Day 1 -  Arrive St-Jean-Pied-de-Port

Stage 2 of the epic GR10 route begins in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France’s Pays Basque. You may hear some unfamiliar dialects and languages spoken locally and will see many pilgrims setting out from the town on the Camino de Santiago de Compostella, a long-distance pilgrimage route into Spain that for many starts in the town. Arrive at your hotel in time for an evening briefing with your trek leader, who’ll be happy to answer your questions about what lies ahead. For those arriving in early, the Kurutxamendi circuit is a half-day hike that offers great views over the Navarre region.

 

Accommodation: hotel, dinner included

Luggage access: yes

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Day 2 - Trek from St-Jean to Phagalcette or Esterençuby

Today, we’ll forge a route eastwards and into the hills of the Pays Basque. The hillsides are getting steeper and we’ll catch sight of the taller mountains and higher passes that lie ahead. There are a good few places to stop for refreshments or to soak up the sun and local ambience, such as the Basque villages of Çaro and Estérençuby.

 

Accommodation: hotel, dinner included

Luggage access: yes

Distance: approx 14km

Walking: approx 4 hrs

 

Day 3 - Trek from Esterençuby to Iraty

Keep the cameras within easy reach, for today offers wonderful chances to spot birds such as kites, buzzards and storks as well as the horses, cows and mountain sheep grazing nearby. Prepare for some challenging uphill trekking to ridgelines and cols to be rewarded with panoramic vistas across tree-lined valleys. Our destination is the mysterious, Basque-legend fuelled Iraty forest. Straddling the French and Spanish border, this sparsely populated region houses Europe’s largest beech forest - as well as many stone circles dating back to 3000BC - and is where you’ll find the table-topped plateau of Occabé (1456m).

 

Accommodation: hotel, dinner included

Luggage access: yes

Distance: 22 km

Walking: 6-7 hrs

Ascent/ descent: +1430m / -730m

 

Day 4 - Trek from Iraty to Logibar

Pats on the back for your sterling uphill efforts yesterday: today is full of downhill. Soak up the sights and scents of the forest as we follow ridgelines in the direction of Ugatze en route to tonight’s overnight destination - the gite d’etape in the hamlet of Logibar. It’s renowned for its excellent hospitality for trekkers, with locally sourced products, mushrooms and meats on the menu. It has private rooms for those who book early (and small dormitories for those who don’t!).

 

Accommodation: gite, dinner included

Luggage access: yes

Distance: 17km

Walking: 5-6 hrs

Ascent/ descent: +500m / -1400 m

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Day 5 - Trek from Logibar to Senta or Sainte-Engrâce

The first half of today goes uphill, through wonderful limestone gorges and canyons inlcuding Holzarté which must be crossed using its famed suspension bridge. We head through the Ardakhotchia plateau, en route to Col d'Anhaou (1383m), exploring the rural Barétous valley and Béarn region as we progress. The picturesque hamlet of Sainte-Engrâce with its Romanesque chapel is our goal for the evening. Perched at 630m, it’s known as being home to shepherds who got lost in the mountains...

 

Accommodation: hotel, dinner included

Luggage access: yes

Distance: 25km

Ascent/ descent: +1200m / -900m

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Day 6 - Trek from Sainte-Engrâce to La Pierre St Martin refuge

Our last day in Basque country. This morning we delve into the forests and ravines of the Haute Soule region before the terrain levels out into vast pastures roamed by huge herds. Enjoy the breathtaking views and look forward to a night in a traditional mountain refuge. 

 

Accommodation: mountain refuge, dinner included

Luggage access: yes

Distance: 12km

Walking: approx 5 hrs

Ascent/ descent: +1200m / -200m

 

Day 7 -  Trek from La Pierre St Martin refuge to Lescun

Today offers some superb hiking over albeit challenging terrain including a climb (with a handrail for assistance) up to Pas de l’Osque. We follow the Arres de Camplong to approach one of the first high Pyrenean giants on our route, the Massif de l’Anie. Its peak, at 2504m, represents the first serious summit of the chain. Fingers crossed for clear weather to appreciate the wonderful views of the Pas d’Azuns mountains as we follow the GR10 towards Lescun, renowned for the dramatic rock faces and formations of its glacial cirque. Expect limestone karst scenery and towering limestone towers.

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Accommodation: hotel, dinner included

Luggage access: yes

Distance: 15km

Walking: 5-6 hrs

Ascent/ descent: +400m / -1200m

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Day 8 -  Trek from Lescun to Etsaut

Today is our final day on the trail. We’ll leave the impressive cirque of Lescun behind, lured onwards and eastwards by the picture-perfect little mountain villages that dot our route. We’ll hike across the plateau of Lhers and cross the Col de Barrancq before entering the Aspe valley: gateway to the Pyrenean National park.

 

Accommodation: hotel, dinner included

Luggage access: yes

Distance: 16km

Walking: approx 6 hrs

Ascent/ descent: +800m / -1100m

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Day 9 -  Departure day from Etsaut

For those leaving the GR10 today, your Cloud 9 trip finishes after breakfast. For those continuing on to Stage 3 as the GR10 heads further east, the adventure continues. Return to the GR10 home page for quick access to all other stages.

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