Getting there
- Flights to Hondarribia (EAS) right by the start
- Flights to Bilbao (BIO) 95 km from the start
Treks / France
GR 10 (Pyrenees)
France · Nearest city: Biarritz (also Toulouse, Perpignan)
TypeMulti-day trek
Days50–60
Distance≈ 866 km
Climbingvaries
Highest point2,734 m
The great coast-to-coast walk across the French Pyrenees, from the Atlantic at Hendaye to the Mediterranean at Banyuls. Most people walk it in sections.
Fitness
Very hard
Best seasonLate June to September
High pointHourquette d'Ossoue
Watch out: A huge undertaking. Plan resupply and plan for storms on high cols.
Why people choose it
It's the ultimate Pyrenees adventure, coast to coast from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, and people choose it for the sense of a real journey.
What makes it different
- Atlantic to Mediterranean in one walk
- Basque, Béarn and Catalan cultures
- Can be done in sections over years
Before you go
Some of these are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. We only list services that fit this trek.
Phone and data
Phone plans from the EU and EEA roam here at home prices. Coming from the US, UK or elsewhere? A Europe data eSIM is usually far cheaper than roaming.
Expect long stretches with no signal on the trail. Download offline maps and our GPX before you start.
Insurance that covers this trek
This trek reaches 2,734 m, and many policies stop covering hiking at 2,000 to 3,000 m unless you add an activity upgrade. World Nomads needs its Level 3 activities above 2,000 m, Heymondo its Adventure add-on above 3,000 m, and SafetyWing's Nomad Insurance covers trekking up to 4,500 m.
Rescue is not the same as evacuation. Travel insurance usually pays to fly you to hospital, but not always for the search and rescue itself. Read the policy's "search and rescue" section, or join an Alpine club: membership of the Austrian Alpenverein (it has an English-speaking UK section) includes rescue cover of up to €25,000.
True Traveller sells only to UK and EEA residents. Always check the altitude limit and your country of residence in the policy wording. Our trekking insurance guide explains what to look for.
Camping and where to sleep
Rules vary. In many mountain areas a bivouac from dusk to dawn is tolerated, but national parks have strict zones. Check the park's rules before you pitch.
Rules change and differ between parks. Check with the local park or tourist office before you pitch a tent.
Route map
Map layers load on the live site. Use the overview below meanwhile.
Straight lines between stops Start / finish Stop on the way Nearest city
Switch between Topo, Satellite and Street layers with the layer button, and turn on the marked hiking trails overlay. We don't have the exact trail for this route yet, so stops are joined with straight lines. Always carry a proper hiking map on the trail.
Stops: Hendaye → Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port → Gourette → Cauterets → Bagnères-de-Luchon → Mérens-les-Vals → Banyuls-sur-Mer
Simple overview map
Step by step
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Months before
Plan and book
- Book huts or accommodation as soon as reservations open, starting with the busiest nights.
- Best time to go: Late June to September.
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6–12 weeks before
Train and test your gear
- Take the readiness quiz to see how many weeks of training you need.
- Break in your boots and train with the pack you'll carry.
- Tick off the packing list to see what you still need.
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Getting there
Travel to the start
- Most people start from Biarritz.
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On the trail
Walk it
- Start early each day, so you arrive before the afternoon weather and the rush for beds.
- In huts, boots stay in the boot room, dinner is served at a set time and lights go out around 10 pm.
- You can carry a tent and camp where it's allowed, which saves money and gives more flexibility.
- Plan food resupply points in advance. Some stretches have no shops for days.
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The finish
Get home
- It's a one-way route, so plan your transport back from the finish in advance.
How the season changes things
Best time: Late June to September
June to early July
Early season
Snow patches linger on north-facing slopes and high passes. Huts are just opening, meadows are full of flowers and paths are quieter.
Bring
- Microspikes or light crampons for snow patches
- Gaiters
- Warmer layers for cold mornings
Mid-July to August
Peak season
Most reliable weather, but also the busiest huts and frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Hot in the valleys.
Bring
- Sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- Rain jacket for storms
- Hut bookings made months ahead
September
Late season
Clear, stable days and fewer people, but shorter daylight, cold nights and some huts closing mid to late September.
Bring
- Down jacket for cold evenings
- Headlamp for early starts
- Check hut closing dates
Be ready for
Big climbs
Some days climb 1,000 m or more. Train with stairs and a loaded pack, and use trekking poles.
Afternoon storms
Thunderstorms often build after midday in summer. Start early, cross passes and summits before noon, and never shelter under lone trees or on ridges.
What you'll see
7 photos taken on and around the route by Wikimedia Commons photographers. Tap one to see it bigger.
Gear for the GR 10 (Pyrenees)
Photo credits: Cirque de Gavarnie-Photochrom-Restored by Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Hendaye by the author named on its Commons page, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port by Hayden Soloviev, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Panorama Donibane Garazi by Quahadi, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; L'Heure Bleue des Pyrénées by Amanda Hinault from Lannion, France, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Hendaye, France by Lopez Robin lopezrobin, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons; Txingudiko badia Hendaia by Eneko Bidegain, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photos resized for the web. Figures are approximate and vary with the variant you choose.
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