Trekking the GR11 Trail

Discover the full sweep of the Pyrenees on the GR11, also known as La Senda Pirenaica , a spectacular long-distance mountain trail crossing northern Spain from the Atlantic coast at Irun to the Mediterranean shores of Cap de Creus. Spanning 850km (520 miles), the GR11 threads together wild valleys, high passes and remote uplands, offering a continuous journey through some of the most dramatic and unspoilt mountain landscapes in Europe. Staying largely on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees, the GR11 is best suited to experienced mountain hikers with good fitness and confident navigation skills. This guidebook presents the route in 47 stages of 7–31km (5–19 miles), with the trail also divided into four sections to allow the GR11 to be tackled as shorter treks. Along the way, walkers pass through key Pyrenean regions and protected areas including Navarre, the Valles Occidentales, Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, Posets-Maladeta Natural Park and Parc Natural de l'Alt Pirineu. - 47 stage-by-stage route descriptions covering the full GR11 from Irun on the Atlantic coast to Cap de Creus on the Mediterranean - Clear, step-by-step directions for the GR11 supported by 1:100,000 mapping for each stage - Route summary table and stage facilities planner to help plan daily distances, rest days and resupply along the GR11 - Detailed accommodation information for villages, refuges and trail-side stops along the GR11 route - Practical planning advice specific to hiking the GR11, including terrain, conditions and logistics - Notes on local flora and fauna encountered along the GR11 across the Spanish Pyrenees - Downloadable GPX files for the entire GR11 to support digital navigation on GPS devices and smartphone apps Plan and walk the GR11 with confidence and experience the scale, solitude and variety of the Spanish Pyrenees with this authoritative guidebook to one of Europe's great long-distance mountain trails.

Tom Martens grew up in Belgium and first visited the Pyrenees in 2008 with a friend who had made him enthusiastic about the mountain chain. This first exploration was so enchanting that he has been back every year since. 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. 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.