The 7 best treks to do in France

Do you feel a strong need to stretch your legs? It falls well: here are the 7 best treks to do in France!

L’Hexagone is a territory rich in a wide variety of landscapes. The French natural heritage is quite exceptional: hills, plains, mountains, rivers, coasts are all more beautiful than others. Many hiking trails allow you to contemplate a remarkable fauna and flora.

Today, the Wanderlix team makes you discover sublime routes with the best treks in France. More or less physically demanding, you will safely survey them under the guidance of a seasoned guide. Laced boots, filled gourdes, closed backpack: top start!

1. The Mont Blanc tower in bivouac

We begin our ranking of the best treks in France proposed by Chilowé with the Mont Blanc tower. The “TMB” (for the intimates) consists of 7 days of hiking around the roof of Europe. Between France, Italy and Switzerland , by mountains and valleys, plains and glaciers, this fantastic natural space will make you full of eyes. Full legs, too: with an average of 900 meters of denial per day, a good physical condition is essential. Without particular dangers, the course is therefore intended for hikers who are rather arduous to evolve on steep paths. Let's fly it together!

It all starts with an appointment in front of Chamonix Station and a briefing. You will head to the Bionnassay glacier before crossing the Tricot pass and camp at the Contamines-Montjoie. Afterwards the pass through pasta (miam, local cheeses...) then the crossing of the border between France and Italy at the pass of the Seigne. After a night in the Val Veni, you will return the Val Ferret overlooked by the Great Jorasses. Some efforts later: you are in Switzerland, along the river between meadows and forests. A well-deserved rest awaits you in the vicinity of Champex. You will cross the Col de la Forclaz that leads to the village of Trient. Argentière will host your last camp before the crossing of the Red Aiguilles Reserve and the descent by the Flégère and the Brévent. Final arrival in Chamonix in the afternoon. Wow!

2. The GR20 south in bivouac

GR20 is a hiking trail that crosses the Corse from north to south. Renowned for its sumptuous panoramas, it crosses 200 kilometers of maquis. If he is one of the best treks in France it is also one of the most difficult. The important denial, the rugged terrain and the feeling of omnipresent loneliness reserve it to seasoned hikers. The wild beauty of the Island of Beauty deserves... You will have the opportunity to taste delicious local specialties, to discover edible plants and to know everything about this region of character. Follow the guide!

After a first day to enjoy Ajaccio, you will spend a night in a hostel and take the train to Vizzavona. A walk to the Bocca Palmente pass via a balcony path offers beautiful views. After a tasty meal, you will cross a sumptuous forest along the Monte Renoso to Bocca d’Oru and its 1840 m.

A night in refuge later, the route to Punta Cappella and Punta Bianca awaits you. You will cross the peaks of Monda and the sublimissimo plateau of Cusciunu where you can admire the wild horses. The ascent of Monte Incudine precedes Bavella’s needles, a redy mountainous massif. The last day is already there: you will cross the garrigue to the peak of Bocca d’Usciolu overlooking the bay of Porto Vecchio. The finish at Conca marks the end of the course, which ends with an apéro-baignade in Porto Vecchio. Cheers!

3. 6 days in the Gorges du Verdon

♪ Gorges du Verdon is undoubtedly the largest canyon in Europe. At the heart of the Verdon Regional Natural Park, they measure almost a hundred kilometres long. Chilowé offers you to go there for a six-day trek. The route proposed in this sumptuous space logically integrates our ranking of the best treks in France. Without any danger it is nevertheless physically engaged and sometimes airy: the subjects to vertigo are prevented! Between plateaus, cliffs and pebble beaches, the north of Provence Verte has not finished surpriseing you...

From the Manosque train station, you will start the crossing of the Gorges du Verdon bass through the Bastidon trail. It dominates the turquoise waters of Verdon, renowned for their incredible beauty. A night at the farm will precede the climb to the peaks of the Issioule which offer a magnificent view of the lake of Sainte-Croix.

The forest trails at the foot of Montdenier and Mont Chiran will then lead you to a bivouac point on the river. From garrigues en alpages, the group will eventually explore the famous Martel trail to the perched village of Rougon. By descending the bed of Verdon, you will obviously have the opportunity to bathe. The arrival in the village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie will beautifully close your pedal odyssey. Pittoresque, this high place of faiencerie is a small haven of peace classified among the most beautiful villages in France.

4. 6 days to join Collioure in Cadaqués

Realizing the Collioure-Cadaqués route is plunging into the pictorial imagination of Dali. The surrealist painter was not deceived, probably inspired by the beauty of these dazzling coastal landscapes. Neither do you! Here, the route takes place in six days between France and Spain , mountains and beaches, sun and sea. Rather difficult because of its length, the route is quite achievable by hikers in good shape. Moreover, we recommend it in the summer or early autumn to be able to swim in a sea of oil... on canvas?

Let's go to the station of Collioure for a nice stroll around the fort of Saint-Elme and a dinner in town. The next day, the entire small troupe will head to Banyuls by walking a nice coastal path. A swim in a cove will be well appreciated. The route crosses vineyards and maquis along the Côte Vermeille to the Spanish village of Llanca. You will enjoy tapas before going to the monastery of San Pere de Rodes. What a view on the Gulf of Lion!

You will then cross the Cap de Creus Natural Park and the village where Salvador Dali lived before arriving in Cadaqués. A gourmet and festive evening is organized by the staff. The course ends on a day dedicated to swimming the return to Collioure. Yes, it's already over!

5. Le tour du Queyras en rando et bivouac

It is in the Hautes-Alpes that Chilowé offers you to boost your boots. Le massif du Queyras (we don’t pronounce the “S”!) is one of the most beautiful natural parks in the Hexagon. Preserved, authentic, it counts only eight communes! Sublimissimus all year round, he is proud of the department... you will quickly understand why by taking this course that is one of the best treks in France. Your alpine odyssey begins in Saint-Véran, the highest commune in Europe (2,042 meters), “the village where the cocks peak the stars”...

After a pleasant first night and a tasty breakfast, top start: a nice six-hour hike will make you contemplate cols, summits and flowery alpages. A first bivouac under the famous Mont Viso precedes a nice forest part. It is that the sun is strong with altitude, sun cream and essential glasses!

The area is one of the most sunny in France. The ascent of the Sucre Bread may be considered for the hardest. The third day will lead you to the ruined hamlets of the Haut Guil, a place famous for its altitude lakes and its northern ski slopes. A small swimming in a fresh water (very) is possible before spending a last night at altitude. When you wake up, you can admire the sunrise from the nearby summit if you wish. A balcony path above the Guil will eventually reach Château-Ville-Vieille. Bravo!

6. The Belle Island Tower on foot

Belle-Île-En-Mer is the largest island in Brittany. With nearly a hundred kilometers of literal trails, it features majestic black shale cliffs, beautiful beaches and coves bathed by emerald water. Your trek will take you through the GR 340, a fairly easy route: there is only little denial and the carrying of the bags is assured. Mirific sunset, hearty dinners, relaxed atmosphere... A most pleasant coastal getaway. Before taking your iodized air dose, go to Vannes to meet your teammates around a Breton galette on the port. Tomorrow, serious things start!

From the port of Vannes, you will take the ferry and cross the Gulf of Morbihan. Your buckle coastal path starts with the Vauban fortifications of the village of the Palace and then leads to the small hamlet of Sauzon and its beautiful colorful houses. A good night of sleep will allow you to walk the cliffs in good conditions. Your guide will tell you everything about local birds like the Crazy Bassan. The route will make you reach the point of the Skeul which seems to break the ocean. Bathing, laughing and a good mood in perspective! In the hamlet of Locmaria, you will take care to establish a pleasant bivouac to admire the stars. A good meal based on local products will certainly motivate you... The trail continues to the tip of Kerdonis and its lighthouse then to the beach of the Great Sands. A little puff, and back to Vannes!

7. Traversée sauvage du Mercantour en bivouac

Chilowé takes you to Mercantour, the perfect place to enjoy the joys of the mountain and the sun. This national park enjoys an exceptional geographical location and a remarkable ecological preservation. Among the best treks in France, it is designed for a healthy audience. The denial is consequent and the bag is heavy enough. Your accompaniment, unbearable on the wonders of the region, will await you on the side of Saint-Dalmas-de-Tende in the late morning. Greetings, briefing, sharing matos and food, bus transfer and... it's gone for an epic trip.

After a first section in the forest, the itinerary crosses a pass populated with placid bouquetins. The altitude lakes are an ideal way to refresh as much as a privileged setting for bivouac. Come on, sleep! The next day, towards the Italian border, passing through a wild valley covered with flowers. Your companion will tell you everything about these and edible plants (or not) that you can meet. The kilometers are connected to the heart of an exceptional landscape. Overflowed by the raptors, you will then climb a summit overlooking a sumptuous panorama. The installation of the bivouac near a shelter will be an opportunity to put in practice the advice of the monitor. It doesn’t happen! The descent in the valley marks the end of the hike. The bus transfer to Saint-Dalmas-de-Tende and its train station marks that of the adventure...

So, what are you waiting for to put on your shoes and come and enjoy one of the best treks in France?