The most challenging treks in Europe

In this article, we present our top 5 most difficult hikes in Europe. These ‘ultra-treks’ are long mountain hikes, often at altitude, often wild, offering landscapes you'll never see anywhere else. Passes, high-altitude lakes, footpaths, ridges and summits, breathtaking panoramas, torrents and glaciers: the mountains offer you their best, with the added privilege of spotting ibex and golden eagles.
 

It's also a physical challenge: the changes in altitude are one after the other, the stages are fairly long, some of the trails can be a little technical, and most of the time you'll be carrying your own gear.
 

Prepared in advance, there's nothing impossible about these hikes, which are among the most difficult in Europe, and it's a wonderful human adventure, too.

The Giant's Tour, Italy
 

This is the route of the legendary ‘Tor des Géants’ ultratrail, which crosses the 34 villages and 16 valleys of the Valle d'Aosta. The Giants are the 5 peaks over 4,000m that form the backdrop to this trek, 4 of which are the highest in the Alps: Gran Paradiso, Monte Rosa, Matterhorn, Grand Combin and Mont Blanc.
 

The grandiose, unspoilt and wild route, starting and finishing in Courmayeur, takes in altitudes of between 2000 and 3300m. At the end of the 2 weeks, you'll have covered more than 18km of ascent, making this one of the most difficult hikes in Europe!
 

Read Laurent Comte and Hélène Le Floch's accounts of their unique adventure on the Tour des Géants.

From Grenoble to Briançon
 

A 100% French ultra-trek! The aim: to link Grenoble to Briançon through the heart of the mountain ranges and along the wildest possible routes, from north to south. In terms of natural beauty, you're in for a treat, and in terms of sporting challenge too: the crystal-clear Belledonne, with its high-mountain atmosphere, the Oisans and its snow-capped peaks, whose rugged beauty is softened by the Mediterranean sunshine in the south of the Ecrins massif, and finally, the Durance valley and the Briançonnais. A hike under the watchful eye of the sentinels of the heights: chamois, ibex, bearded vulture and golden eagle.
 

Take a journey to the heart of the mountains with Raymond's account, a Grand Angle mountain guide.

Tour of Monte Rosa, Switzerland
 

At 4,634m, Mont Rose lies between Switzerland and Italy, between the Valais and Valle d'Aosta. On each side of its 10 peaks are deep valleys with strong traditions. The many pass crossings offer magnificent views and a wild and sometimes snowy atmosphere. This is the shortest of our most difficult hikes in Europe, and the only one with a glacier crossing: the Col Théodule, 3317m; a mountain guide will ensure your safety here, in addition to your mountain leader. Optional ascent of the Breithorn (4164m).

The GR 54 - Tour de l'Oisans, in the heart of the Ecrins mountains
 

It's less well known than the Tour du Mont Blanc, but it's still one of the most beautiful and challenging treks in France and Europe. Nearly 13,000m of ascent, 175km in total and 14 cols, including many climbs that take you to altitudes of over 2,000m... on paper, this GR is impressive! Along the way, you'll have the chance to explore the heart of the sublime Parc National des Ecrins, with its lakes and sometimes the Meije or the Barre des Ecrins (4102m) in the background, and its rich, protected flora and fauna. To make things easier for you on these sometimes difficult stages of the GR54, Grand Angle will take care of transporting your luggage on the Tour de l'Oisans.

The GR20 in Corsica
 

The GR20 is well known in France and is often considered to be the most difficult long-distance hiking trail in France and one of the most difficult in Europe. At 180km long and almost 11,000m high, the route is reputed to be very demanding, but the variety of landscapes you'll cross along the way will delight the seasoned hiker in you. Its exceptional panoramas and landscapes, with high-altitude lakes, lush vegetation, valleys and Alpine passages, will fulfil all your expectations. The GR20 can be divided into 2 parts, the GR20 North and the GR20 South, but if you want to do almost the whole of this trek in 13 days, you'll have to choose between the GR20 North and the GR20 South.