On the Famed Long-distance GR10 Trail
Hiking the French Pyrenees
Overview
The GR10, running the length of the French Pyrenees, is one of Europe's classic hiking trails. Our journey celebrates the most spectacular sections as we follow a high route to wild glacial cirques, mighty waterfalls, and crystalline lakes. Grande Randonée (GR) stands for “great walk” in French and our hikes are moderate to challenging, yet well rewarded as they bring us to destinations like the Cirque de Gavarnie, a World Heritage Site with 4,000-foot-high walls. One of our hikes starts at the Pont d'Espagne, once an important trading route to Spain, where the rivers still demarcate the grazing territory between French and Spanish farmers. We'll visit classic villages and stay in family-run mountain hotels along the way.
Arrive: Pau, France
Depart: Pau, France
Highlights
- Follow the famed GR10 across the high trails of France's Pyrenees National Park
- Hike below the towering rock faces of the Cirque de Gavarnie, a World Heritage Site
- Enjoy the special culture of the Pyrenees, with its blend of Spanish and French influences
- Stay in family-run inns and hotels in charming mountain villages
Itinerary
From Arreau, a slate-roofed village in the Hautes-Pyrenees, we hike among the classic mountain villages of the Vallée d'Aure, where medieval churches were built for Christian pilgrims who crossed this valley en route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
In the magnificent Réserve Naturelle de Néouvielle, our hike follows the GR10 up to the Col de Madamete. From Chapelle de Héas, a pilgrimage site, we hike toward the Cirque de Troumouse, a vast and airy glacial cirque with huge vertical walls and jewel-blue tarns. It is a magnificent visual feast.
The towering Cirque de Gavarnie is one of the world’s best examples of a glacial cirque, surrounded by perpendicular cliffs rising more than 4,000 feet from the valley floor. Forming the frontier with Spain, the crowning ridge includes 10,000-foot peaks and a famous waterfall, the Grande Cascade, with a near-vertical drop of over 1,000 feet. Starting from the mountain village of Gavarnie, a challenging (and optional) hike brings us to the Brèche de Roland, a dramatic 100-foot-wide breach in the cirque wall that offers a fabulous view into Spain's Ordesa Canyon. The next day we hike to the Plateau de Pailha and onward to the foot of the Grande Cascade.
We hike through pine forests to Lac de Gaube at the foot of Mt. Vignemale, then descend by cable car to a trail along the Mercadau River, passing waterfalls as we head to Cauterets, famed as a thermal hot springs town since Roman times. Hiking from the Pont d'Espagne (Spanish Bridge), we ascend the Mercadau Valley on the French-Spanish border, with lunch at the Refuge Wallon, set at the entrance to an idyllic glacial cirque. Depart on Day 9 via Pau.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 4+, Moderate/Strenuous, according to our trip grading system. You will need to be comfortable hiking 11 miles a day, being on your feet for up to 8 hours a day, and hiking on uneven surfaces with long descents that can be hard on the knees. While no climbing or mountaineering experience is necessary, all trip members should have ample hiking experience and be able to keep up with the group, as with the exception of one day, there are no alternative hiking options available. Trail conditions, weather, and the group's level of fitness can affect hiking times and pacing.
Average Hiking Day
Review Trip Level Details
Average Hiking Day
- 7 miles
- 5-6 hours
- 1,700 feet gain/loss
- Altitudes range from 6,000-8,700 feet
- Day 3: 11 miles, 7-8 hours, 1,550 feet gain, and 3,700 feet loss
While the Pyrenees are not exceptionally high in altitude, they are steep and rugged. Trails can be uneven, with large rocks or loose scree, so participants must have good balance and be confident on their feet. Hiking poles are highly recommended. No climbing or mountaineering experience is necessary, but this trip is aimed for those who have at least some experience mountain hiking. There is an optional hike on Day 6 (the Breche de Roland hike) that requires crampons (which will be provided for you) and will include additional local guides. Please note that this hike is very exposed, is only possible in good weather conditions, and is considered a “Level 5.”
Temperatures during the day will likely be in the high 70s°F. At night, they will drop quite a bit, depending on the altitude. Mountain weather can be fickle, and it can range from blue skies with temperatures in the 80s°F to cloudy, wet, and cold days on which rain gear and warm garments are necessary. There is a chance that we will need to choose alternate routes if weather conditions are poor, and we recommend bringing gaiters, especially for any travelers intending on participating in the Breche du Roland hike.
Our accommodations are in small family-run hotels with private bathrooms. They have been chosen for their ambiance and history as much as possible and are delightful for the local color and dining that they offer. While they are well-located, clean, and comfortable, they are rustic and can be more basic due to their remote location. Since they are often in historic buildings, the rooms are not always of uniform or international size. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Single rooms can be requested but are not always available, due to the limited space in the hotels. If you prefer a single room, please make your request as early as possible.
We'll fuel our hikes with hearty Pyrenean cuisine. Our lunches will most often be packed lunches, with a few taken in mountain refuges. Most evenings we have dinner at our hotel. Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 7:30 pm.
Our bus will transport the group's luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack for items you need during the day (rain gear, sweater, camera, water bottle, etc.). Trip members are always free to skip a day's hike and travel to the next destination in the support vehicle (or remain at the hotel if we are not transferring that day).
Client Testimonials
"I usually don’t repeat a trip but this trip I would enjoy doing again. So well organized, great itinerary, beautiful hikes every day. The landscapes were breathtaking. I now understand why the French Pyrenees trip is sold out every year. My favorite WT trip thus far."
Leela H.
Woodstock, NY
"The French Pyrenees are spectacular. I have been in the Alps and the Himalayas, and these mountains top the list. The trip was very well designed and executed—wonderful, small hotels in picturesque hamlets, great food and challenging hikes. WT should consider offering it more often!"
Lucy H.
Sunset Valley, TX
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.