Self Guided

GR5 - Lac Leman to Chamonix

100 Km

9 Days

Level 4 - Difficult

Hiking

Countries: Switzerland and France

Airport: Geneva

Trip Direction: Linear

Dates: Guided and Self Guided

Price: €1550 pp

*NB Pricing as per local currency

€10 pp of your trip cost is donated to high impact climate charities

Start Town: St Ginolph, CH

Finish Town: Chamonix, FR

Accommodation: Simple hotels and mountain refuges

Food: Simple continental breakfasts and 3 course dinners

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Itinerary

Click below for a full breakdown of the itinerary of the GR5 – Lac Leman to Chamonix Self Guided trip.

Day 1 – Lausanne to Novel
Day 2 – Novel to Refuge de Bise
Day 3 – Refuge de Bise to Refuge de Trébentaz
Day 4 – Refuge de Trébentaz to Refuge de Chésery
Day 5 – Refuge de Chésery to Samoëns
Day 6 – Samoëns to Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval
Day 7 – Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval to Refuge de Moëde Anterne
Day 8 – Refuge de Moëde Anterne to Chamonix
Day 9 – Departure

Highlights

The GR5 trek from Saint-Gingolph on Lake Geneva to Chamonix in the Mont Blanc Massif is a classic alpine route that blends lakeside scenery, pastoral valleys, and high mountain landscapes.

The journey begins at the lake, then climbs steadily through forests, meadows, and traditional Savoyard villages like Novel, gradually entering the high alpine terrain of the Chablais and Aravis ranges.

Along the way, hikers pass several charming refuges—Bise, Trébentaz, Chésery, Moëde Anterne—perfect for overnight stays, meals, or short breaks. The route offers a mix of moderate ascents, panoramic ridge walks, and scenic descents, with opportunities for packed lunches in wildflower meadows or near streams.

The final stages approach Chamonix, with dramatic views of Mont Blanc, rugged cirques, and alpine lakes.

The trek balances physical challenge with moments of calm, combining iconic alpine scenery, pastoral landscapes, and the warmth of mountain refuges—a rewarding experience for both seasoned hikers and those seeking immersive mountain landscapes.

France

Switzerland

Italy

Scotland

England

Ireland

Sweden

Turkey

Himalaya

Morocco

Croatia

Spain

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Our Climate Commitment

We care deeply about the Alpine environment and are passionate about sharing this incredible landscape with our guests.

We understand that tourism is another pressure on the fragile ecosystem and accept responsibility for the carbon emissions that our tours produce. We are therefore committed to reducing our impact as much as possible.

As we cannot eliminate all sources of carbon emissions for our tours, we have decided to donate €10 per client to high impact pro-climate nonprofits recommended by the world's leading climate charity evaluators.

You can read more about our sustainability commitment here