The GR11 Trail Became My Home
Rough, tough, brutal, and beautiful. The Pyrenees mountain range between Spain and France. They became my home as I hiked the GR11, also known as the Senda Transpirenaica, a long-distance trail stretching 850 kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. This has been one of the most intense, beautiful, and transformative long-distance hikes of my life. Much of it I walked solo. Some of it with my dog Wingo, friends, and my partner Jonatan, as we crossed the beautiful terrain of the Pyrenees mountains.
Why I Set Out on This Thru-Hike
I set out to experience life on the trail, simple, wild, and free in the Pyrenees region. For a change away from the sea. The GR11 wasn’t just about hiking. It was about living fully, carrying everything I needed on my back. And exploring the world in a different way, like following the route of the GR11, And when you strip down to the essentials, you realize how little you actually need to live and to feel alive.
Minimalist Backpacking Setup
My backpack weighed between six and seven kilos without food and water, and it held everything I needed to live, learn, and explore. This lightweight setup made the GR11 a true minimalist hiking and ultralight backpacking experience, simple and self sufficient.
What Trail Life Taught Me
The GR11 winds through some of the wildest and most stunning parts of the Pyrenees. For me, this wasn’t about escaping. It was about stepping deeper into nature, away from the noise, pollution, and distractions of daily life.
I already live a life quite close to nature, navigating coastlines in my camper van or by sail, but this was next level. It was an opportunity to immerse myself more into the wild, Fifty days of navigating mountain passes, foraging berries, and wild camping under the stars. Hiking through the stunning landscapes of the Basque Country, Navarra, Aragon, and Catalonia.
Trail life is simple. It’s all about scouting for food, water, shelter, and the path ahead. A philosophy of outdoor living, nomadlife, guiding towards a deeper connection with nature.
The GR11 is More Than a Trail
The GR11, or any thru-hike, isn’t just a hike; or an adventure travel experience. It’s a lifestyle that brings you closer to nature and to the essence of life than most other ways of living. It teaches you to let go of what’s unnecessary, to embrace the unknown, and to find joy in the simplest things.
If you’ve ever thought about taking on a long-distance hike in Europe, this is your sign to go for it. But you have to be prepared. It is wild.
It Wasn’t Always Easy
Hiking this trail pushed me in ways I never expected.
One of my best tips? Don’t wait until you have the perfect gear or the perfect timing.
Start with what you have and let the trail teach you, embracing the journey. Most lessons are learned from spending time in nature and the distance you cover each day.
Start Where You Are
You don’t need 50 days or 850 kilometers to start. Adventure is wherever you find it. Start small, start easy, and start now. Every day you get a little wilder and wiser. Hiking across the Pyrenees felt like one big treasure hunt. Full of surprises and obstacles every day.
Trail Discoveries and Daily Life
Each day brought something new, making the distance feel shorter. Fruit to pick like blackberries, raspberries, blueberries. Wildlife encounters like marmots, mountain goats, wild pigs, and even bears can be found along the senda in the national parks of the Pirenaica (I had two encounters). Shooting stars, hailstorms, snow, thunder. And experiences that the video could never do justice.
It was brutal at times. Sliding through mud is just part of the adventure on the long stages of the hike. Freezing fingers and lips. But those are the moments that make you feel so alive and appreciate the little things we often take for granted. Like having two legs that work. Access to clean water and air. Or simply, having dry socks.
Deep Nature Connection
As a long-distance hiker on the GR11, you are so connected to nature. You experience the power and impact of the weather daily. You realize how precious resources like water, fresh fruit, or wood for a fire truly are. The things we take for granted become priceless when you have to search and hike for them. It’s an experience that embodies natural living and live with nature.
After weeks in the wild, nature starts to look different. A tree offering shade becomes a gift. A river isn’t just a calming sound, it’s a life source that nourishes the park and its wildlife. A blue sky isn’t just pretty. It means dry socks and safer footing, essential for completing the hike.
Trail life gives you a lasting respect for nature because you are directly dependent on it.
But the deeper truth is that we are always dependent on nature. The longer you’re out there, the less scary and more familiar it all becomes, as you find your place in nature. You feel part of nature, not just a visitor. And that’s a powerful feeling.
Fear, Doubt, and Wild Lessons
There were definitely days I questioned my sanity. Like waking up with frozen tent poles. Encountering a roaring bear. Doing a thousand-meter steep descent in pouring rain. Missing a trail marker and adding hours of ghost kilometers. Or when two of my three trekking poles broke and I wasn’t sure how to continue.
But those challenges led to new insights and discoveries. That we are capable of so much more than we think. That the trail always finds a way to surprise you and provide for you.
Simple Living and Essentials
Trail life is simple. It’s all about scouting for food, water, shelter, and the path ahead.
When you strip down to the essentials, you realize how little you actually need to live and to feel alive. My pack, weighing 6–7 kilos without food or water, held everything I needed to live, learn, and explore.
Again, don’t wait for the perfect gear or moment; just hit the senda and enjoy the journey. The trail will teach you what you really need, much like the lessons learned on the GR10.
Finding My Flow
One of the most special parts of solo hiking across the Pyrenees was the solitude. Walking alone, I found a rhythm that felt so natural. It was just me, the mountains, and my thoughts. I found myself planning less and noticing more.
I could feel my intuition strengthening and my mind focusing on what really matters. For work, I often organize adventures for others, which I love to do. But now, I could really step into my own flow in nature.
Rest is when dreams are crystallized, especially after a long day on the trail. Away from input, expectations, and noise, you find solace in the quiet stages of the hike, a perfect place for reflection. It strengthens your intuition and reminds you to make sure you’re climbing the right mountain. In life, and on trail.
Camaraderie in the Wild
Even in the quiet, there was connection. With the land, the animals, and the people I met along the way.
Trail angels and fellow hikers always seemed to appear when I needed them most. There’s an unspoken camaraderie on the trail. You’re all in it together, even when you’re walking alone.
I met incredible people who made the journey richer. From butchers giving Wingo meat, to strangers offering rides, to hikers sharing chocolate. And of course, friends who joined me to share in the magic.
Final Thoughts on the GR11
The GR11, or any European long-distance trail, is more than a hike; it’s a great adventure through the heart of nature. It’s an invitation to live differently. To slow down. To reconnect with yourself and the natural world while traversing the stages of the GR11.
You don’t need 850 kilometers or 50 days to start. Start small, perhaps with a weekend trip in the Basque Country to explore the senda. Start where you are.
Each step brings more clarity, more connection, and more trust in yourself and the world.
If you’ve ever dreamed of an adventure like this, go for it. Prioritize it. It’s one of the best investments in your health and happiness.
So pack your bag, put on your shoes, and take that first step. The trail will meet you where you are and I promise, it’s worth it.
Watch Part 1: What’s the GR11 like and why go on a long-distance hike?
Watch the first video of my GR11 thru-hike on YouTube
GR11 Resources
My Ultralight GR11 Gear List
All GR11 Blog Posts & Trail Tips
More coming!
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Got questions about the GR11, solo hiking, or trail life?
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