Paid
Ciné Mont-Blanc
Sallanches
A neighbourhood cinema at the heart of the Pays du Mont-Blanc, Ciné Mont-Blanc runs several digital screens to offer families in the Arve valley a full programme:
Free · Open access
GR® de Pays Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc
Boucle pédestre GRP autour du massif du Mont-Blanc côté français - alternative française au Tour du Mont-Blanc international 100% Haute-Savoie.
At a glance
Type
GR® de Pays (GRP) walking trail - loop
Access
Free · Open access
Price
Free all year round
Duration
6-10 days for the full route
Best season
Mid-June to mid-September
Parking
Free at the trailhead
Animals
Allowed on a leash
Stroller / Reduced mobility
NO (alpine trail)
Town
Sallanches
What is GR® de Pays Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc
The GR® de Pays Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc is the French reference walking loop around the Mont-Blanc massif, designed as a 100% Haute-Savoie alternative to the international Tour du Mont-Blanc. It stays on the French side, taking in the Pays du Mont-Blanc and the foothills of the massif.
The trail crosses the main communes of the Pays du Mont-Blanc: Sallanches (classic start), Passy (with the Désert de Platé in view), Servoz, Les Houches, Chamonix (Aiguilles Rouges nature reserve), Saint-Gervais, Les Contamines, Megève and Combloux — a near-360° tour of Mont Blanc as seen from France.
Free year-round access. Difficulty moderate to difficult. Length ~165 km · Pays du Mont-Blanc loop, full trail 6–10 days. Best season: mid-June to mid-September. Not wheelchair-accessible (alpine trail).
Activities
What you can do here
Practical
Practical information
Address
Start: Sallanches (74700) · ~165 km · Pays du Mont-Blanc loop View on map
Coordinates
45.9389° N · 6.6306° E
Elevation
560 m (Sallanches) to 2,600 m (passes)
Opening hours
OPEN ACCESS 24/7, all year round, on the GR® de Pays Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc. Recommended season: Mid-June to mid-September. Conditions outside this season vary. Verified on the official website on 24 May 2026 — subject to seasonal changes.
Prices
FREE AND OPEN ACCESS on the GR® de Pays Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc for everyone, all year round. No ticketing. Refuges and accommodation are paid for overnight stays (€50-90/night half-board depending on the refuge). Verified on 24 May 2026.
Booking
No booking needed for the trail of the GR® de Pays Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc. Booking refuges/accommodation in summer is recommended from January-April depending on the refuge. Verified on 24 May 2026.
Parking
Free parking at the trailhead of the GR® de Pays Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc in Sallanches. Capacity varies by season. Additional parking in the village if full in summer.
Dogs
Dogs allowed on a leash on the GR® de Pays Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc. Take care in protected areas (nature reserves) and technical sections.
Accessibility
Wheelchair access: NO (alpine trail) for the GR® de Pays Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc. Check conditions on site. Verified on 24 May 2026.
Duration on site
6-10 days for the full route of the GR® de Pays Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc depending on fitness level. Length ~165 km · Pays du Mont-Blanc loop. Shorter variants possible depending on route.
Contact
Local tourist office + Haute-Savoie departmental council hautesavoie.fr. FFRandonnée Haute-Savoie for GR routes. Verified on 24 May 2026.
Access
How to get there
By car
Sallanches (74700) is accessible by car from Annecy/Geneva/Sallanches depending on your starting point. Free parking at the trailhead of the GR® de Pays Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc. Follow local signage.
Open in MapsPublic transport
Public transport depending on seasonal routes to Sallanches. Léman Express + Haute-Savoie regional coaches + Mont-Blanc Express depending on the area. Check seasonal timetables.
Open in MapsBy bike
Cycling is recommended on greenways where the route is a greenway. For walking trails, cycling is not recommended on the GR® de Pays Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc.
Open in MapsNearest stops
- Place Charles Albert · Cars Région Haute-Savoie · Y86 · 418 m
- Sallanches - Combloux - Megève · SNCF (TER) · 576 m
- Gare · Cars Région Haute-Savoie · Y81, Y83, Y84, Y85, Y86 · 578 m
- Cars Région Haute-Savoie · Official fares & timetables →
- SNCF (TER) · Official fares & timetables →
Transport data verified on 2026-06-15 · source transport.data.gouv.fr (Licence Etalab 2.0)
When to visit
When to visit
The GR® de Pays Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc is mainly walked in the mid-June to mid-September season. Outside this season: conditions vary depending on elevation. A 100% FRENCH ALTERNATIVE to the international Tour du Mont-Blanc. A loop entirely within Haute-Savoie crossing Sallanches, Passy, Servoz, Les Houches, Chamonix (Aiguilles Rouges), Saint-Gervais, Les Contamines, Megève, Combloux.. Route type: GR® de Pays (GRP) walking trail - loop, ~165 km · Pays du Mont-Blanc loop, moderate to difficult.
Events : Local events depending on the commune, Sallanches. Follow the local tourist office and hautesavoie.fr for the calendar of events linked to the GR® de Pays Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc.
Winter
Winter season
Winter access window
Not specified
Winter infrastructure
Not specified
Snow panorama
Not specified
Equipment mandated
Loi Montagne II — winter tyres or chains required (1 Nov – 31 Mar)
Nearby
Where to eat, drink, stay
Photos
Gallery
Been there? Share your photos — we'll add them to this page with credit. Tag #loisirs74 or email photos@loisirs74.fr
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is access to the GR® de Pays Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc paid?
No. Access to the GR® de Pays Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc is free and open all year round to everyone. No ticketing, no toll. The route is permanently accessible depending on season and weather conditions.
How long is the GR® de Pays Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc?
The GR® de Pays Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc is ~165 km · Pays du Mont-Blanc loop. Average duration 6-10 days for the full route depending on fitness level. Moderate to difficult difficulty. Route type: GR® de Pays (GRP) walking trail - loop.
What are the opening hours of the GR® de Pays Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc?
The GR® de Pays Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc is open access 24/7 all year round. Recommended season mid-June to mid-September. Verified on the official website on 24 May 2026 — subject to seasonal changes.
How difficult is the GR® de Pays Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc?
The GR® de Pays Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc is of moderate to difficult difficulty. Length ~165 km · Pays du Mont-Blanc loop. Duration 6-10 days for the full route. Elevation 560 m (Sallanches) to 2,600 m (passes). Suitable for hikers according to fitness level.
Is the GR® de Pays Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair access: NO (alpine trail) for the GR® de Pays Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc. Check conditions on site. For a wheelchair-accessible alternative, see Voie verte du Lac d'Annecy or Sentier des Roselières Saint-Jorioz if unsuitable.
When can you walk the GR® de Pays Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc?
Recommended season for the GR® de Pays Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc: mid-June to mid-September. Conditions outside this season vary depending on elevation and snow cover. Check conditions with the local tourist office before setting off.
How do you get to the GR® de Pays Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc?
The GR® de Pays Tour du Pays du Mont-Blanc starts from Sallanches (74700). Travelling by car is recommended for the starting point. Free parking at trailheads. Public transport depends on the route and season.
Sources
Sources & verification
Multi-source verification at publication. Information may change — confirm with the official operator before travelling.
Nearby
Nearby
Other places to explore in the area and in the same category
Paid
Paid
Château des Rubins
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14th-century fortified manor, renovated 2019–2021, with the 500 m² Observatoire des Alpes. 50+ interactive modules on 4 floors. Full wheelchair access. Adult €7.50.
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Base de loisirs des Ilettes
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Leisure complex with 3 lakes in Sallanches: fishing, supervised swimming in summer, windsurfing, paddling, fitness trail and picnic areas. Free access year-round.
Paid
Free
Désert de Platé Trail
Passy
Désert de Platé Trail at Passy: 6.5 km return and 870 m elevation gain from Praz-Coutant to the Platé refuge, across Europe's largest karst pavement (1,980 ha, listed since 1998).
Free
Pointe Percée Geological Trail
Le Grand-Bornand
Aravis interpretive trail from the Col des Annes to the Refuge de la Pointe Percee: 4 geological stations, 10 landscape windows, free shuttles in summer.