, France. Between those two points the GR5 crosses Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and a good bit of France including the three eastern massifs: the Vosges, the Jura and the Alps. The crossing of the Vosges – from Wissembourg in the north to the territory of Belfort in the south – is an outstanding section of the GR. Hikers will discover captivating scenery where history mixes with the natural riches of the region. The Vosges section of the GR5 stretches for 430 kilometers. Less steep than the mountainous Alps, the Vosges provides more accessible hikes that are just as striking! Depending on the year and the snow cover, the crossing is possible from April until November.
And for those who only have a day to get a taste of the traverse of the Vosges, follow the route from Col de la Schlucht to Hohneck. From the Col de la Schlucht, the path winds through the Vosges forest for nearly 15 kilometers and then follows the famous rock trail to reach the Petit Hohneck (1,289-meter) and the third highest peak in the Vosges, the Hohneck (1,363-meter). Prepare yourself for a solid day of walking including 1,340 meters of elevation gain!
The GR20 in Corsica
- Type of route: traverse
- Distance: 179 kilometers
- Elevation gain: 12,811 meters
- Highest point: 2,607 meters above sea level
- Average time: from 12 to 16 days
- Best time to go: mid-June to end of October
- Bonus: a trail featuring all the colors and sounds of this beautiful island
How can we not mention the GR20? Famous all around the world, the trail has become a reference in the world of trekking and attracts thousands of walkers every year in search of adventure and wonder. The GR20 crosses Corsica from Calenzana in the north to Conca in the south, nearly 200 kilometers through the bewitching mountains of the Isle of Beauty. Even though it receives a lot of traffic, the GR20 is nonetheless a difficult route, especially in its very mountainous northern part. Some passages can be a bit technical on steep trails and the weather can be especially unpredictable in the higher sections of the route. The southern part is more rolling with trails that are smoother. The traverse can be done in either direction, but most hikers opt for a diagonal route from north to south so they can start with the sections that are the most challenging. This direction is also recommended for those wanting to travel in the same direction as most of the other hikers. Indeed, even though the GR20 has lost none of its beauty, its overuse can take away from the wilderness experience a bit. Hut reservations are essential. Bivouacs are authorized but only near the huts.
Don’t fool yourself with the image of endless Mediterranean sun. In the interior of Corsica, and at altitude, temperatures can drop quickly, and it can snow on the highest summits. The best period to go on the GR20 is the summer period, from mid-June to the end of September. If conditions allow, the GR can also be done in October when the nights will be cooler, but the trails will be less crowded.
If you only have one day to spend, go to Bavella! As the second stage when leaving from the south (or the next-to-last stage when leaving from the north) the route can easily be done by car from the Col de Bavella. It’s possible to make a loop around the famous granite needles and return to your starting point. Count on around 5.5 hours of hiking for the 11 kilometers and 785 meters of elevation gain for this loop.
Find more of our advice on our Hiking Stories and Guides pages.