A World Class Journey To The Heart Of The Pyrenees

Lourdes and arrival at Aucun

We meet you at Lourdes airport or railway station (or at your hotel) at your requested schedule and transfer you to the typical mountain village of Aucun in the open and luminous Azun Valley. Your first dinner and night is at the comfortable 3 star hôtel Le Picors. If you arrive early, you can visit the little village or easily walk to the charming village of Arrens-Marsous a couple of kilometers away. Both the villages have traditional architecture and are surrounded by the lush green mountains.

Estaing lake - Ilheou lake - Cambasque - Cauterets

We take you on a short transfer back to the Lac d'Estaing from where you continue up the GR10 through pine forest and on to the high pastures at Arrioussec where you will see herds of the traditional horned cream cows of the Pyrenees, which are so tranquil that you can often walk among them without any of them moving an inch! From the Col d'Ilhéou, you walk to Ilhéou lake - a great place for a well earned rest - then can enjoy a gentle downhill walk to the lovely Cambasque valley where we meet you to save those just-a-little-too-far extra miles to Cauterets. A really rewarding day's walking. Cauterets is an attractive and vibrant Pyrenean mountain town, which in the 19th century was packed with Romantic authors and artists as well as the affluent bourgeoisie all "taking the waters" (what the French call "the cure") thanks to its natural, health-giving thermal springs. They would also explore the other natural wonders of the region and have a go on the funicular railway (unfortunately no longer running).

Walking time : 5h45. Distance : 12km. Elevation : + 1050m / - 870m. Transfer time : 20 minutes and 15 minutes.

Cauterets - Gaube valley - (Petit Vignemale) - Baysselance refuge

As you will by now have realised, mornings generally begin with an uphill climb, while afternoons are for descending - essentially because towns and villages are in valleys - and today is no different, except you have a lot of ascent and minimal descent - but then you have a privileged stay tonight still high up in the Pyrenees. After a short transfer to a higher altitude from Cauterets to Pont d’Espagne,with the local shuttle, you begin walking up to Gaube lake in which you will see mirrored the imposing grandeur of the north face of Vignemale and the crevasses of the Petit Vignemale glacier - one of the most beautiful and dramatic of panoramic views in the Pyrenees. You now walk alongside a glacial torrent, and among alpine meadows interspersed with numerous waterfalls before arriving at the Oulettes mountain refuge from which mountaineers climb Grand Vignemale (3298m). You, however, climb up gradually to the Col d'Ossoue, which gets you very close to Petit Vignemale (3032m). You can climb to the summit if you want to, or just go straight down to the wonderful Baysellance refuge where you will spend a truly memorable night.

Walking time : 5h10 or 6h40 (with Petit Vignemale). Distance : 12,6km or 14,4km. Elevation : + 1200m or +1500m/ - 100m or -400m. Transfer time : 30 minutes.

Baysselance refuge - Gavarnie

Get up early enough, and you will see the sun rise over Ossoue glacier - well worth it! You can take pleasure in the fact that where yesterday was all about ascending, today is all about descending. You walk down the lovely Ossoue valley with its streams, waterfalls - and marmottes. In meadow areas at certain altitudes, they are ubiquitous, and eminently photogenic. However, your eyes will increasingly be captivated by the sight of the Cirque de Gavarnie, which you may be surprised to find actually challenges some of yesterday's panoramic views as the best you've ever seen!

You stay tonight at the positively traditional and comfortable two star Hôtel du Marboré in the centre of Gavarnie village, but with exceptional views of the Cirque de Gavarnie and the 1,300 feet Grand Cascade waterfall, not least from its terrace. Bernard will prepare dishes for you which bring together the best of traditional Pyrenean cuisine (stews, meats, mushrooms, cheeses and more), while Roseline will ensure you have a warm welcome, and everything you need.

Walking time : 5h10. Distance : 17km. Elevation : + 170m / - 1455m.

Cirque de Gavarnie - Espuguettes refuge

The Cirque de Gavarnie is what most people regard as the most exceptional and memorable site in the whole of the Pyrenees. You walk fairly gently up a wide pat to the Bellevue plateau, with privileged panoramas of the high mountain scenery all around you. From the top, you descend into the centre of the enormous natural "amphitheatre" that is the Cirque du Gavarnie with its myriad waterfalls - many impressively long and powerful - sheer bare rock cliffs, and contrasting peaceful valley bottom. The appropriately named Grande Cascade at about 1,300 feet is over 300 feet higher than the Eiffel Tower and one of the highest in Europe. The final section is by the Espugues route, which cuts across a rocky cliff face. You’ll spend the night at the Espuguettes refuge. The view from the Refuge is breathtaking and panoramic, offering a stunning perspective of the Pyrenees' rugged beauty. Perched at around 6,650 feet, the refuge overlooks the deep valley and the Cirque of Gavarnie. Closer to the refuge, there are grassy meadows and patches of forest, giving the area a calm and open feel.

Walking time : 4h30 (+1h30 with the Grande Cascade). Distance : 11km or 14km. Elevation : + 920m or + 1110m / -350m or -540m.

Espuguettes refuge - Pic du Piméné - Maillet

You can choose from either a rather easy walk to maillet or the ascent to the summit of the Piméné (2801m), which offers one of the best viewpoints of the Cirque de Gavarnie. From both peaks, you can see the Brèche de Roland and a series of peaks over 3000m, rising above the eternal snow. In the distance, the Vignemale massif, crossed two days earlier, is visible. The descent takes you through the Cirque d'Estaubé down to the Maillet, near Troumouse. If you choose to ascend Petit Piméné, expect an additional 360m of elevation gain and 1h45 of walking. For the ascent of Piméné, plan for 550m of elevation gain and an additional 2h30 of hiking.

Walking time : 4h45 or 7h15 with The Piméné. Distance : 14,4km or 20km. Elevation : +650m or +1200m / - 850m or -1400m.

Maillet - Cirque de Troumouse - Héas - Lourdes

After a moderately steep ascent, the hike gently continues through the vast natural arena of the Cirque de Troumouse and its welcoming meadows. The Cirque is a stunning natural amphitheater, at an altitude of approximately 2,100 meters. It is renowned for being the largest glacial cirque in the Pyrenees, measuring about 11 kilometers in diameter. This impressive geological formation is surrounded by towering cliffs and peaks, creating a dramatic landscape that is both rugged and breathtaking. During the warmer months, the meadows burst into bloom with a variety of wildflowers, and the area is often grazed by herds of sheep and cattle, adding to its pastoral charm. The descent leads to Héas and its small chapel.

In the afternoon we transfer you to Lourdes. The town is known worldwide as a major Catholic pilgrimage site, it attracts millions of visitors each year due to the Marian apparitions reported by Saint Bernadette in 1858. Key landmarks include the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, the grotto where the apparitions occurred, and the baths believed to have healing properties.

Your hotel*** Beauséjour in Lourdes is a charming and comfortable hotel located next to the train station and near the town center. It offers a welcoming atmosphere with modern amenities and features cozy rooms. The restaurant offers a combination of traditional French cuisine with a focus on local Pyrenean flavors. With soft lighting and simple yet elegant decor, the space is intimate, complemented by large windows and a terrace offering views of the surrounding Pyrenees

Walking time : 4h. Distance : 9,5km. Elevation : + 300 / - 600m. Transfer time : 1 hour.

End of stay at Lourdes

End of stay after breakfast. The train station is across the street and if you need a transfer to the Lourdes/Tarbes airport, your hotel can easily arrange that for you.