Sherpa Expeditions [Walker's Britain] organised my recent self-guided Coast to Coast trek All the arrangements went seamlessly, and the route notes and maps provided were extremely comprehensive and tailored to my itinerary. All my pre-departure questions were answered promptly and to my satisfaction. I absolutely recommend Walker's Britain and I will be using them again in the future. Thank you so much!
Walking in the Pyrenees
An expert guide to the best hiking & walking holidays in the Pyrenees
The Pyrenees are among the absolute best of all Europe's walking destinations. This magnificent range separates France from Spain, stretching over 400km from the Mediterranean to the Bay of Biscay, where it nudges the Cantabrian mountains.
Though its peaks don’t scale the heights reached by the Alps (the tallest is Aneto at 3,404m) the massif is a treat for walkers, with numerous waymarked long-distance routes at varying altitudes and levels of challenge – and far fewer feet tramping those trails.
It's historically and linguistically diverse – expect to hear not just French and Spanish but also Basque, Catalan, Aragonese, Occitan and Aranese – and bustling with wildlife. Transhumance culture, in which shepherds herd livestock to high meadows for the summer and back down to lower pastures for winter, is alive and well in the region.
Ready to go? Here's our expert guide to the best walking holidays in the Pyrenees.
Walking in the Pyrenees: At a glance
Top walks: The GR10, snaking along the French (northern) slopes of the Pyrenees, stretches 866 km between Hendaye and Banyuls-sur-Mer; it's deservedly popular, with plenty of well-managed gîtes, refuges and hotels along or near the route. The GR11, which follows the range on the Spanish (southern) flanks, is generally tougher and, in my view, better. The Pyrenean Haute Route (not to be confused with the Mont Blanc route by the same name) is more challenging still. Several shorter GR and other other waymarked routes cross or run through the range.
When to go: Hiking season begins when the snow melts, usually around June but at lower altitudes as early as March. Visit during the migrations in June or October, and you can expect to be serenaded at all hours by clanking cowbells and the bleats of sheep and goats.
The best hikes & walks in the Pyrenees
Our experts' top picks
-
Cami dels Bons Homes (GR107)
-
La Travessa dels 3 refugis
-
Sentier des Pyrenees (GR10)
-
La Senda Pirenaica (GR11)
-
Pyrenean Haute Route
-
Vall de Núria
-
Vall del Ter/Camprodon Valley
-
Pic de la Dona and Bastiments
-
Camí de Carboneres
-
Serra Cavallera ridge day hike
-
Pic de Finestrelles day hike
-
Camí Vall de Núria day hike
featured pyrenees walking holidays
French Pyrenees
Pyrenees: Mountains to the Mediterranean
Walking in the French Pyrenees with a taste of Spain
8 days From £940 pp
featured pyrenees walking holidays
Pyrenees: Mountains to the Mediterranean
Walking in the French Pyrenees with a taste of Spain
8 daysFrom £940Planning a walking holiday in the Pyrenees
Everything you wish you knew before you booked
The best time for walking in the Pyrenees
Hiking season starts pretty much as soon as the snow melts away, which can vary from one year to the next, but usually you can enjoy the trails anytime between June and October. However, you can start to explore the lower mountains near Camprodon and Setcases as early as March or April. June is perhaps my favourite time to walk the Camí dels Bons Homes trail, when the streams gushing down the slopes and wildflowers colour the meadows.
Even on the warmest summer days be prepared for storms and showers in the mountains. The weather can change very quickly and it is important that you are well prepared. On most days it is best to start the walk in the morning as clouds often gather by the afternoon.
Getting around
There are trains from Barcelona to Ribes de Freser and you can get to and from Vall de Núria by the rack railway. You might have to combine train and bus journeys to get to Camprodon and Setcases and for more flexibility you might consider hiring a car.
Logistics
If you want to tackle several day walks in the area I recommend that you can base yourself in Ribes de Freser, Camprodon or Setcases.
It is relatively straightforward to plan and organise your day walks in Catalonia, and the Camí dels Bons Homes trail is also commercially offered by local companies as a self guided walk.
Where to stay
There’s a well-developed network of mountain refuges and, typically in towns, gîtes and small hotels, particularly on the French side. Many offer good-value half-board packages, with beds in dorms or simple rooms.
The Cirque de Gavarnie, "the colosseum of nature"
Highlights
Arguably the finest of countless spectacular views is the grand rock amphitheatre called the Cirque de Gavarnie, dubbed the “colosseum of nature” by Victor Hugo.
Watch for birds of prey, including rare bearded vultures (or lammergeier), soaring above the crags – the best place to spot these striking raptors is in Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park in Aragon; you might also encounter chamois and marmots. Historic highlights include the medieval Romanesque churches of the Vall de Boí in northern Catalonia.
Further reading
Walking in Catalunya – Girona Pyrenees, Cicerone Press
Trekking the Camí dels Bons Homes/GR107, Cicerone Press
Pyrenees hiking FAQs
Your questions, our expert answers
Question
An easy to moderate hike in the Pyrenees?
Can you suggest any easy to moderate hut to hut hikes in the Pyrenees?
Answer
Hut to hut hiking in the Pyrenees is generally quite strenuous with long days in alpine terrain. If you are looking for easy to moderate hiking then it's probably not the best option. I'd suggest a centre-based trip in somewhere like Cerdanya or Ordesa instead.
