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GR10 ➤ Section 8 - Vernet les Bains to Banyuls sur Mer

8 Days / 7 Nights
Challenging

The mountain that is the embodiment of the eastern Pyrenees and the symbol of Catalonia is the Canigou massif. This peak dominates the view of the Roussillon plains and the Mediterranean coast. The mountain - also known as Fujiyama Catalan - is isolated from the rest of the Pyrenees, making it easy to spot and taking up a huge part of the landscape.
The protected areas through which you will walk on this part of the GR10 route are particularly exciting for us nature lovers because of the variety of plant and animal life here.

From Vernet-les-Bains, you can choose to go around the Canigou massif or up above it! Then you reach the Roman spa town of Arles sur Tech, from where the GR10 approaches the French-Spanish border. After passing the Roc de France and the famous Col du Perthus pass, you descend into the lush Mediterranean countryside. The last small mountains of the Massif des Albères take you all the way to the Mediterranean Sea and it's an amazing feeling when you start to see the blue waters on the horizon. The stand at Banyuls is one of the loveliest spots along the Vermeille coast and now it's not long before you're sitting right there with your feet in the water.

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About the route

The walks follow good footpaths and the terrain is varied and often rocky. The route is marked in most places, but there may be challenges in some places where you will have to follow the material we give you. To go on this trip we recommend that you are in good shape and have experience of hiking in the mountains.

Itinerary

Here you can see the programme for the week.

You arrive at your first accommodation in Vernet les Bains. Depending on when you arrive, you can visit the thermal baths, go for a hike or just relax. In the material you will receive on arrival, there will be route descriptions for two different hiking options already today.

Please note, if you wish to have an extra night before the trip and thus be sure to have time for the two extra hikes, this can be selected on the booking form.

Hotel (example): Hotel les Sources

You start the day with a 15-minute transfer to the Col de Jou mountain pass, from where you begin your hike. From here, the GR10 continues to the 'refuge de Mariailles', a beautiful viewpoint over the surrounding gorges in the heart of the Cadi Basin wild forest. From here you go around the famous Canigou mountain via the Col de Ségalès pass (2040moh) and you finally reach the Cortalets refuge. Today's route is a fantastic ride in the Mediterranean mountains. If the weather is good, you can deviate from the GR10 for a while and climb Canigou. The climb itself is not exactly challenging and the walk is rather famous for how beautiful the path is. From the summit you can enjoy the beautiful panoramic view, from where you can see the sea and the Roussillon plains.

Note: Tonight you will stay in a mountain hut, to which luggage cannot be brought. Therefore, you will have to pack bed/sleeping bag, toiletries, change of clothes etc. and carry it with you on the hike today. You will only be contacted about your luggage after the hike tomorrow.

Hotel (example): Refuge

You leave the centuries-old refuge at Les Cortalets and walk along the ridge for most of the day. The magnificent panoramic view follows you most of the day and you can still see all the way to the Mediterranean. Towards the end of the day you walk along the "Iron Road", where ore from the mines of the Canigou was transported to the towns.

Hotel (example): Refuge

Today, the GR10 route heads almost exclusively downhill to the charming little resort of Arles sur Tech, and along the way you'll discover a variety of plant species on the sands and in the forests. The mountain landscape is ever-changing, becoming increasingly lowland, and the area abounds in exciting scenery. In fact, the Canigou massif is home to about a quarter of all plant species in France!

Hotel (example): Centre Sud Canigo

The day starts with a transfer (25 minutes) from Arles sur Tech to Montalba. The walk starts here from Montalba d'Amélie, a very charming village. You walk through beech and chestnut forests to the Cerda pass at the foot of the Sant Salvador cliff. You continue to the Frausa cliff, from where you can look out over the Catalan plains.

Hotel (example): Gite de las Illas

This stage is the transition point for the entire hike across the Pyrenees, when the GR10 reaches the Alberes massif and hits the French-Spanish border at the Col du Perthus pass. The GR10's Spanish counterpart (GR11) follows the same route on the Spanish side and the Alberes massif is the last mountain before you arrive at the big blue Mediterranean. This stretch is a pleasure with a varied and beautiful landscape.

Hotel (eksempel): Chalet de l'Albère

Today's stage is long and the many highlights include the pass to Pic Neulos, Pic de Quatre-Termes and Pic de Saifort, which is the last ridge before you reach the sea. Further down towards the sea, the mountainous landscape and wild nature are now replaced by vineyards. The inviting sea is right here. You arrive in Banyuls sur Mer, where you spend the night and enjoy life with your feet in the water.

Hotel (example): La Casa Dina

Today is the last day of the tour and you will leave your hotel in the morning. If you wish, we can arrange extra nights at the last hotel. Please contact us if you would like to know more about this.

Prices and dates

Prices per person in EUR

Price includes

Extras
  • Accommodation upgrade (see more below)
  • Transportation to/from France
  • Drinks with meals
  • Handling fee (€20)

Practical information

Here you can get answers to various questions about the trip
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The price is based upon two people sharing. For safety reasons, this tour cannot be booked for solo travellers. There must be min. be two participants.

On this tour you will be on your own supplied with maps, route descriptions and luggage transfers. That means that your time is your own and you have plenty of time to enjoy the stages in your own pace.

Check the price quickly
You can quickly check the price of your desired trip without having to fill in anything. Here's how:

  1. Choose your desired start date
  2. Click on the green button "See price and reserve your holiday" and go to the booking form
  3. Select number of people, add any optional extras and see the price at the bottom of the page (you don't have to fill in anything on the form).

Get a quote
For example, if you want a flight included or changes to the trip, you can order a quote for this using the "Get a quote" button. Remember to describe in detail what, if anything, you want changed.

The process of your booking
When you book, we will start booking hotels and arranging all the practical details of the trip. This process typically takes 2-5 working days, but some bookings may take longer. If you are arranging your own transport, we recommend that you wait until we have confirmed your booking before arranging this.

Dates
If you can select the date in the tour calendar at the top of this page, this is a possible start date. We continually update the tours with sold-out dates, after which those dates will turn red and cannot be selected.

The flights to/from Biarritz in France are not included in the price. You can easily find a suitable flight via a flight booking engine such as Momondo or Skyscanner.

Notice: we recommend that you book with us and wait for the confirmation before you book your flights.

It works like this:

  1. You book your chosen holiday with us
  2. We confirm your holiday (usually within 5-8 business days)
  3. You arrange your transportation

Getting there
Here is a link for the perfect tool which will help you get an overview of how to get to the starting point of the tour: Rome2Rio

From the airport to Vernet les Bains
It's easy to get from the airport to Vernet les Bains. Get an overview of the options here:

From Montpellier: Rome2Rio
From Barcelona: Rome2Rio

Return from Banyuls sur Mer to Vernet les Bains
If you need to return to Mérens after the tour, we can arrange a transfer for you.

Banyuls sur Mer to Vernet les Bains: Rome2Rio

Return from Banyuls sur Mer to the airport
Here's how to get from Banyuls sur Mer to the airport:

To Montpellier: Rome2Rio
To Barcelona: Rome2Rio

On this trip you will stay as follows:

  • 4 nights in a hostel in a dormitory (days 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  • 1 night in mountain hut in dormitory (day 2)
  • 2 night in a 2-star hotel (days 1 and 7)

 

If you wish to upgrade to the Comfort version of the tour, you will stay overnight as follows:

COMFORT

  • 2 nights in a 2-star hotel (day 1 and 7)
  • 1 night in a guest house - private room with shared bath/toilet (day 4 )
  • 2 nights in hostel in private room with shared bath/toilet (days 3 and 6)
  • 2 nights in mountain hut in dormitory (days 2 and 5)

Note: Sleeping in dormitory is included in both versions of the tour and therefore it is necessary to bring a sheet/sleeping bag on the tour. You will be provided with blankets at all accommodations, so sheet bag will be sufficient.

On this trip, breakfast and dinner are included throughout the trip. However, dinner is not included on day 7 in Banyuls sur Mer.

Included meals
Breakfast is standard "continental breakfast" with tea, coffee, milk, bread, butter, jam etc.
Evening meals consist of 3-course menus with starter, main course and dessert.
Please note that drinks for the evening meals are not included in the price.

Lunch
Lunch is not included but can be purchased at the accommodation. It will typically be in the form of a picnic lunch that you take with you on the tour.

Luggage transfer is included on days 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. The way it works is that on arrival at the first hotel you will receive your luggage tag in the welcome pack.  You fill in the luggage tags and put them on your bag, where it will stay for the whole trip.

The luggage is collected around 9am each morning and arrives at the next hotel by 6pm (usually well before). If there are any special exceptions to the luggage transfer, you will be informed of this on arrival.

One bag can be transported per guest and bags must not weigh more than 15kg.

IMPORTANT / NOTE: On this trip there is one day when luggage cannot be transported and therefore on that day you will need to pack and carry all necessary equipment on the hike (including a sheet- or sleeping bag). This is day 2, when you will have to carry necessities for the nights, as you will be without your luggage that night.

On this tour, you will receive the following documents:

Upon booking
Immediately after booking this trip, you'll recieve a pre-booking-email where you can get a complete overview of your booking. Once the tour is confirmed you get a confirmation email from us along with practical information about the tour.

One month before departure
You will receive a hotel list and final travel documents.

Upon arrival at the first hotel
You'll receive the welcome pack, which contains everything you need for the trip. There will be route descriptions, maps, luggage tags and specific local vouchers. The documents are in English.
Notice: On some tours it is necessary to either print the documents yourself or to bring them electronically.

This trip has a difficulty level of 3-4, which means that most hiking days on the tour are level 3 and a few are level 4.

Grade 3
Hiking in mountainous terrain with longer ascents and descents. You will hike 5-7 hours a day. Requires generally good fitness and health, but no special technical skills or prior experience. Requires good shoes, such as trekking or mountain boots.

Grade 4
Demanding hiking with daily marches of 6-8 hours, often in difficult terrain at higher altitudes. There can be longer ascents of up to 1,000 meters. Requires good physical condition, endurance, and knees and ankles capable of enduring prolonged descents. You need to be in good health and preferably have hiking experience. Requires good hiking boots and regular outdoor clothing. There can be significant temperature differences.

Read more about our grading system here.

After booking this trip, you get access to various discount schemes.

We recommend taking out travel insurance that covers at least illness, accident, repatriation, lost holiday, luggage and liability. As a customer, you are responsible for taking out the necessary travel insurance to cover these costs.

Before taking out insurance, you should check whether you are already covered by travel or cancellation insurance through your home insurance company, credit card or similar - please note that there may be differences in insurance coverage.

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