La Grande Traversée des Alpes: Lausanne - Chamonix

The Alpine section of this mythical European GR5 hiking route offers dramatic scenery, challenging ascents and picturesque locations all of which combine to make this trek exciting and rewarding in equal measure. Let yourself be guided by an experienced local who speaks your language and takes care of all the organisation, from reservations to safety, from packing advice to weather forecasts.
The start will be on a beautiful steamship along the UNESCO protected vineyards, where we get to know each other. Once we have crossed the largest lake of Europe, we will climb through mountain pastures to alpine cols, at the foot of the peaks of the Haut Chablais, with the Mont-Blanc in sight!  A true undertaking and an unforgettable adventure ending in Chamonix, the mountaineering capital of Europe.
You can follow up this hike with the sections Chamonix-Briançon and then Briançon-Menton to arrive all the way to the Mediterranean sea. Or you can decide to break the Traverse up in 4 separate weeks.
Day 1
After meeting at the Lausanne train station, we will see the beautiful coastal vineyards from the relaxing position on an old steamer across the lake, followed by a warm-up hike
Lausanne - Novel
5km, 400m D+, 1h30
Day 2
This is where it really starts. We will make our way over two cols today, before descending to a comfortable mountain hotel
Novel - Chapelle d’Abondance
13km, 1475m D+, 1225m D-, 7h30
Day 3
Today we will climb a long way to leave France and cross over the Swiss border where we will sleep in a mountain refuge. The first half is through forest, later we will rise above and have lovely views
Chapelle d’Abondance - Refuge de Chésery
21km - 1495m D+, 545m D-, 8h
Day 4
There are some steep mountain paths and two cols to navigate today as we cross back into France today
Chésery - Gîte de Salvagny
25km - 670m D+, 1940m D-, 7h
Day 5
The first part along the river is not difficult, but then we will ascend some metal ladders in a gorge before climbing above 2000m, where there could even be snow!
Salvagny - Refuge de Moede Anterne
23km - 1800m D+, 505m D-, 8h
Day 6
Today’s goal is to climb the Brévent, once there we will have stunning views of the Mont Blanc massif. A long but fluid descent past one of the most charming réfuges of the Alps brings us down to Chamonix
Moede Anterne - Chamonix
21km - 1000m D+, 2000m D-, 7h
Day 7
We will wake up in Chamonix after our last evening dinner in the capital of the Alps. We will make our way back home this morning. Either by train (to your car in Martigny), Lausanne or directly towards Geneva to fly home.