The Route

I followed the GR5 for most of the route, apart from the GR55 through the Vanoise, the GR5B variant before Briancon, and the GR52 to finish at Menton via the Mercantour national park.

View GR5 in a larger map

The Schedule

I've now completed this trip.
The final stats were around 630km with 33,000 metres of ascent, in 15 days.

Day 1 - Friday 29th June
10:25 flight from Edinburgh to Geneva. 15:47 train to St Gingolph via St Maurice.
Started hiking at 6:18pm and made it to Refuge de Bise.
Distance 12km

Day 2 - Saturday 30th June
Made it to Samoens. Stayed at Hotel Gai Soleil.
Distance 52km

Day 3 - Sunday 1st July
Made it to Chamonix, and stayed at Hotel Le Chaumiere.  Cold, wet and rainy in the afternoon.
Distance 43km

Day 4 - Monday 2nd July
Stayed at Refuge Plan de la Lai. Cold, wet and rainy in the afternoon.
Distance 48km

Day 5 - Tuesday 3rd July
Refuge Entree le Lac above Landry.
Distance 50km

Day 6 - Wednesday 4th July
Refuge Roc de la Peche after Pralognan.  Cold, wet and rainy in the afternoon.

Day 7 - Thursday 5th July
Refugie I Re Magi (Three Wise Men) after Valfrejus above Modane.

Day 8 - Friday 6th July
Briancon. Hotel Le Parc.

Day 9 - Saturday 7th July
Ceillac - Gite d'Etape.

Day 10 - Sunday 8th July
Larche - Gite d'Etape.

Day 11 - Monday 9th July
Auron. Hotel L'Oustelet.

Day 12 - Tuesday 10th July
Rimplas Hotel.

Day 13 - Wednesday 11th July
Refuge Madone de Fenetre. Busy.

Day 14 - Thursday 12th July
This was a short little outing of 6h30m from Madone de Fenetre to the Refuge des Merveilles, via Refuge de Nice through some pretty dramatic scenery. I arrived at Merveilles by 1pm, and then dossed around all afternoon  It was just as well I had a reservation, since the refuge was fully booked.

Day 15 - Friday 13th July
The final day began at dusk just before 5:30am, and I arrived at Menton in baking heat just before 5:30pm.
Distance 52km.