dossier

Mountains to the Mediterranean

General Information

This is a walk that links the mountains with the sea. It starts in LaPreste, the highest village of the Haute Vallespir valley, high on the frontierbetween France and Spain. Each day you will be traveling downhill and getting alittle nearer to the "Big Blue", as the Mediterranean is called inthese parts. The route follows a series of waymarked paths through the heavilyscented maquis to the seaport of Banyuls, home of the great French sculptorAristide Maillol, and renowned for its famous aperitif wine. On your way youwill be able to sample the wines of Roussillon, delicious local honeys, and theCatalan cuisine.

Travel Information
Arrival: Between2p.m and 7p.m on first day.

First hotel:At La Preste, which is quite remote and about an hour and a half drive fromPerpignan. It is reachable by bus (2 hours) from Perpignan or by taxi from theairport. Car parking is available adjacent to the first hotel free of chargebut remember this is not a circular route so you will have to travel back to LaPreste from Collioure. A taxi to La Preste from Perpignan costs approx $144. Ataxi to La Preste from Collioure costs approx $128. Taxis must be booked andpaid for in advance and can take up to 8 people.

Nearest Airport: The most convenient airport is Perpignan via Paris. Weorganize transfers from Perpignan railway station or airport to La Preste, itcosts US$200 per transfer for up to 8 people and must be booked via BreakawayAdventures and paid for in advance. The other alternative is to take a taxi but this will cost more. You will receive up-to-date train times for your date oftravel, or alternatively you can visit Rail Europe's website at www.raileurope.com or call toll free1-800-848-7245.

End of Tour:After breakfast on day 8 in Collioure. It is only a short train ride fromCollioure to Perpignan You can then take a taxi to the airport. A taxi all the way cost approx $66. You can take trains from Collioure to Montpellier,Toulouse or Marseille to connect with other return flights.  Check times before traveling.

Season:late April to mid-October, excluding August.  Please note that it is very hot in this area in August and it isbetter to avoid this month.

Level of Difficulty
Fitness:This walk is best described as moderate but should present no difficulties foranyone in reasonable condition and accustomed to walking.

Day stages:4 of the day stages are 4 to 6 hours. An overnight change of clothes also hasto be carried on two days because one hotel is too far by road to transportbaggage.

Waymarks: Thetrail follows in the main the GR10 and other well-established paths andpresents no special difficulties. Waymarking is sparse in one or two places anda reasonable facility with map and compass reading is required.

Accommodation & Meals
Accommodation is on a half board basis(evening meal and breakfast) on 5 nights and on a bed and breakfast basis forthe other 2 nights all in country inns and hotels (mostly a mix of 2* and 3*).Picnic lunches on walking days are not included in the tour cost but these canbe ordered from the hotels of provisions can be bought from local shops on mostdays.

Most frequently used hotels are described belowbut alternatives of a comparable standard are used on occasion when roomavailability is limited.

Night 1: LaPreste les Bains. Mainland France's most southerly hotel (2*) in a dramaticposition overlooking the river. La Preste is a noted health resort where thehot springs were and may well still be the ultimate cure for E-coli. Halfboard.

Night 2: Mollo(in Spain, 1182m above sea level). Our usual accommodation is a 29-room hotelin a typical Spanish mountain village with views over the Pyrenean foothillsand with Catalan and international food. This hotel does not have an officialrating but the rooms are some of the best on the trip. Half board.

Night 3: Prats-de-Mollo.2* accommodation, either a small Logis de France hotel and restaurant with awell-qualified chef in the shadow of the walls of the old fortified village oranother hotel of similar size and standard just a 5 minute walk away. Halfboard.

Night 4: Amelie-les-Bains.A  fairly large 2* hotel with 63 roomswith private facilities, telephone, TV. The hotel is close to the town center,shops, restaurants and cafes. The lounge has an open fireplace. Half board.

Night 5: LeBoulou. Tonight we have to leave the mountains. Our hotel (2*) is on the quietback streets on the edge of the old town overlooking the Tech valley. It boastsa swimming pool but this is in reality just a small dip pool suitable for youngchildren. It also has a good restaurant with a terrace. Half board.

Night 6 & 7: In Collioure our 3* hotel is in a quiet location about 500mfrom the center of this busy town and about 600m from the sea. The hotel has 22rooms all with on suite facilities. The two nights are booked on a bed andbreakfast basis as there are numerous good restaurants in the town and alongthe waterfront.

Extra nights can be booked to extend the holiday. If you want to build in arest day or two then extra nights are recommended at Prats- de-Molo orAmelie-les-Bains. A Full day in Collioure is also worthwhile.