Follow Our New Journey – Trekking France!

Sandy introduces our new 340-mile trekking adventure in France.

As we prepare to share this latest update, the world feels incredibly heavy. Knowing there is so much suffering and conflict in this increasingly unpredictable world has weighed heavily on us. and Darren and I even considered canceling this trip. Ultimately, because we plan our travels so far in advance, we decided to step out onto the trails as planned. We are grateful to be able to travel, and we hope our journey provides a peaceful escape for anyone following along.

Europe is one of our favorite places to trek in the world, with a rich variety of hiking options. But perhaps no country in Europe captures the diversity of trekking adventures like France.

In France alone, there are approximately 37,000 miles of established long distance GR footpaths. Known as the sentier de grande randonnée in French, these paths cover the entire nation, from the coast to the mountains, while passing through quaint villages and historic landmarks. With over 300 GR trails to choose from, there are no shortage of interesting options to pursue.

We have hiked on France’s GR paths before, completing a 65-mile, 6-day trek on the GR53 through the Northern Vosges Mountains in Alsace. This time, our Trekking France adventure will focus on sampling five GR trails in four different trekking locations, providing us with a rich combination of cultural and natural experiences.

1. GR65 (Via Podiensis)

Like many countries in Europe, France has its own Camino pilgrimage paths. To date, we have trekked on the Camino Portugues in Portugal / Spain, as well as the Via Francigena from Switzerland to Rome. For our first French trek, we plan to hike 132 Miles over 10 stages, from Le Puy-en-Valey to Conques. This is the first section of the medieval Via Podiensis path, which eventually joins trails that lead all the way to Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

This trek will begin in the city of Le Puy-en-Valey in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region. From there, we will trek west along high plateaus and through volcanic landscapes. We will spend our nights in charming historic villages, before ending our time in Conques, which is perched on a steep ravine. While trekking we will also pass numerous churches, abbeys, and historic sites.

2. GR3 (Loire River Trail)

The Loire is France’s longest river, running 625 miles from the mountains to the Atlantic coast. The Sentier de la Loire GR3 trail runs along the river, and was the first officially marked long-distance path in France. The heart of the GR3 traverses through the Loire Valley and its series of historic chateaus. We plan to trek 88 miles over 7 stages on this portion of the trail.

During each day of hiking we will walk through the famous stomping grounds of France’s nobility and pass through numerous towns and cities, each with a historic castle (chateau) to explore. It is no wonder that the valley and the river are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

During rest days in Tours and Blois we will take day trips to those chateaus that are not directly on our path, including the breathtaking Chateau de Chenonceau and Chateau de Chambord.

3. GR34 (Customs Officers’ Path)

Known as the Sentier des Douaniers‘ (Customs Officers’ Path), the GR34 runs along the entire coast of Brittney, totaling about 1,200 miles. The path was originally used in the late 18th century by officers to patrol against smugglers. Today, the trail traverses along beaches, estuaries, and on top of cliffs above the ocean. Some of the original watch houses can be seen along the way.

Over four stages we plan to trek 50 miles of the GR34, beginning in the historic port of Saint-Malo and ending at Mont-Saint-Michel. The island abbey is a true architectural marvel and sits on top of some of the highest tides in Europe. We last visited Mont-Saint-Michel in 2018, and are looking forward to ending our trek at the UNESCO World Heritage site.

4. GR1 (Tour d’lle de France) and GR22 (Normandy to Paris)

Our final trek will take us through some national forests and adjacent to the historic Palace of Versailles, before finishing in the heart of Paris. We will be combining portions of two GR paths to create a custom route, totaling about 70 miles over five stages.

The GR1, known as the “Tour of Île-de-France“, is a 350-mile hiking loop around the Paris metropolitan area. We will start in Rambouillet and hike northeast through several national forest areas. Closer to Paris we will join the GR22 path, which runs about 350 miles from Normandy to Paris. Along the way we will pass through Versailles and its UNESCO World Heritage site palace.

Entering Paris from the west, we will hike along the Seine River, taking in the beauty and history of the city.

After a total of 340 miles and 26 stages, we plan to complete our Trekking France journey in front of the Notre-Dame Cathedral at the “Point Zero” marker. It signifies the zero kilometer point for French roads, and is the historic and symbolic center of the country.

We will provide updates along the way as we experience each stage of our hike. So join us on our Trekking France adventure!

Click an icon to learn more about each trek