In April and May 2026 we trekked 340 miles in four different locations in France. Each trail provided us with a rich combination of cultural and natural experiences.
Below are the recap videos from our treks:
GR65 (Via Podiensis)
We completed the first section of the medieval Via Podiensis path, which eventually joins trails that lead all the way to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Our 132 miles of GR65 trekking over 10 stages took us from Le Puy-en-Velay in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region to the Abbey Church of Sainte-Foy in the village of Conques.
GR3 (Loire River Trail)
The Sentier de la Loire GR3 trail runs along the Loire 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 trekked 88 miles over 7 stages on this portion of the trail, beginning in Saumur and ending in Amboise.
GR34 (Customs Officers’ Path)
Running along 1,200 miles of the Brittney coast, the Sentier des Douaniers‘ (Customs Officers’ Path) was originally used in the late 18th century to patrol against smugglers. Today, the trail traverses along beaches, estuaries, and on top of cliffs above the ocean. Over four stages we trekked 50 miles of the GR34, beginning in the historic port of Saint-Malo and ending at the island abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel.
GR1 (Tour d’Ile de France) and GR22 (Normandy to Paris)
For our final 70-mile, five-stage trek, we started in Rambouillet and hiked northeast on the GR1 through several national forests. Closer to Paris we joined the GR22 path. After passing through Versailles and its UNESCO World Heritage Site palace, we entered Paris from the west and finished in front of the Notre-Dame Cathedral at the “Point Zero” marker.