Pyrénées-Orientales
/ Pyrenees
GR10 stage 7: Mérens les Vals to Vernet les Bains
Réf : PDHPDF
In summary
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Sports
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Duration7 days
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LevelAdvance
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DestinationPyrénées-Orientales / Pyrenees
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AgeAccessible to all ages
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CO₂-Emissions72.68 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages🇫🇷French🇬🇧English
In a few words
Embark on a magnificent week-long trek along the famous GR10 trail ! This seventh leg of the Pyrenees Crossing takes you from Ariège to the sunny, high-altitude plateaus typical of the Eastern Pyrenees . Starting from Mérens-les-Vals, you'll hike towards the Besines refuge before a beautiful mountain and lakeside stage around Puig Carlit , which rises to 2,921 meters. After passing by Lac des Bouillouses , you'll traverse the vast Cerdagne plateau . Located in the heart of the Catalan Pyrenees Natural Park, it's known for its famous yellow train and is home to magnificent mountain villages. Then you'll leave the Cerdagne plateau to continue your trek towards the Conflent region , with its more Mediterranean atmosphere. After the charming Carança refuge , nestled in a beautiful valley, you'll explore the Mantet and Py Nature Reserves . The landscapes will give way to high desert plateaus similar to the altiplanos of the Andes Mountains, up to the Pic du Canigou , overlooking the spa town of Vernet-les-Bains , which is the end point of your journey.
The highlights
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The GR10 as the central theme of your trek
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Part of the route lies within the Catalan Pyrenees Natural Park
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Discovering the Bouillouses site and its many lakes
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Photos
Sport
Level
Hiking / Trekking
For those wishing to undertake multi-day hikes involving over 6 hours of walking and an elevation gain of 700 to 1,200 meters, off-trail or over rugged terrain. High-altitude sections are possible. You engage in endurance sports several times a week, hike regularly, and are in excellent physical condition.
The expert's opinion
Hikes on good trails, the terrain is varied but often rocky.
For regular walkers, in good physical condition, with prior experience of mountain hiking.
In figures
Hiking
- Average duration/day: 5h30
- Average distance/day: 15 km
- Average daily elevation gain: 784 m
- Average daily descent: 859 m
Management
During this stay, a supervisor will be present to guide and assist you.
Band :
1 supervisor for 4 to 11 people
Languages spoken:
🇫🇷
French
🇬🇧
English
Supervisor
Supervisor
You are supervised by a BE Mountain Guide specializing in the region.
Program
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From Mérens les Vals to the Bésines refuge
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h45
- Distance 9 km
- Positive elevation gain 1300 m
- Negative elevation 300 m
- Accommodation Refuge
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Meet your guide at 9:00 AM in Mérens-les-Vals at the start of the hike. From Mérens, you will gradually leave the Haute-Ariège region and head towards the Capcir. This is a classic Pyrenean stage that takes you through deep valleys and over mountain passes. A long climb along the valley and the Nabre stream will lead you to the Porteille des Bésines pass, at 2,333 meters altitude. Then you will descend towards the Etang des Bésines lake and its staffed mountain refuge. Take some time to admire the superb view of the lake and the nearby Pic Pédros from the refuge's terrace!
Day 1 -
From the Bésines refuge to Lake Bouillouses
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h45
- Distance 16 km
- Positive elevation gain 650 m
- Negative elevation 700 m
- Accommodation Refuge
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
From the Besines refuge, the route crosses the Coume d'Anyell pass and leaves Ariège for the Pyrénées-Orientales. Below the pass lies the Lanoux lake, the largest lake in the French Pyrenees, with a surface area of 1.71 km². After skirting the lake, the path climbs towards the Porteille de la Grave and descends onto the Cerdagne plateau. You then begin a pleasant descent to Pla and the source of the Têt river at 2050m altitude, which flows into the vast Bouillouses lake.
Day 2 -
From Lake Bouillouses to Planès
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 6h
- Distance 20 km
- Positive elevation gain 250 m
- Negative elevation 750 m
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Starting from Les Bouillouses, a hiker's paradise and a little corner of Canada in the Pyrenees, this pleasant transitional stage winds its way between plateaus, mountain lakes, and national forests. After reaching Bolquère, near the renowned Font-Romeu resort, you'll cross the vast high plateau of Cerdagne. You'll enjoy landscapes found nowhere else in the Pyrenees. Next, you'll arrive in Planès, a magnificent village with its Romanesque church, unique in Europe for its trefoil plan.
Day 3 -
From Planès to the Carança refuge
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 6h30
- Distance 15 km
- Positive elevation gain 1200 m
- Negative elevation 900 m
- Accommodation Refuge
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
The topography of this stage is reminiscent of a rollercoaster: every descent is often followed by a climb over a mountain pass or high plateau! The ascent to Pla de Cédeilles offers a beautiful traverse through the Planès forest. The descent along the balcony trail towards the Riberola valley is equally superb. This is followed by a climb to the wide Mitja pass (2367m), a remarkable viewpoint overlooking the Cerdagne plateau, as well as the Capcir region and the iconic Pic du Carlit. Finally, a last descent will take you to the Carança refuge located in Fontpédrouse.
Day 4 -
From the Carança refuge to Mantet
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h45
- Distance 10 km
- Positive elevation gain 650 m
- Negative elevation 950 m
- Accommodation Cottage
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
From the charming Carança refuge, a pleasant traverse followed by a wooded climb leads to the Col del Pal pass, from which the view opens up, notably to the Canigou massif to the east. You then enter the heart of the Mantet Nature Reserve, part of the network of Catalan Nature Reserves (7 in total). Next, you descend into the Alemany valley before climbing back up to the village of Mantet, characterized by its beautiful stone buildings.
Day 5 -
From Mantet to Vernet-les-Bains
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 6h
- Distance 15 km
- Positive elevation gain 650 m
- Negative elevation 1550 m
- Accommodation 3-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Today, you'll quickly reach the Col de Mantet pass, offering a stunning view of the Py Nature Reserve. The Mediterranean atmosphere becomes increasingly pronounced, particularly in the vegetation. A descent along the Campelles stream then leads to the village of Py. From there, a trail with panoramic views over the Rotja valley leads to the Goa tower, situated on a small natural platform offering a beautiful vista of the Canigou peak and the Haut Conflent region. A ridge path followed by a descent through the forest then leads to Vernet-les-Bains.
Day 6 -
End of stay in Villefranche de Conflent
- Transportation Minibus - 00h10 - 6km
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
After your breakfast, transfer to Villefranche de Conflent train station (10 min) and end of stay.
Day 7
Note
The programs were established based on the latest information available at the time of writing; however, unforeseen circumstances are always possible, and situations beyond our control may alter the itinerary. Our guides are the best judges on site and may modify the route depending on the weather or if the safety of the group requires it.
Accommodation
During this stay, you will sleep in several different accommodations.
Access
Departure
Mérens Les Vals
Day 1
: 09h00
End of stay
Gare de Villefranche de Conflent
Day 7
- 10h00
Separation on day 7 at Villefranche de Conflent station after the last transfer.
Go to the starting point
Take the train toGare de Mérens les Vals
Numerous trains depart from Toulouse Matabiau station towards Latour-de-Carol; get off at Mérens les Vals.
Travel to the place of stay
with parking
available
Parking is available in the village, or in front of the train station, but is not supervised.
Would you like to travel on other dates?
Create an alert and we'll notify you by email if new departures are added.
Price details
The price includes
- Accommodation in 2-star hotels, mountain inns, guesthouses and mountain refuges
- Full board from picnic lunch on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 7
- Luggage transport between accommodations except for 2 nights in mountain huts on days 1 and 4.
- The transfers mentioned in the program
- Supervision by a BE AMM specialist in the region
The price does not include
- Transfers not included in the program
- The visits
- Drinks
Options
- Transfer from Villefranche de Conflent to Mérens les Vals by minibus : CHF85.50 / person
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Equipment
Decathlon Travel Partner
The Gaëtan team
4.5/5
(54 reviews)
• 70 stays
Établie au Pays basque et en Ariège, l'équipe de notre partenaire local est profondément ancrée dans ses terroirs. Depuis toujours, elle explore les Pyrénées et les montagnes basques avec une passion débordante. Aujourd'hui, elle transmet son amour pour ces massifs qui regorgent de beautés naturelles et de richesses culturelles. Disposant de son propre hébergement dédié aux randonneurs, ce partenaire offre une immersion authentique et humaine au cœur des sommets.
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