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30th Jul 2026 - 4th Aug 2026
6 days/France /Moderate to Challenging
This stunning but demanding trek in the Pyrenees starts in France, following the route of the ’Chemin de la Liberté’. You will trek in the footsteps of the many allied servicemen and Jewish refugees and see memorials to some of the people who risked their lives to help them.
You explore remote trails ascending to 2522m before descending into Spain. By carrying our own kit for part of the trek we are able to get away from the beaten tracks of the Pyrenees and follow an exact wartime escape route. This is a truly inspirational trek offering an insight into the hardships endured and bravery of all those who escaped, those who helped and those who sadly did not make it to safety.
You don’t have to fundraise to join an open challenge but you can support a charity of your choice if you wish. See the costs tab for more details.
The trek is rated challenging for someone already at a good fitness level.
You must be fit enough to trek for 4 consecutive days for up to 9 hours each day over exposed, rough, rocky mountain terrain with some steep inclines and descents, and requiring a small amount of scrambling. You must be fit enough to carry all your own kit (including sleeping bag, clothes, water, snacks etc.) which is likely to weigh at least 9-10kg. You cannot be too fit for this challenge so you should train well before your departure.
The Freedom Trail (Chemin de la Liberté) across the Pyrenees is now an official way-marked route commemorating one of the escape routes of WW2. Several such trails were used by RAF and American Airmen who were shot down or crashed over Nazi-occupied Europe, as well as hundreds of Jews and refugees desperate to flee from German oppression. A range of routes across Europe were developed, often assisted by local people, leading to safety elsewhere.
This route from France crosses the high mountain passes of the Pyrenees to reach the safety of the Spanish border. As Spain was a neutral country, Allied forces could safely travel to Gibraltar to journey home to rejoin the fight, whilst other refugees found safety there. It is estimated that there were some 782 successful escapes around the ‘Chemin de la Liberté, and it is thought that some 33,000 people followed such trails of escape across Europe during the Second World War.
An ideal candidate is someone who is open minded, positive, flexible and enjoys the challenges of the great outdoors. Adventure travel involves elements of the unexpected so do not expect the standards to be the same as you are used to at home. Remote areas are sometimes unpredictable (be it because of group pace, weather conditions etc.) and itineraries may be altered to allow for this. You must also be willing to train hard for this challenge!
The trek is accompanied by local professional English-speaking guides who have an excellent knowledge of hiking in the region. The guides are first aid trained and will support you throughout your journey. You will also be supported by a Different Travel Company UK tour manager.
The terrain will vary throughout the 5 days but in general you will trek on mountainouse terrain with lots of uphill and downhill areas. There are some steep sections so trekking poles are recommended, particularly for those with knee issues. Underfoot you will find rocky or grassy trails, uneven and muddy forests, scree slopes and possibly some stream crossings. You may walk over some snow or ice covered ground depending on the weather conditions at the time. Each day you will trek for approximately 7-8 hours (variable depending on group pace) and you will cover approximately 10-19km. It is critical that your training includes hill walking and trekking up and down gradients while carrying a heavy backpack. Each day you will experience undulating terrain, so it is important that your training includes hill walking and trekking up and down gradients.
You will stay in 3* hotels while in St Girons and Vielha on a twin or triple-share basis.
During the trek you will stay at auberges and mountain refuges in a mixed dormitory, with up to 15 people per room.
Subera hut (night 3) is a very primitive mountain hut with space for only 10 people to sleep inside. This cannot be reserved and groups often prefer to camp outside; you will need your own camping mat for this but tents are provided. The hut has a cold water sink, occasionally light via a generator and a fire place. There are no toilet facilities here so a toilet area is created near camp. Facilities at the other refuges vary but are slightly more comfortable, e.g. there are hot showers at Estagnous refuge (€2) and refreshments can be purchased from the refuge store (payable locally).
Breakfast, lunch and dinner is included throughout the trip. A variety of bread, cheese, meats and fruits are generally available for breakfast in hotels but the options are more limited in the auberges and refuges. Lunch will be packed with bread, fruit, cheese, bars etc. or will be ingredients to form a buffet lunch, which will be shared. Dinner will be hot and include dishes such as soup, salad, potatoes and meat followed by a dessert depending on location.
The majority of special diets, such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc., can be catered for if we are notified in advance,
The climate in the Pyrenees region can be unpredictable so it is vital to be prepared for all weather conditions and temperatures by packing technical non-cotton layers and waterproofs. In general, the temperature each day will be dependent upon the weather but will range between 15-25°C during the day and could be as low as 5-8°C at night. Weather conditions will vary but in general you will experience sunny, clear days with some rain. As you ascend into the mountains there may be very cold winds so having a suitable shell or warm layer is important even in mid-summer. Snowfall is unlikely but possible.
It’s important to be prepared for all weather conditions and temperatures by packing non-cotton trek layers and waterproofs. It’s better to have waterproofs and not need them, than to not have any when you need them!
Although the temperatures and conditions above are historically accurate, climate change can impact the seasons so you may experience uncharacteristic conditions during the trip which are out of our control. Should this happen the guide will assess the situation and make decisions to ensure the best enjoyment and ultimately safety of the group as a whole.
You must be aged 18+ to join this trek. It may be possible for you to participate if you are 16 or 17 years old but you must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. There is no upper age limit.
UK – Toulouse – Seix
We leave London for Toulouse and on arrival meet our local team before transferring to Seix for the night (approx 1.5 hrs drive). We enjoy a welcome dinner and briefing this evening.
Meals: Dinner
Overnight: Hotel
Seix – Aunac
This morning we start off with a visit to the Chemin de la Liberté Museum then start our trek from La Soumere to tonight’s accommodation, an auberge at either Aunac or Esbints (depending on the group size) and have dinner. We just carry daypacks today as our kit is transported to the auberge ready for our arrival. The auberge offers simple mixed dormitory style accommodation and a hearty dinner.
Trekking: 11.5km, approx. 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Overnight: Auberge
Aunac/Esbints – Subera (1,499m)
From today we must carry our own sleeping bags, camping mats and any other kit needed (i.e. wash-kit and clothes) as we won’t meet our vehicles again until the end of the trip. We are now entering wilderness terrain, and we will advise you what to pack in your bag as it is important not to carry more than necessary. Today’s trek takes us to Subera at 1,499m. We set off through the forest and commence a long steep climb up to the Col de le Core (1,395m) before lunch. It is then a gentler walk to reach tonight’s accommodation, a mountain hut set in a beautiful valley at the foot of towering cliffs. The hut is very primitive with a cold water sink, occasionally light via a generator and a good fire. We generally eat dinner (camping cooking) in the hut and either camp outside or sleep inside, depending on the group size. (Our tents are stored there ready for us).
Trekking: 15km, approx. 7 hours
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Overnight: Mountain hut or camping
Subera – Estagnous (2,241m)
Today is the most challenging day with a climb of 1,500m which takes us into higher mountains crossing two cols of around 2,400m. The scenery becomes more and more impressive the higher we climb as we pass the wreck of a crashed Halifax bomber at 2,100m before crossing the steep Col de Craberous and descending for lunch. After lunch we descend to a lake before climbing up once more to cross the final col to descend to the Estagnous mountain refuge (at 2,241m). The refuge offers mixed dormitory-style accommodation, as well as hot showers (cost €2) and a 3-course dinner.
Trekking: 9 km, approx. 9 hours
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Overnight: Mountain refuge
Estagnous – Vielha
Our final day of trekking brings us across the border into Spain via our trek’s highest point (2,522m) before descending to Borde de Perosa, where we are picked up for a transfer to Vielha (approx. 1 hour). There is one particularly tricky section today where we have to hold on to a via ferrata style wire to negotiate a steep, rocky channel for approx. 150m, this involves scrambling over rocks.
On arrival at Vielha we check in to our hotel and enjoy a celebration dinner this evening.
Trekking: 9.2km, approx. 7 hours
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
Vielha – Toulouse – UK
Depending on the flight schedules there might be time to explore Vielha independently this morning before we travel back to Toulouse airport (approx. 2.5 hours’ drive) for the flight back to London.
Meals: Breakfast
N.B. We will do our best to keep to this itinerary however we cannot be held responsible for changes that might occur outside of our control. In all such circumstances your guide and tour leader will have the final say in the interest of the health and safety of the group.
Registration fee: £395 and then either…
Self-funded: £1,600
or
Sponsorship: £3,200
or
Flexi: £1,600 trip costs and £1,600 sponsorship for a charity* of your choice
This option is for those who choose to pay the trip costs (flights, accommodation, food, guides etc.) themselves. There is no sponsorship required although if you wish to raise sponsorship for a charity you are welcome to do so.
This option is for those who wish to raise sponsorship to cover both the costs of the trip (flights, accommodation, food, guides etc.) and a donation to their chosen charity. There is a minimum sponsorship amount for each trip that you are required to raise in order to participate.
This option is for those who choose to pay the trip costs (flights, accommodation, food, guides etc.) themselves while still raising some funds for the charity.
*If your chosen charity is not on this list, please seek permission to fundraise for them by taking part in this challenge before making your booking.
If you’ve a question about this challenge that you can’t find the answer to within the given information then complete this quick form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
