About the GR10 in the Pyrenees

The GR10, or Great Hiking Trail N°10, runs through the whole of the Pyrenees from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. The route can be taken from Hendaye to Banyuls or vice versa, passing through 6 French departments. In its entirety it’s over 850 km in length, meaning it takes roughly two months to complete the whole trail. The combination of wild nature and wide-open spaces, along with the rolling hills, mountain lakes and shepherd’s cabins, makes this a dream come true for passionate hikers and nature-lovers alike.

Origin of the GR10
At the beginning of the 1960s, a Pyrenean couple, Jean and Francine Adisson, came across a Great Hiking trail crossing Les Vosges in Eastern France. They subsequently had the idea of doing the same but in the heart of the French Pyrenees, from one coast to the other. Together with other local volunteers, the founders of the GR10 planned, marked and maintained the route and published the documentation – the Topo-guide, which is constantly being revised.

The first GR10 Topo-guide appeared in 1964 with the trail covering the departments between Haute-Garonne and the Haute-Pyrenees. It divided the route into accessible stages for the walker then later offered the complete version from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. With the varying terrain including forest tracks, road sections and mountain paths, the GR10 provides keen hikers with the great opportunity to discover some of the most impressive natural, human and heritage sites between the Basque Country and the Mediterranean, which help characterise the different sections of the course.

Accommodation on the GR10
To successfully complete such an expedition, a specially adapted logistic is required. The range of accommodation along the way, including gites, guest houses, mountain refuges (providing supplies), shepherd’s cabins, campsites, hotels and restaurants, makes for a lighter backpack and are to be selected depending on your chosen degree of autonomy.

Equipment
As with the increasing types of accommodation, the progress in maps (from 1:25 000 to 1:50 000 showing the GR10 route) and a fuller description of the route (Topo-guide)has changed the GR10 from an expedition previously for Pyreneists into one of the most magnificent adventures for all hikers in good physical condition.

Level required and Challenges
For completing the whole of the GR10 or even just a certain part, you don’t need to be a distinguished mountaineer. All it takes is to be in good physical condition, with basic map reading skills in the event of a change in weather conditions. Depending on the section chosen, the majority of the hike covers well-marked trails (red and white) with, depending on the season, some occasional challenges. In summer the individual stretches (with not too heavy a bag) take around 4 – 6 hours to complete. As long as you have experience walking in the mountains and are able to cope on your own, there should not be any particular difficulties. It is however recommended that you never set out alone.