When trekking comes to mind, exotic lands and distant continents often spring to the imagination! Of course, we all dream of those exotic, adventurous expeditions in foreign countries where the thrill of being somewhere new adds to the satisfaction of a sporting challenge. But sometimes, everything you need for a long-distance walk is right on your doorstep — without flying thousands of kilometres! So why not go trekking in France, where we have more than enough to be proud of, and above all, without draining your bank card on flights and other costs. Let's set off to explore 8 treks or long-distance routes, more or less well known, across our beautiful country.
Great trekking routes in France
Tour des Lacs d'Auvergne
The GR30, the walking trail of the Tour des Lacs d'Auvergne, is still little known but offers a magnificent setting for solitary walking. At the heart of the Auvergne, you can discover Lac de Chambon, Lac Pavin, the ascent to the summit of Puy de Sancy (spectacular!) and the vast expanse of the Cézallier, a land of fantastic isolation that invites reflection and daydreaming. Here is a trek where you won't encounter the crowds — only admirable landscapes of calm, soothing beauty.
The Grande Traversée du Jura
The Grande Traversée du Jura is a fantastic route, walkable at any time of year (in winter on snowshoes or by cross-country skiing, in summer and spring on foot). More demanding than it looks, and with a strong regional identity, this trek in France is a very rewarding discovery for the diversity of its landscapes, the superb views of the nearby Alps, and the well-conceived and varied accommodation options throughout the route.
The Customs Officers' Trail
The Breton coastal path that runs, roughly, from Mont Saint-Michel to the Gulf of Morbihan covers around 1,600 kilometres and more than 70 days of walking. Each stage is a highlight of beauty, with wild coves and enchanting coastlines. All along the GR34 you'll discover a millennia-old Brittany, rich in strong traditions and a history brimming with heritage and imagination. Here is an original trekking route in France, along the sea rather than in the mountains, accessible to most walkers, and one that will take you through a fantastic region. This trail is best tackled in spring or September to avoid, in places, the summer crowds of holidaymakers.
The Pyrenees Traverse
Two routes compete for the title of the Pyrenees traverse. On one side, the more demanding Haute Route des Pyrénées, and on the other, the GR10, easier but still dotted with climbs and descents through the valleys. Either way, whichever version you choose, crossing the Pyrenees range (generally from Hendaye to the Mediterranean) is a real pleasure — this massif is so beautiful, wild and intimate. Around two months of hiking for the most hardened walkers, with encounters with fantastic flora and fauna, and a region with a culture and traditions that have remained very much alive. A must-do at least once in your life!
The Alps Traverse via the GR5
Here is a trek in France that remains accessible despite the grandeur of the scenery and the massif it crosses. Around 30 days of walking to travel from Lac Léman to the Mediterranean via the GR5: it's a long trail, but more accessible than, for example, the Pyrenees route — not very technical and not too difficult, it allows almost anyone to complete a true crossing of the Alpine arc, with the discovery of fantastic landscapes throughout: Chablais, Beaufortin, Vanoise, Briançonnais, Ubaye Mercantour…
The Tour du Queyras
Where the Alps begin to blend with Provençal scents, you find the Queyras — a magnificent massif in the Southern Alps. One of the most accessible routes in the Alps, offering a fair number of peaks above 3,000 metres that are relatively easy to reach. With fewer crowds than in the Northern Alps, the Queyras, with its authentic and rural villages, will offer you alpine meadows and rocky plateaux that are a joy to walk through! You'll leave your Tour du Queyras on the GR58 with a head full of beautiful images and the feeling of having communed with a nature that is still pure and unspoilt.
The Tour des Aiguilles Reds
The Tour des Aiguilles Reds is little known to the general public and naturally suffers from the imposing presence of its neighbour Mont White, which draws the crowds. Yet this still relatively under-the-radar route is well worth the visit — the beauty on offer is simply outstanding! And if you love Mont White, know that it's from the Tour des Aiguilles Reds that you'll get the best viewpoint, particularly from Lac White, a favourite spot among photographers for capturing the highest summit in Europe. A week-long route, admittedly for the more seasoned walker, but one that delivers unique sensations and an exceptional panorama.
Corsica via the GR20
It's a legend of hiking in France, a must for trekking in France! Corsica has magnificent sea and mountain landscapes, and the sporting challenge of a demanding route turns it into something of a myth. Corsica has a unique beauty that has made this trek a very popular route today. It remains nonetheless a must — perhaps best enjoyed outside peak season to appreciate its charms in a slightly more selfish way.
There are of course many other routes to explore (the subject of a future article), but these are either iconic or quite original and little known. They all call for a real passion for walking and endurance, as well as a good dose of training. In any case, they are all an invitation to travel, to escape, and to discover a beautiful, vibrant France. 8 trekking ideas in France that will make you forget the daily grind and leave you in outstanding shape by the end of your journey!
