Experience the Pyrenees’ ultimate hiking adventures with this comprehensive Cicerone guidebook to seven outstanding circular multi-day routes, each designed for a one- or two-week mountain escape. Stretching over 400km from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, the Pyrenees form a spectacular natural border between France and Spain, a dramatic landscape of glaciated granite massifs, limestone peaks, wildflower meadows, and crystal-clear lakes.

Ideal for those seeking a balance of adventure and comfort, each featured trek is divided into manageable stages (ranging from 4 to 12), with welcoming accommodation in mountain refuges or traditional villages along the way. Routes range in length from four to twelve days, allowing you to pack big mountain experiences into a single week or enjoy an extended journey through the heart of the Pyrenees.

• Seven circular treks: the rolling Basque Country (9 stages), the spectacular limestone peaks of Pic du Midi d’Ossau and the Western Pyrenees (8 stages), the high-altitude Tour de Vignemale and La Alta Ruta de Los Perdidos (11 stages), the lake-dotted Réserve Naturelle de Néouvielle (4 stages), the classic Carros de Foc circuit (7 stages), the wild landscapes of the Montagnes d’Ax and Les Pérics (8 stages), and the iconic Catalonian peaks of Puigmal and Canigou (12 stages).
• Hiking here is best from July to September, when the high routes are clear of snow, and the meadows are alive with wildflowers, though lower-altitude routes can be tackled from late spring through October.
• Most stages follow mountain paths, with some easy scrambling and boulderfields on the higher traverses, and route descriptions are supported by clear 1:100,000 mapping.
• All routes are circular, minimising transport logistics and maximising your time amid the dramatic landscapes of the Pyrenees.
• Accommodation is available at every stage, with options including mountain refuges nestled in the high Pyrenees, charming village inns along the routes, and opportunities for wild camping for those seeking solitude.
• Each stage includes practical information on access, facilities, recommended maps, and route alternatives for exploring the diverse regions of the Pyrenees, with notes on optional peak-bagging detours for ambitious walkers.
• The guide features comprehensive advice on planning, preparation, and navigation to help you explore the Pyrenees with confidence.

Plan your Pyrenean trekking adventure with this definitive guide to the region’s finest short treks, and immerse yourself in the untamed beauty, rich wildlife, and timeless mountain culture of one of Europe’s most spectacular landscapes.

Shorter Treks in the Pyrenees – Quick Facts

Guide name: Shorter Treks in the Pyrenees – 7 great one‑ and two‑week circular treks 
Location: Pyrenees Mountains (France–Spain border) 
Routes covered: Seven circular treks in varied Pyrenean regions (Basque Country, Pic du Midi d’Ossau, Vignemale/Los Perdidos, Réserve Naturelle de Néouvielle, Carros de Foc, Montagnes d’Ax/Les Pérics, Puigmal & Canigou) 
Typical trek length: 4–12 days each (day stages per trek) 
Total route range: Treks presented in manageable stages (routes range from ~70–224 km) 
Trail type: Long‑distance mountain treks on circular routes (staged days) 
Terrain: Mountain paths with some boulderfields and easy scrambling on high passes 
Accommodation: Refuges and village lodging options, with wild camping possible 
Navigation & mapping: 1:100,000 mapping with clear route descriptions 
Best season: High Pyrenees treks July–September; Basque Country treks April–October; Catalonia treks May–October 
Highlights: Dramatic Pyrenean scenery — granite massifs, limestone peaks, wildflower meadows and crystal lakes

Author Highlight

“The Pyrenees is the diverse mountain chain which forms the border between France and Spain and stretches over 400km from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. The chain consists predominantly of granite massifs with rocky peaks dotted with lakes, tarns, cascading streams and spectacular waterfalls, and limestone mountains with vertical cliffs and the associated karst terrain. Rising to over 3000m, the scenery compares favourably with the Alps, but the lower altitude means the highest peaks and passes are far more accessible to the hillwalker and backpacker."

- Brian Johnson, author of Shorter Treks in the Pyrenees

Summary of the treks
Overview map
Map key
Preface
Introduction
Overview of the treks
Weather and when to go
Wildlife
Access
Accommodation
Equipment
Camping
Water
Swimming
Fuel
Culture and language
Using this guide
Route 1   Tour of the Basque Country
Stage 1    St-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry
Stage 2    Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry to Bidarray
Stage 3    Bidarray to Ainhoa
Stage 4    Ainhoa to Sare
Stage 5    Sare to Bera (Vera de Bidasoa)
Stage 6    Bera to Elizondo
Stage 7    Elizondo to Aldudes
Stage 8    Aldudes to Burguete (Auritz)
Stage 9    Burguete to St-Jean-Pied-de-Port
Route 2  Pic du Midi d’Ossau and the limestone peaks of the 
                 western Pyrenees
Stage 1    Etsaut to Camping du Lauzart (Lescun)
Stage 2    Camping du Lauzart (Lescun) to Refugio de Linza
Stage 3    Refugio de Linza to Refugio de Gabardito
Stage 4    Refugio de Gabardito to Refugio de Lizara
Stage 5    Refugio de Lizara to Col du Somport
Stage 6    Col du Somport to Refuge de Pombie
Stage 7    Refuge de Pombie to Refuge d’Ayous
Stage 8    Refuge d’Ayous to Etsaut
Route 3   Tour de Vignemale and 
                  La Alta Ruta de Los Perdidos
Stage 1    Cauterets to Refuge des Oulettes de Gaube
Stage 2    Refuge des Oulettes de Gaube to Refuge des Granges de Holle (Gavarnie)
Stage 3    Refuge des Granges de Holle to Refuge des Éspuguettes
Stage 4    Refuge des Éspuguettes to Refugio de Pineta
Stage 5    Refugio de Pineta to Refugio de Góriz
Stage 6    Refugio de Góriz to Refuge de la Brèche de Roland
Stage 7    Refuge de la Brèche de Roland to Refugio de Bujaruelo
Stage 8    Refugio de Bujaruelo to Baños de Panticosa
Stage 9    Baños de Panticosa to Refugio de Respomuso
Stage 10    Refugio de Respomuso to Refuge Wallon
Stage 11    Refuge Wallon to Cauterets
Route 4   Réserve Naturelle de Néouvielle
Stage 1    Barèges to Artigues
Stage 2    Artigues to Refuge de Campana de Cloutou
Stage 3    Refuge de Campana de Cloutou to Lac d’Orédon
Stage 4    Lac d’Orédon to Barèges
Route 5   Carros de Foc
Stage 1    Refugi dera Restanca to Refugi Joan Ventosa i Calvell
Stage 2    Refugi Joan Ventosa i Calvell to Refugi d’Estany Llong
Stage 3    Refugi d’Estany Llong to Refugi de la Colomina
Stage 4    Refugi de la Colomina to Refugi JM Blanc
Stage 5    Refugi JM Blanc to Refugi Sant Maurici Ernest Mallafré
Stage 6    Refugi Sant Maurici Ernest Mallafré to Refugi de Saboredo 
(via Refugi d’Amitges)
Stage 7    Refugi de Saboredo to Refugi dera Restanca 
(via Refugi de Colomèrs)
Route 6   Tour des Montagnes d’Ax and the Tour des Pérics
Stage 1    Ax-les-Thermes to Orlu
Stage 2    Orlu to Refuge d’en Beys
Stage 3    Refuge d’en Beys to Refuge de Camporells
Stage 4    Refuge de Camporells to Refuge des Bouillouses
Stage 5    Refuge des Bouillouses to Refuge des Bésines
Stage 6    Refuge des Bésines to Auberge du Nabre (Mérens-les-Vals)
Stage 7    Auberge du Nabre (Mérens-les-Vals) to Refuge de Rulhe
Stage 8    Refuge de Rulhe to Ax-les-Thermes
Route 7   The icons of Catalonia: Puigmal and Canigou
Stage 1    Eyne to Núria
Stage 2    Traverse of Puigmal
Stage 3    Núria to Refugi de Ull de Ter (via Refugi de Coma de Vaca)
Stage 4    Refugi de Ull de Ter to Chalet de las Conques
Stage 5    Chalet de las Conques to Refuge de Saint-Guillem
Stage 6    Refuge de Saint-Guillem to Refuge de Batère
Stage 7    Refuge de Batère to Refuge des Cortalets
Stage 8    Traverse of Canigou
Stage 9    Refuge des Cortalets to Refuge de Marailles
Stage 10    Refuge de Marailles to Mantet
Stage 11    Mantet to Refuge du Ras de la Carança
Stage 12    Refuge du Ras de la Carança to Eyne

Appendix A    Route summary tables
Appendix B    Sources of information
Appendix C    Bibliography
 

Seasons

July to September for the treks in the High Pyrenees, April to October for the trek in the Basque Country and May to October for the trek in Eastern Catalonia.

Centres

Basque Country, Catalonia, Parc National des Pyrénées, Gavarnie, Ordesa

Difficulty

The treks are on mountain paths, mostly well-waymarked. On several of the treks there is boulderfield to cross and some easy scrambling when crossing high alpine passes. In June experience of mountain walking in snow/ice conditions would be needed for the five treks in the High Pyrenees.

Must See

Basque Country, Pic du Midi d'Ossau, Vignemale, Ordesa Canyon, Cirque de Gavarnie, Réserve Naturelle de Néouvielle, Carros de Foc, Ariège, Cerdagne, Puigmal and Canigou.

May 2023

Route 1 Tour of the Basque Country updates

January 2023

Altitude diagram (p112)

August 2022

The Hôtel du Cirque

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