From the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, the GR10 crosses the entire French Pyrenees, from the Basque Country to the Côte Vermeille, one pass after another.
926 km 575.4 mi65 stages51,650 m 169,455 ft ascentHigh point 2,731 m 8,960 ftHendaye → Banyuls-sur-Mer
0 m500 m1,000 m1,500 m2,000 m2,500 m3,000 m0 km200 km400 km600 km800 km1102030405060High point 2,731 m
Elevation profile: from 3 m to 2,714 m over 926 km.
The GR10 at a glance
The GR10 links the Atlantic to the Mediterranean while staying on the French side of the range. It starts in Hendaye, on the Spanish border, and ends in Banyuls-sur-Mer, on the Côte Vermeille, after crossing five departments: Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Hautes-Pyrénées, Haute-Garonne, Ariège and Pyrénées-Orientales.
The trail does not follow the ridges: it goes from one valley to the next over a succession of passes, which means a long climb followed by a long descent almost every day. The scenery changes constantly. The green hills and villages of the Basque Country, Lescun and the Pic d’Anie in Béarn, then the Pyrenees National Park with the Lac de Gaube and Gavarnie, the Lac d’Oô in the Luchonnais, the summer pastures and forests of the Ariège, and finally the Carlit massif and the slopes of the Canigou before the descent to the sea. You may come across griffon vultures, bearded vultures and capercaillie.
The crossing of the Ariège, largely within the Pyrénées Ariégeoises Regional Nature Park, is the wildest section: villages are further apart, you need to carry several days’ food and sometimes sleep in a hut or in a tent. This is the part that calls for the most careful preparation.
The GR10 is for hikers in good physical shape, at ease in the mountains and able to walk day after day. It can be done in one go or in sections: MonGR suggests several sections of a few days, for example between Cauterets and Luz-Saint-Sauveur or between Mérens-les-Vals and Bolquère.
Highlights
Walking from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean, from Hendaye to Banyuls-sur-Mer.
Crossing the Pyrenees National Park, from the Lac de Gaube to the Cirque de Gavarnie.
Passing from the Basque Country into Béarn, Bigorre, Comminges, the Ariège and then Catalan Roussillon.
Experiencing the remoteness of the Ariège mountains, the wildest part of the route.
Splitting the traverse into sections, as many towns and villages are served by public transport.
Practical information
Start
Hendaye
Hendaye station is served by TGVs, including OUIGO, from Paris and Bordeaux, and by TER Nouvelle-Aquitaine trains from Bayonne, Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz. The Basque Euskotren train (Topo line) also links it to Irun and San Sebastián.
Finish
Banyuls-sur-Mer
Banyuls-sur-Mer has a TER station on the coastal line between Perpignan and Cerbère, with direct trains to Perpignan.
When to go
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MonGR gives a season from June to October, late June being the most favorable thanks to the long days and the wild flowers. Some passes stay under snow until late: early in the season, check with the PGHM or refuge wardens.
Difficulty
Hard
No mountaineering, but a series of climbs and descents to high mountain passes (the Hourquette d’Arre reaches 2,465 m) and remote sections in the Ariège that demand self-sufficiency and experience.
Accommodation
43 refuges, 49 gîtes, 87 unstaffed huts, and 43 B&Bs
The route alternates between refuges, gîtes, B&Bs, hotels and campgrounds. In the Ariège, some stages end at an unstaffed hut or in a tent. In summer, it is best to book staffed refuges and gîtes in advance.
Rules to know
In the core zone of the Pyrenees National Park, bivouacking is only allowed between 7 pm and 9 am, more than an hour’s walk from a road or from the boundaries of the core zone; camping, fires, picking plants and swimming in the lakes are forbidden there, and dogs are not allowed, even on a leash. Temporary closures can also affect the trail: in August 2026, a prefectoral order closed the section in the Ariège between the bottom of the Étangs de Bassiès and the hamlet of Toutous, in Marc, following a fire, with a diversion via the Saleix valley and Auzat.
Water and supplies
You can stock up in the villages and resorts along the way. The Ariège section, the most remote, means carrying several days’ water and food; taxis can help you reach a village to resupply.
The GR10 on the map
The 65 stages
TrekGR stage plan: each stage ends where you can sleep. Actual walking time excluding breaks (DIN 33466 standard).
No current alerts for this GR (checked on November 12, 2026). All live updates →
Our advice
In June, check snow cover on the passes with the PGHM or refuge wardens before setting off.
Start early in the morning to cross the passes before the afternoon storms, then avoid the ridges if the sky clouds over.
Plan the Ariège crossing in advance: food for several days, a tent or nights in huts.
Bring something to treat or filter water from springs and streams, which are often close to summer pastures.
Leave your dog at home or have it looked after: dogs are not allowed in the core zone of the National Park.
Check any closure orders in force (fire, rockfall, works) just before you set off.
Frequently asked questions
Can you bivouac on the GR10?
Yes, but in the core zone of the Pyrenees National Park, bivouacking is only allowed between 7 pm and 9 am and more than an hour’s walk from a road or from the boundaries of the core zone. Camping and fires are forbidden there.
Can you walk the GR10 with a dog?
Dogs are not allowed in the core zone of the Pyrenees National Park, even on a leash. The GR10 crosses this zone in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Hautes-Pyrénées, so you will need to have your dog looked after or bypass those stages.
When is the best time to walk the GR10?
MonGR recommends June to October, with a preference for late June. Early in the season, some passes are still under snow: check with the PGHM or refuge wardens.
Do you need to book GR10 refuges?
In summer, booking staffed refuges and gîtes is strongly recommended. In the Ariège, you should also plan for nights in unstaffed huts or in a tent.
Can you walk the GR10 in sections?
Yes. Many places along the route are served by public transport, and MonGR suggests sections of a few days, such as Cauterets – Luz-Saint-Sauveur or Mérens-les-Vals – Bolquère.
How do you get to Hendaye and Banyuls-sur-Mer by train?
Hendaye is served by TGVs from Paris and Bordeaux and by TER Nouvelle-Aquitaine regional trains. Banyuls-sur-Mer has a TER station with direct trains to Perpignan.
Route: OpenStreetMap contributors. Elevation: IGN’s RGE ALTI®, one point every 50 m. Text checked on November 10, 2026.
