• Pyrenees GR10: Part 3, Etsaut - Cauterets

• 15 June - 30 September (every day subject to availability)

• From £855 / €950
• Single supplement (minimum 2 in party): please contact us
• Without bag transfer: less £300 / €340 per booking
• All prices per person, except where stated

• 7 nights, 6 day's self-guided walking moving between accommodation

• Third stage of the mythical crossing of the Pyrenees via the GR10 long-distance trail
• Wonderful high mountain stage of the Pyrenees traverse
• Well preserved flora and fauna
• Wonderful mountain scenery in the Pyrenees National Park including Pic du Midi d'Ossau
• Great walking over passes and summits, via mountain lakes and streams
• Only carrying a light rucksack on most days

• 5 nights in hotels and guest houses, in double rooms
• 2 nights in a shared dormitory in mountain refuges on days 2 and 6. Bring a sleeping bag liner (blankets provided)
• Half board

• 7 nights' accommodation.
• All breakfasts and 7 evening meals.
• Full walking notes and maps.
• Transport of luggage between accommodation on days 3, 4, 5 and 7, transfer on day 4, GPS files (if requested)

• Travel to Etsaut and from Cauterets
• Lunches, drinks with meals, showers in huts
• Any excursions or entrance fees
• Travel insurance

• Find out more about the GR10 and the different walking holidays
• GR10 part 1: Hendaye - St Jean Pied de Port
• GR10 Part 2: St Jean Pied de Port - Etsaut
• GR10 Part 4: Cauterets - Luchon
• GR10 Part 5: Luchon - Aulus les Bains
• See other walking holidays in the Pyrenees: Cerdagne Explorer - Pyrenees Coastal Trail - Azun Valley: Pyrenees Balcony Trail
• Return to Home Page

Walking Profile

6 days independent walking moving everyday between hotels and two mountain huts. It is graded strenuous, although the average days include 6 - 7 hours walking and 1000m of ascent & descent. The hardest two days, however, both include over 1600m of ascent. Details are provided with the descriptions below. Paths are generally good and well defined, although they are often rocky and mountainous in character. You should have a good head for heights and be able to navigate.

Walking Holiday Day-by-day

Day 1: Arrival in Etsaut

Once you have settled into your accommodation in Borce (just next to Etsaut) you can visit the villages of Etsaut and Borce and the Park's mansion.
The Moulette Bridge
Easy hike in shady loop up to the Moulette bridge, in the forest to discover high barns. 5km (2hrs15), +300m, -300m.

Day 2: Etsaut - Ayous Refuge

Today’s walk is challenging with 1550m altitude gain. It offers scenery of an amazing magnitude: the Chemin de la mature, the plateau of Baigt-Sencours, shepherd’s cabins and the pyramid-shaped mountain the Pic du Midi d’Ossau whose reflection shimmers in the waters of the lake, Lac Gentau.

15km (6hrs45), +1700m, -330m.

Day 3: Ayous Refuge - Gabas

Setting out from the refuge at Ayous, the GR10 drops down to the village of Gabas. Today's walk is shorter and it's a chance to recuperate after yesterday's efforts (or longer variants). The distance from the lake to the village isn’t far and will take about 3 hours. The village is typically Pyrenean and situated in the famous valley of Ossau, with an emblematic summit, an exceptional flora and fauna, as well as great cheese! Possibility of two different longer variants: via Lac Bersau or via the Col de Suzon.

• Distance : 10km, duration : 3h30, altitude gain : +65m, descent : -990m.

• Distance : 13km, duration : 4h30, altitude gain : +235m, descent : -1115m (Variant Lac Bersau).

• Distance : 24km, duration : 9h30, altitude gain : +930m, descent : -1885m (Variant Col de Suzon).

Day 4: Gabas - Gourette

In the morning, transfer from Gabas to Pont du Goua or Eaux Bonnes to shorten the hike (optional, contact us). Today’s walk is strenuous, the climb up to the Hourquette d'Arre which culminates at 2465m, being the highest part of the GR10 in the Pyrenees Atlantiques. You descend towards the lake Anglas and continue down to Gourette. There is a good chance that you will be able to observe some remarkable fauna such as the majestic rare vautour fauve, vultures, royal eagles, mountain isards and marmots. Late snow covering is regular on this stage : a variant enabling to avoid the high point of Hourquette d’Arre can be organised. Possibility to divide the hike in 2 by adding an extra night, please contact us.

• Distance : 17,5km, duration : 7h45, altitude gain : +1550m, descent : -1155m (with standard Pont de Goua transfer).

• Distance : 10km, duration : 4h30, altitude gain : +950m, descent : -350m (with Eaux Bonnes transfer).

• Distance : 24km, duration : 9h30, altitude gain : +1845m, descent : -1465m (Snow variant with standard Pont de Goua transfer).

Day 5: Gourette - Arrens Marsous

Today’s stage of the GR10 is a transition, the trail crosses the border between the Béarn and Bigorre regions. You will be walking across high summer pastures and past shepherd's cabins to the Col de Tortes at an altitude of 1799m and on to the Col de Saucède at 1525m. You'll arrive at the village of Arrens in the Val D’Azun valley, the first market town of the Bigorre region.

• Distance : 13,5km, duration : 6h, altitude gain : +900m, descent : -1400m.

Day 6: Arrens Marsous - Ilheou Refuge

From Arrens, you'll reach the village of Estaing and its lake, framed by wooded slopes. Then the GR10 joins the high mountain pastures of the Ilhéou pass (2242m), after having passed the Arriousec and Barbat huts. From the pass, the path descends to the Lac d'Ilhéou or Lac Bleu, and its guarded refuge. In case of late snow, an alternative is proposed by a balcony itinerary, passing above the Lac Noir.

• Distance : 18km, duration : 7h30, altitude gain : +1650m, descent : -550m.

Day 7 : Ilheou refuge - Cauterets

Just a short walk for the last section of this part of the GR10. To Cauterets, passing by the Escala d’Ilheou, you'll no doubt have the chance to see marmots and isards. In this high, airy mountain ambiance there are many traces of glacial erosion, lakes and moraines. Possibility of a longer variant via the Haugade Pass and the Marcadau Valley.

• Distance : 8km, duration : 3h, altitude gain : +75m, descent : -1100m.
• Distance : 18km, duration : 6h30, altitude gain : +515m, descent : -1530m (alternative).

Day 8: Departure

Your self-guided walking holiday ends after breakfast.