GR10 Lescun - Gavernie
Introduction
The GR10 is a long-distance hiking trail that spans the entire length of the Pyrenees mountain range, crossing through both France and Spain. Since hiking the entire trail would take about 6 to 8 weeks we chose to hike the section from Lescun to Gavernie for our 1 week holiday the first week of August. The trail in between Lescun to Gavarnie is known as one of the most beautiful sections of the GR10. It goes through the Pyrenees National Park, including Ossau Valley and the Cirque de Gavarnie, and climbs over the highest mountain passes of the GR10.
The route...
Distance: 160 km
Duration: 6-9 days
Total elevation: 8800m
Fitness: challenging
The section is about 160 km, we hiked it in 6 days but had to skip 15 km on the last day in order to make it into Gavernie. Hiking this section in 7 to 9 days would have been more comfortable.
The trail can be challenging, with steep rocky ascends and strenuous downhill. This section covers about 8800m of elevation!
Daily Etappes / Strava activities:
Day 1: Lescun - Etsaut (0 - 22.6 km)
Day 2: Etsaut - Col d'ayous (22.6 - 50.9 km)
Day 3: Col d'ayous - Gourette (50.9 - 70 km)
Day 4: Col d'aubisque - Lac d'Estaing (70 - 96 km)
Day 5: Col d'Ilhéou - Cauterets (96 - 117.7 km)
Day 6: Cauterets - Gavernie 🏁 (117.7 - 146 km)
!! Day 7: Cauterets - Gavernie (146 - 160km) skipped
Navigation
The GR10 trail is marked with red and white blazes, painted on trees, rocks, and other landmarks along the trail. They are fairly easy to follow and you will come across several written signs as well. It is still recommended to download a navigation app or carry a guidebook as backup.
Navigation App:
The navigation apps I used for the GR10 are Komoot and Maps.me. Komoot will show you the actual route but lacks information on certain points of interest. Maps.me offers free offline navigation with detailed maps including camping spots, potential water sources, mountain huts... Unfortunately it is not possible to upload gpx-routes on Maps.me.
Top 3 Guidebooks for the GR10:
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The GR10 Trail: Through the French Pyrenees by Paul Lucia: This comprehensive guidebook covers the entire GR10 trail and provides detailed descriptions of each stage, as well as information on accommodations, water sources, and other important details.
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Walking the GR10 Across the French Pyrenees by Brian Johnson: This guidebook provides detailed descriptions of each stage of the GR10, as well as information on local flora and fauna and historical landmarks along the trail.
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The GR10 Trail by Paul Jenner: This guidebook covers the entire GR10 trail, as well as several alternate routes and variations. The book includes detailed descriptions of each stage, as well as information on accommodations and other practical details.
Camping, Water & Resupply
🏕️ Camping is only permitted at designated campsites along the GR10 trail. These campsites are marked on the maps (Maps.me) and guidebooks. Follow Leave No Trace principles: This includes packing out all trash (burry toilet paper), using established fire rings (if allowed), and minimising your impact on vegetation and wildlife.
Be prepared for weather: The weather in the Pyrenees can be unpredictable, and it is important to be prepared for changing conditions when camping on the trail. Make sure to bring appropriate clothing, shelter, and gear to stay warm and dry.
🏚️ Mountain refuges along this section:
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Refuge d'Arlet: This mountain refuge is located on the GR10 trail between Lescun and Gabas. It offers dormitory-style accommodation, meals, and basic facilities.
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Refuge de Bious-Artigues: This mountain refuge is located on the GR10 trail between Gabas and Etsaut. It offers dormitory-style accommodation, meals, and basic facilities.
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Refuge d'Estaing: This mountain refuge is located on the GR10 trail between Etsaut and Gavarnie. It offers dormitory-style accommodation, meals, and basic facilities.
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Refuge des Oulettes de Gaube: This mountain refuge is located near the end of the GR10 trail in Gavarnie. It offers dormitory-style accommodation, meals, and basic facilities.
💧Water: it is recommended carrying a water filter, water sources are abundant along this section. You'll cross several towns and cabins along trail where you can fill up your bottles. A water filter can function as a backup when you run out of water. Some water sources are also indicated on Maps.me.
🍪 Resupply: There are several grocery stores and bakeries along the GR10 trail between Lescun and Gavarnie where you can stock up on supplies and food.
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The village of Lescun has several small grocery stores, a bakery, and a butcher where you can purchase food and supplies before starting your hike.
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The village of Gabas has a small grocery store and a bakery where you can purchase food and supplies.
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The village of Etsaut has a small grocery store, a bakery, and a butcher where you can purchase food and supplies.
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The town of Cauterets, located near the midpoint of the GR10 trail between Lescun and Gavarnie, has several grocery stores, bakeries, and other shops where you can purchase food, supplies, and equipment.
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The village of Gavarnie, located near the end of the GR10 trail, has several grocery stores, bakeries, and other shops where you can purchase food, supplies, and equipment.
It is important to note that some villages and towns along the GR10 trail may have limited hours or be closed on certain days, so it is a good idea to plan ahead and stock up on supplies when possible. Additionally, it may be helpful to carry some snacks and emergency rations with you in case you are unable to reach a grocery store or bakery.
How to get there?
Lescun:
🚗 By car: Public transportation to Lescun is limited, it is recommended to drive, rent a car or hire a taxi to get there. There is a small parking lot next to the Hébergement in Lescun where you can leave your car for free for the entire trip.
🚌 By train & bus: Alternatively you can walk up to Lescun from the nearest bus station in Oloron-Sainte-Marie, which is about 6 km away (uphill). You can take a bus from the Pau train station or the Oloron-Sainte-Marie train station, make sure to check the schedules in advance.
✈️ By plane: The nearest airports are Pau Pyrénées Airport (about 1 hour and 30 minutes away by car) and Biarritz Pays Basque Airport (about 2 hours away by car). However, I would recommend flying to one of the cheaper airports in France or Spain and take public transport to Pau train station.
Gourette:
🚌 By bus: Gourette is a small ski resort in the middle of the French Pyrenees. The bus service between Laruns and Gourette primarily operates during the winter season when the ski resort is open. During the summer months, the bus service may not operate as frequently or may not operate at all, check the local tourist information on available services during summer season.
Cauterets:
🚌 By bus: There are two bus companies ('L'Yre' and 'Transdev') that operate routes from other nearby towns, including Lourdes, Luz-Saint-Sauveur, and Saint-Lary-Soulan, to Cauterets. Nearest train station is in Lourdes which is about 30 min away. Bus company 'FlixBus' operates long-distance bus services that connect Cauterets to other cities in France and Europe.
Gavarnie:
GR10 Traversée des Pyrénées - Day 1
Lescun - Pic de coucourou - Etsaut - Chemin de la Mature (0 - 22.6 km)
GR10 Traversée des Pyrénées - Day 2
Chemin de la Mature - Col d'Ayous (22.6 - 50.9km)
GR10 Traversée des Pyrénées - Day 3
Col d'Ayous - Lac d'Anglas -Hourquette d'Arre - Gourette (50.9 - 70 km)
GR10 Traversée des Pyrénées - Day 4
Gourette - Col d'aubisque - Arrens Marsous - Lac de Estaing (70 - 96 km)
GR10 Traversée des Pyrénées - Day 5
Lac d'Estaing - Col d'Ilhéou - Cauterets (96 - 117.7 km)
GR10 Traversée des Pyrénées - Day 6
Cauterets - Lac de Gaube - Hourquette d' Ossoue - Gavernie (117.7 - 142 km)