Your holiday starts at the group hotel in Briancon. A single transfer is provided from Turin Airport to the group hotel in Briancon.

After breakfast, we are met by our English-speaking tour guide or 'accompagnateur' and our support vehicles. We then drive south to Guillestre and along an unsurfaced road into the valley of the Rif Bel Stream. We disembark close to the Basse Rua Refuge (1760m) and the few derelict houses and intact chapel of Alta Rua. Our main bags will be transported from here to our next overnight stop at Ceillac. Meanwhile, we set off through pine forest on a marked path, zig-zagging up above the trees and finally to the summit of an open, rocky peak, the Pic d'Escreins (2734m). There are great views to the north-west of the Ecrins peaks - Barre des Ecrins, Pelvoux and Meije. After a leisurely lunch, we have the option of following the rocky Crete de Panestrelle or taking a slightly easier descent route into the small valley of Pelouses, where we find a streamside shepherd's hut and the chance to bathe our feet. We then cross steep, forested slopes on the south side of the Cristillan Valley, traversing around on scant trails and gaining quite a lot of height, before dropping down steeply to the village of Ceillac, with its distinctive church in the middle of a corn field. Overnight in a hotel.

Our walk today starts out through the village of Ceillac, which has several 'carpenters' crosses' and another distinctive church or bell-tower. We are now following the GR58, as we ascend the upper valley of the Cristillan torrent, which bears signs of avalanche damage, with broken trees and lots of debris in the bed of the stream. We may well see other trekkers, as we make the long and zig-zagging pull up to the Col des Estronques (2651m). From the pass (leaving the GR), we head east along the Crete de la Tete and the Crete de la Blavette to the Pointe des Marcelettes (2909m). Here, is a good place to stop for lunch overlooking the valley of the Aigue Blanche and the village of St. Veran, before dropping down steeply to the Pic Cascavallier (2576m). Traversing beneath this, we reach a grassy ridge (where marmots play) high above the village and then drop down through a forest to finally reach the valley floor. A trail through flower-filled meadows then leads down to the very pleasant gite 'La Baita du Loup' in Le Chalp.

After breakfast, we use our support vehicles and a local shuttle bus to take us (on a rough track) to the head of the valley. Following the continuation of this track towards a prominent chapel, we turn off beside a stream and make directly for a rocky headwall, below which is situated the Refuge de la Blanche (2499m), a great place to stop for coffee. The headwall above forms the frontier with Italy and the most direct crossing point is at the Col Blanchet. We follow the path towards this pass, then divert across boulders and scree to make an ascent of Rocca Bianca (3059m), a rocky peak north of the pass which involves easy scrambling to reach the summit cross. There are superb views of the impressively spiky Tete des Toillies (3175m) south of the pass. From here, our route traverses across to the Pic de Caramantran (3025m) and then descends to the Col de Chamoussiere (2884m). Great views from the former of Le Pain de Sucre and of Monte Viso. We drop down from the pass and traverse around to the Refuge Agnel (2580m).

Today's route follows the GR58 across the Col Vieux (2806m) and pleasantly down the Bouchouse Stream to L'Echalp. After a steady early hike to the col in an hour, we set out to include the ascent of the very prominent Pain de Sucre (3208m). This is basically a long rocky ridge climb at an angle of about 30 degrees. The approach follows a cairned trail to a summit that overhangs a huge rocky bowl, with Pic d'Asti directly opposite and Monte Viso in the near distance. Look out for bouquetains (wild goats) and climbers on the steep rock walls of Pic Asti. We then descend to the pass and then continue to loose height to Lac Foreant, a good place to have lunch. Fishermen can often be seen here, in pursuit of a species of char. A long descent, through pleasant Alpine scenery, takes us to L'Echalp, where we meet a local transfer bus for the 10 minute journey down the valley to our gite in Abries. Abries is a pleasant mountain village with shops and bars, for those in need of refreshment.

There are a couple of options from Abries, the first of which involves transferring to le Roux and hiking up to the Col des Thures (variant of the GR58). Alternatively, we can hike directly from the gite (on the main GR58), traversing high above the Guil Valley and passing the old hamlet of le Malrif (in the process of being rebuilt). Higher, there is a steep zig-zag climb across flower meadows to reach le Grand Laus, the biggest of the Malrif Lakes and an impressive place. A steep 300 metre climb then leads up to the Pic du Malrif (2906m), a great place to stop for lunch with excellent views, including Monte Viso. From here, we take a diversion away from the main trail, heading north-east along the Crete aux Eaux Pendantes to the high point of the trip at Grand Glaiza (3293m). Again, this is on the Italian border and there are views northwards into that country. Descending directly across scree (and possibly snow early in the season) we rejoin the valley trail and follow the Pierre Rouge Stream down to the collection of old (and renovated) wooden houses at Les Fonts (2040m). Our overnight accommodation is in a pleasant gite.

Today, we follow the GR58 for just half an hour, with Pic de Rochebrune (3320m) ahead of us, before turning off westwards on a scant trail towards the Col des Marsailles (2601m). Great views of small and larger (emerald colour) lakes as we traverse around from this col and make a steep ascent to the Col de Chaude Maison (2825m). From here, a ridge-line heads towards Rochebrune and we followe this over the top of Turge de la Suffie (3024m) to l'Escalinade (3087m), with great views now of Rochebrune. Look out for the rare aromatic herb - genepi, used to flavour a strong local spirit. Back to the col, we make a steep descent across scree and Alpine meadow to a bergerie, from where an abandoned forest road takes us down to the Bletonnet Stream. A pleasant hike then leads to Le Laus, where we meet our transport for the 30 minute drive back to Briancon and our hotel.

Your holiday ends after breakfast. A single early morning transfer to Turin Airport is provided.