Home » All trips » Pyrenees GR10: Part 7, Merens-les-Vals to Vernet-les-Bains

Pyrenees GR10: Part 7, Merens-les-Vals to Vernet-les-Bains

Highlights

A part of the itinerary in the Natural Park of the Catalan Pyrenees

The crossing of the Cerdan high plateau and its mountains villages

The discovery of the site of Bouillouses and numerous lakes

The Natural Reserves of Mantet and Py

A itinerary under the Catalan sun

Holiday Profil : 6 days independent walking moving between accommodation

Dates : Everyday (subject to availability) from 15 June to 30 September

At a Glance

Part 7 of a superb trek traversing the Pyrenees from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean Coasts

Price

From £ 1,015 per person

Every journey is tailor-made and can be personalised to your travel style, preferred accommodation and budget.

All highlights

GR 10 Trek

This self-guided walking holiday is the sixth part of a wonderful & dramatic 415km crossing of the Pyrenees Mountain chain between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean along the GR10 long distance trail. You’ll amble through stunning scenery that varies enormously, with flower-filled meadows, sparkling lakes, cirques and high summits. You’ll get a taste of many different cultures, from the Basque country by the Atlantic to Catalonia by the Mediterranean. Each valley you pass through has its own distinct flavour.

From Mérens, the high mountains open up and offer a wonderful section of the GR10, with a walk that leads to the Refuge of Bésines, altitude 2104m. Another highlight is the part of the trail that takes you past the Bouillouses lake, famous for its natural beauty, it’s situated at 2020m altitude in the Carlit Massif, it is an absolute gem to discover. Crossing the high plateau of the Capcir towards the Pays de Conflent you will enjoy a feast of wonderful views. You will discover some lovely mountain villages, the gorge of Caranca and the natural reserve called Mantet and Py before arriving at Vernet-les-Bains.

Accommodation & Meals

Half board
2 nights in room in a guesthouse on days 1 and 6
1 night in room in hotel** on day 4
1 night in room in an mountain hut on day 3
2 nights in shared dormitory in mountain refuges on days 2 and 5 Bring a sack sheet (blankets provided)

Navigation, Walking Notes & Maps

The vast majority of this walking holiday follows the GR10 (Grande Randonnee) long distance trail which is very well way-marked with red and white markings. Moreover, there are several signposts along the trail. The walking follows clear paths for its entire duration. Some small sections follow local or unmarked trails, for example to access accommodation or to access panoramic summits, but these are easy to follow. On this particular walking holiday we use the Cicerone guide books. As well as the walking notes we supply walking maps. You’ll be provided with detailed 1:25,000 walking maps.

Luggage Transfers

On this walking holiday you can choose to have your main luggage transferred between accommodation so you only have to carry a day rucksack with a picnic lunch (supplied by the guest houses and included in the holiday price), water and spare clothes, waterproofs, camera etc. On this holiday several local taxi companies are responsible for transporting your main luggage. Please limit the weight of your bags where possible to 15kg.

Travel Info

How to get to Mérens-les-Vals:

By air :
Toulouse-Blagnac airport (140km) : tel 0033 (0)561424400, shuttle service to Toulouse Matabiau train station all the 20mn.

By train :
Many trains from Toulouse Matabiau train station to Latour-de-Carol ; get off the train in Merens les Vals.
Contact SNCF (www.ter-sncf.com) to confirm the timetable.

By car :

From Toulouse, 140km, auto route A61 to Pamiers (direction Andorre/Foix). To go to Merens les Vals from Foix, direction Tarascon sur Ariège, Ax-les-Thermes.

Parking :
Free parking in the village, or train station parking.

How to leave to Vernet-les-Bains:

Shuttle service from Vernet to Villefranche de Conflent. From Villefranche-de-Conflent, train to Perpignan.

Travel to Mérens-les-Vals from Vernet-les-Bains:

Shuttle service from Vernet to Villefranche de Conflent. From Villefranche-de-Conflent, train to Latour-de-Carol. From Latour-de-Carol train station, take a train to Merens les Vals (Latour-de-Carol to Toulouse route).

Public transports
Informations SNCF: https://uk.voyages-sncf.com/en

Please contact us for assistance in organising your travel arrangements

At a Glance

Strenuous

Regular walker, in good physical condition with experience of mountain hiking. Hiking 6h-7h per day on average, altitude difference 700m-1000m on average, on fairly easy trails, with some small technical difficulties. The walking times mentioned are given as an indication, they are average times that only take into account the duration of the actual walking without counting the break times. Depending on the weather conditions, the walking pace can also vary, ranging from +300m to +500m of climb per hour. This walking holiday is graded moderate to challenging. You should have experience of day walking in mountainous conditions and be in reasonable health. See more information about walking grades.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Mérens-les-Vals

Installation in your accommodation according to your arrival time. Depending on your arrival time, you can visit the village or go hiking.

The Col de Joux: A loop hike that starts on open ground and then enters the forest to reach the Col de Joux between the Ariège and Orgeix valleys. The ridge passages offer beautiful views of the surrounding peaks, including the Dent d'Orlu. 11.5km, 4h30m, + 700m, - 700m.

The Etang de Comte: Walk along the Mourguilhou stream, through pastures strewn with gentians and rhododendrons, to the pretty and bucolic Comte pond. 12km, 4h50m, + 760m, - 760m.

Overnight: Mérens-les-Vals

Day 2: Mérens-les-Vals to Bésines refuge

From Mérens, the GR10 leaves the Haute-Ariège to approach the Capcir region. This is a classic Pyrenean walk of deep valleys and passes. A long ascent along the valley and the torrent of the Nabre will lead you to the Porteille des Bésines, at 2333m. Then you will descend to the Etang des Bésines and its guarded refuge. From the terrace of the refuge, the view towards the Etang des Besines and the nearby Pic Pédros is superb.

Overnight: Bésines Refuge, Walk: 9km, 4h45m, +1300m, -300m.

Day 3: Bésines refuge to Bouillouses lake

From the Bésines refuge, the itinerary crosses the Coume d'Anyell pass at an altitude of 2391m, before descending to the Lanoux lake, at the base of the Carlit mountains. This pond, or rather Lake Lanoux, is the largest in the French Pyrenees, with its surface area of 1.71 km². During your descent to the Lac des Bouillouses, through the Porteille de La Grave, take the time to observe the surroundings, which are favourable for encounters with isards and mouflons.

Overnight: Bouillouses, Walk: 16km, 5h45m, +650m, -700m.

Day 4: Bouillouses to Planès

Starting from Les Bouillouses, a walker's paradise and a small Canada of the Pyrenees, the GR10 goes through plateaus, mountain lakes and forests. After reaching Bolquère, close to the famous resort of Font Romeu, you will cross the vast high plateau of Cerdagne, a landscape found nowhere else in the Pyrenees. Then you will reach Planès, a magnificent village with its Romanesque church, unique in Europe with its trefoil plan.

Overnight: Planès, 19km, 6hrs, +250m, -750m.

Day 5: Planès to the Carança refuge

The profile of the walk is reminiscent of a rollercoaster, with a descent often corresponding to a pass or a high plateau to be crossed. Today, the Pla de Cédeilles (1911m), and the Mitja pass (2367m), a remarkable lookout point towards the nearby Capcir and the emblematic Pic du Carlit, are on the programme, with landscapes that become Mediterranean.

Overnight: Carança refuge, Walk: 15km, 6h30m, +1200m, -900m.

Day 6: Carança refuge to Py

Today, you will walk from the refuge of the Caranca to the hamlet of Py. The GR10 crosses the reserve natural of Mantet and then the reserve of Py. There is a passage across the Col del Pal (2294m), with a wonderful panorama. If the weather is good, a short round trip (+1h30) to the easy Serre Gallinière peak will broaden your horizon even more. And after the Alemany valley and reserve, you will join the village of Py, where you spend the night.

Overnight: Py, Walk: 16km, 6hrs 45m, +850m, -1650m.

Day 7: Py to Vernet-les-Bains

From the village of Py, the Mediterranean atmosphere becomes more and more pronounced, especially with regard to the vegetation. Thus, a balcony route over the Rotja valley leads to the Goa tower located on a small natural platform offering a beautiful panorama of the Canigou peak and the Haut Conflent. Then a ridge path followed by a forest descent leads to Vernet-les Bains.

Overnight: Merens, Walk: 9.5km, 4hrs, +550m, -900m.

Day 8: Departure

Holiday ends after breakfast.

Explore the beauty of the Catalan Pyrenees Natural Park on this 6-day walk

When to Travel

Our self-guided walking trail along part 7 of the GR10 long distance path is available from 15 June to 30 September. This 7th stage of the trek has the opportunity to reach summits above 3000m and so before 15 June there is a high risk of snow on the trail and some of the accommodation is not open. During the rest of June and early July, there is a greater risk of encountering snow fields on the trail than later. The summer period is the driest in the central Pyrenees, however afternoon showers or storms are fairly common. From mid September night time temperatures tend to be fresher with a small risk of fresh snow at altitude. In terms of fellow walkers, the briskest period is from Mid July to mid August.

Extra Nights

Extra nights are possible at Mérens-les-Vals at the start of the trip and in Vernet-les-Bains at the end of your walk.

Combining trips

This is part 7 of a long distance trek across the French Pyrenees. It is possible to do the walking stages either side of this part of the trek. Here are the links to other stages of the trek:

– Pyrenees GR10, Part 1: Henday – St Jean Pied de Port

– Pyrenees GR10, part 2: St Jean Pied de Port – Estaut

– Pyrenees GR10, part 3: Estaut – Cautrets

– Pyrenees GR10, Part 4: Cauterets – Luchon

– Pyrenees GR10, Part 5: Luchon – Aulus-les-Bains

– Pyrenees GR10, Part 6: Aulus-les-Bains – Mérens-les-Vals

We also have a high level traverse close by in the Pyrenees National Park: Traversing the Pyrenees National Park

Please consult us for a price on any of the above options.

Tailor Made Trips

If you want to learn more about the region’s culture through tailor-made activities and visits, check out those trips that include a few days in Occitanie. Contact us to add them to your hike.

Walking Through History: Medieval France Adventure

Authentic trip to discover the Tarn: stunning walks, exquisite gastronomy and centuries of captivating history in Toulouse, Albi, Carcassonne and more.

Services

Half board accommodation
Transfers days 5 and 6
Luggage transport depending on the option chosen except 2 nights in refuge on days 2 and 5
Dossier containing maps, route notes (1 for 4 persons, given in 1st accommodation)
GPS tracks if you ask us + access to the detailed itinerary on the Mhikes GPS mobile application

Receive a free quote from your local travel agency within 48 hours by e-mail. No obligation to purchase.

Stephen Molloy

Business Developer

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