2,141km. 1,333 miles. 70 days. Zero rest days. One incredible adventure. On 20 July 2026, I set off from Hoek van Holland in the Netherlands with a goal: to hike the GR5 all the way to Nice in southern France. On 27 September 2026, I arrived in Nice, having spent 70 days walking my way south through the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and France.

The third week marks a shift in the journey. The heat continues, the walking gets hillier, and the hard surfaces begin giving way to forest tracks and more challenging climbs. Sarah keeps moving through Belgium and Luxembourg, finding places to camp, managing sore feet, and adjusting to the realities of hiking day after day.

The second week brings longer walking days, hot weather, and some creative solutions to finding places to sleep. Sarah continues through Belgium, balancing big distances with the need to stay hydrated, find food, and recover. There are youth hostels, garden camping, a cinema trip, and more than a few lessons in adapting to life on the trail.

The GR5 journey begins! On 20 July 2026, I set off from Hoek van Holland in the Netherlands, beginning an approximately 2,200 km hike towards Nice on the Mediterranean coast. The first seven days brought long walking days, peaceful forests, sandy paths, changing weather, and the first taste of wild camping. Here are the daily stats, highlights, challenges, and thoughts from the opening week.