Around Amélie-les-Bains

This route will allow you to explore the surroundings of Amélie-les-Bains, namely Montbolo, where there is an orientation table, and Palalda, a village with a medieval feel.

Details

3150504
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.03 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 436 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 437 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 619 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 198 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park on Rue de la Riviera.

(S/E) From the car park, walk along Rue de la Riviera on the west side and turn right onto Rue Heliopolis, which leads to the intersection with Rue des Ginestas.

(1) Take the yellow-marked trail on the left (wooden sign indicating: Montbolo, behind the fence) and continue to a trail junction.

(2) Leave the marked trail that branches off to the left and continue straight ahead. Cross a stream and join a road. Caution: very steep slope.

(3) Turn right and enter Montbolo. Stay on the Route de Can Kirc until you reach the orientation table and picnic area.

Descend to the right along the marked trail and join Route D53. Turn left and follow the red and yellow markings ofthe GRP® de la Ronde du Canigó, just after the local bistro and the town hall.

(4) Take the path on the right towards Palalda. Cross the D53 for the first time by taking the path opposite. Leave the yellow marked path that branches off to the right to continue on theGRP® and cross the D53 for the second time, which will take you to the El Solà clinic.

(5) Stay on theGRP® trail, ignoring any side paths, to reach the Palalda road.

(6) Turn left, then leave the road and turn right onto Carrer de l'Aire.
At the intersection, ignore Carrer del Bac, which branches off to the left, and turn right onto Carrer General de Gaulle. (You are still on theGRP®).

Go down the stairs on Carrer Vell and turn right onto Carrer dels Serrats. Continue on Cami del Riberou to follow the Tech along the Quai du Tech.
Stay on theGRP® until the intersection between Passage de la Falaise and Boulevard de la Petite Provence.

(7) Take Passage de la Falaise and then Rue de la Riviera on the right to finish your walk (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 228 m - Departure from the car park on Rue Riviera
  2. 1 : km 0.3 - alt. 250 m - Intersection
  3. 2 : km 1.55 - alt. 511 m - Trail junction
  4. 3 : km 2.92 - alt. 619 m - Montbolo road
  5. 4 : km 3.32 - alt. 592 m - GRP Ronde du Canigó
  6. 5 : km 4.07 - alt. 474 m - El Solà Clinic
  7. 6 : km 5.56 - alt. 256 m - Palalda Road
  8. 7 : km 7.36 - alt. 219 m - Leave the GRP - Walk along the - Tech (fleuve)
  9. S/E : km 8.03 - alt. 228 m - Arrival at the Rue Riviera car park

Notes

Worth a visit

The thermal baths of Amélie-les-Bains.
Former Formentera mining station on theGRP® between Montbolo and Batère.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 14 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
valf66
valf66

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant circular route where you can discover the villages of Montbolo and Palalda (the latter being particularly pretty).
Difficult to follow the route in the village itself, even with the map, as the markings have disappeared.
Less pleasant ending along the road.
I still recommend it, though.

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FRANK53100
FRANK53100

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

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Vejapi
Vejapi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A route that allows you to discover two very picturesque little villages, Montbolo and Palalda, very pleasant along the paths, through the woods, used by mule drivers and miners.

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Jujuvillanove
Jujuvillanove
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route is fantastic! We had a wonderful time. The first part is a little more physically demanding, but the scenery is well worth the effort! We absolutely loved the medieval village of Palalda! We stayed at the Amelia campsite, 600 metres from the trail. It's a great base for exploring the surrounding area

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Patrick Terrier
Patrick Terrier

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We walked on a beautiful sunny day.
The start of the Rodella trail is quite challenging, but it quickly becomes easier.
The Montbolo rest area above the church is a very pleasant place to have lunch.
The Palalda municipal museum at the foot of the castle is very interesting.
In summary, this is a fairly easy hike physically, rich and diverse.

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fanfanmarie
fanfanmarie
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The first part of the route is fairly steep but very pleasant, with lots of wild boar tracks.
The route is very well marked and signposted, all the way back to Amélie-les-Bains.

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Famille NEE
Famille NEE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice hike with magnificent scenery and very few paved roads. Pretty village of Monbolo. A very beautiful and pleasant day.

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Go66
Go66

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The first part of the route climbs quite a bit. It's an opportunity to encounter deer, which came up to us while we were taking a break halfway up, or to cross paths with a group of wild boars, who were more frightened than we were. This part is in the shade of a dense forest, but with a well-marked trail. Once in Monbolo, you leave the forest and descend towards Palalda via the "iron path". Nothing particularly interesting. The worst part is once you reach the bottom of the path, when you have to walk along the quays to return to the starting point. The return journey is even boring.

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martine cls
martine cls

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A long, steep climb and a long, steep descent, but it's worth it. The path is simply magnificent, both uphill and downhill.

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boudetpat
boudetpat

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant half-day hike.

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Anne-élise
Anne-élise

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 24, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
I highly recommend Vallespir and this shaded hike. My partner and I stopped at the Amélia campsite in Amélie Les Bains to go hiking. They offer an inexpensive hiking package, which allows you to pitch your tent on a pitch and use the sanitary facilities.

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GERARD MARYSE
GERARD MARYSE

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 24, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike mainly through pleasant woodland. Significant elevation gain at the start between 1 and 2. Fairly rugged terrain.

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viso2015
viso2015

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hiking mainly in the woods

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jpmatra
jpmatra

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 11, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
Hiking in the woods on a hot day was a good choice. However, there are a few things that need to be clarified.
The markings in the first part, in the forest up to the road, where the climb is steep, are very few and far between. Several times we wondered if we were on the right track. There is also a detail missing: just before reaching the road (the first time), you cross the river a second time. Further on, after the clinic, the passage at the bottom of the field is difficult because the grass is very tall.
One last thing: gunshots, quite close by, in the first part, in the forest, also put us off a bit.
Nevertheless, this walk is well worth doing, we really enjoyed it.
Thank you

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