Long Distance Hikes in France

France is a hiker’s paradise, offering a vast network of long-distance trails known as GR routes (Grande Randonnée).

These well-marked paths span diverse landscapes — snow-capped Alps, sun-soaked Mediterranean coast, rolling vineyards, and the rugged Pyrenees. Hikers can explore routes steeped in history, such as ancient pilgrimage ways, or modern classics crossing natural parks.

From multi-week treks to scenic day sections, France blends culture, cuisine, and nature into unforgettable hiking experiences.

France’s longest hiking trail is the GR7, at roughly 2,700 km.

It runs north to south along the “ligne de partage des eaux” (the watershed line), starting in the Vosges mountains and continuing all the way to Andorra. While less internationally famous than the GR5, it covers a huge variety of French landscapes — from mountain ranges to rural plateaus — and is part of the wider European long-distance path E4.

The most popular long distance hike in France is the Tour du Mont Blanc — a spectacular loop through France, Italy, and Switzerland, attracting hikers from around the world.