Trekking the GR10

Through the French Pyrenees: Le Sentier des Pyrenees

CICERONE 2023

Guidebook to walking the GR10, the Sentier des Pyrenees, a 955km trek across the French Pyrenees from Hendaye on the Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean coast at Banyuls-sur-Mer. The book describes 55 stages, with information on planning, transport, accommodation and facilities. Walk the entire GR10 in around 45 days or in shorter trips.

Guidebook to the GR10, a 955km trek across the French Pyrenees from Hendaye on the Atlantic Coast to the Mediterranean coast at Banyuls-sur-Mer. Described in 55-day stages of 7-27km, the route can be completed in its entirety, usually in around 45 days, or in shorter sections using the bus and rail links found throughout the Pyrenees. Step by step route descriptions are accompanied by 1:100,000 mapping and gradient profiles. Useful practical information is also included such as when to go, getting there and back, camping, accessing fuel and water, plus handy equipment tips and more. The easiest, oldest and most popular of the three long-distance routes that traverse the mountain range, the GR10 is well waymarked and follows good mountain paths. For many walkers, the highlight of the route is the magnificent wildflowers and associated butterflies. For others, it's the spectacular mountain terrain, while those keen on bird watching will delight in scanning the sky for the many varieties of birds of prey that can be seen in the region, from the massive Griffon vulture to the distinctly coloured Egyptian vulture.

CONTENTS

Overview map

Map key

Mountain safety

Author’s preface

Introduction

The stages

The route

From the Atlantic to the Mediterrean

Wildlife

The weather and when to go

Getting there and back

Equipment

Culture and languages

Accommodation

Camping

Fuel

Water

Swimming

Using this guide

Section 1 Hendaye-Plage to Etsaut

Stage 1 Hendaye-Plage to Olhette

Stage 2 Olhette to Ainhoa

Stage 3 Ainhoa to Bidarray

Stage 4 Bidarray to Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry

Stage 5 Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

Stage 6 Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Gîte d’étape Kaskoleta

Stage 7 Gîte d’étape Kaskoleta to Gîte d’étape Chalets d’Iraty

Stage 8 Gîte d’étape Chalets d’Iraty to Logibar

Stage 9 Logibar to Sainte-Engrâce (Senta)

Stage 10 Sainte-Engrâce (Senta) to Refuge Jeandel

Stage 11 Refuge Jeandel to Lescun

Stage 12 Lescun to Etsaut

Section 2 Etsaut to Bagnères-de-Luchon

Stage 13 Etsaut to Gabas

Stage 14 Gabas to Gourette

Stage 15 Gourette to Arrens-Marsous

Stage 16 Arrens-Marsous to Refuge d’Ilhéou

Stage 17 Refuge d’Ilhéou to Cauterets

Stage 17A Refuge d’Ilhéou to the Pont d’Espagne (via Col de la Haugade)

Stage 18 Cauterets to Refuge des Oulètes de Gaube

Stage 18A Cauterets to Luz-Saint-Sauveur (via Col de Riou)

Stage 19 Refuge des Oulètes de Gaube to Chalet-refuge la Grange de Holle

Stage 20 Chalet-refuge la Grange de Holle to Luz-Saint-Sauveur

Stage 21 Luz-Saint-Sauveur to Barèges

Stage 22 Barèges to Refuge-Hôtel de l’Oule

Stage 23 Refuge-Hôtel de l’Oule to Vielle-Aure

Stage 24 Vielle-Aure to Germ

Stage 25 Germ to Lac d’Oô

Stage 26 Lac d’Oô to Bagnères-de-Luchon

Section 3 Bagnères-de-Luchon to Mérens-les-Vals

Stage 27 Bagnères-de-Luchon to Artigue

Stage 28 Artigue to Fos

Stage 29 Fos to Refuge de l’Étang d’Araing

Stage 30 Refuge de l’Étang d’Araing to Eylie-d’en-Haut

Stage 31 Eylie-d’en-Haut to Maison du Valier, Pla de la Lau

Stage 31A Eylie-d’en-Haut to Bonac

Stage 32 Maison du Valier, Pla de la Lau to Esbintz

Stage 32A Bonac to Esbintz

Stage 32B Col de la Core to Estours Valley

Stage 33 Esbintz to Refuge d’Aula

Stage 33A Esbintz to Saint-Lizier-d’Ustou using the Tour du Val du Garbet

Stage 34 Refuge d’Aula to Rouze

Stage 35 Rouze to Saint-Lizier-d’Ustou

Stage 36 Saint-Lizier-d’Ustou to Aulus-les-Bains

Stage 37 Aulus-les-Bains to Refuge des Étangs de Bassiès

Stage 38 Refuge des Étangs de Bassiès to Marc

Stage 39 Marc to Goulier

Stage 40 Goulier to Siguer

Stage 41 Siguer to Plateau de Beille

Stage 42 Plateau de Beille to Refuge du Rulhe

Stage 43 Refuge du Rulhe to Mérens-les-Vals

Section 4 Mérens-les-Vals to Banyuls-sur-Mer

Stage 44 Mérens-les-Vals to Refuge des Bésines

Stage 45 Refuge des Bésines to Refuge des Bouillouses

Stage 46 Refuge des Bouillouses to Planès

Stage 47 Planès to Refuge du Ras de la Carança

Stage 48 Refuge du Ras de la Carança to Mantet

Stage 49 Mantet to Refuge de Mariailles

Stage 50 Refuge de Mariailles to Refuge des Cortalets

Stage 51 Refuge des Cortalets to Gîte-refuge de Batère

Stage 52 Gîte-refuge de Batère to Gîte d’étape l’Ecogîte de la Palette

Stage 53 Gîte d’étape l’Ecogîte de la Palette to Las Illas

Stage 54 Las Illas to Col de l’Ouillat

Stage 55 Col de l’Ouillat to Banyuls-sur-Mer

Appendix A Route summary table

Appendix B Facilities table

Appendix C Sources of information