recommended route
Multi-day route
The Route of the Pyrenees Mountain Passes
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Ascension du col de l'AubisquePhoto: Frédéric Blavoux, Mountnpass
The route of the mountain passes allows you to cross the entire Pyrenees, from West to East, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea.
This well-named route goes through about thirty remarkable mountain passes, some made famous by the Tour de France and known worldwide. These include, among others: Aubisque, Tourmalet, Aspin, Peyresourde, Portillon, Menté, Agnès, Port de Lers, Chioula...
In short, an incredible challenge of more than 900 km crossing 6 French departments and 2 Spanish regions, in magnificent landscapes.
Plan the great adventure, or approach the monster in pieces, all sections are magnificent!
Author’s recommendation
Additional information: the route is marked. You will find technical information (altitude, elevation gain, distance) for the different passes in the step descriptions.
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Show elevation profileSafety information
Emergency number: 112
For people with hearing or speech difficulties: 114 by SMS
Tips and suggestions
All along the route, tourist offices welcome you to provide information.
Public transport
By train, we recommend joining the stations of Saint-Jean-de-Luz or Hendaye at the West end of the route, and Cerbère station at the East end.
Toulouse is also a relatively central point on the rail network between the start and end points of the route.
Get Timetable to destination
Directions
The motorway accesses allow easy reach of the West end (Hendaye) and East end (Cerbère) of the route.Parking
Long-term parking is available at the Hendaye train station.
Coordinates
Author’s map recommendations
Equipment
Before you leave:
- Make sure the bike is in perfect mechanical condition, including tires and brakes
- Ensure the bike is properly adjusted to your body shape
- Wearing a helmet is highly recommended
- Bring a repair kit
- Remember that traffic laws apply to cyclists at all times
- Never ride more than two abreast and move into a single file when traffic conditions require it
- Respect other road users as you wish to be respected
- Choose a route suited to your physical abilities
- Inform people around you of your itinerary
- Check the weather conditions
- A first aid kit is not essential but can be very useful
- Know and keep the emergency phone numbers handy
- Respect the environment by not throwing food packaging on the roadside
- If you must return at dusk, make sure you can see and be seen
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Weather at the starting point
Statistics
This first section of the Route of the Pyrenean mountain passes connects the Atlantic beaches to the foot of the majestic Col d'Aubisque, crossing ...
This second section, which crosses the Hautes-Pyrées, is the real high mountain part of the route des cols. You will ride the mythical climbs of ...
This 3rd section starts from the spa resort of Bagnères-de-Luchon in Haute-Garonne, to take famous mountain passes with a brief passage into Spain ...
This 4th section goes up the Ariège valley to Ax-les-Thermes before rising and then descending towards the Aude, in the Fenouill des region.
This last section in the Pyrénées-Orientales crosses the Catalan Pyrenees and gradually descends towards the magnificent reflections of the ...
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Photos from others