GR10: Introduction
The GR10 is a long distance footpath that goes through the French Pyrenees from the Atlantic Ocean near Hendaye to the Mediterranean Sea near Banyuls-sur-Mer. The route makes no extreme demands on hikers, although having a good condition is desirable. The route passes villages on a regular basis, so there are enough possibilities for provisioning along the way. The landscape the route passes through is very alternating and green. The track is mountainous and that results in a lot of ascending and descending. The entire path will require one and half to two months, with long hiking days of 7 till 8 hiking hours. In general the path is well marked and there are enough possibilities for overnight stays in cabins. Summer or autumn are the most favourable seasons to walk the path. In springtime a large part of the low mountain range will still be covered with snow.
- French Basque country
- Bearn with the national park 'Les Pyrénées'
- Haut Bigorre
- Lunchon
- ...
- The Haute Randonnée Pyrénéenne (shortened HRP). This path follows the mountain ridge as much as possible and therefore it hardly comes in civilized areas. There are quite a lot of cabins, but less possibilities for supplying a long the route. It passes more difficult mountain ranges and makes higher demands on experience and condition. The entire path takes about 42 long hiking days: average 7 hiking hours, 11,5 km distance and 1.100 m ascending each day. Of course it is possible to take more days for doing the path. The path is not marked and therefore alpine experience is required.
- Much lower, through the headland on the French side, the Sentier Piemont goes. This path is easier to walk and can be done all through the year. This path is also not marked.
- On the Spanish side is the Grande Recorrido 11 (GR 11). In the West the landscape is comparable with the GR 10, from the central part of the Pyrenees the further you come to the East the drier and less vegetated the landscape becomes. The number of cabins is much less than along the GR10, although more private possibilities of overnight stays are arising throughout the last years. The path will take about 45 hiking days (800 km). Often marked, however not in build-up areas.
