Thru-hiking trails

GR10

The GR10 is one of the classic thru-hikes in Europe. The trail starts in Hendaye at the Atlantic Ocean and ends in Banyls-sur-Mer at the Mediterranean Sea. In 930 kilometers, you will walk from coast to coast, while crossing the French Pyrenees.
One of the characteristics of the GR10 is that you always descend towards civilization at the end of the day. This means that you ascend and descend 1000 meters on average per day. In 52 sections, you hike around 48000 altimeters. That’s impressive! The trail takes you thru the only national park of the Pyrenees: Parc National des Pyrénées Occidentales. This park is one of the highlights of the trail with its diverse but characteristic landscapes. It will take you across the wild and green landscapes of the Basque Country followed by the remote and rocky regions in the Central Pyrenees. During the last stages, you will hike across fields with blue skies, whilst slowly approaching the Mediterranean Sea.

From the Atlantic Ocean to the Central Pyrenees

The GR10 starts in Hendaye on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The first part of the trail takes you thru the Basque Country, which is known for its erratic weather and green hills. The hills give you a relatively easy start to the hike. It is a nice way to get used to the trail and its challenges. Every day you will get closer to the Central Pyrenees. From the Basque Country, there is a fast change of scenery: now you hike towards snow-covered mountains and glaciers. Unfortunately, many of the glaciers melted in the last century. From the 11th stage onwards, the first real mountain tops will appear with the rocky Pic du Midi d’Ossau (2884 meters) and Lac d’Ayous in the foreground is an absolute highlight.

The mountain in the Central Pyrenees

The second part of the GR10 takes you right thru the higher mountains. Limestone peaks and high cliffs and deep crevasses are followed by spectacular granite peaks with an altitude above 3000 meters. This part of the GR10 is breathtaking. You cross Lac de Gaube, pass the waterfalls in the Vallee de Jeret, and have amazing views of the dead straight walls of the Vignemale. You will walk into the RĂ©serve Naturelle de NĂ©ouvielle and the eponymous rock formation in the next few stages. This reserve contains more than 70 lakes and has beautiful flora and fauna. It is a real paradise for nature lovers.

The Naturelle de Néouvielle also characterizes the view you will have for the next few days. After this, you leave the only National Park in the Pyrenees and hike into the Hautes-Pyrénées before the Haute Garonne. Via Lac d’Oô and the Hourquette des Hounts Secs, you arrive in the Bagnères-de-Luchon after a long descent.

A different character

After your visit to Bagnères-de-Luchon, you are halfway! The hiking part in the higher mountains of the Central Pyrenees is done. Now you start the part of the GR10 that has a completely different character. The rough rocks and sharp mountain tops slowly make way for vast forests, green fields, little mountain lakes, and small villages.

This part of the GR10 is lesser known and this is translated to the facilities on the trail. On the first part of the trail, the facilities were really good, but here this is not the case. You will be dependent on unmanned mountain huts, and you will need to carry food for several days at a time. Despite this, it is not a reason to skip this part of the trail! The mountain lake of Étang de Guzet, the enormous waterfall of Cascade d’Ars, and the green Vallée de l’Estours are highlights you don’t want to miss! As you come closer to the Mediterranean Sea, the landscape will change again. The deciduous forests slowly make room for cork, chestnut, and sometimes even palm trees. Once you arrive in Banyuls-sur-Mer, you can pick up your official certificate of completion at the local tourist office. You now completed the GR10!

Do not forget

Some items you should not forget on the GR10:

  • (Sleeping bag) liner for in the huts
  • Hiking poles to support your knees during descents
  • Sunscreen and sunglasses
  • Clothing for all weather types

Best time to hike

The best time to hike the GR10 is in July and August. The sections that are not too high in altitude in the Basque Country and the eastern Pyrenees can be walked early in the season (e.g., May/June). The higher sections in the Central Pyrenees often reach altitudes above 2000 meters meaning there will be snow in the early or late season. It is also possible to hike the GR10 in the autumn, but here you need to keep an eye out for unstable weather conditions.

Good to know

The Pyrenees are known for challenging weather conditions. On the border between Spain and France, where the GR10 mainly crosses, two different air streams meet. This results in rapidly changing weather conditions making it very important to always keep an eye on the weather. In the French Pyrenees, you can sleep in mountain huts, cabanes (shepherd huts), and gites d’etappe. The manned mountain huts are mainly found in the Central Pyrenees. Here you can sleep in dorms and meals are often provided. On most parts of the trail, you will find cabanes. These only provide shelter, so do not count on meals, matrasses, or blankets. The gites d’etappe are like inns and are mostly found close to villages.

Useful links
Guide: Cicerone

 

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