How much does walking the GR10 cost? Is a question I’ve had quite a lot. In an effort to be as transparent as possible, this post covers the costs for my 2 month walk across the Pyrenees in 2022. Obviously the cost of this of trip can vary significantly, depending on personal preferences and choices. I tried to be a bit more frugal than previous long adventures, and was largely unsuccessful.
Travel
Total ~ £450. I took 3 trains from home to Hendaye at the start, and 2 trains and a bus back from Banyuls-sur-mer at the end. Flights would sadly have been cheaper. Both journeys were doable in a (long) day, and were very comfortable with great scenery.
I took a few local buses on the trail when I circled back to Cauterets to walk the Vignemale loop, and when I skipped a couple of days due to illness. These were a flat €2 for a few hours. The bus down from Superbagnères was free.
Accommodation
Total ~ €1,750
| Type | Nights | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Tent (wild camping & campsites) | 25 | €125 |
| Auberge/gîte/hotel | 24 | €1,500 |
| Refuge | 8 | €125 |
| Cabane | 2 | €0 |
I camped as much as possible, mostly in cheap municipal campsites, and gîtes/hotels for some comfort and a bed. August was peak holiday season so finding a room in small towns was sometimes tricky, as my arrival dates were uncertain so I couldn’t book that far ahead. Travelling solo was definitely more expensive for accommodation as often a twin room would only be marginally more than a single room. I ended up staying in more hotels than planned, partly due to being ill for a week and needing shelter. Accommodation is probably the most variable cost depending on preference of camping vs hotels, and my budget was a key driver for me staying as little as possible in hotels. As much as I loved staying in gîtes for walking across Switzerland, two months of hotels isn’t affordable for me. After my tent pole broke during the 2nd week of the walk I did book accommodation a couple of times when I otherwise wouldn’t have, due to my apprehensiveness of using a semi-repaired tent in adverse weather.
Food
Total food ~ £1,000
Unlike Te Araroa, I didn’t send any supply boxes ahead, so resupply on the trail was dependent on whatever was available in small shops in villages, bolstered every now and then by larger towns. The épiceries in the villages were pretty pricey, as was any food from the refuges, which is understandable given the remote access. Food costs were bumped up by my inability to walk past a boulangerie without buying a croissant, and nudged down by my inability to eat for a week when I was ill.
Misc
Travel insurance – £166, BMC Trek Insurance
Garmin InReach Explorer subscription – £40 per month
OutdoorActive App – £60
Other – £50 – miscellaneous kindle books and pharmacies
I didn’t need to get a new phone SIM as O2 still had free roaming in the EU.
Total cost of my 2 month walk across the Pyrenees ~ £3,500.
You could definitely do it cheaper than me, and you could easily spend double! I’m not sponsored by any brands; I’m very fortunate to be able to afford this through savings from my job. I’m also lucky to work for a company that lets me go off wandering for a couple of months every now and then.
I haven’t included gear in this budget, as this will be hugely variable depending on what you already have. I only purchased a new pair of shoes for this trip, with the rest of my gear already built up from previous adventures.
For money on the trail I used credit card or cash. Lots of places didn’t take card so I had to get more cash out than I’d thought, thankfully Monzo didn’t charge on ATM withdrawals in the EU.