The GR5: Lake Geneva to Chamonix

The GR5 is a tough trek with considerable ascent and descent on each day. We would suggest that you are an experienced walker who is looking for a challenge. If you currently don’t enjoy an active lifestyle we suggest regular walking in hilly terrain supplemented by cardio vascular exercise for at least 6 months prior to your walk. A good gym or personal trainer will be able to draw up a personalised training programme.

On the GR5, you will encounter a diverse range of tracks and trails. The mountainous sections typically feature single-track paths that can be rocky in places, sometimes with steps, but are mostly just bare earth.

You'll also find various tracks, including gravel forest roads, ski pistes, and rough roads for agricultural vehicles. Some segments also consist of country lanes. Some mountain passes are particularly steep, loose, and rocky, requiring good experience and steady balance.

The last day of walking involves some light scrambling, metal ladders (2 with 11 rungs each) and footholds secured to the rock face, so you should be sure-footed and have a head for heights.

This tour is graded moderate to strenuous, suitable for experienced hikers in good physical shape who ideally have some previous Alpine hiking experience. Within the tour, individual days may vary in difficulty - some might be a bit tougher or easier than the overall rating suggests.

You'll stay 5 nights in comfortable 3-star hotels, 1 night in a private room in a mountain hut (shared bathrooms), and 1 night in a mixed-sex dorm in a mountain hut (shared bathrooms). The hut nights let you experience the atmosphere and camaraderie of a mountain refuge, balanced by the comfort of hotels on the other nights - the best of both worlds if you love Alpine walking but still want a bit of comfort. We'll always try to use the hotels listed, but if any aren't available, we'll provide alternative accommodation of the same or better standard.

If you have some extra time, we'd suggest adding a few extra days along the route. At the start of your tour, on the shores of Lake Geneva, you can enjoy a Mediterranean-style atmosphere with a lakeside promenade, a medieval castle, and the nearby Lavaux vineyards. An extra night at the Refuge de Moëde d'Anterne lets you fully appreciate this high mountain nature reserve rather than feeling rushed, with some of the best views of the Mont Blanc range and a good chance of spotting wildlife. At the end of your tour, extending your stay in Chamonix or Les Houches gives you time to properly explore the Chamonix Valley and enjoy a few comforts you won't find at the refuges - we'd recommend taking the Aiguille du Midi cable car or visiting the Mer de Glace via the Montenvers railway.

Unfortunately, this tour is not available to solo travelers, as some sections of the route are remote. We can, however, offer single rooms if you are traveling with others. These are available for a supplement in the hotels, though single rooms aren't available on the nights spent in mountain huts.

Breakfast is included every day. In the hotels this is typically a buffet with pastries, homemade jams, fruit and cereals, alongside savory options like bread, cheese, ham and eggs. Breakfasts in the mountain huts are more basic - bread, butter, jam, coffee, tea and orange juice - so it's worth carrying a few energy bars to supplement this if you'd like something more substantial before setting off. Packed lunch items can be bought locally from supermarkets or bakeries, or ordered from a hut on arrival.

Dinner is included on the nights you stay in mountain huts, where meals are a convivial affair eaten alongside other guests - typically soup and bread, a main of meat with rice or pasta, salad or vegetables, and dessert or cheese. Let us know about any dietary requirements when you book so this can be arranged with the huts. On the other nights dinner isn't included, leaving you free to choose from local restaurants. Savoyard specialities are largely cheese-based - look out for fondue, tartiflette and raclette.

This tour is available to start any day of the week from the end of June to mid-September, subject to availability. Late June and early July are lovely for seeing Alpine flowers in bloom, while August tends to be the busiest month as it's peak holiday season for the French and other Europeans. At the start and end of the season there may still be some lying snow on the highest passes - this doesn't normally require specialist equipment, but we'll keep you informed of any unusual conditions. Availability can be tricky around the Montreux Jazz Festival (usually in July) and around Chamonix's UTMB races (usually the last week of August), so it's worth bearing these in mind when booking.

Your bags will be collected from your accommodation each day and moved onto your overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg/44lbs per person.

Please note that your bags cannot be transferred to Refuge de Chésery or Refuge de Moëde d'Anterne, due to the remoteness of these huts. On these nights you'll need to carry your overnight things in a day pack, and you'll be reunited with your main bag the following day.

You'll follow a well-signposted trail throughout.

Navigation is straightforward using our app which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone. Once on the trail you do not need signal for the app to work and follow your progress.

Our walks typically begin and end at a central landmark in town, such as a church or bus stop - so access routes to and from your actual accommodation aren't included in the daily distance figures. our app will still guide you directly to your door: just open the itinerary for that day, select your accommodation, and tap 'Get Directions.'

Getting to the start
The closest and most convenient airport is Geneva (GVA). From there, take a direct train to Montreux, which takes around 1 hour 20 minutes.

Getting from the end
From Chamonix, it's around 1 hour 10 minutes' transfer time to Geneva (GVA) Airport. The best option is a pre-booked shuttle through a company such as Mountain Dropoffs.

You'll need good hiking shoes or boots, comfortable hiking clothes, waterproofs, a daypack, and we recommend hiking poles. A portable charger for your cell phone is essential. On booking, our Tour Info will give you a complete packing list.

On certain days you can shorten the route or skip it entirely by using a taxi or public transport.

This is a popular hiking area with a fairly short season, so it's worth booking as soon as your plans are confirmed to make sure you get your preferred accommodation.

We highly recommend that you have travel insurance when you book with Macs Adventure. Your policy should cover medical treatment (including repatriation and emergency evacuation by air ambulance or helicopter), injury, death, third-party liability, and trip cancellation