Hiking Geneva to Chamonix

Duration: 6 days
Fitness:
Technique:
For more information, contact Pôle Randonnée :
+33 (0)4 50 53 92 78
Booking

With its 620 km of trails through the mountains and valleys of the Alps, and because this incredible sporting and human adventure goes beyond the scope of an ordinary hike, the GTA builds its legend each summer.

The Alps are plural: marked by strong characters and landscapes of unparalleled beauty. The Mont-Blanc region raises its granite peaks above the Savoyard and Valdotain mountain pastures. The Vanoise protects and preserves an exceptional natural environment. The territories of the Briançonnais and Queyras fill us with light. Ubaye and Mercantour breathe a perfume of Provence and lead us, finally, in the waters of the big blue...
 
We propose an itinerary inspired by the GTA, slightly adapted and revised according to our own expertise.
 

A private booking is the historical relationship that binds a mountain leader to their clients. It allows you to be alone or in your own group with your mountain leader who will meet your specific needs.It is undoubtedly the ideal formula realise your projects because it guarentees you a maximum amount of comfort. You are free to choose your departure date (subject to the availability in the accommodation). Depending on the weather conditions, the proposed route can be adjusted according to your level and expectations, the professional can suggest alternatives to the itinerary.

Prices 2024 :
1 person : 5145€ par personne | 7 people : 1325€ par personne
2 people : 2920€ par personne | 8 people : 1250€ par personne
3 people : 2175€ par personne | 9 people : 1185€ par personne
4 people : 1805€ par personne | 10 people : 1135€ par personne
5 people : 1580€ par personne | 11 people : 1095€ par personne
6 people : 1435€ par personne | 12 people : 1060€ par personne

The price includes :
- organisation and supervision by a mountain leader
- half-board (night, evening meal and breakfast) in a refuge, gîte, campsite or hotel, in a triple/quadruple room, tent or dormitory
- picnics
- lift passes
- transfers during the hike
- Luggage transfers on days 2, 3 and 4
WARNING : Bags weighing more than 15KG cannot be transported under the terms of the legislation applicable to the transport code.

Not included in the price :
- drinks and personal expenditure (souvenirs…)
- repatriation insurance (compulsory). Cancellation Insurance highly reccommended)

In this section, find all the information about this activity. For further information, please contact our advisor (contact details above).

Meeting point : Summit of the Mémises cable car on the 1st day at 9am 

Ability level : 3/5 - The Grande Traversée des Alpes is a moderate difficulty hiking. A minimum of 700m (2296ft) and a maximum of 1400m (4593ft)  vertical gain, and between 5h - 7h of hiking per day. Running on generally well-maintained mountain trails, sometimes including out-of-trail sections. For active people who have trained and are in a good physical condition.

Guiding policy :  the group is made up of 7 to 12 people per state qualified guide. The Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix's guiding policy is one of the strictest in the mountain guiding business. It guarantees a better level of comfort and a high-quality personalised advice.
Important : Registration possible from 16 years of age. Registration is not permitted  to anyone under the age of 18 without a legal guardian.

Accomodation :
- During the trip: In refuge, gîte and hotel in dormitory or double/twin/quadruple room
- Access to luggage on days 2, 3, 4
- Before and after: Benefit from preferential rates with our hotel partners in Chamonix

Documentation :
- Participants must have sports insurance with repatriation cover. We strongly recommend that this also includes cancellation cover. You can take out insurance offering both of these types of cover when you sign up.
- Participants must also take valid ID with them.

Preparing for the trip : There is an information meeting with your mountain leader the day before departure at 6pm at the Compagnie des Guides Office.
 

Documents available for download

We recommend that you take particular care in choosing your equipment because it greatly contributes to the success of your stay. As alpine climatic conditions can be very variable with sudden changes, it can get very cold very quickly at altitude, it is better to stack thin layers rather than having one big piece of clothing. It is not uncommon to have snow in the middle of summer, do not skip warm clothes, even if the weather seems favourable. Conversely, the sun can be scorching hot. Without weighing it down, you should always have enough in your backpack to deal with capricious and severe weather.
 
Equipment
- A backpack with a capacity of at least 40 litres (better too big than too small). Make sure you have enough space for the picnic. A small tip in case it rains : even if you have a backpack cover, always protect your belongings in a plastic bag (a big rubbish bag) inside your backpack. Your bag should not exceed 9 kg.
- A pair of high-top hiking boots with Vibram soles. For new shoes, make them fit your foot first by wearing them front. If you are prone to blisters: talcum powder applied to dry feet and in the shoe in the morning.
- A compact and solid travel bag, maximum 15kg.

Clothing
For more comfort regarding underwear (T-shirts, boxers, socks), avoid cotton which is heavy, cold and dries very slowly. Opt for synthetic technical textiles, or wool, which is making a comeback. They are hotter and dry very quickly.
- 1 short-sleeved t-shirt
- 1 long-sleeved t-shirt (technical fabric)
- 1 polar fleece 
- 1 light down jacket (or a second fleece)
- 1 pair of shorts
- 1 pair of hiking trousers
- 1 pair of hiking socks (technical fabric)
- 1 Goretex jacket (waterproof windbreaker)
- 1 poncho (large rain cover that fits over your pack) or 1 pack cover
- 1 pair of waterproof trousers (although light Gore-tex trousers are expensive, other types of light waterproof trousers will do)
- Sun hat or baseball cap
- 1 warm hat
- 1 pair of gloves
- A change of clothes - t-shirt, underwear & socks (technical fabric)
- 1 pair of long underwear (technical fabric)
- 1 pair of ultra-light shoes (i.e. flip flops, slippers)
- optional : short gators (start of the season)

Accessories
- Sunglasses
- Sun cream and lip salve
- 1 water bottle (minimum 1 litre but 1.5 litres is better)
- 1 knife
- 1 fork (type "spork")
- 1 pair of telescopic poles
- 1 sleeping bag liner (the lightest and most comfortable is the silk bag)
- Flashlight or headlight
- Personal pharmacy : elastoplast, (stretchable strapping tape), band-aids "second skin" kit, compresses, medicines for common ailments : diarrhea, constipation, sore throat, headaches, pain relief, allergies and any prescribed medication. The mountain leader always carries a first aid kit with them. Remember that packing light is essential.
- Ultralight toiletries, it's up to you to customize! (including technical towel)
- Identification (passport or ID card)
- Money for your personal expenses
- Provide food for 4 meals (picnics, dinner and breakfast). For example: bread, cold meats, ham, cereal bars, hard fruit (apple), seed mixture and at least 2 litres of water.

Our Rental Partners : You can rent your equipment with our rental shops partners and benefit from special price Sanglard Sports, Ravanel & Co & Concept Pro Shop
Our Equipment Partners : Millet, Dynastar, Julbo, Grivel & Monnet
 

Itinerary

Day 1 : Refuge de la Dent d'Oche
From the top of the Mémises gondola, we access the high plateaus of the Chablais. We reach the Dent d'Oche refuge (6,935ft) via the Grand Balcony of Léman.  
Evening meal, night and breakfast at the Refuge de la Dent d'Oche or similar, Bernex.
Elevation gain: 1,600 feet - Elevation loss: 300 feet

Day 2 : Chapelle d'Abondance         
We leave the refuge, go around the Dent d'Oche massif to reach the Col de Pavis (6,374ft) and the Col de Bise (6,282ft). Lakes and alpine pastures punctuate our long downhill crossing, which passes by the chalets of Bise and finally reaches the Chapelle d'Abondance.
Evening meal, night and breakfast at 1861 Chatel Hostel or similar, Châtel.
Elevation gain: 1,600ft - Elevation loss: 3,000 feet
 
Day 3 : Châtel - La Barme        
Transfer to the chalets of Plaine de Dranse (5,370ft) under the Bassachaux pass. We reach the Rochassons ridge (6,335ft) then the Chésery lake (6,535ft). After a good climb to the Col de la Croix de l'Hiver (2096m), we start our descent through the alpine pastures of Chaux Palin, Lapisa and the alpine pasture of La Pierre. Descent by the Clavets (5,380ft) to Les Creuses then transfer or walk to the sublime alpage of La Barme where we will spend the night. You will have access to your luggage.
Evening meal, night and breakfast at the Cantine de Barmaz or similar, Champéry.
Elevation gain: 2,300 feet - Elevation loss: 3,300 feet

Day 4 : La Barme - Samoëns        
We will have a beautiful day of walking today. We climb in front of the Pas de Bide towards the passes of Coux (6,299ft) and Golèse (5,472ft) to get into shape. We cross to the Chalet de Bostan before reaching the hamlet of Allamands and then the village of Samoëns. Evening meal, night and breakfast at Camping le Giffre or similar, Samoëns.
Elevation gain: 3,000ft - Elevation loss: 3,900 feet

Day 5 : Samoëns - Alfred Wills refuge   
A transfer takes us to the hamlet of Lignon (3,608ft) in the village of Sixt-Fer à Cheval located above the famous Rouget waterfalls. We enter the Sixt nature reserve. Once past the Sauffaz and the Pleureuse waterfalls, we take the direction of the Collet d'Anterne (5,892ft). We reach the alpage of Anterne and its refuge (6,154ft) where we will spend the night. You will have access to your luggage.
Evening meal, night and breakfast at the Alfred Wills Refuge or similar, Sixt-Fer-A-Cheval.
Elevation gain: 350 feet - Elevation loss: 650 feet

Day 6 : Col d'Anterne - Col du Brévent - Chamonix
After 45 minutes of climbing we reach the magnificent lake of Anterne. After enjoying the beauty of the place we continue our walk to the Col d'Anterne (7,404ft) and discover the superb panorama on the Mont-Blanc chain. Once past the Moëde d'Anterne hut (6,568ft) we reach the Pont d'Arlevé (5,239ft) and then start a slow and wild climb to the Col du Brévent (7,769ft). Depending on the form of the group, we will go down by cable car and then by gondola to Chamonix.
Elevation gain: 4,600 feet - Elevation loss: 2,300 feet

This program can be modified at any time by the professional supervisor according to the weather conditions and/or the technical and physical level of the participants.
 

Calculate your carbon footprint

Discover the carbon emissions of this activity and add your trip to the meeting point.

CO2 emitted per person for the activity: 88 kg. Learn out more about the footprint calculation of this activity

Add your trip to the meeting point
refuge-dent-d-oche-21782
x