The Pyrenean Haute Route: The HRP high-level trail

Stretching across the wild heart of the Pyrenees Mountains, the Pyrenean Haute Route (Haute Randonnée Pyrénéenne, HRP) is one of Europe’s most celebrated long-distance trekking trails. Running 748km (465 miles) from the Atlantic Ocean at Hendaye to the Mediterranean at Banyuls-sur-Mer, it follows the high ridges of the central range along the France–Spain border.

The HRP is unwaymarked and challenging, presenting rugged terrain, sustained ascents and descents, and is suitable for experienced mountain walkers who thrive in remote high country. The Pyrenean Haute Route, written by expert guidebook author Tom Martens, is your complete companion for planning, navigating and experiencing this extraordinary trek. 

• The guide provides detailed route descriptions for all 44 stages of the trail, allowing you to plan each day efficiently and move confidently through the high mountains of the Pyrenees
• 1:100,000 scale mapping and downloadable GPX files are included for your France- Spain border traverse, giving precise navigation tools for safety and route certainty
• A route summary table and facilities table help you plan your itinerary and important resupply points like Gavarnie and Parzán
• Accommodation information is provided so you know what to expect from unmanned huts to campsites and gîtes along the Pyrenean Haute Route
• Optional ascents of classic summits such as Vignemale, Le Taillon and Pico de Aneto are also included to add memorable peak experiences to the long-distance trail

The Pyrenean Haute Route rewards planning with world-class mountain landscapes: craggy ridges, alpine cirques, glacial remnants, and sweeping high passes that showcase the diverse beauty of the Pyrenees. This expert guidebook provides you with all the information you need from navigation to accommodation to plan and hike this iconic high-mountain route. 

Tom Martens grew up in Belgium and first visited the Pyrenees in 2008 with a friend who had made him enthusiast about the mountain chain. This first exploration was so enchanting that he has been back every year since then. He has hiked extensively in the national parks and has traversed the whole length of the Pyrenees several times. He has guided groups of youngsters on long, intensive hikes and climbed many of the peaks in the Pyrenees. So far, he has spent 300 nights in the Pyrenees, mostly bivouacking. He has a special interest in mountain wildlife. Other regions where you can often find him hiking include Scotland and Estonia, where he currently lives.