Hut-to-Hut Trekking in the Pyrenees

This is a truly epic high-level trekking adventure through the wild and rugged Pyrenees mountains and it is quite correctly labelled as “tough”. You will need to be physically fit and mentally resilient to complete the full circuit. Bring your comfiest hiking footwear and the lightest weight of backpack that you can manage – including plenty of water and lots of your favourite energy snacks. If you’re looking for a challenging and fun adventure this is the one!   You will certainly discover whether you prefer going up-hill or down as there is plenty of both! There’s also lots of fun/challenging technical sections that occasionally require the use of chains and cables. You’ll also encounter huge scree slopes, exposed rock sections, lots of boulder scrambling, small rivers to cross and then some more challenging ascents and descents.   With 6 full days on the trail, this trek is long enough to give you a really immersive experience. There’s a lot of distance to cover each day but the pace is steady rather than rushed.  There’s enough time in the schedule to pause now and then to fully appreciate the grandeur of the mountains. Time to catch your breath and appreciate the smaller details - prolific flowers, intriguing rock formations and the abundant wild-life. Look out for out the vultures circulating overhead or even, sometimes, soaring in the valley below you! Then cool off your feet in a clear running cool mountain stream. It’s all good.   Everyone on the trip was super friendly and supportive and the evenings at the refuges were great fun. That first complimentary cold beer was as thirst quenching as it was deserved. The food was simple but always tasty and satisfying and plentiful. In the morning we shared some exercise routines to stretch our muscles before setting off.   Our guide, Juanma, had grown up in the area and had been exploring these mountain trails for many years. Each evening he briefed us on the following day’s route and weather etc so we knew what to expect. He always made sure everyone was safe and comfortable with the day’s trekking and even performed some blister treatments and gave us tips on walking pole techniques and use of the chains and cables on the route.   Along-side his mountaineering experience, Juanma was also happy to share his intimate knowledge of the region which extended across the fauna, flora, geology, history and culture. You name it! This enabled us to connect to the passing landscape through the eyes of a local and his personal touch made the experience all the more unforgettable. All delivered with a big smile and lots of patience. Thanks, Juanma!   If you’ve never been there, the Pyrenees should definitely be on your hiking bucket list. It felt wonderfully wild, rugged and remote with none of the crowds that you often find in the Alps.   So yes, it’s a tough trek but it is eminently “doable” for any reasonably fit and experienced hiker. You will be rewarded for your efforts with a succession of awe-inspiring mountain vistas and stunningly beautiful remote feeling valleys. If you’re looking for a real hiking adventure go for it! I loved it and I’m thinking of doing it again (now my legs have recovered)! Oh yeah… Did I mention the lovely night in a lush hotel at the end?

We were the last trek of the season. We had been warned upfront that only 1 group during the whole season (8 treks) so far had actually completed the full trek. It is indeed tough. Be prepared to climb up to 1,800m or descend 1,700m in a single day (very hard on the knees!). Most days are about 8 hours of trekking - sometimes pretty much 100% uphill and carrying a 8-9kg backpack. Having said that, our group was made up of 8 experience trekkers and we all completed the full trip and had a blast. Each day started with a sense of trepidation at what was in store but the sense of achievement and satisfaction at the end of day was fantastic. The route is spectacular, taking in numerous high passes, uninhabited valleys and jaw dropping vistas. Temperatures were generally in the 0-5 degrees C range. Perfect for trekking but a warm jacket definitely needed for the rest stops and picnic lunches. The Refugios were warm, the food mixed (some great/some poor) but plentiful and the dormitories were fun - most nights the whole group slept in one small dorm (bring earplugs if you’re a light sleeper). There is only 1 guide so the group must do what the weakest member is able to - I cannot recommend this trip highly enough, but don’t let your group down if you’re not fit enough! Big thanks to Ernesto for being such a cheerful and fun guide. Luke

What a great but challenging trip. Make sure you are fit enough to carry 10+kg for 9 hours a day, with up to 2000m of ascent. If you are then you will love this trip, otherwise you will find it very hard and less enjoyable. There are some very steep ups and downs, and a couple of technical sections where you need to use your hands with some exposure, but it's safe. Our guide was brilliant and took care of everything at the huts and made sure we had plenty of food (The food in the french huts was not great) The views and the hiking are amazing, plenty of wildlife to see and varied terrain from high passes to low forest tracks. Make sure you have quality, stiff boots or proper approach shoes, would not recommend trail runners for this.

This trip was absolutely fantastic & I have returned with such happy memories. It is classed as tough and I would definitely agree with that description. I did the TMB last year and this is a far more technical walk, with scree, glacial boulders and big up and downhills to contend with. But, if you’re fit, willing to push yourself a little and embrace a challenge then this is the trip for you. The scenery in the Pyrenees is truly amazing; every day seemed even better than the last. Our guides were Alberto and Irene and they were incredibly knowledgeable , passionate and supportive (and patient !) as we made our way round the route. The refuges are in remote locations and you need to be comfortable sharing rooms with many people, and fairly basic facilities. On the flip side, due to their remote locations, you are rewarded with views, peace (no WiFi or phone signal 👍) and always a good evening meal (I never went hungry). Our group were fantastic; there was 7 of us ranging from 22 to 56 years old. We laughed our socks off and exchanged life stories as we pounded those hills; I will treasure those moments for ever. A few tips - take poles; you can also borrow them but it’s a bit of kit worth having and I don’t think I would have got round without them ! Take the absolute minimum of clothes / weight ; it all matters when you’re heaving it up a big hill ! I took a 2 litre bladder and a water bottle and I wouldn’t take less capacity than that. Overall this was one of the most rewarding adventures I’ve ever been on and would really recommend it 😄

Embarrassed it’s taken me this long to get to this review, but I had a very special trek with Ruth and some new lifelong friends this past August. The trek itself was not easy by any means, and I highly suggest you *don’t* do this unless you’re in great physical shape and have done something similar in the past … also, I highly suggest bringing a positive attitude as you are with your group nonstop for 8 days & while of course things can be difficult, the last thing a group needs is a bad apple. This was truly one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done in my life, and I’m so grateful to Ruth for guiding us in the Pyrenees. Everyday was so different, and every hut we stayed in was quite different as well (from super basic on the French side to more services on the Spanish side). We all got to fully disconnect & get to know each other on the trail, and I wish I could go back and do it all over again. Thank you Ruth (and my group!) for everything. A trip I’ll remember forever.

I had an absolutely fantastic week in the Pyrenees with two really wonderful guides and a lovely group. I'd highly recommend this to anyone with a good level of hiking fitness

Amazing hike - challenging but worth it. Group was a good size and guides were amazing. Both very knowledgeable and kind and enthusiastic. Landscapes were fantastic and everything planned well. Shout out to Irene and Alberto - someone give them a raise!

I really enjoyed this challenging adventure and walk. We were lucky to have a great group and top notch guide in Ruti. She knew the mountains like the back her hand and when we had bad weather was able to guide us to safer routes. The mountain refuges were all good. Yes you’ll be sleeping in dormitory’s but for me it added to the unique experience. You will need to be very fit to enjoy this experience so plenty of training before is sensibly advised. A pack of cards make the refuge time pass swimmingly!

This hike is not for the inexperienced or unfit hiker. It involves multiple days of significant ascent and decents over tricky terrain requiring concentration and determination. The pace we had on our trip was fast and unrelenting with minimal breaks. The accommodation is reasonably good for Mountain Huts. The dinners are good and filling. Tackle this trip if you are fully prepared for multiple hard days.

If you're looking for a tough week of hiking with some technical bits thrown in then this is the one for you!