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
Stage12 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