In mid September 2003, I drove from Germany, through Luxembourg, to France where I toured the Central Mountains. Then drove on to Andorra, to Spain and eastward through the Pyrenees, all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. Then I drove back, westward, through the Pyrenees again, up to the dessert like area called "Las Bardenas Reales", and on to the Atlantic Ocean. From the Atlantic, I went eastward again through the Pyrenees past Andorra, and then back through France and Luxembourg to Germany. The entire trip took 14 days.

Recommended map: "Pyrenäen mit Andorra" (Pyrenees with Andorra) from Reise know-how, scale 1:250.000

Guide book:  The Rough Guide to the Pyrenees

General information

The best time to go to the Pyrenees is Spring and Autumn (Fall). At end of September, I still found temperatures of more then 30°C (86°F), but at night it did get chilly. Some passes are higher than 2000m (6500 feet), and this means that if one goes too early or too late in the year, the passes could be closed because of snow.

On many mountains in Spain, and also in the "Las Bardenas Reales", it is permitted, or at least not forbidden, to drive off road (cross country).

Language skills: In France, Andorra and Spain, speaking German does not really help and speaking English helps seldom. But the people are friendly and helpful, and will try to understand sign language if they don't understand your language.