Grand Tour des Écrins
The itinerary of the mythical National Park
There are paths that remain etched in the memory far beyond the kilometers covered. The GR54, known as the Grand Tour des Écrins, is one of these: a circular journey to the heart of a mythical massif.
Your itinerary5key stages
to explore the Ecrins
More than a hike, it’s an immersion in the soul of the Hautes-Alpes, a 13-day itinerary that combines natural grandeur, mountain heritage, a quest for adventure and some 194 km.
Day 1Le Bourg d’Oisans → Col de Souchet
Leaving Bourg d’Oisans, the GR54 begins its grand tour with handrails to reach the small hamlets clinging to the mountainside. It then descends to the Sarenne torrent and climbs back up to the col, a viewpoint over the Monts de Lans. Then comes a descent to Clavans and the Ferrand valley, followed by a fine climb to Besse-en-Oisans on the border of the vast Emparis plateau. Above, the Col de Souchet offers a five-star view of the Meije.
Day 2La Grave → Le Monêtier-les-Bains
Nearly 1,000 metres of downhill gradient lead to La Grave. Continue along the Romanche to its source in the Villar d’Arène mountain pasture. Arriving at the Col d’Arsine, the view is breathtaking. The high mountain world invites you to pay a visit to the glacial lake of Arsine before beginning a long descent along the Petit Tabuc torrent to the Guisane valley and Monêtier-les-Bains.
Day 3Col de l’Eychauda → Pré de la Chaumette
Objective La Vallouise via the Col de l’Eychauda and the peaceful chalets of Chambran. Eight kms of carriage road along the torrent de l’Onde to the Jas Lacroix mountain pasture. Passing the Col de l’Aup Martin, the highest point of the entire route, is always a highlight of the adventure, and the descent to the Pré de la Chaumette is just as challenging.
Day 4
Crossing the Valgaudemar
To reach Lac de Vallonpierre and the Valgaudemar, no less than three passes cut into the schist must be negotiated with care. Along the Séveraisse, the trail reaches La Chapelle-en-Valgaudemar and rises again at Villar Loubière to the refuge des Souffles and the Col de la Vaurze.
Day 5
Valjouffrey → Lauvitel
Equally impressive is the descent into the wild Valjouffrey. The green Côte Belle pass contrasts with the schist landscapes encountered earlier. Valsenestre, in the Béranger valley, is a welcome stopover before setting off for the final meanders. On to the vertical Col de la Muzelle, gateway to the Vénéon. A final pass to reach the largest lake in Oisans, the Lauvitel, and back to Le Bourg d’Oisans. The loop is complete!
With every step, the Écrins reveal themselves
Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, President of the Republic
Vallouise speech, August 23, 1977
Practical notebook
- Many paths to adventure
- Mountain bike variant
- Park houses
