Dranse (rivière) walks

After a climb through the forest to wake up our muscles, we leave the mountain pastures of the Bas-Chablais Pre-Alps behind us. The route runs alongside several lakes and offers panoramic views stretching from the Jura mountains to the Mont Blanc massif before plunging down below the Cornettes de Bise.

A linear hike, which requires careful planning, connecting two landing stages on Lake Geneva at a higher altitude. An often shaded route that nevertheless offers beautiful views of the lake. Oratories, chapels and churches are also along the way.

Reach the Graydon mountain pasture and its chapel by first taking the Roc d'Enfer cable car. You will then find yourself in a peaceful environment, surrounded by gentians and grazing cows, with Mont Blanc as a backdrop... The Graydon mountain pasture stretches out at the foot of the majestic Roc d'Enfer, where cows and goats graze peacefully on the lush grass around the small chapel surrounded by a magnificent valley.

If you want to discover the mountains in all their forms, both mineral and human, take this challenging route. You are in a protected area! See the regulations in the practical information section.

This second stage continues the traverse of the Chablais. The route winds through the beautiful Abondance valley amidst magnificent, tranquil scenery. From the Chalet de Bise, there is a steep climb up to the Pas de la Bosse. From the pass, the path descends to the chalets of Chevenne, then follows the Sechet stream, continuing the descent along the right bank to the Chapelle d’Abondance. It runs alongside the Thoules stream and then the Dranse, which it leaves at the hamlet of Le Moulin, before climbing towards Sur Bayard to the Chalet des Crottes. From there, it is best to leave the main GR®5 route and, via a western path, follow the detour leading to the Refuge de Trébentaz, as the Refuge de la Haute Bise – shown on the IGN map – no longer offers accommodation.

A linear hike from a lake accessible by car to a mountain lake in a wild setting, then back down into the valley. A very beautiful traverse at the foot of the impressive north faces of Pointe de la Chavache and Pointe d'Entre Deux Pertuis.

Itinéraire de la traversée des Alpes. De La Chapelle d’Abondance passer par le Haut Giffre pour un intermède suisse. Cette étape domine la Haute Vallée de la Dranse d'Abondance, passe par le domaine skiable des Portes du Soleil. Vous êtes sur une zone protégée. Voir la réglementation dans les informations pratiques.

This third stage of the GTA takes you from the Chablais massif to the Giffre massif. It is very long but offers superb views of Les Dents Blanches and Les Dents du Midi in Switzerland. From the Trébentaz Refuge, the GR®5 detour crosses the Mattes ridge and rejoins the main GR®5 route. It descends towards the Pron mountain pasture, then skirts the Coincon ridge towards Lenlevay, descending into a wetland area and climbing back up to the Col de Bassachaux. It runs along the southern flank of the Crête des Rochassons and passes the Col de Chésery (1992 m) to enter Switzerland. It passes the Refuge de Chéseay, Lac Vert and climbs to Portes de l'Hiver, then descends to Chaux-Palin and continues along the hillside to La Pierre. After a short climb to the Col de Coux, it crosses back into France to cross the Torrent de Chardonnière and join the Col de Golèse and its refuge.

This first stage of the Grande Traversée des Alpes (GTA), from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean, takes place in the Chablais massif. The path climbs up the Novel valley on the left bank of the Morge, below the hamlet of La Meurtaz, then follows the D30 road, which it overlooks after the hamlet of Jordy. On leaving Novel, the path winds its way above the hairpin bends of the D30 to La Planche. There, it leaves the main valley route to climb due south towards the chalets of Neuteu and on to the Col de Bise, before descending to the Chalets de Bise.

The Grande Traversée des Alpes (GTA) mainly follows the GR®5, with a few possible variations such as the crossing of the Haute Vanoise via the GR®55 and the Via Alpina, which this route takes instead of the GR®5 route via the Col de l’Iseran. It crosses the French Alps from north to south, from Saint-Gingolph to Nice. The guide includes web links to the many accommodation options along the route or nearby: mountain huts, lodges, campsites, cabins and shelters, excluding hotels. Although this guidebook details the GTA as a three-week trek, it can be adapted to suit your own pace, with stages of varying lengths, either completed in one go or in sections over several years. This journey, fuelled by the joy of freedom in unspoilt natural surroundings, will remain a superb and unforgettable experience, offering, moreover, the opportunity to meet many people with whom you can share this same passion for the mountains.