sur lequel tu trouveras, entre autre, le détail du GR5 (dans le sens Sud-Nord) du GR5 entre Nice et Saint-Gingolph (pas loin du du Léman). Cela représente 26 jours de rando. Mais ce n'est pas le seul itinéraire possible. Il existe un topo guide du GR5 du Mont-Blanc à la Méditerranée.
Il y a aussi possibilité de prendre le GR5E ou d'enchainer GR5 et GR55 pour reprendre le GR5 plus bas (Les GR5, 5E et 55 se rejoignent à Modane).
Il existe aussi un guide FFRP: GR5/GR56, la grande traversée des Alpes.
A+
Eric
« Rien ne produit autant d’effet qu’une bonne platitude. Cela donne à tout le monde un sentiment de parenté. »
Oscar Wilde
J'ai effectué la Traversée des Alpes cet été dans le sens sud-nord et c'est vraiment une expérience fantastique avec des paysages grandioses et variés (et pas comme j'ai entendu quelqu'un qui disait: "quand t'as vu un lac de montagne, tu les as tous vu". Ca fou les boules après 10 jours de marche).
Les mois de juillet-août me semblent les meilleurs mois (je l'ai fait en juillet), en juin ça doit être tout à fait possible mais les névés sont bien sûr plus nombreux (ce qui est sympa si on trouve quand même le chemin) et tous les refuges ne sont pas encore ouverts au début du mois.
Pour le bivouac, solution que j'ai prise même si ça alourdi le sac (quelques jours en refuge entre deux), aucun problème pour trouver des endoits souvent superbes. C'est réglementé dans le parc national de la Vanoise et on peut dormir à côté de certains gites seulement. Sinon il est possible de dormir en refuge à chaque nuit en faisant des étapes plus ou moins longues mais on est alors obligé de prévoir quelques jours à l'avance pour réserver.
Pour les ravitaillements: solution facile: manger en refuge et demander un panier repas (réserver à l'avance je pense). Autre solution: prendre saucisson, pain, purée mosseline, soupe en sachet... à acheter dans les épiceries qu'on trouve au pire tous les 4 jours.
Etant en autonomie (sac d'environ 20kg quand ravitaillement pour 4 jours) l'allure de marche est un peu plus lente, j'ai mis 28 jours pour relier Nice au Bouveret (pointe sud est du Léman) dont trois jours de repos (St Etienne de Tinée, Pralognan, Les Houches) qui permettent aussi de profiter de la région (parapente, aiguille du midi...). De nombreuses variantes sont possibles en de nombreux points (j'ai terminé par le tour des dents blanches du côté de Samoens).
merci de tes infos. Je garde tes coordonnées car je ne suis pas pret.. j'arrete de" bosser dans deux ans et alors ... à moi les voyages et les treks..
20 kg me parait impressionnant!!j'ai consulter le carnet de voyage de quelqu'un qui l'a fait en 16jours!! de gite en gite. selon toi, est-ce un super héros?? ou est-ce possible sans chercher l'exploit?
Et puis juillet aout semble un peu galère avec l'affluence dans les gites. Son récit, debut juillet, parlait de temps pourri, de pluie et froid... moi, je pense plutot fin aout au 15 ou 20/09.
Merci de tes infos
JIP
Ne vous contentez pas de vivre par procuration, à travers votre écran:osez, allez-y!
Faire la traversée en 16 jours de gîte en gîte me semble possible, j'essayerai peut être une autre fois, car je pense bien refaire la GTA d'ici quelques années. Sans être un super héros il faut tout de même avoir une bonne condition physique pour la faire si rapidement.
Ca a plusieurs avantages: poids du sac considérablement réduit (pas de tente, réchaud, gamelles, bouffe pour plusieurs jours...) et donc allure de marche plus rapide et moins de fatigue, ce qui permet de marcher plus longtemps (et au bout du compte être au moins aussi fatigué). Les soirées en refuge sont un moment privilégié d'échange.
Par contre je ne sais pas si on prend autant le temps de profiter des paysages. Les bivouacs à un col ou dans un vallon isolé sont des moments superbes. La solitude est aussi parfois agréable. Il faut également prévoir à l'avance où dormir pour réserver (les nuits où j'ai dormi en refuge je n'avais pas réservé et il y a toujours eu de la place, au pire on met le sac de couchage sur le sol). Et surtout, le coût n'est pas le même (demi pension en refuge= au moins 30 euros).
En septembre je ne sais pas si le temps est super, mais c'est vrai qu'il doit y avoir moins de monde. En juillet, même si sur certaines étapes on rencontre beaucoup de randonneurs (quand on rejoint le tour du mont blanc notamment), il y a toujours des moments où on est seul.
Voilà pour les infos selon mon expérience et j'insiste, la traversée des Alpes c'est génial
Juste un grain de sel d'ex randonneur au long cours...
enfin pas si ex que ça ... ;)
Evidemment, 20 kg, c'est beaucoup. Mais j'ai fait ça aussi, et je suis pas rambo (1m69 55kg).
Ca dépend de ta condition physique avant tout.
L'intéret de la tente, c'est la liberté. C'est aussi moins cher ;)
L'an dernier, j'ai organisé un tour du Queyras "par le haut", avec des collègues bien entrainés, et nous avons choisis les refuges.
On y a gagné en poids et en confort, mais on a aussi fait beaucoup plus de dénivellé que si on avait eu une tente.
En revanche, on a pu "s'amuser" dans les cols ...
Et on a bouclé le tour en 9jours, et encore avec une étape de repos (Roux d'Abries -> La Monta). Mais les 4 qui ont suivi ont été "dantesques" !
Je ne crois pas qu'il y ait de VERITE.
La tente, c'est la liberté, et la "poésie" des sommets, des aubes brumeuses ... mais c'est aussi du poids et un certain inconfort.
En plus, monter et démonter soir et matin, et faire sa bouffe.
Les refuges, c'est plus de confort, (quand on est arrivé, plus rien à faire ou presque), moins de poids, mais plus de dénivellé, et un choix d'itinéraire forcément plus restreint.
Quant à l'aspect météo, ben autant essayer de prévoir les résultats du loto.
En montagne, tout est toujours possible. J'ai vu 20cm de neigne en Juillet à 2400m au refuge du Viso (Vallée du Guil) ...
Et pourtant, je continue de penser que Juillet (voire Juin) est le meilleur moment pour randonner. Longue journée, fleurs ... etc ...
J'ai aussi subit, l'année dernière (vous vous souvenez la canicule), laneige à 2500m au dessus de Aussois le dernier week-end d'Aout.
Ca devait etre le seul vraiment complètement pourri de tout l'été !
Je pense que quand on se lance dans une "aventure" pareille il faut s'attendre à tout. Evidemment, ça peut induire une surcharge, mais ça peut etre le prix du confort voire de la sécurité.
En tous cas, une fois que tu auras chois, il ne faudra pas regretter. Si tu as des "galères", ça te fera des souvenirs ;-)
Le bivouac (du coucher du soleil au levet du soleil ) est autorisé dans les parcs nationnaux en respectant certaines consignes . Ne pas planter sa tente devant le refuge, etre discret et ne rien laissé sur place .
Certes la tente est un poids supplémentaire a porter, mais de nos jours les fabricants ont fait d'enormes progrés .
La nuit dans un refuge n'est pas aussi tranquille que cela et encore tres chere (merci le CAF ), alors pourquoi ne pas partagé le poids d'une tente .
L'envie c'est comme un grain de sable dans l'oeil !
la situation sur le bivouac est tjrs tres ambigue est les tolerance diiferent en fonction des parc, je prend pour exemple le parc de mon village (PNR des contamines montjoie), traversée par le TMB, le bivouac est toleré sur des petites zones (qqs dizaines de m² chacune balisées... ). ils en est de meme pour le parc des haut plateau du vercos ou 3 abris sont a dispo avec camping autorisé autour .... strictement interdit ailleur ...
pour préparer, tu peux investir dans les CD IGN Rando, alpes du sud et alpes du nord. Avec boussole et altimètre, avec ces cartes au 25 000 pré imprimées, dans les alpes françaises, on ne peut guère se perdre sur les sentiers... les accidents sont toujours hors sentiers et par mauvais temps, il faut donc savoir s'adapteret éviter de partir en cas de météo incertaine...
Voilà, je cherche à randonner un wend du samedi au dimanche, avec un nuit en refuge dans les alpes du Nord. Nous sommes un couple de 27 ans. J'ailmerai faire…
Voyager à pied › France › Rhône-Alpes / Sud-Ouest · 65 replies
J'ai plutôt l'habitude de partir a l'étranger l'été, mais vu les événements je pense que cette année ça sera la France. J'aimerais savoir quels sont les…
J'aimerais avoir quelques renseignements concernant les randonnées dans les Alpes en été, pendant environ 1 semaine. Je ne suis pas encore fixé sur la zone que…
Voyager à pied › France › Rhône-Alpes · 29 replies
Nous partons de Montréal vers Lyon en août prochain, pour aller faire de la rando dans les Alpes françaises. Nous avons loué une voiture et nous allons coucher…
I’m planning to do the Mercantour crossing following the Randoxygène route in mid-July.
I’m used to hiking in the mountains, but I sometimes get vertigo, for example on ridges with drops on both sides. I wanted to check if there are any T4 or T3-T4 sections and find out if there are any very exposed passages—and if so, where—so I can plan an alternative route.
Can anyone give me some info on this?
Thanks!
hi how can I get internet when I arrive at Haneda? I mean in areas without free wifi. Is it more interesting to buy a SIM card? If so, at the airport? thanks for your help
We're planning to go at the end of November/beginning of December to visit (with a rental car) and hike on La Palma and El Hierro for 15 full days, including 1 day for inter-island ferry transfers. What’s the best split between the two islands—8 days on La Palma and 6 on El Hierro, or even more time for La Palma? Should we have one or two home bases on La Palma? Thanks for your tips!
Annie
Hi there,
I’m planning to cross the Gourgs Blancs Pass at the end of the month, from La Soula Refuge to Portillon Refuge. On this section near the pass, I don’t have any trail marked on my IGN map. Is the path well signposted, or should I use a compass?
Also, beyond the physical effort, are there any technical, exposed, or vertigo-inducing sections on this part?
Since I’m finding very little info, I’m being thorough with my questions.
I'm developing a free and open-source web app for planning walking and cycling trips (and even car trips). You can create a route by clicking directly on the map to add waypoints, and it can consist of multiple stages. The app provides tools to edit the stages and the overall route, and to display useful information (distances, altitudes, and elevation changes). A relief profile can be shown as a graph for a specific stage or the entire route.
Once the route is ready, it can be exported as a GPX file, which can then be used with a GPS or a mobile navigation app.
The app is built in JavaScript and runs entirely in the web browser. It uses the Leaflet library and several OpenStreetMap-based services. Initially developed for my personal needs (I enjoy hiking and cycle touring), I’d be happy to share it with anyone who might find it useful. It’s free to use, doesn’t require an account, and the source code is available.
hi there
I’m heading to Uzbekistan for three weeks from mid-September to mid-October 2026—a country I haven’t visited yet.
I’d love to do a few multi-day hikes in the mountains without going through a tour operator or hiring a guide. Has anyone here done this?
It doesn’t have to be all trekking; day hikes are great too.
I’m open to any tips!
Also, I see there are lots of train options if you book well in advance—does that only apply to the "fast" trains? Are there buses as well?
Hello,
In mid-November, we’ll be in Mindelo and Santo Antão.
We’ve booked transportation with Kapverden Tours.
One trip is from Porto Novo to Ponta do Sol, including the hike from Corda to Coculi.
What’s the trail like?
Then we’ll be staying in Ponta do Sol,
Here’s what we’re planning:
A hike to Fontainhas—what’s the best direction, considering we’re not great with climbs? No problem with flat terrain or descents.
Take an aluguer to Ribeira Grande and continue along the coastal road.
With the agency:
An excursion to Cruzinha with a short walk.
Return to Porto Novo via the path from Cova to… I’m not sure where yet, to pick up the car for Porto Novo, since we’ll be taking the ferry that evening.
We’ll have a guide for this hike.
We’d love to spend a day in Tarrafal, but getting back requires a boat or taxi, and it’s really expensive!
We’re a couple, 78 and 76 years old.
What do you think of this itinerary?
Not very well known: Hokkaido Island has national parks that rival those in North America. Hiking there is free (even many mountain huts) and requires no formalities. These treks are described in the LP *Hiking in Japan* guide—you can just buy the Hokkaido PDF. It’s way better than Mount Fuji. Of course, everything depends on the weather, which is very unstable in the Japanese mountains (frequent strong winds). The trails are often obstacle courses.
The Daisetsu Zan traverse is a stunning hike through volcanic terrain with a remote section in the middle that requires at least one night of camping (there are basic huts for the rest, which is popular with Japanese hikers): 4 to 6 days.
The Shiretoko traverse takes 2 days with views including an island in Russia, but the ridge is brown bear territory—there are even more here than in Denali National Park in Alaska (brown bears and grizzlies are the same). I ran into 7 in just 6 hours of hiking!
Hi everyone,
I’m leaving on Monday, August 3rd for my very first long-distance trek: the GR223 from Coutances to Mont Saint-Michel, over 6-7 days (~11-14 miles/day), solo.
I’m looking for tips from people who know this section well (Coutances → Regnéville-sur-Mer → Hauteville-sur-Mer → Bréhal → Granville → Genêts → bay crossing):
Budget-friendly accommodations: I’m struggling to find affordable stopover lodgings (a lot of what I find online are expensive vacation rentals, not really suited for a solo hiker). If you have any great spots (hostels, hiker-friendly B&Bs, nice campgrounds), I’d love to hear them!
Bay crossing: Any feedback on guides/providers leaving from Genêts for the final crossing?
General tips for a first long-distance trek: What you wish you’d known before your first time, pitfalls to avoid, etc.
Hi,
We’re planning to do the 4-day trek from Mestia to Ushguli without an agency. The descriptions mention that there are accommodations at each stop, but we can’t find any details about them. Has anyone got info or feedback on this route?
New to this forum, I’m planning a pretty big project for 2028.
I’m heading to Nepal to do a trek from Kathmandu all the way to Everest Base Camp (a cool 5,300 m 😄).
This trek is a bit special because even though I’ll be part of a group, I’m going solo (so far, no problem—I’m used to it). But it’s my first real trek, and it’s also a humanitarian one: once I reach base camp, I’ll stay an extra week to help clean up the waste left by tens of thousands of climbers! Since I’m originally from South America, from two countries that share the Andes, I have a deep respect for mountains—they fascinate me. So Everest… it’s kind of the trip of a lifetime!
So, a little question for those who’ve done treks to Everest before… any tips for good mental preparation (I’m already working on the physical side)?
We're planning to trek in Peru and Bolivia and would love to find some local agencies.
If you know any, could you share details on prices and, of course, the names of the agencies?
Which trek would you recommend?
Elocine
I'm heading out on a fully self-sufficient trek in Morocco (10 days) from Imilchil to Aghbalou.
Can I find screw-on gas canisters (Coleman, Primus) in Marrakech (any addresses?) or in villages between Imilchil and Aghbalou?
If not, are Butagaz canisters for camping gas (small 230g size) available?
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Hello, I’d like to embark on a little trip in my home country, Switzerland. I’ll start walking from La Cure, heading toward Le Noirmont first, then I’ll improvise my route—but it’ll probably follow the French border... at least as far as Lac de Joux.
I’ll decide day by day how much farther to go after that. My goal is to stay in nature as much as possible, wander around for as long as I can, and restock food in villages or towns along the way.
I’m thinking of mostly camping, but we’ll see if I end up in a hotel or another campsite depending on my route.
I’d love to reach La Chaux-de-Fonds on foot... maybe even Delémont.
The whole thing should take about a week, give or take.
I’ll be bringing my dog, and I’m preparing for this as soon as I’m ready.
Any tips to make sure everything goes smoothly for us? Things I should know—or avoid? What about shepherds with their flocks of sheep? And isn’t hunting season open right now?
I’m not sure if what I’m planning is even doable, which is why I’m asking around.
This’ll be my first time doing something like this—wandering in nature *and* with a dog. I’m really excited for this adventure... and I need it. Thanks!
We’re really keen on ecosystems and want to hike in "natural" ancient forests—not planted woods or areas heavily degraded by human activity. Travel guides (like Lonely Planet) don’t provide much info on this. Could you point us to the most interesting spots?
Thanks in advance for your tips.
We wish you happy holidays and a fantastic 2026, full of discoveries!
Claire and Albert
Hi, this might not be the right section, but I’d like to know if it’s possible to start mountaineering with another person without necessarily hiring a guide. We’ve done quite a bit of hiking but not mountaineering—we’ll just do a half-day glacier course. After that, we were thinking of starting with La Grande Motte and the Pointe de la Traversière, which were recommended to us. Honestly, for things like roping up and knots, I’ll learn at home with lots of videos and a book.
I’d love to know if anyone has done treks in the Rwenzori Mountains and how much it costs on average, what the infrastructure is like, the landscapes, and safety in the area. Thanks so much! I’m really looking forward to your replies.
We’re leaving in 9 days for a two-week trip to Madeira, mainly to hike.
From my research, I’ve found that since last year, access to most trails—and systematically for the most popular ones—is now paid. You have to pay an access fee of 4.50 € per person per classified hike in 2026, and even 10.50 € for the most iconic hike: Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo. When paying, you also have to choose a day and a 30-minute time slot for your start time. Of course, this reservation is neither changeable nor refundable, even if the weather that day is terrible.
Personally, given the massive influx of tourists to the island in recent years, I don’t mind paying a fee to help maintain the trails. Similarly, setting a limit on the number of people who can hike them per day is certainly preferable to preserve this priceless heritage.
However, what’s much less fair is that in reality, most of the available spots are reserved: 1/ for Madeira residents (which is normal); 2/ for "economic operators" (meaning local tour operators). For example, if you’re a non-resident (independent tourist), no booking is possible for the Pico Arieiro hike for an early morning start before September! So, unfortunately, we’ll have to skip this hike.
It’s the same issue for Ponta de São Lourenço, the 25 Fontes, Pico Ruivo... in short, all the most popular hikes. Oh well, we’ll skip those too!
So my question is: which hikes do you recommend where we won’t face the huge crowds that the others get? And where we can book the day before for the next day, taking the weather into account?
Finally, a quick accommodation question: we’ve booked the first week in Funchal, but I haven’t decided yet for the second week. Do you have any advice on where to stay in the south or north, preferably avoiding overly concrete-heavy and touristy spots?
I’m reposting about the logistics for Samaria Gorge.
I’d love to get recent info, especially about whether it’s possible to park my car in Omalos, do the hike, and then catch a bus back to my vehicle.
In theory, it’s doable, but when you check the KTEL website, there aren’t any feasible schedules listed. If anyone has recently organized this with reliable, verified details, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks in advance!
Hi there,
We’re flying from Montreal to Lyon this August to go hiking in the French Alps. We’ve rented a car and will be staying at campgrounds. We’re planning to do day hikes and want to stay a few days in one spot, do a few hikes, then move on to our next camping spot. Could you share your favorite spots or any recommendations for places to spend a few days with great hikes?
A few details:
We arrive in early August and leave in early September.
We’re looking for day hikes (or shorter), moderate difficulty, with a cumulative elevation gain of no more than 1000m, and of course, beautiful scenery!
We’d prefer not to drive too much—maybe it’s best not to head too far south and deal with unnecessary heat?
Along the same lines, if you know of any great campgrounds where we can start our hike directly without needing the car, we’d love to hear your suggestions!
Hi there,
I’m planning to go hiking on this island and would like to know the best time to do it. I visited for a few days in November 2018—not for hiking but just to explore—and the weather wasn’t great, especially in the mountains. So, is a star-shaped itinerary doable if I rent a car and maybe use two different accommodations?
I’m not planning to join an organized group—just traveling with one other person and organizing things ourselves—unless you’d recommend a local agency or guide. Finally, even though I’ll be getting maps, a topo guide, and a GPS, I’d really appreciate your top hiking recommendations.
Thanks so much for your tips!
I’m planning a trip around Cap Corse and the AGRIATES in 2026, from May 8th to 15th (there are still 2 spots left, by the way! Just DM me if you're interested).
I’d love to know which hikes are worth prioritizing in the AGRIATES. We’ll be staying in SALECCIA for two days as our base—what should we focus on from there?
A round trip to IGNHU beach? Any other suggestions?
For Ostricano, I think it’s too far for a round trip...
Thanks for your tips!
Have a great day,
Anie, Toulouse
I’d like to get some info about the GR10 Pyrenees traverse. I need help planning the daily stages and accommodations—my wife isn’t an experienced hiker but walks a lot, so I’d like to schedule shorter walking days and thus a longer overall trip in terms of number of days.
Could anyone give me some help and advice?
Best regards,
Hi there, I’m planning the Annapurna Circuit for March 2027 and I’m looking for a local agency with a local guide—preferably French-speaking—to arrange this trek for us. Any suggestions? Thanks
Hello!
We’re spending a few days in Toraja country at the end of May. We’d love to do a day trek—taking our time—on a route that’s stunning in terms of scenery, but not a level 5 in difficulty!
Any suggestions you can share, please?
Thanks in advance
I’d like to do the Mare a Mare Sud in May over 4 days. I’ve found quite a few places to stay along the route, but I’m stuck on the start and finish.
I’ll be arriving by plane on Sunday evening and would like to start pretty early on Monday morning. Ideally, accommodation right at the trailhead (Alzu di Gallina) would be amazing, but I can’t find anything. Any tips?
Also, for the transfer from Figari Airport to Porto Vecchio or Alzu di Gallina?
At the end, I’d like to pick up a rental car—any advice on that too?
I’m traveling solo by plane to Catania in May and plan to hike the northern side of Etna, starting from Linguaglossa where I’ll arrive by bus. After that, I’d love some info on how to get up to Piano Provenzana (shuttles or hitchhiking), since it seems there’s no public transport except in the summer. Can you sleep there in a free or cheap refuge, or camp? And how far up can you go without having to hire a guide? Thanks in advance. Bernard.
