Grande Tête de l'Obiou

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I also hesitated for a long time before doing this hike. But what a pleasure and joy it was to do this magnificent, sometimes demanding hike. By being careful and vigilant, there were no technical difficulties. The trails are fairly well marked. I met another hiker along the way, which allowed us to make the ascent together, which was reassuring. It really needs to be done in good weather and on dry ground. The reward is both the varied route and the superb 360° view at the summit. I will definitely do this hike again. Thank you to the author

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Date of your route : Aug 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello everyone,

After reading quite a few comments and feeling a little dizzy, I hesitated for a long time about doing the Obiou.
In the end, the weather was perfect and it went very well.
it took us 5 hours and 45 minutes in total (4 hours of actual walking according to Strava, we're pretty good walkers).
We went up via the classic GR route (not the Cravate) and came down via the combe, passing through the cave.
The route is very well marked, with lots of red lines, especially in tricky spots.
For me, the trickiest part is definitely the descent, with a slightly steep section at the beginning, followed by the amphitheatre, where you have to climb down carefully. Don't go in wet conditions.
It was hot, and we were glad we brought plenty of water.

However, it's a magnificent hike with a fairly gradual climb at the start and a 360° panorama at the top.

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Date of your route : Aug 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello
A very enjoyable race with beautiful weather, conducted safely and well organised.
Patrick

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Hello,
I went to Obiou via the normal route
(without Visorando), the signposting is good, so it's easy to follow.
Regarding the signposts, when crossing south just below the summit that you go around, you may be confused by the fact that the painted signs are partially covered by another coat of paint that is trying to hide them... It's a lost cause, but a little unsettling, because you wonder what to do
Just follow them anyway, it's the right way... even if some "purists" have tried to make them disappear. 🤷
It's a really beautiful hike... a bit airy at times... 😊

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

Hike (Obiou summit) completed on 30/10/2024.
Great weather, few people on the route and at the summit
Ascent in 4 hours; descent in 3.5 hours; 1 hour break at the summit (amazing views) ...
Did not wear a helmet but (luckily) there were no rock falls as there were no other hikers (or chamois) above us; however, wearing a helmet is still "advisable" given the uneven terrain and risk of rock falls
Very exposed sections where slipping is "prohibited"... but very beautiful!
Not recommended for people prone to vertigo or in wet weather
Follow the red markings carefully, even when they are sometimes covered in grey (in the final part of the large ledge) before tackling the summit slope
For experienced hikers in good physical condition

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Date of your route : Aug 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The previous reviews were good advice. This is indeed a hike where you need to be sure-footed, as there are some very steep and uneven sections where you need to use your hands. Wearing a helmet is strongly recommended, as rock falls are frequent (from animals or other hikers).
This hike is quite difficult but offers magnificent views. My partner and I took 7 hours to complete the round trip, not including a 45-minute break at the summit.

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Date of your route : Aug 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We set off in foggy conditions, but quickly rose above the sea of clouds – magnificent! Follow the red markings carefully, both on the way up and down the ledges after the Petit Obiou, and don't be distracted by the cairns, which are everywhere! The red markings are covered in grey on part of the route, but the route is OK. This hike is more of a mountaineering route, easy level (in terms of difficulty, not length), and can be a good introduction. I agree with the advice about helmets. I recommend at least taking one with you... when you hear the stones rolling, you'll quickly be convinced to wear it! We saw a large rock fall above the Cravate ledge after someone strayed from the route.

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Date of your route : Sep 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike, bordering on exceptional thanks to the beauty of this summit, which is well worth the effort!
The route is clever and passes through three of the four sides.
I confirm that you need to be sure-footed and have a clear head, as the few passages that require the use of your hands are, of course, in places where there is a drop, or even a steep drop
(especially the passage on the ramp leading to the top of the ledge (Point 8 in the guidebook). The south face that opens up before you makes the passage dizzying )
For the schedule, departure is at 8:45 a.m., return at 3:15 p.m., with a 45-minute break at the summit. Seven hours is a good average, as I was alone and didn't encounter any "traffic jams" in the tricky sections.

Note: At the top, the red markings are covered in grey (an attempt to erase them?). This makes them harder to follow, so you need to follow the weathered rocks carefully.

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Date of your route : Aug 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We set off from Col de Samblue and it took us 8 hours, including breaks.

This is a beautiful hike with magnificent scenery and breathtaking views.

The route is fairly reliable; just follow the red markings along the way.
There are some tricky sections before reaching the summit, requiring a few steps of climbing.

Superb landscape with a 360° view of all the mountains from the summit.

Be very careful and vigilant throughout the route, which is suitable for experienced hikers.

A helmet is strongly recommended.

I would personally classify this as extremely difficult.

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Thank you very much for your reply. I often hike alone and don't feel comfortable dealing with guard dogs. So when I hear sheep and the characteristic barking, I change direction... However, I would love to chat with the shepherds, who are often very interesting people and whose lifestyle I admire. That said, the light in September is even more beautiful on the Obiou. So, I hope to see you there at that time in this majestic place (I would like to try climbing up the chimney of the Petit Obiou).

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I had planned to do this wonderful hike again, without knowing exactly when.
But I'll take your post on the subject into account and won't go there before September.
Thanks for letting us know!

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Date of your route : Aug 01, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

This hike passes through the Obiou valley, where a shepherd works. The increasingly difficult conditions for practising this profession and this year's extreme drought are making it difficult to welcome hikers to the Obiou valley. Even with the best intentions, we hikers often disturb the flock of sheep, which are particularly hungry and thirsty this year. The dogs sense this precarious situation and become aggressive. Out of respect for the pastoral way of life, I recommend visiting the Obiou outside the summer grazing season (July and August).
Thank you in advance for your understanding.

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Date of your route : Jul 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

About 10 people
Beautiful weather

Superb hike
Several very exposed sections from Point 4 Wear a helmet until you reach the summit
Some climbing experience is a plus
In my opinion, it is essential to follow the red markings
The descent is as tricky as the climb, if not more so.
In the last section, the red markings are covered with grey paint, which may make you think you're off track. This is not the case. Whether covered in grey or not, follow the markings.

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Date of your route : Jun 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, very technical hike. Take your time going up and down.
In my opinion, the climb and descent of the pass (points 4 to 5) are the most difficult and require a helmet if there are a lot of people around.
Do NOT attempt in wet conditions or heavy fog. It is best to go in the morning and you must not be prone to vertigo! Keep your footing steady on the descent...
The summit is spectacular with its 360° view.
GH07

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Date of your route : Jun 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, even though we set off in fog (which kept us cool during the first part).
The trail is smooth and very pleasant until point 4, after which it requires more effort and vigilance.
Unlike other hikes, we didn't find the exposed sections particularly challenging, but you do need to be sure-footed. The descent is particularly demanding on the ledge, but the couloir is surprisingly easier as the steps are smaller.

We were lucky to do this hike during the week at the end of June... with the summer crowds, the risk of rock falls in the couloir must increase considerably. A helmet is highly recommended.

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