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Pyrenees - Mountains To Mediterranean (Self-Guided)


The majestic mountains of the Pyrenees offer breathtaking scenery and remarkable walks...




On this exceptional self-guided walk through the Pyrenees, you will begin with your head in the clouds in the Costabonne Mountains in Spain and finish with your feet in the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea on the Cote Vermeille in France. Each day you’ll embark on stunning walks through diverse landscapes of lush green valleys, wild chestnut woods and beech-groves to the hillside vineyards of the Albères foothills. You’ll hike amidst spectacular mountain vistas, along rugged mountain crags and descend into ancient villages; each with their own charm, from Prats de Mollo with it’s dominating hilltop fort, the cherry town of Ceret, once a magnet for artists like Picasso, Chagall and Matisse, to the old Roman spa town of Amelie les Bain and finally the seaside town of Banyuls sur Mer. This walk through the French and Spanish Pyrenees will truly exhilarate you!



Gallery View map

Tour Highlights

  • Banyuls-sur-Mer at the base of the Pyrenees
  • Céret's Catalan culture and Cubism
  • The view from Pilon de Belmatx
  • The GR11 in the Spanish Pyrenees

Inclusions

  • Luggage transfers, GPS hire, detailed route notes and maps.

  • Mini-van
  • On foot
  • 6 breakfasts, 6 dinners

Pyrenees - Mountains To Mediterranean (Self-Guided)

Day 1
Setcases
Meals Privided:
, Dinner
Your trip starts with your arrival in the village of Setcases, in Spain. This small mountain village is located on the river Ter, at the concourse of the Vall-llobre stream in the beautiful Ter valley. Setcases can be reached by a combination of public transport and taxi from Barcelona. Regular trains depart from Barcelona to Ripoll and from Ripoll a bus service operates to Camprodon. A short taxi transfer from Camprodon will take you to Setcases. Alternatively, you may wish to book a private transfer from either Barcelona Girona airport (GRO), Figueras train station or Perpignan (France) to get you to Setcases – enquire with Peregrine at time of booking. Tonight is spent in a traditional family run hotel where you will receive a warm and friendly welcome from the family. Dinner this evening is served in the hotel's restaurant, which serves traditional local Catalan fare in a relaxed and homey atmosphere.
Day 2
Setcases - Mollo
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Dinner
Your first walk in the Pyrenees takes you from Setcases to Mollo. You will spend most of the day following the GR11, a path that crosses the entire Pyrenees on the Spanish side. As you hike up and down the steep and rugged mountainous terrain you will be rewarded by stunning views of the breathtaking landscapes that surround you. Mountain trails will take you by combs and cols and through beautiful wooded valleys of beech trees and coniferous forests. From a crest you will descend into the small historic town of Mollo, passing peaceful pastoral lands on the approach. In Mollo, you will encounter the town’s charming Romanesque church; Santa Cecilia. This afternoon you can relax in the town and in the evening enjoy a well deserved dinner in the hotel restaurant. (Walking time: 4-5 hours / 13 kilometres ./ Level +:550m, Level - :650m)
Day 3
Mollo - Prats de Mollo
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Dinner
Today as you cross the Pyrenees you will walk from Spain into France; from Mollo (Spain) to Prats de Mollo (France). You’ll leave the South Catalonia following an old smugglers’ path and en route a visit of the tower ‘Tour de Mir’. The day’s walk will provide you with sweeping views over the Vallespir valley. On arrival in the medieval city of Prats de Mollo (France) a wander through the old streets and a visit to Fort Laguarde, is recommended. This impressive castle was built by Marshall Vauban in 1683 to strengthen the town’s defenses’. This evening is spent in a basic hotel in the town centre. (Walking time: 5-6 hours / 14 kilometres / Level +:440m, Level -:885m)
Day 4
Prats do Mollo - Amélie les Bains
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Dinner
This morning you will be transferred to St-Laurent-de-Cerdans; the starting point for your walk to Amélie les Bains. A quick climb will take you to the Pilon de Belmatx (1280m) and from here you’ll experience spectacular 360 º views over the Costa Brava, the Canigou mountain and to the Côte Vermeille. Beginning your descent, you walk firstly down a long and rocky trail and then follow a path through dense chestnut forests before eventually arriving at the town of Amélie les Bains. Upon arrival in Amélie les Bains there’ll be time to explore the lively streets of this pretty place which is famous for its natural healing sulphur springs that rise from the Gorge do Mondony. Amélie les Bains is today one of the most frequently visited thermal baths in France. This evening you can relax and unwind in Amélie les Bains, your base for the evening. You may even catch a local game of boules, a popular social pastime for Amélie’s residents. (Walking time: 5 -6 hours / 12 kilometres / level + : 362m, level - : 1018 m.
Day 5
Amélie les Bains - Céret
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Dinner
Today you can enjoy a more leisurely pace with an easy walk from Amélie les Bains to the lovely town of Céret. You’ll pass the small village of Reynes at the bottom of a valley then from the Col de Boussells you will soon start discovering Céret, with its surrounds abundant in cherry trees. The area is known for its cherry production, and the mild climate assures early fruit maturity, around mid April. Tradition states that the first pick of cherries is given to the French President as a gift from Catalonia. You will soon begin to experience the magic of Céret as you follow the small and narrow street into the town centre. An artist’s town, the most well known cubism painters where inspired by Céret and spent much time here. A key centre of Catalan culture and traditional, the town’s renowned Museum for Modern Art exhibits works by Picasso, Matisse, Chagal, Maillol, Dali and Miro. A visit here is recommended. Your hotel in Céret was frequented by some of these famous artists who donated original works to the hotel owner who proudly exhibits them on the hotel walls. (Walking time: 4.5-5 hours / 10 kilometres / level + : 380m, level - : 320m)
Day 6
Ceret - Banyuls sur Mer
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Dinner
This morning you will be transferred from Céret to Pic Néoulous from where you commence your final and longest walk, down to the charming town of Banyuls sur Mer located at the base of the Pyrenees and on the shores of the sparkling Mediterranean. From Pic Néoulous (1260m) you will experience fantastic views of the Mediterranean Sea, the Roussillon plain and the Pyrenees. Today’s trail takes you along the Albères; the colourful foothills of the eastern Pyrenees, then from the Pic Sailfort a steep and rocky descent leads to the Cap Béar. Passing through picturesque hillside vineyards you will reach Elmes’s beach before continuing on to Banyuls sur Mer. Tonight is spent in Banyuls sur Mer. (Walking time: 7.5-8 hours / 22 kilometres / level + : 642m, level - : 1589m) Please note: For those that feel like an easier walk today, there is the possibility to do a shorter walk (4.5-5 hours) which commences from Col de la Serre.
Day 7
Banyuls sur Mer
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
The trip ends this morning after breakfast in Banyuls sur Mer. After a week of hiking, you may want to reward yourself with some time relaxing on the shores of the Mediterranean soaking up the wonderful seaside atmosphere. Additional nights’ accommodation can be booked in Banyuls– enquire with Peregrine or your travel agent. Banyul’s train station provides rail connections to other destinations in France and Spain including Perpignan (France) and Barcelona (Spain). Alternatively you can book an onward private transfer to Girona airport, Barcelona (serviced by the low budget carrier Ryan air) or to Perpignan train station in France – enquire at time of booking.

IN A NUTSHELL

7 days
from $995
15

TOUR INFORMATION

Start End Price
02/09/201208/09/2012 $1,075
17/08/201223/08/2012 $1,075
16/08/201222/08/2012 $1,075
15/08/201221/08/2012 $1,075
14/08/201220/08/2012 $1,075
13/08/201219/08/2012 $1,075
12/08/201218/08/2012 $1,075
11/08/201217/08/2012 $1,075
10/08/201216/08/2012 $1,075
09/08/201215/08/2012 $1,075
08/08/201214/08/2012 $1,075
07/08/201213/08/2012 $1,075
06/08/201212/08/2012 $1,075
18/08/201224/08/2012 $1,075
19/08/201225/08/2012 $1,075
20/08/201226/08/2012 $1,075
01/09/201207/09/2012 $1,075
31/08/201206/09/2012 $1,075
30/08/201205/09/2012 $1,075
29/08/201204/09/2012 $1,075
28/08/201203/09/2012 $1,075
27/08/201202/09/2012 $1,075
26/08/201201/09/2012 $1,075
25/08/201231/08/2012 $1,075
24/08/201230/08/2012 $1,075
23/08/201229/08/2012 $1,075
22/08/201228/08/2012 $1,075
21/08/201227/08/2012 $1,075
05/08/201211/08/2012 $1,075
04/08/201210/08/2012 $1,075
19/07/201225/07/2012 $1,075
18/07/201224/07/2012 $1,075
17/07/201223/07/2012 $1,075
16/07/201222/07/2012 $1,075
15/07/201221/07/2012 $1,075
14/07/201220/07/2012 $1,075
13/07/201219/07/2012 $1,075
12/07/201218/07/2012 $1,075
11/07/201217/07/2012 $1,075
10/07/201216/07/2012 $1,075
09/07/201215/07/2012 $1,075
08/07/201214/07/2012 $1,075
20/07/201226/07/2012 $1,075
21/07/201227/07/2012 $1,075
22/07/201228/07/2012 $1,075
03/08/201209/08/2012 $1,075
02/08/201208/08/2012 $1,075
01/08/201207/08/2012 $1,075
31/07/201206/08/2012 $1,075
30/07/201205/08/2012 $1,075
29/07/201204/08/2012 $1,075
28/07/201203/08/2012 $1,075
27/07/201202/08/2012 $1,075
26/07/201201/08/2012 $1,075
25/07/201231/07/2012 $1,075
24/07/201230/07/2012 $1,075
23/07/201229/07/2012 $1,075
07/07/201213/07/2012 $1,075
03/09/201209/09/2012 $1,075
31/10/201206/11/2012 $1,075
15/10/201221/10/2012 $1,075
14/10/201220/10/2012 $1,075
13/10/201219/10/2012 $1,075
12/10/201218/10/2012 $1,075
11/10/201217/10/2012 $1,075
10/10/201216/10/2012 $1,075
09/10/201215/10/2012 $1,075
08/10/201214/10/2012 $1,075
07/10/201213/10/2012 $1,075
06/10/201212/10/2012 $1,075
05/10/201211/10/2012 $1,075
04/10/201210/10/2012 $1,075
16/10/201222/10/2012 $1,075
17/10/201223/10/2012 $1,075
18/10/201224/10/2012 $1,075
30/10/201205/11/2012 $1,075
29/10/201204/11/2012 $1,075
28/10/201203/11/2012 $1,075
27/10/201202/11/2012 $1,075
26/10/201201/11/2012 $1,075
25/10/201231/10/2012 $1,075
24/10/201230/10/2012 $1,075
23/10/201229/10/2012 $1,075
22/10/201228/10/2012 $1,075
21/10/201227/10/2012 $1,075
20/10/201226/10/2012 $1,075
19/10/201225/10/2012 $1,075
03/10/201209/10/2012 $1,075
02/10/201208/10/2012 $1,075
16/09/201222/09/2012 $1,075
15/09/201221/09/2012 $1,075
14/09/201220/09/2012 $1,075
13/09/201219/09/2012 $1,075
12/09/201218/09/2012 $1,075
11/09/201217/09/2012 $1,075
10/09/201216/09/2012 $1,075
09/09/201215/09/2012 $1,075
08/09/201214/09/2012 $1,075
07/09/201213/09/2012 $1,075
06/09/201212/09/2012 $1,075
05/09/201211/09/2012 $1,075
17/09/201223/09/2012 $1,075
18/09/201224/09/2012 $1,075
19/09/201225/09/2012 $1,075
01/10/201207/10/2012 $1,075
30/09/201206/10/2012 $1,075
29/09/201205/10/2012 $1,075
28/09/201204/10/2012 $1,075
27/09/201203/10/2012 $1,075
26/09/201202/10/2012 $1,075
25/09/201201/10/2012 $1,075
24/09/201230/09/2012 $1,075
23/09/201229/09/2012 $1,075
22/09/201228/09/2012 $1,075
21/09/201227/09/2012 $1,075
20/09/201226/09/2012 $1,075
04/09/201210/09/2012 $1,075
06/07/201212/07/2012 $1,075
07/05/201213/05/2012 $1,075
21/04/201227/04/2012 $1,075
20/04/201226/04/2012 $1,075
19/04/201225/04/2012 $1,075
18/04/201224/04/2012 $1,075
17/04/201223/04/2012 $1,075
16/04/201222/04/2012 $1,075
15/04/201221/04/2012 $1,075
14/04/201220/04/2012 $1,075
13/04/201219/04/2012 $1,075
12/04/201218/04/2012 $1,075
11/04/201217/04/2012 $1,075
10/04/201216/04/2012 $1,075
22/04/201228/04/2012 $1,075
23/04/201229/04/2012 $1,075
24/04/201230/04/2012 $1,075
06/05/201212/05/2012 $1,075
05/05/201211/05/2012 $1,075
04/05/201210/05/2012 $1,075
03/05/201209/05/2012 $1,075
02/05/201208/05/2012 $1,075
01/05/201207/05/2012 $1,075
30/04/201206/05/2012 $1,075
29/04/201205/05/2012 $1,075
28/04/201204/05/2012 $1,075
27/04/201203/05/2012 $1,075
26/04/201202/05/2012 $1,075
25/04/201201/05/2012 $1,075
09/04/201215/04/2012 $1,075
08/04/201214/04/2012 $1,075
23/10/201129/10/2011 $995
22/10/201128/10/2011 $995
21/10/201127/10/2011 $995
20/10/201126/10/2011 $995
19/10/201125/10/2011 $995
18/10/201124/10/2011 $995
17/10/201123/10/2011 $995
16/10/201122/10/2011 $995
15/10/201121/10/2011 $995
14/10/201120/10/2011 $995
13/10/201119/10/2011 $995
12/10/201118/10/2011 $995
24/10/201130/10/2011 $995
25/10/201131/10/2011 $995
26/10/201101/11/2011 $995
07/04/201213/04/2012 $1,075
06/04/201212/04/2012 $1,075
05/04/201211/04/2012 $1,075
04/04/201210/04/2012 $1,075
03/04/201209/04/2012 $1,075
02/04/201208/04/2012 $1,075
01/04/201207/04/2012 $1,075
31/10/201106/11/2011 $995
30/10/201105/11/2011 $995
29/10/201104/11/2011 $995
28/10/201103/11/2011 $995
27/10/201102/11/2011 $995
11/10/201117/10/2011 $995
08/05/201214/05/2012 $1,075
05/07/201211/07/2012 $1,075
19/06/201225/06/2012 $1,075
18/06/201224/06/2012 $1,075
17/06/201223/06/2012 $1,075
16/06/201222/06/2012 $1,075
15/06/201221/06/2012 $1,075
14/06/201220/06/2012 $1,075
13/06/201219/06/2012 $1,075
12/06/201218/06/2012 $1,075
11/06/201217/06/2012 $1,075
10/06/201216/06/2012 $1,075
09/06/201215/06/2012 $1,075
08/06/201214/06/2012 $1,075
20/06/201226/06/2012 $1,075
21/06/201227/06/2012 $1,075
22/06/201228/06/2012 $1,075
04/07/201210/07/2012 $1,075
03/07/201209/07/2012 $1,075
02/07/201208/07/2012 $1,075
01/07/201207/07/2012 $1,075
30/06/201206/07/2012 $1,075
29/06/201205/07/2012 $1,075
28/06/201204/07/2012 $1,075
27/06/201203/07/2012 $1,075
26/06/201202/07/2012 $1,075
25/06/201201/07/2012 $1,075
24/06/201230/06/2012 $1,075
23/06/201229/06/2012 $1,075
07/06/201213/06/2012 $1,075
06/06/201212/06/2012 $1,075
21/05/201227/05/2012 $1,075
20/05/201226/05/2012 $1,075
19/05/201225/05/2012 $1,075
18/05/201224/05/2012 $1,075
17/05/201223/05/2012 $1,075
16/05/201222/05/2012 $1,075
15/05/201221/05/2012 $1,075
14/05/201220/05/2012 $1,075
13/05/201219/05/2012 $1,075
12/05/201218/05/2012 $1,075
11/05/201217/05/2012 $1,075
10/05/201216/05/2012 $1,075
22/05/201228/05/2012 $1,075
23/05/201229/05/2012 $1,075
24/05/201230/05/2012 $1,075
05/06/201211/06/2012 $1,075
04/06/201210/06/2012 $1,075
03/06/201209/06/2012 $1,075
02/06/201208/06/2012 $1,075
01/06/201207/06/2012 $1,075
31/05/201206/06/2012 $1,075
30/05/201205/06/2012 $1,075
29/05/201204/06/2012 $1,075
28/05/201203/06/2012 $1,075
27/05/201202/06/2012 $1,075
26/05/201201/06/2012 $1,075
25/05/201231/05/2012 $1,075
09/05/201215/05/2012 $1,075
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