Walking French Pyrenees

Trip Itinerary

Day 1: ARRIVAL – Join Saint Lary (830 m)
Pick up at Carcassonne airport, welcome by your France Outdoors Guide of the week and transfer to Saint Lary.
This part of the central Pyrenees offers a very dramatic mountain chain with the National Park nearby, and is considered as one of the best places in the Pyrenees for hiking. The village itself is also quaint with typical local architecture from the Pyrenees. It has plenty of bars, restaurants and shops and also a cable car to get to the Pla d’Adet (1660 m).
The 3 star hotel “Les Arches” is a family run hotel with a swimming pool and is ideally located in the centre of the village.
Walks will be led by a qualified mountain leader.
Dinner included, in the company of the guide.
Day 2: WALK – Grascoueou ridge (1644 m) / GR 10
In the morning start directly from the hotel and walk up to the Cap de Pede (1634 m) on the GR 10. On the way up the guests will discover the lovely Pyrennean villages of Vignec and Soulan. Once at the Grascoueou ridge and on the GR 10 the views will be superb both on Saint Lary and the Aulon valley. The downhill track will follow the GR 10 with nice views of the Arbizon mountain to the north and Pla d’Adet to the south.
Return to Saint Lary by foot.
Walk: Distance 15 km Ascent 820 m Descent 820 m
Breakfast and dinner included. Lunch not included.
Day 3: WALK – Neouvielle Natural reserve – Bastan lake (2220 m)
After a short transfer by private minibus to the col du Portet (2215m), the group will walk along the superb Montarrouye ridge (up to 2462m) the Pichaley peak (2626 m) before closing the loop through the Bastan lake and coming down to Espiaude. Superb views of the Neouvielle area during this walk.
Transfer by minibus to Saint Lary after the walk.
Walk: Distance 10 km Ascent 820 m Descent 820 m
Breakfast included. Picnic lunch and dinner not included.
Day 4: Walk the bataillance ridge (2604 m)
After a transfer to Bielsa tunnel (30 min) the guests will climb to the Port de Bielsa pass (2424 m) at the Spanish border. Then the ridge walk follows the French / Spanish border all the way to the Pic de Bataillance (2604 m). The views during this walk are stunning: the big mountains of the pyrenees like Troumouse (3085 m) or Munia (3133 m) and also on the Spanish side, with the Barranco Pinara or Rio de Barrosa.
Transfer by minibus back to Saint Lary after the walk.
Walk: Distance 8 km Ascent 812 m Descent 812 m
Breakfast and dinner included. Lunch not included.
Day 5: Free Day
Many options are available on a free day.
Museums: There are several museums in Saint Lary (for example the museum of bears or of the Pyrenees national park). All are worth a visit.
The thermal baths. The guest can relax in an amazing place with natural water at 32°C, caves and water water falls, jacuzzi and pool.
Water sports : The guest can also try white water rafting or canyoning depending on the season and water condition.
Mountain biking or road cycling: The guests can also rent a mountain bike and enjoy one of the famous rides around or a road bike and try one of the cols of the tour de France around like Tourmalet or Peyresourde.
Breakfast included. Dinner and picnic lunch not included.
Day 6: Walk the National Park.
Start from Plan Aragnouet 1330m after a short transfer, walk the Gela valley and stop bay the Barroude hut (2375 m) and then climb the steep Port de Barroude (2534 m) at the Spanish border. Magnificent walk right in the park and surrounded by the High peaks of the central Pyrenees.
Walk: Distance 12 km Ascent 750 m Descent 750 m
Breakfast and dinner included. Lunch not included.
Day 7 : WALK – ENS village (1207 m)– Coume lake (1565 m)
For the first day the group will walk directly from the hotel. After passing the village of Salhan, the guests will start climbing initially in the forest and then in the open all the way to the typical Pyrennean village of ENS. From there the climb to the Coume lake is superb on a wide ridge and with some superb views of Saint Lary. Overall it is a perfect first day’s walk to discover the surroundings of Saint Lary.
Walk: Distance 9 km Ascent 650 m Descent 650 m
Breakfast and dinner included. Lunch not included.
Day 8: FAREWELL!!!
The guests will spend the morning at their own pace in Saint Lary before the transfer to Carcassonne airport.
Breakfast included.