The Pyrenean Haute Route

Stretching across the wild heart of the Pyrenees Mountains, the Pyrenean Haute Route (Haute Randonnée Pyrénéenne, HRP) is one of Europe’s most celebrated long-distance trekking trails. Running 748km (465 miles) from the Atlantic Ocean at Hendaye to the Mediterranean at Banyuls-sur-Mer, it follows the high ridges of the central range along the France–Spain border.

The HRP is unwaymarked and challenging, presenting rugged terrain, sustained ascents and descents, and is suitable for experienced mountain walkers who thrive in remote high country. The Pyrenean Haute Route, written by expert guidebook author Tom Martens, is your complete companion for planning, navigating and experiencing this extraordinary trek.

The guide provides detailed route descriptions for all 44 stages of the trail, allowing you to plan each day efficiently and move confidently through the high mountains of the Pyrenees
1:100,000 scale mapping and downloadable GPX files are included for your France- Spain border traverse, giving precise navigation tools for safety and route certainty
A route summary table and facilities table help you plan your itinerary and important resupply points like Gavarnie and Parzán
Accommodation information is provided so you know what to expect from unmanned huts to campsites and gîtes along the Pyrenean Haute Route
Optional ascents of classic summits such as Vignemale, Le Taillon and Pico de Aneto are also included to add memorable peak experiences to the long-distance trail


The Pyrenean Haute Route rewards planning with world-class mountain landscapes: craggy ridges, alpine cirques, glacial remnants, and sweeping high passes that showcase the diverse beauty of the Pyrenees. This expert guidebook provides you with all the information you need from navigation to accommodation to plan and hike this iconic high-mountain route.

Seasons

The Pyrenean Haute Route is a summer route that is best hiked between late June and early October, when the days are long, the weather more settled and most of the snow has melted.

Centres

Hendaye, Lescun, Gavarnie, Benasque, Vielha e Mijaran, Tavascan, l'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre, Banyuls-sur-Mer

Difficulty

Grades are used to give an indication of difficulty. Most of the 44 stages fall into Grade 2 (5-7 hour stages with a reasonable amount of ascent and descent) and should be within the capabilities of an experienced hiker. A small number are longer, more demanding routes (Grade 3) and a few are short, easy hikes (Grade 1). Three stages are graded E for 'exceptional': these routes contain steep and exposed sections requiring great care. Crampons and ice axe may be needed on some stages in early summer, but for each of these stages, an easier alternative is described.

Must See

The karst landscapes surrounding Pic d'Anie, the Ossoue glacier on the famous Vignemale, the impressive Cirque de Gavarnie with one of Europe's highest waterfalls, the alpine landscapes in the Portillon region, Pico de Aneto (3404m - the highest peak in the Pyrenees), views of the Mediterranean from Pic du Canigou

Preface
Map key
Overview map
Route summary tables

Introduction
The route
Geology
Plants and wildlife
Mountain weather
When to go
Getting there
Accommodation and services
Food, drink and fuel
What to take
Maps
Path conditions
Insurance, mountain safety and rescue
Using this guide

Section 1: Hendaye to Lescun
Day 1 Hendaye to Col de Lizuniaga
Day 2 Col de Lizuniaga to Arizkun
Day 3 Arizkun to Aldudes
Day 4 Aldudes to Roncesvalles
Day 5 Roncesvalles to Egurgui
Day 6 Egurgui to Col Bagargui
Day 7 Col Bagargui to Cabane d'Ardan&##xe9;
Day 8 Cabane d'Ardan&##xe9; to Source de Marmitou
Day 9 Source de Marmitou to Lescun
Variant 1 From Refugi de Belagua to Lescun via La Pierre Saint-Martin

Section 2: Lescun to Gavarnie
Day 10 Lescun to Refuge d'Arlet
Day 11 Refuge d'Arlet to Candanchu
Day 12 Candanchu to Refuge de Pombie
Day 13 Refuge de Pombie to Refuge de Larribet
Day 14 Refuge de Larribet to Refuge Wallon
Variant 2 Refuge d'Arr&##xe9;moulit to Refuge Wallon
Summit 1 Grande Fache (3005m) from Refuge Wallon
Day 15 Refuge Wallon to Refuge de Bayssellance
Summit 2 Vignemale (3298m) from Refuge de Bayssellance
Day 16 Refuge de Bayssellance to Gavarnie
Summit 3 Le Taillon (3144m) from Gavarnie

Section 3: Gavarnie to Salardú
Day 17 Gavarnie to H&##xe9;as
Summit 4 Pim&##xe9;n&##xe9; (2801m) from Refuge des Espuguettes
Day 18 H&##xe9;as to Parz&##xe1;n
Variant 3 Parz&##xe1;n via the high route to Hourquette de H&##xe9;as
Day 19 Parz&##xe1;n to Refugio de Viados
Day 20 Refugio de Viados to Refuge de la Soula
Day 21 Refuge de la Soula to Refuge du Portillon
Day 22 Refuge du Portillon to Refugio de la Renclusa
Summit 5 Pic Perdigu&##xe8;re (3222m) from Portal de Remune
Summit 6 Pico de Aneto (3404m) from Refugio de la Renclusa
Day 23 Refugio de la Renclusa to Hospital de Vielha
Day 24 Hospital de Vielha to Refugi de la Restanca
Day 25 Refugi de la Restanca to Salardú
Summit 7 Montardo d'Aran (2826m) from the Coll de Crestada
Variant 4 Three days on the GR11 from Refugio de Viados to 
Hospital de Vielha

Section 4: Salardú to l'Hospitalet-pr&##xe8;s-l'Andorre
Day 26 Salardú to Refugi Gr&##xe0;cia Airoto
Day 27 Refugi Gr&##xe0;cia Airoto to Alós d'Isil
Day 28 Alós d'Isil to Refugi Enric Pujol
Summit 8 Mont Roig (2868m) from Refugi Enric Pujol
Day 29 Refugi Enric Pujol to Refugi de Certascan
Variant 5 To Noarre via Tavascan
Summit 9 Pic de Certascan (2853m) from Coll de Certascan
Day 30 Refugi de Certascan to Refugi de Baborte/del Cinquantenari
Day 31 Refugi de Baborte/del Cinquantenari to Étang de la Soucarrane
Day 32 Étang de la Soucarrane to Refugi de Sorteny
Day 33 Refugi de Sorteny to Refugi de Cabana Sorda
Day 34 Refugi de Cabana Sorda to l'Hospitalet-pr&##xe8;s-l'Andorre

Section 5: L'Hospitalet-pr&##xe8;s-l'Andorre to Banyuls-sur-Mer
Day 35 L'Hospitalet-pr&##xe8;s-l'Andorre to Refuge des B&##xe9;sines
Day 36 Refuge des B&##xe9;sines to Refuge des Bouillouses
Variant 6 GR10 to Refuge des Bouillouses
Day 37 Refuge des Bouillouses to Eyne
Day 38 Eyne to Refugi d'Ull de Ter
Summit 10 Pic des Bastiments (2881m)
Day 39 Refugi d'Ull de Ter to Refuge de Mariailles
Day 40 Refuge de Mariailles to Refuge de Bat&##xe8;re
Variant 7 GR10 to Refuge des Cortalets
Day 41 Refuge de Bat&##xe8;re to Moulin de la Palette
Day 42 Moulin de la Palette to Las Illas
Day 43 Las Illas to Col de l'Ouillat
Day 44 Col de l'Ouillat to Banyuls-sur-Mer

Appendix A Useful contacts
Appendix B Glossary
Appendix C Facilities table