Long traverse Alps · Mediterranean and Provence · Massif Central · South-West
GR6GR6 From the Alps to Nouvelle-Aquitaine
From Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye to Arcachon, the GR6 crosses the south of France from east to west, from the mountains of the Ubaye to the shores of Arcachon Bay.
1,379 km64 stages29,200 m ascentHigh point 2,659 mSaint-Paul-sur-Ubaye → Arcachon
From Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye to Arcachon, over 1,379 km.
0 m500 m1,000 m1,500 m2,000 m2,500 m0 km200 km400 km600 km800 km1,000 km1,200 km1102030405060High point 2,659 m
Elevation profile: from 2 m to 2,428 m over 1,379.3 km.
The GR6 at a glance
The GR6 links Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye, in the upper Ubaye valley (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence), to Arcachon, in the Gironde. The FFRandonnée calls it “from the Alps to Nouvelle-Aquitaine”: it crosses three regions and ten departments, and is divided into about ten major sections. MonGR also describes it in the other direction, from Arcachon towards the Alps.
From the upper Ubaye, the path crosses the Ubaye massif and passes near the Laverq abbey, reaches Seyne, Sisteron and the Montagne de Lure, then the Forcalquier area. It then enters the Luberon Regional Nature Park, from the ochres of the Colorado Provençal to Gordes and Sénanque abbey, passes through the Alpilles and crosses the Rhône at Beaucaire.
In the Gard, it passes the Pont du Gard, goes up the valley of the Gardons and through the Cévennes uplands to Mont Aigoual, in the Cévennes National Park. It descends to Meyrueis, crosses the Causse Méjean and the Causse de Sauveterre, reaches La Canourgue then the Aubrac and Saint-Chély-d’Aubrac, before following the Lot valley to Conques, a highlight of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, and Figeac.
The end of the route crosses the Causses du Quercy Regional Nature Park via Rocamadour, then the Périgord Noir of Sarlat and Les Eyzies, the Dordogne valley and the Monbazillac vineyards. In the Gironde, the GR6 passes through Sainte-Foy-la-Grande, Sauveterre-de-Guyenne, Langon, Sauternes and the Ciron valley, before the forests of the Landes de Gascogne and Arcachon Bay. As it is very long, it is most often walked in sections.
Highlights
A mountain start in the upper Ubaye valley and an arrival on the shores of Arcachon Bay.
The Luberon and the Alpilles, with the ochres of the Colorado Provençal, Gordes and Sénanque abbey.
The Pont du Gard, then the climb to Mont Aigoual, in the Cévennes National Park.
The causses, the Aubrac plateaux and the Lot valley as far as Conques.
Rocamadour, Sarlat and the prehistoric caves of Les Eyzies, between the Quercy and the Périgord.
The vineyards of Monbazillac and Sauternes, then the forests of the Landes de Gascogne.
Practical information
Start
Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye
Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye has no station. The nearest SNCF station to Barcelonnette is Gap, from where regional coaches go up to Barcelonnette; for the upper Ubaye, ask Ubaye Tourisme about shuttles or plan on a taxi.
Finish
Arcachon
Arcachon station, in the town centre, is the terminus of TER trains from Bordeaux, where you can connect with TGVs to Paris; a few direct trains also link Arcachon to Paris at weekends.
When to go
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No single season suits the whole traverse. The upper Ubaye is walked when free of snow, in summer and early autumn; Provence and the Gard are more pleasant in spring and autumn, away from the intense heat and forest closures; the Aigoual and the Aubrac from late spring to autumn.
Difficulty
Challenging
The upper Ubaye, at the start, is a genuine mountain area with several passes to cross. The rest alternates between mid-mountain terrain (Lure, Aigoual, Aubrac), causses and hills: the challenge lies mainly in the length of the route and the heat in Provence.
Accommodation
3 refuges, 37 gîtes, 10 unstaffed huts and 93 B&Bs
Gîtes, B&Bs, hotels and campsites follow one another, unevenly from one area to another. On the Aubrac and in the Lot valley, the GR6 passes through Conques, a major stop on the route to Santiago: it is wise to book early there. In the upper Ubaye and on the Aigoual, book and check opening times before setting off.
Rules to know
In the core zone of the Cévennes National Park, especially on the Aigoual, bivouacking is only allowed no more than 50 m from the GR, for a single night, from 7 pm to 9 am, without a tent or in a light tent, and it is forbidden on certain sensitive sections; fires are forbidden there and dogs must be kept on a lead. From June to September, access to the forest areas of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Vaucluse, Bouches-du-Rhône and Gard may be restricted or forbidden by prefectoral order depending on the fire risk.
Water and supplies
In the mountains (upper Ubaye, Lure, Aigoual, Aubrac), villages are further apart: carry water and food for the day, and plenty of water in Provence in fine weather. Two areas were flagged in autumn 2026: on the Causse Méjean, above Meyrueis, a collapsed section is diverted via Pauparelle (about 1.5 km longer); in the Gironde, Gironde Tourisme reports the GR6 as impassable in the municipality of Hostens, for an indefinite period, following forest fires.
The GR6 on the map
The 64 stages
TrekGR stage plan: each stage ends where you can sleep. Actual walking time excluding breaks (DIN 33466 standard).
GR6 on the Causse Méjean: about 1 km closed below the Croix de la Croisette, on the descent to Meyrueis. Diversion via Pauparelle and the Tour du Causse Méjean GRP.
Plan the traverse section by section: MonGR suggests, among others, Fouillouse – Tarascon, the crossing of the Alpilles from Lamanon to Tarascon, or Figeac – Rocamadour.
Before the upper Ubaye, find out about snow cover on the passes and the weather forecast, and set off early in the morning.
Between June and September, check the forest access map the day before the stages in the Luberon, the Alpilles and the Gard.
Read the Cévennes National Park regulations before planning a bivouac on the Aigoual.
Before the stages in the south of the Gironde, ask the local tourist offices about the state of the path around Hostens and an alternative route.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the GR6 start and finish?
According to the FFRandonnée and MonGR, it links Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye, in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, to Arcachon, in the Gironde. MonGR starts its Alpine section from the hamlet of Fouillouse, in the municipality of Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye.
Does the GR6 end at Sainte-Foy-la-Grande?
No. Sainte-Foy-la-Grande marks the GR6’s entry into the Gironde: the path continues via Sauveterre-de-Guyenne, Langon, Sauternes and the Landes de Gascogne to Arcachon Bay (Gironde Tourisme).
Which regions does the GR6 cross?
Three regions, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Occitanie and Nouvelle-Aquitaine, and ten departments: Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Vaucluse, Bouches-du-Rhône, Gard, Lozère, Aveyron, Lot, Dordogne, Lot-et-Garonne and Gironde.
Is the GR6 passable along its entire length?
Not entirely. On the Causse Méjean, a section of about 1 km above Meyrueis is closed after the path collapsed and is diverted via Pauparelle and the GR de Pays Tour du Causse Méjean (FFRandonnée Lozère committee). In the Gironde, the path is reported as impassable in the municipality of Hostens after the forest fires.
Can you bivouac on the GR6?
It depends on the area. In the core zone of the Cévennes National Park, bivouacking is allowed for one night, from 7 pm to 9 am, no more than 50 m from the GR and in a light tent, except on certain sensitive sections. Elsewhere, check with the municipalities and regional nature parks along the way.
Which topoguides cover the GR6?
The FFRandonnée mentions in particular “De l’Ubaye à la Provence” for the Alpine and Provençal section, as well as the topoguides for routes that share part of the trail, such as the Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert way.
Route: OpenStreetMap contributors. Elevation: IGN’s RGE ALTI®, one point every 50 m. Text checked on 12 November 2026.
