Intermediate Walking Holidays
Trekking in the spectacular Pyrenees!
Our intermediate walking holidays are aimed at keen walkers looking to expand their European walking and discover the most beautiful walking routes of the Pyrenees.
The trip will not just be about walking - you will also learn about the history, language and culture of the Pyrenees, as well as the special mountain geology, flowers, animals and birds. We are based in the village of Bareges - on the edge of the Neouvielle Nature reserve and the Pyrenees National Park, and only a short drive from the lovely walks above Cauterets, the Vignemale area and the spectacular limestone cirques at the Spanish border (Gavarnie, Troumouse, Estaube).
During a week's intermediate level walking holiday, you will experience a wide variety of walks - past pretty villages and ancients barns, on bergers' paths through terraced meadows, up to high lakes and secluded valleys with rushing streams, and we'll climb to the towering peaks and ridges to look down on the stunning Pyrenees mountains.
The trip will not just be about walking - you will also learn about the history, language and culture of the Pyrenees, as well as the special mountain geology, flowers, animals and birds. We are based in the village of Bareges - on the edge of the Neouvielle Nature reserve and the Pyrenees National Park, and only a short drive from the lovely walks above Cauterets, the Vignemale area and the spectacular limestone cirques at the Spanish border (Gavarnie, Troumouse, Estaube).
During a week's intermediate level walking holiday, you will experience a wide variety of walks - past pretty villages and ancients barns, on bergers' paths through terraced meadows, up to high lakes and secluded valleys with rushing streams, and we'll climb to the towering peaks and ridges to look down on the stunning Pyrenees mountains.
Price
From: EUR680 per person (8 days)
Price Includes
- Seven nights accommodation
- Food
- Five days guided walking
- Local minibus transfers
- Qualified mountain leader
- Flights
An example week’s Pyrenees guided walking itinerary
Saturday - Day 1 Walking Pyrenees:-
Arrive late afternoon. We suggest a leisurely stroll to the creperie at St Justin where you can enjoy a traditional French snack in the sunshine. The restaurant is on an isolated promontory looking out onto the lovely Bastan valley, the village of Barèges and the towering mountains on every side - it can only be accessed on foot. A lovely introduction to the area and walking in the Pyrenees. Walking Pyrenees - Barn next to St-Justin
Sunday - Day 2 Walking Pyrenees:-
We start our week with a dramatic drive to the Col de Tentes (2208m), then an easy warm up to the Port de Boucharo (2270m) and the Spanish border. From here, we follow a good path, which skirts above the Pouey Aspe valley. An easy scramble takes us up to the Col des Sarradets, with spectacular views of the Cirque de Gavarnie and the legendary Grande Cascade. After a quick break at the Sarradets refuge, we climb to the Brèche de Roland (2807m). This incredible slash in the frontier cliffs is our window to Spain and looks into the Ordessa National Park. From the Brèche we have the option of ascending the most accessible of the Pyrenean 3000m peaks – Le Taillon (3144m), which will add about 2hrs to our walk. We descend via the same route.
Monday - Day 3 Walking Pyrenees:-
Starting from our own valley, we drive for five minutes to the Pont de la Gaubie (1538m). Our morning’s ascent follows the GR10 and ascends the beautiful Aygues-Cluses valley. The path climbs gently under gnarled pine trees, then across pasture to the Lacs de Madamète – a good place for a snack before we climb up to the Col de Madamète (2509m), and the Pic de Madamète (2657m) for the more energetic walker. After a leisurely lunch, we make our way past a series of lovely lakes. The landscape here in the Néouvielle Natural Park is very wild and rugged, with few signs of human passage. From the Lac dets Coubous (2041m) we make our descent back to the Pont de La Gaubie on a good path, keeping an eye out for marmots on our way down. This is our favourite place for marmot-spotting.
Tuesday - Day 4 Walking Pyrenees
Leaving from the village of Gèdre, we climb up the righthand side of the Campbieilh valley, through a beautiful beech forest. Leaving the woods, we skirt above the valley floor and ascend to the only lake in the valley – the Lac de Bassia (2275m) - a lovely place for lunch. Our descent takes us to the Cabane du Sausset (1935m), then past a waterfall tumbling from the Cirque d’Estibere Male, and down to the Granges de Campbieilh (1678m). These pretty stone barns are typical of the Pays Toy. From here we follow a paved path, bordered by slate walls, then drop back into the woods for our return to the bus.
Wednesday - Day 5 Walking Pyrenees - DAY OFF:-
Your free day to use as you please. We suggest you try out the thermal spa in the village of Bareges, visit the Pic du Midi observatory or take the bus to the pretty towns of Luz St Sauveur or Argelès-Gazost. Here you can stock up on the delicious local sheep’ cheeses and ‘saucissons sec’ (knobbly French salamis). The pilgrimage town of Lourdes is also accessible by public transport (about 1hr by bus). For those who can’t get enough exercise, there are plenty of trails to be explored on foot from Barèges, and we can arrange activities including paragliding, white water rafting, pony trekking, mountain biking, canyoning etc.
Thursday - Day 6 Walking Pyrenees:-
Leaving from the house (1250m), we cross the Bastan river and attack the horizon which dominates the view from our patio. A zig-zag path through mixed woodland takes us to the meadows of the Transarrious plateau. From here we take the Montagne Fleuri path, ascend to a rounded ridge and look down into a hidden cirque, strewn with ancient cabins and bergers’ paths. We continue up the ridge, enjoying the growing views of Barèges and the Col de Tourmalet, then climb into the cirque through wildflower-filled grassland to our lunch-spot below the peak. If we’re lucky, we might catch sight of an ‘isard’ (Pyrenean Chamois) while we eat. After lunch we make our final ascent to the Pène det Pouri (2587m). The views from the peak are truly spectacular – look North beyond Lac Bleu, the deepest natural lake in the Pyrenees, to the plains, East to the observatory and the Pic du Midi, West across the Atlantic Pyrenees and South to the Spanish frontier and the Brèche de Roland. For the return, we retrace our steps to Barèges for a well-earned drink.
Friday - Day 7 Walking Pyrenees:-
A beautiful drive through the gorges of Pierrefitte and Cauterets takes us to the Pont d’Espagne (1496m), in our neighbouring valley. We start the day with a leisurely walk up the classic glacial U-valley of the Gave de Marcadau, then climb steeply through a pretty forest and across a boulder-strewn hillside to the Lacs de Embarrat (2139m). After a refreshing dip in one of these beautiful lakes, we ascend more gently to our highest point at the Lac de Pourtet (2420m). Our descent takes us through sculptured granite boulders, past the dark Lac Nere (2309m) and down through ancient stunted pine trees to the Refuge Wallon (1812m). Here we stop for refreshments on the terrace of the first Pyrenean refuge of the Club Alpin Francais, overlooked by the towering peaks of the Spanish frontier, then follow an easy path along the Marcadau river and back to the Pont d’Espagne.
Saturday - Day 8 Walking Pyrenees:-
Packing! We depart for the airport around lunchtime.
NOTE
These are example routes for an intermediate-level walking holiday in the Pyrenees. A typical mountain day will be 5-7 hours and will usually involve ascents of between 800-1500m. You should have a reasonable level of fitness, but our walks can always be tailored to the needs of your group. Please contact us to discuss a Pyrenees walking holiday that will suit you.
Saturday - Day 1 Walking Pyrenees:-
Arrive late afternoon. We suggest a leisurely stroll to the creperie at St Justin where you can enjoy a traditional French snack in the sunshine. The restaurant is on an isolated promontory looking out onto the lovely Bastan valley, the village of Barèges and the towering mountains on every side - it can only be accessed on foot. A lovely introduction to the area and walking in the Pyrenees. Walking Pyrenees - Barn next to St-Justin
Sunday - Day 2 Walking Pyrenees:-
We start our week with a dramatic drive to the Col de Tentes (2208m), then an easy warm up to the Port de Boucharo (2270m) and the Spanish border. From here, we follow a good path, which skirts above the Pouey Aspe valley. An easy scramble takes us up to the Col des Sarradets, with spectacular views of the Cirque de Gavarnie and the legendary Grande Cascade. After a quick break at the Sarradets refuge, we climb to the Brèche de Roland (2807m). This incredible slash in the frontier cliffs is our window to Spain and looks into the Ordessa National Park. From the Brèche we have the option of ascending the most accessible of the Pyrenean 3000m peaks – Le Taillon (3144m), which will add about 2hrs to our walk. We descend via the same route.
Monday - Day 3 Walking Pyrenees:-
Starting from our own valley, we drive for five minutes to the Pont de la Gaubie (1538m). Our morning’s ascent follows the GR10 and ascends the beautiful Aygues-Cluses valley. The path climbs gently under gnarled pine trees, then across pasture to the Lacs de Madamète – a good place for a snack before we climb up to the Col de Madamète (2509m), and the Pic de Madamète (2657m) for the more energetic walker. After a leisurely lunch, we make our way past a series of lovely lakes. The landscape here in the Néouvielle Natural Park is very wild and rugged, with few signs of human passage. From the Lac dets Coubous (2041m) we make our descent back to the Pont de La Gaubie on a good path, keeping an eye out for marmots on our way down. This is our favourite place for marmot-spotting.
Tuesday - Day 4 Walking Pyrenees
Leaving from the village of Gèdre, we climb up the righthand side of the Campbieilh valley, through a beautiful beech forest. Leaving the woods, we skirt above the valley floor and ascend to the only lake in the valley – the Lac de Bassia (2275m) - a lovely place for lunch. Our descent takes us to the Cabane du Sausset (1935m), then past a waterfall tumbling from the Cirque d’Estibere Male, and down to the Granges de Campbieilh (1678m). These pretty stone barns are typical of the Pays Toy. From here we follow a paved path, bordered by slate walls, then drop back into the woods for our return to the bus.
Wednesday - Day 5 Walking Pyrenees - DAY OFF:-
Your free day to use as you please. We suggest you try out the thermal spa in the village of Bareges, visit the Pic du Midi observatory or take the bus to the pretty towns of Luz St Sauveur or Argelès-Gazost. Here you can stock up on the delicious local sheep’ cheeses and ‘saucissons sec’ (knobbly French salamis). The pilgrimage town of Lourdes is also accessible by public transport (about 1hr by bus). For those who can’t get enough exercise, there are plenty of trails to be explored on foot from Barèges, and we can arrange activities including paragliding, white water rafting, pony trekking, mountain biking, canyoning etc.
Thursday - Day 6 Walking Pyrenees:-
Leaving from the house (1250m), we cross the Bastan river and attack the horizon which dominates the view from our patio. A zig-zag path through mixed woodland takes us to the meadows of the Transarrious plateau. From here we take the Montagne Fleuri path, ascend to a rounded ridge and look down into a hidden cirque, strewn with ancient cabins and bergers’ paths. We continue up the ridge, enjoying the growing views of Barèges and the Col de Tourmalet, then climb into the cirque through wildflower-filled grassland to our lunch-spot below the peak. If we’re lucky, we might catch sight of an ‘isard’ (Pyrenean Chamois) while we eat. After lunch we make our final ascent to the Pène det Pouri (2587m). The views from the peak are truly spectacular – look North beyond Lac Bleu, the deepest natural lake in the Pyrenees, to the plains, East to the observatory and the Pic du Midi, West across the Atlantic Pyrenees and South to the Spanish frontier and the Brèche de Roland. For the return, we retrace our steps to Barèges for a well-earned drink.
Friday - Day 7 Walking Pyrenees:-
A beautiful drive through the gorges of Pierrefitte and Cauterets takes us to the Pont d’Espagne (1496m), in our neighbouring valley. We start the day with a leisurely walk up the classic glacial U-valley of the Gave de Marcadau, then climb steeply through a pretty forest and across a boulder-strewn hillside to the Lacs de Embarrat (2139m). After a refreshing dip in one of these beautiful lakes, we ascend more gently to our highest point at the Lac de Pourtet (2420m). Our descent takes us through sculptured granite boulders, past the dark Lac Nere (2309m) and down through ancient stunted pine trees to the Refuge Wallon (1812m). Here we stop for refreshments on the terrace of the first Pyrenean refuge of the Club Alpin Francais, overlooked by the towering peaks of the Spanish frontier, then follow an easy path along the Marcadau river and back to the Pont d’Espagne.
Saturday - Day 8 Walking Pyrenees:-
Packing! We depart for the airport around lunchtime.
NOTE
These are example routes for an intermediate-level walking holiday in the Pyrenees. A typical mountain day will be 5-7 hours and will usually involve ascents of between 800-1500m. You should have a reasonable level of fitness, but our walks can always be tailored to the needs of your group. Please contact us to discuss a Pyrenees walking holiday that will suit you.
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