Circular tour Alps
A pass-to-pass loop around the Queyras that links all its villages, between larch forests, alpine pastures and high-altitude lakes.
A 111 km loop starting from Ceillac.
The GR58 makes a tour of the Queyras, in the Hautes-Alpes, following the catchment of the Guil. The loop links the villages of the regional nature park, going from one valley to the next over high passes. Ceillac is the most popular starting point, but the tour can begin in any village and be walked in either direction.
The route passes through Saint-Véran, listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France, climbs to the Col de la Chamoussière (2,884 m), the highest pass on the loop, then goes via the Col Agnel, La Monta, Abriès, Aiguilles, Souliers, Arvieux and the Furfande refuge before returning to Ceillac. Larch forests, alpine pastures and high-altitude lakes, such as the Malrif lakes or the Lac Foréant, set the rhythm of the days.
The route stays in the mid-mountains, with no high-mountain sections, but every stage crosses a pass and the terrain is varied. The tour therefore requires good fitness and the habit of walking several days in a row.
There are several variants, one of which goes into Italy, and three GR de Pays trails branch off the loop: the Tour du Pain de Sucre, the Tour de la Font Sancte and the Tour de la Dent de Ratier. The GR58 is also linked to the GR5. With gîtes and refuges in every valley, it is well suited to a first multi-day walk in the mountains.
Ceillac
Mont-Dauphin-Guillestre SNCF station is the gateway to the Queyras; coaches and shuttle buses then serve the villages, including Ceillac, Saint-Véran, Molines-en-Queyras, Aiguilles, Abriès and Ristolas. You can also set off on foot from the station, joining the loop via Eygliers or Guillestre.
The tour can be walked from June to September, and into October if you are well equipped against the cold. Some passes remain under snow until early July: an ice axe and crampons may then be useful on the snowfields. Autumn is beautiful, but some accommodation closes: check the opening dates.
Challenging
No high mountains, but a pass to cross almost every day and varied terrain. Good fitness is needed.
8 refuges, 1 gîte, 1 unstaffed hut and 11 B&Bs
Gîtes, refuges, B&Bs, hotels and campsites line the loop; gîtes and refuges often offer half board and packed lunches. Booking is recommended, especially from mid-July to the end of August, and opening dates should be checked early and late in the season. A luggage transfer service operates between the places to stay.
The Queyras is a regional nature park: bivouacking is tolerated there for one night, from 6 pm to 9 am, more than an hour’s walk from villages and hamlets, subject to municipal by-laws; near a refuge, you need to ask the warden. Fires are forbidden. The Ristolas-Mont-Viso National Nature Reserve applies stricter rules, to be checked before spending the night there.
You can stock up in the villages, including Ceillac, Saint-Véran, Molines-en-Queyras, Château-Ville-Vieille, Arvieux, Aiguilles and Abriès. Fountains, gîtes and refuges let you fill your water bottle, but some sections are remote: set off with water. The white-and-red waymarking is well maintained, but a map remains essential.
TrekGR stage plan: each stage ends where you can sleep. Actual walking time excluding breaks (DIN 33466 standard).
| Stage | Route | Distance | Ascent | Descent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ceillac → Saint-Véran | 12.1 km | 1,120 m | 790 m |
| 2 | Saint-Véran → Refuge Agnel | 12.6 km | 950 m | 350 m |
| 3 | Refuge Agnel → L'Échalp | 10.7 km | 250 m | 1,130 m |
| 4 | L'Échalp → Abriès | 14.8 km | 920 m | 1,070 m |
| 5 | Abriès → Les Fonts | 14.6 km | 1,270 m | 760 m |
| 6 | Les Fonts → Souliers | 10.9 km | 580 m | 790 m |
| 7 | Souliers → Arvieux | 9.4 km | 520 m | 600 m |
| 8 | Arvieux → La Chapelue | 14.5 km | 850 m | 1,190 m |
| 9 | La Chapelue → Ceillac | 11 km | 1,060 m | 830 m |
34 places to stay near the route, from refuges to campsites.
No current alerts for this GR (checked on 12 November 2026). All live updates →
The GR58 is a loop: you can start it in any village and walk it in whichever direction you choose. Ceillac is the most common start; Abriès, Ville-Vieille and Arvieux are other convenient points.
From June to September, or even October. In early summer, snowfields may linger on some passes until early July; in autumn, the larches are splendid but some accommodation is closed.
Yes, in line with the rules of the regional nature park: one night only, tent pitched after 6 pm and taken down before 9 am, more than an hour’s walk from villages, no fires. The Ristolas-Mont-Viso nature reserve has its own, stricter rules.
The nearest station is Mont-Dauphin-Guillestre. From there, coaches and shuttle buses go up to Ceillac and the other villages of the Queyras; the Guillestrois and Queyras tourist office has the season’s timetables.
The Queyras is a regional nature park, without the general ban on dogs that applies in the core zones of national parks; your dog must nevertheless stay under control and be kept on a lead near herds. Check the rules of the Ristolas-Mont-Viso nature reserve and which places to stay accept dogs.
It stays in the mid-mountains and has no high-mountain sections, but it crosses a pass almost every day. It suits hikers in good shape, used to walking day after day.
Route: OpenStreetMap contributors. Elevation: IGN’s RGE ALTI®, one point every 50 m. Text checked on 10 November 2026.
