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A very beautiful walk with 360° panoramic views, between La Blanche, the Ubaye and Serre Ponçon. An easy initial climb to the Fort de Dormillouse, with its 360° panorama (Serre Ponçon, the Ecrins, Le Champsaur, the Devoluy, the Ubaye, the Mercantour, the Cheval Blanc…), followed by a walk to the Lacs du Milieu and Lac Noir, before ascending the Pic de Bernardez. A challenging route with a few technical sections along the ridge.

A short walk to Lake Mont Cenis, which will take you to one of the many forts in the area. You’ll have the chance to cross the dam to reach the fort, which is very well preserved. Unfortunately, a regulation prohibits access to the interior.

An easy walk through the countryside around Solignac-sur-Loire. Ideal for autumn, when the days are getting shorter, or for a half-day outing. The waterfall is well worth a visit, especially after rain, as is the passage under the Baume.

A beautiful route through the Auvergne countryside starting from Boudes, known for its vineyards. This walk will take you to Saint-Hérent, a small village perched on a rocky outcrop with a magnificent Romanesque church. You’ll then discover the Source de Bard, gushing from the bowels of the earth, as well as the Vallée des Saints – also known as the ‘Auvergne Colorado’ – with its stunning variety of colours and rock formations.

An exceptional hike which, due to its elevation gain, technical sections and distance, requires excellent physical fitness. It took me 9 hours, including breaks, to complete this route, setting off at 6.00 am. At the summit of Mourre Froid, a 360° panorama offers views of the main peaks of the Queyras, Champsaur, Mercantour, Ecrins and Devoluy ranges... The technical section is mainly after the Col de la Tourette, where you’ll need to use your hands, as well as the section on the Crête de la Dent, up to the summit of Mourre Froid.

The third stage is very difficult due to its length of nearly 26 km, with a few technical sections – particularly when carrying a rucksack – which will put your body to the test. This is why I have classified this stage as ‘very difficult’. However, this stage is one of the most beautiful on this route: wild, technical, with stunning panoramic views. You’ll cross pastures, wooded areas, mountain pastures and very rocky high-mountain sections between the two highest peaks of the Mercantour: Mont Pelat (3,051 m) and Le Cimet (3,020 m). You’ll be crossing the northern part of the Mercantour National Park. Allow between 8 and 10 hours for this challenging stage.

An easy walk to the foot of the magnificent waterfall called the Voile de la Mariée. This round route is not difficult.

A magnificent hike in the Cirque de Cilaos, with numerous streams and waterfalls, including Bras Rouge, Fouquet and Alfred. The hike sometimes follows a balcony path at the foot of the three Salazes and Piton des Neiges. You can take the time to relax in the Alfred pools and its small waterfall.

A lovely two-day route. Ideal for a weekend trip. Thefirst day is straightforward, taking you to the Refuge de l’Estrop. Thesecond stage is physically very demanding, featuring technical sections that can be daunting when crossing the scree slopes. Some truly exceptional panoramic views await you at the Baisse de l’Estrop and, above all, at the summit of the Estrop.

Day2 of this route takes you to the summit of the Estrop, then back down to the Foux d’Allos resort via the Baisse de l’Aiguille. A very technical hike, featuring extensive and exposed scree slopes. The view from the summit is fantastic, taking in the whole of the Champsaur Range, the Écrins, the Queyras and the Mercantour. You’re sure to spot chamois, ibex and marmots. This stage requires sure-footedness.

Thefirst stage of this two-day route. An easy day’s walk to get you properly warmed up for the next day’s stage. The ascent of the Baisse de l’Auriac is gentle. At the pass, there’s a magnificent view of the Tête de l’Auriac, the Bléone valley and the Mercantour.

A hike in the Aiguilles Rouges massif through unspoilt wilderness to discover magnificent mountain lakes.You’ll pass through the Col du Lac Cornu, overlooking the lake of the same name, before reaching the Lacs Noirs, where mountain wildlife is particularly abundant.You may spot some mountain animals – chamois, ibex and marmots – around a mountain lake with an exceptional view of Mont Blanc. ⚠️ This route passes through the Aiguilles Rouges Nature Reserve. Please respect the regulations in force. See practical information.

This beautiful route, starting from the Col de Font de Cère, crosses the pastures of the Cantal and passes successively through the Puy de Griou, the Puy de Bataillouse and, finally, the Téton de Vénus.Throughout this hike, the 360° panoramic views allow you to observe the beautiful mountainous countryside of the Monts du Cantal.

A coastal walk, known as the Trace des Cap, where you’ll pass successively through Baie des Anglais and Savane des Pétrifications, before reaching Pointe des Salines and Grande Anse. Throughout this easy, yellow-marked route, you’ll follow signposts – a sort of marker system – that will help you identify the various sites and track the kilometres covered. You’ll enjoy fabulous panoramic views of one of the most barren areas of Martinique: a striking contrast to the north of the island and its tropical vegetation.

A beautiful circular hike through vegetation typical of Martinique, with splendid tropical flowers. Weather permitting, at the summit you will have a beautiful panorama of the Carbet ridges and a view of Mount Pelée. Allow between 4 and 5 hours to complete this hike.

A splendid hike starting from Domaine de Charance, with an ascent of the eponymous peak, then Cuchon, followed by a route along the ridge of Montagne de Charance. A hike with exceptional views of Ceüze, Pic de Bure, the village of Rabou to the north, Gap and Serre Ponçon to the south, the mountains around Dignes with Cheval Blanc, Écrins to the east, and the Ubaye mountains to the south. A physically demanding hike, but without any real technical sections.

This beautiful route, starting from the Col de Font de Cère, crosses the pastures of the Cantal, passing successively through the Col de Rombière and the Puy de Peyre Arse, ending at the Puy Mary, the second highest peak in the Cantal, via the iconic Brèche de Rolland, a slightly technical passage. Those who are prone to vertigo should take care on this section. Throughout this hike, the 360° panoramic views allow you to admire the beautiful mountainous countryside of the Monts du Cantal.

A superb snowshoe hike starting from La Joue du Loup, through magnificent woodland. This route skirts the Crête des Baumes before ascending it. From there, you’ll enjoy an exceptional panoramic view of the entire Champsaur mountain range. This route can also be completed as a regular hike.

A magnificent hike in the hills above Chorges, featuring the ascent to the Col de la Gardette, continuing on to the hut of the same name and returning via the Piolit balconies. The view from the pass is spectacular and the section leading to the hut is very wild. This hike is recommended for snowshoes, hence its ‘Difficult’ rating, but it can also be done on foot.

Here we are at the final stage of this 13-day route around the magnificent Écrins National Park. A downhill stage that takes you to La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar, where this journey began 13 days earlier. A splendid start to the stage, all the way down to the glacial torrents. The panorama is breathtaking, surrounded by the most beautiful peaks of the southern part of the Écrins, already leaving us with a sense of nostalgia for the past 13 days. A route with no technical difficulty.

The12th stage of this route features three passes to cross, the last of which is particularly technical and difficult. The panoramic views remain as exceptional as ever, with vistas of the majestic Chaillol, the Sirac and the Champoléon valley. The refuge is set in lush greenery at the bottom of a cirque at the foot of the Sirac and on the shores of the magnificent Lac de Vallonpierre. A campsite in a beautiful meadow at the foot of the Sirac, with a splendid view of the lake.

Stage11 of this route. One of the most beautiful and challenging stages of the route, featuring the Aup Martin pass at 2,700 metres and the Pas de la Cavale, the highest point ofthe GR® 54. This stage demands the utmost vigilance and experience of high-mountain hiking. The views are absolutely stunning and incredibly wild. We took the shuttle bus to avoid the 8 km of tarmac road to the car park at Entre-les-Aigues.

E10th stage lasting 8 hours, covering 21 km, with 1,000 m of ascent and 1,200 m of descent. A very pleasant stage with no technical difficulty, offering magnificent views of the Barre des Écrins at 4,100 m and the very impressive Pelvoux at 3,900 m. For the more adventurous, there is the option of taking a detour to climb up to Lac de l’Eychauda by leaving theGR® 54 at the Col de l’Eychauda. The stage ends in the village of Pelvoux, which, despite the fatigue, is well worth a quick visit.

Stage9 of this route links the Refuge de l’Alpe de Villar-d’Arêne to Monêtier-les-Bains, taking a short detour to the Lac du Glacier d’Arsine, surrounded by the Pics de Chamoissière, d’Arsine, de Neige Cordier, the Pointe Cézanne and the Montagne des Agneaux. Unfortunately, the Arsine Glacier is suffering from global warming. The section starting from the pass along the Petit Tabuc stream in the valley, known as the Réou d'Arsine, is magnificent and very wild.

After a rest day in La Grave, set off on this8th stage, which presents no technical difficulties and involves no significant elevation gain. A route that circles La Meije, initially following the Romanche torrent. You will pass close to Villar d'Arène. Thesecond section, starting from Pont d'Arsine, is slightly more challenging and much wilder, taking in the Pas d'Anna Falque and the Plan d'Alpe before reaching the Refuge de l'Alpe de Villar-d'Arêne, which offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains.

Stage7 of this route. One of the most beautiful stages of this tour of the Écrins National Park. After making the most of the welcome at the Refuge des Mouterres and a campsite with an extraordinary view, you will discover the unspoilt nature of the Emparis Plateau, a Natura 2000 site with abundant mountain flora. You will leave theGR® 54C for a detour across the Emparis Plateau and its three lakes, Cristallin, Noir and Lérié, before descending to La Grave. Message from the moderators: You are in a sensitive natural area (Natura 2000) which is subject to specific regulations (see practical information).

Another magical stage, thanks to the breathtaking scenery all along the balcony trail above Lac du Chambon, including a stop at the ‘petrifying’ spring. Opposite lies a long mountain range and majestic glaciers, with famous names: the Girose Glacier, Pic de la Grave, Le Râteau and the majestic Meije. You will finish this stage at the start of the Emparis plateau at the Refuge des Mouterres, one of the most beautiful camping spots with an exceptional view of the Meije. Message from the moderators: You are in a sensitive natural area (Natura 2000) which is subject to specific regulations (see practical information).

After a challenging and technical day on this trek, today is a transitional stage leading to the magnificent village of Mizoën. The descent to Venosc is absolutely stunning, featuring beautiful waterfalls. Then, after a cable car ride reducing the elevation gain to 300 m, you’ll cross the resort of Les Deux Alpes, dominated by the Girose Glacier. You’ll reach Lac Chambon and the splendid village of Mizoën with its Lodge l’Emparis.

A short 10 km stage but with 1,400 m of elevation gain, featuring the very technical and rocky ascent of the Col de la Muzelle. It requires the utmost caution, especially with a heavy rucksack. A narrow passage between two magnificent mountains, the Roche de La Muzelle and the Pic du Clapier du Peyron. Throughout the ascent, you are surrounded by mountain ranges over 3,000 m high. From the pass, there is a splendid view of the rest of the Glacier de la Muzelle, the lake and the corridor leading down to Valsenestre.

Ethird stage involving the ascent of a pass with no major technical difficulty, though the gradient is steep in places and differs slightly from the route shown on the IGN map. From the top of the pass, there is a splendid view of the Col de la Muzelle, the Roche de la Muzelle and the Pic du Clapier du Peyron on either side, promising a beautiful stage for the following day. During the descent, you pass through a maze of large, intertwined slabs of slate clinging to the mountainside.

Thesecond stage of this route, which we unfortunately completed in the rain in 6 hours and 10 minutes. We set off from the Refuge des Souffles with a steep climb right from the start up to the Col de la Vaurze. A challenging pass from which the view must be magnificent on a clear day. A descent over slate-covered ground, which is very slippery in wet weather. Numerous landslides. The reward: the Les Arias lodge, where we received a warm welcome.

Thefirst stage begins with a variant ofthe GR® 54 and takes you to the Refuge des Souffles via the Col de Colombes, Lac Lautier and the Col des Clochettes, avoiding the route through Villar-Loubière. A challenging route with a 1,400-metre climb and steep gradients right from the start. A good way to get your legs going for thefirst stage and a good warm-up for the rest of the route. The scenery is already exceptional, promising some fabulous stages ahead.

Short hike to the summit of Grand Sarcoui and the magnificent volcano with its perfect crater, Puy des Goules. A magnificent view of the volcano park from each of the two summits. This hike is not technically difficult and is suitable for families who want to discover the magic of volcanoes. Moderator's note added on 13/09/2021: access to the Sarcoui caves is difficult and the summit is now off-limits (see comments).

A very challenging 180 km route with 12,000 metres of elevation gain, requiring excellent physical fitness. Stages offering spectacular scenery, steep mountains, passes, wildlife, flora and colours. The most beautifulGR® route we have ever done. We completed the route in August, the ideal time to tackle the most difficult passes, which are likely to be snow-covered early in the season, such as La Muzelle, l’Aup Martin, the Pas de la Cavale, de la Valette, Vallonpierre and de La Vaurze.

This stage follows part of theGR®® 58, then takes a route offthe GR®® to climb to the Col d’Izoard. Admittedly, this ascent is via the road, but on a day when vehicles are banned, allowing you to enjoy this lunar landscape with its monoliths. The return journey takes you through a deserted ravine. The limestone landscapes of this stage are nothing like those encountered since the start of the Tour du Queyras, which is characterised by slate.

Thisfourth stage is a variant ofthe GR® route, setting off from the Refuge de la Monta and heading to the Abriès winter caravan site. The hike begins with a challenging section through larch forests to reach the Crêtes de Peyra-Plata and then the Crêtes de Gilly. The path follows a beautiful ridge line offering views to the south of the Grand Queyras, Le Viso, the Crêtes de Taillante and the Ristollas Valley, and to the north of the Tête du Pelvas, the Bric Bouchet, the Bric Froid, the Grand Glaiza and the Pic de Roquebrune.

The third stage of this journey presents no major difficulties, with exceptional views around the lakes. Only the descent from the Col Vieux to the Refuge de la Monta quickly takes its toll on your legs. The abundance of flora makes this stage even more beautiful.

This is the second stage ofthe GR®®58, but it takes a variant route via the Col de Saint-Véran or the Col de la Cavale and includes an ascent to an altitude of 3,000 metres at the Pic de Caramantran. There’s a magnificent view of Mount Viso at the highest point of this route. At the start of the season, there were still plenty of snowfields. This is a very wild route, which I recommend as an alternative to the Col de Chamoussière path, which tends to be quite busy.

A good warm-up for thisfirst stage. Thefirst pass is the Col des Estronques, followed by a round trip to the nearby summit of the Tête de la Jacquette, where an exceptional panorama awaits you, taking in the Pics de la Font Sancte, the Aiguille de Chambeyron, the Bric de Rubren, the Peouvou and, to the north, the Grand Glaiza and the Rochebrune.

A lovely walk to a magnificent, barren peak rising to an altitude of nearly 2,350 metres. The climb remains challenging due to the elevation gain, but the view on arrival is truly extraordinary, with a 360° panorama. The mountain is also known as the ‘cursed mountain’ due to the two plane crashes that occurred on 27 and 30 January 1948 (see information below).

A magnificent hike with no great technical difficulty, apart from the 1,000 m elevation gain and a distance of over 17 km. The ascent is gradual through a magnificent larch forest. At the summit, a 360° panorama awaits you. Breathtaking views at an altitude of nearly 2,000 metres over the Mercantour: the Grand Coyer, the Mole, the Pic de Chamatte, the Cheval Blanc, the Montagne de Cordeil and the Estrop in the distance, to name the most important. In spring, the flora is in full bloom.

A very lovely walk leading to the Pic de Chamatte at an altitude of 1,879 metres. This walk may prove challenging due to the elevation gain for inexperienced walkers. However, there are no technical sections. Only the descent requires a sense of direction. The path, although marked on the map, is barely visible in places. From the summit, a magnificent 360° view awaits you, taking in the Mercantour, the Verdon massifs and Lac du Castillon.

Climb Chiran via another route, starting from the village of Blieux. You will reach the Chiran observatory after a beautiful 1,000 m climb through vegetation typical of the Southern Alps. In spring, this hike is beautiful with its colourful orchids on the plateau. At the summit, there is a magnificent 360° view. This hike is not technically difficult and is very easy to navigate.

The final stage of this fabulous route from the Refuge de la Fournache to the Refuge de l'Orgére, via the Col de la Masse. The ascent of this pass is difficult due to the steep gradient. The end of the ascent and a good part of the descent are very technical. The view from the pass is absolutely exceptional; you will be able to see the Écrins and the Thabor massif.

This6th stage is a variation on the route starting from the Refuge de l'Arpont. We decided to spend two days on this hike to explore the Lacs de l'Arpont and its magnificent glacier. An exceptional hike that will allow you to get as close as possible to this glacier. The lakes are splendid. If you’re feeling brave, don’t hesitate to take a very refreshing dip.

A splendid hike with a difficult route that will take you to the Col de Chorges. Climb Piolit and enjoy its 360° panorama, then descend via the Col de la Pourrachiére. From Piolit (2,464 m), there are views to the south over Lake Serre-Ponçon and Mercantour, and to the north-east, north and north-west over the peaks of Champsaur, Dévoluy and Ecrins. Caution: do not attempt this route too early in the season, as there is still a lot of snow due to the exposure. See § practical information.

Stage5 of this route between the Col de la Vanoise refuge and the Arpont refuge. A stage without any major difficulty. The scenery is extraordinary, as you walk alongside the Vanoise Glacier for the entire hike. You will catch sight of the Rechasse, Roche Ferran and Arpont glaciers. You will pass at the foot of the Grande Casse and its glacier, the Pointe de la Réchasse and Mont Pelve.

Stage7 of this journey takes you from the Refuge de l’Arpont to the very welcoming Refuge de la Fournache. This stage skirts around the Dent Parrachée. This is the last time you will see the Vanoise glaciers. This trail, which is at times technical and challenging due to its elevation gain, overlooks the Maurienne Valley, Val Cénis and, on the other side, Italy. You will also catch a glimpse of the Thabor, before arriving at the bottom of Aussois, with its two lakes and the Aussois dam.

The 4th stage of this route, which will take you from the Valette refuge to the Col de la Vanoise refuge. One of the most challenging stages, featuring the ascent of the Col du Grand Marchet and its highly technical descent. A balcony-like route above Pralognan, the Petit Marchet, the Grand Marchet cirque, and the pass of the same name, leading to the Lac des Vaches and its ford, with the Grande Casse and the Col de La Vanoise refuge in the background. A technical stage, but one of the most beautiful.

This third stage will take you from the Refuge des Lacs Merlets to the Refuge de la Valette. This stage is undoubtedly the most challenging, with 1,400 metres of elevation gain. The ascent of the Petit Mont Blanc, a difficult descent to Les Prioux, followed by another beautiful and long climb (900m of elevation gain) to the Col de la Valette and its refuge, will make for a memorable day.