French Holiday Ideas | Walking holidays in the French High (Hautes) Pyrenees

As you’d expect from a mountain range that stretches 450km from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, the Pyrenees has some classic walking and hiking routes.

From a few hours to a few weeks, hiking in the Pyrenees rewards you with breath-taking views, stunning scenery, and flora and fauna in abundance.

We’ve focused on the region known as the High Pyrenees. It’s easily accessible by road but within an hour you can leave everyone behind you- except a few isards, marmots, cows and sheep!


Here are some of our favourite hikes in this area, taking in classic routes and UNESCO World Heritage sites.

1. Cirque de Gavarnie

This UNESCO World Heritage site can be visited for just a couple of hours, following an easy, marked path from a car-park up to the Cirque, or for a whole day, allowing time to explore hidden trails and scramble up to the Grande Cascade – the highest free-hanging waterfall in Europe.

2. Cirque de Troumouse

The wilder big brother of the Cirque de Gavarnie. This spectacular natural amphitheatre of towering limestone cliffs and eternal snows is a great spot to view scampering marmots or the elusive Pyrenean chamois (isard).

Follow the main trail to dip your feet in the ice-cold ephemeral lakes in the heart of the cirque, or go off-path and explore amongst huge fallen boulders to find the best of the wildlife and high Alpine flowers.

3. The GR10

This Grand Randonnée hiking route stretches from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, criss-crossing between France and Spain. Like all GR walks, it is clearly marked.

Allow about 45 days of walking, averaging 6-8 hours a day and camping wild or staying in mountain refuges and trekkers lodges. Alternatively, do sections of it at a more leisurely pace and take time to explore the traditional villages and local cuisine.

4. The HRP

Haute Route Pyrénéenne or Pyrenees High Level Route, is a high-mountain itinerary, following the French-Spanish frontier across the wildest and most spectacular peaks and passes.

This is a challenging trek which involves wild camping or sleeping in mountain refuges many hours’ walk from the nearest road. Again, it can be done in one go or sections at a time. There are often no marked trails and the route involves scrambles, glacier crossings and tricky navigation.

5. Village to village walk

An easy 5 hour valley walk leaving directly from our village, Bareges. Walking down the valley (via a creperie if you need sustenance along the way!) you reach the small historic village of Sers, with its cobbled streets and tiny church containing Moorish windows, perched on a mountain edge.

Continue down to Viey and Viella for a refreshing drink in the bar overlooking the village square, before visiting the castle and fortified Templar’s church at Luz-St-Sauveur. Along the way keep your ears open and you might hear the local patois – an ancient dialect of Occitan - being spoken.

6. Neouvielle Nature Reserve

The little-known lake district of the High Pyrenees. This high granitic massif is an unspoilt wilderness scattered with sparkling lakes and miniature pine trees.

Explore the Lacs de Glere above Bareges, or set off for a longer expedition into the heart of the reserve, where you can spend the night at the idyllic “Bastan” refuge.

This simple mountain retreat has just a hosepipe for running water, and its own donkey to bring supplies, but you will be enchanted by its picturesque location beside a lovely lake – great for a refreshing swim!



Before you set out on a walk or hike in the Pyrenees, consider the following:

• The weather.

Mountains are changeable beasts. Check a forecast for your whole time outdoors. Then check again as you leave. Then keep your eyes peeled as you walk!

• Bring gear for all conditions.

You may see snow on the high peaks and passes even in July or August. Also, the UV is very intense in the mountains, so slap on plenty of high-factor suncream, sunhat and glasses.

• If you’re doing more than a quick, easy walk, do as the French do, and hire a guide. These Accompagnateurs en Montagne are qualified Mountain Leaders. As well as helping keep you safe, they will plan the route and pass on their detailed knowledge of the local wildlife, geology, history and culture, so all you have to do is walk and enjoy!

• Logistics at the start and end of a walk.

Check where you can park a car, how safe it is, how much it costs. If you are using public transport, check the timetables and enquire if there are any holidays, road-works or events that might mean a change to regular routes.

• Maps.

Always have a map of the area you are walking, in case you have to change your route. Trees do fall down, paths get washed away...be prepared.

Finally, enjoy it! The High Pyrenees are a rewarding place to walk, hike or trek. Whatever your level of fitness, we guarantee there is a walk to suit you!

For more information on Hiking holidays in the Pyrenees www.mountainbug.com

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Thursday, 1st, September written by Emma Mason, International Moutain Leaders.