The Pyrenees without borders — the Pass'Aran

Nature belongs to everyone and doesn’t really know any boundaries; it’s mankind that has imposed limits on the continuity of the green mountains. There’s nothing like a cross-border hike to discover how a natural wonder continues through different countries.

Up for it? It's a great idea! In this Collection, I want to introduce you to a magnificent route that runs through France and Spain. It’s the Pass'Aran; or, the Pyrenees without borders.

This loop route is just over 70 kilometres (44 mi) and you can complete it in around five days. The route takes in ridges of almost 3,000 metres (9,840 ft), beautiful forests and high lakes; every step offers enchanting views. If you’re brave enough and feel like it, you can extend your trip by tackling other major peaks with relative ease.

These paths invite you to travel through space and time. You can see this in the low walls, the old barns, the disused mines and the local architecture. The scenery is well preserved and us hikers can help keep it that way.

Excellent physical condition is a must on this hike. The five stages of the trip are long and have a lot of elevation gain. You can always divide the route into more stages if you’re happy wild camping between huts. In this itinerary, you can stay at a hut every night and rest those legs.

There are several starting points but I chose to start from the Eylie hut, where you can park your car. You can also come by bus from multiple places. Here’s all the information you need to get to the commune of Sentein by public transport:
giteseylie.jimdofree.com/acc%C3%A8s.

As there are accommodation and catering options along the route, you can hike light which slightly makes up for the challenge of each stage. There are also several alternative routes depending on the passes you want to climb: I chose many for their beauty.

I recommend hiking in spring or autumn. If you walk early in the morning, summer can be a good option, but the path (and the huts) will be more crowded. Remember to book all your places in advance on the website: passaran.com/en/prices-and-bookings.

Don't forget to take food and drink with you as it can be hard or impossible to restock in some sections. In terms of equipment, you’ll need technical hiking shoes and walking sticks can be very helpful. They offer some respite for the legs, particularly on climbs and descents.

All that's left is to make the most of this fantastic adventure!