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Traversing the Pyrenees National Park

Highlights

A spectacular traverse of the Pyrennees National Park

A series of magnificient, must-see sites such as the Cirque de Gavarnie with the highest waterfall in Europe

Wonderful trails through a series of cirques with beautiful lakes

Plenty of wildlife with vultures, eagles, marmots and isards

Only carrying a light rucksack

Holiday Profile : 7 night/8 days – 6 or 7 days independent walking moving between accommodation

Dates : Everyday (subject to availability) from 20 June to 10 September

At a Glance

A breathtaking traverse of the Pyrenees National Park

Price

From £ 765 per person

Every journey is tailor-made and can be personalised to your travel style, preferred accommodation and budget.

All highlights

Pyrennees Trek

This self-guided walking holiday is a wonderful trek through the High Pyrenees, undertaking an almost complete crossing of the Western Pyrenees National Park. You’ll discover a superb series of must-see sites with water as your guide from the tranquil lakes of Embarrat to the highest waterfall in Europe at Gavarnie Cirque. The stunning high mountains of the Pyrenees National Park are peppered with beautiful lakes, rich green forests and mountain pastures which you’ll discover with a light rucksack, as your bags are transported for you. Parts of your traverse follow the legendary long distance trail, the GR10, whilst at other times you’ll follow quiet and remote paths.

After a relatively easy start you’ll do a circular trail around the Carinquere Massif before approaching the highest summit in the Pyrenees, le Vignemale (3298 m) by the hanging Gaube valley. After passing the Hourquette d’Ossoue pass at 2736m you’ll traverse above the Ossoue Gorge accompanied by marmots with rich flora in the summer pastures to reach the village of Gavernie below its famous cirque. Your trail goes around Cirque de Gavarnie, the highest limestone mountain & waterfall in Europe.

Accommodation & Meals

Half board
5 nights in gites and 2 nights in mountain huts.
All nights are in dormitory-style rooms with shared bathrooms (blanket provided).

Navigation, Walking Notes & Maps

This walking holiday follows different trails depending on the options chosen. There is the GR (Grande Randonnee) long-distance trail which is very well way-marked with red and white markings. There are also signposts along the trail. The walking follows clear paths for its entire duration. Some small sections follow local or unmarked trails, for example to access accommodation, but these are easy to follow. On this particular walking holiday, we use the Cicerone guide books. As well as the walking notes we supply walking maps. You’ll be provided with detailed 1:25,000 walking maps.

Luggage Transfers

On this walking holiday you can choose to have your main luggage transferred between accommodations so you only have to carry a day rucksack with a picnic lunch (supplied by the guest houses and included in the holiday price), water and spare clothes, waterproofs, camera etc. On this holiday several local taxi companies are responsible for transporting your main luggage. Please limit the weight of your bags where possible to 15kg.

Travel Info

How to arrive and leave Cauterets

-Train :
Changes between the Eurostar and TGV are at Lille or Paris. TGV’s run from Paris to Toulouse. Regional train from Toulouse to Lourdes. Change & take bus (replaces train) to Cauterets.

– Flights :
There are flights from French and UK airports to Tarbes-Lourdes airport: Ryan Air on Tuesdays & Saturday from London Stansted or Air France via Paris Orly. Taxi transfers can be arranged on your behalf.

– By car :
Park at Auberge de Maillet and night there before transfer to Cauterets for the start of the walk. PARKING :
Parking in Cauterets :
– Free : Bus station, Place de la gare, Thermes Cesar (town centre).
– Parking : Parking Municipal underground, Rue de Belfort – Tel : 0033 562925557, or 0033 562925034 (Mairie), or 0033 562925050 (tourist office)

How to get to Cauterets from Le Maillet:

Transfer from Le Maillet to Cauterets?

We recommend arriving by train to avoid returns to Cauterets to recover your car, because the return journey is long by public transport and very expensive if you take a taxi. If you have to come by car, we recommend that you leave your car in Cauterets on the first day and return by public transport because you will not be tired from a week’s walking.

Please contact us for assistance in organising your travel arrangements

Further Information & Advice

For useful advice about independent walking trips and preparing for your self guided holiday please take a look at the articles in our top-tips section. Once you have booked this independent walking or trekking holiday, further information about the walking, the region and what to bring, will be sent to you. We do have a web page dedicated to what clothes and equipment you should bring. Please contact us if you need any further information.

Travel Insurance

All customers booking with High Point Holidays are required to have suitable travel insurance to include cover suitable for the activity as well as emergency evacuation and medical treatment. You are required to accept our terms and conditions as part of your booking.

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At a Glance

Moderate

6 or 7 days independent walking moving between gites and mountain huts with one circular trail. It is graded challenging with average days which include 5 hours of walking and 800m of ascent & descent (Maximum 1200m). Paths are generally good and well defined, although they can be rocky and mountainous in character in places. You should have a good head for heights and be able to navigate. This walking holiday is graded moderate/challenging. See more information about walking grades.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival

Welcome at Cauterets if arriving by train or at Auberge du Maillet if arriving by car.

Overnight: Cauteret

Day 2: Cauterets - Le Clot

Transfer if you arrived by car. A relatively easy day to start the week. The trail meanders in and out of beech and fir woodland before crossing summer meadows and then onto the edge of the National Park. You will be entering the land of isards, marmots and large birds of prey.

Overnight: Le Clot, Walk: 4hrs, +800m, -200m.

Day 3: Tour from Le Clot

A circular trail around the Carinquere Massif in the Marcadau Valley. It crosses summer pastures, climbing and contouring the marvels of this lake land region. You’ll discover the eastern side of the mighty Vignemale Massif.

Overnight: Le Clos, Walk: 6hrs, +850m, -850m.

Day 4: Le Clos - Refuge de Baysellance

le Vignemale (3298 m) by the hanging Gaube valley and its famous lake, loved by the romantic writers such as Sand, Baudelaire and Hugo. You’ll discover a rich flora as you pass through various stages of vegetation to reach the high Hourquette d’Ossoue pass at 2736m, the highest point of the day.

Overnight: Refuge de Baysellance, Walk: 5hrs, +1200m, -100m.

Day 5: Refuge de Baysellance - Gavarnie

Another ‘classic’ day, passing under one of the biggest glaciers in the Pyrenees, the Ossoue Glacier. After a spectacular traverse above the Ossoue Gorge, it’s an easy trail, accompanied by marmots with rich flora in the summer pastures. Then cross several wild valleys & reach the village of Gavernie below its famous cirque.

Overnight: Gavarnie, Walk: 5hrs, +200m, -1500m.

Day 6: Gavarnie - Refuge des Espuguettes

Your trail goes around Cirque de Gavarnie, the highest limestone mountain & waterfall in Europe. Despite its popularity, the walk around the cirque provides a relatively wild and very spectacular day out. Your itinerary follows ledges in the cirque but without ever being overly exposed, the walk is still ‘aerial’ and breath-taking. The site also has a rich fauna and flora (birds of prey, marmots, isards) & from your refuge you are often treated to a beautiful sunset.

Overnight: Refuge des Espuguettes, Walk: 4hrs 30m, +900m, -300m.

Day 7: Refuge des Espuguettes - Le Maillet

After the pleasant crossing of the Cardous Plateau at the foot of the impressive north face of Astazou and Swan Couloir, you pass by Hourquette d'Alans to reach the less frequented but nonetheless wild and beautiful Estaube Cirque which harbours Lake Gloriettes. After a small climb you have a pretty balcony trail which takes you to Troumouse Cirque. Your traverse finishes on reaching Le Maillet.

Overnight: Le Maillet, Walk: 5hrs 30m, +700m, -900m.

Day 8: Departure

After breakfast departure by car or transfer to train station.

Stunning self-guided trek in the Pyrenees passing several lakes and cirques, including the famous Cirque de Gavarniewith its waterfall, the highest in Europe!

When to Travel

Our self-guided walking trail along the Pyrennees National Park is available from 20 June to 10 September. This trek goes over mountain passes above 1200m and so before mid June there is a high risk of snow on the trail and some of the accommodation is not open. During the rest of June and early July there is a greater risk of encountering snow fields on the trail than later. The summer months are the driest period in the central Pyrenees, but afternoon showers or storms are fairly common. From mid September night time, temperatures tend to be fresher and there is a small risk of fresh snow at altitude. The busiest period in terms of fellow walkers is from Mid July to mid August.

Extra Nights

Extra nights are possible at Cauterets at the start of the trip and in Luchon at the end of your walk.

Combining trips

This walking holiday can be combined with our Pyrenees GR10 walking holiday. Here are the links to the 6 parts of the trek:

Pyrenees GR10, Part 1: Henday – St Jean Pied de Port

Pyrenees GR10, part 2: St Jean Pied de Port – Estaut

Pyrenees GR10, part 3: Estaut – Cautrets

Pyrenees GR10, Part 4: Cauterets – Luchon

Pyrenees GR10, Part 5: Luchon – Aulus les Bains

Pyrenees GR10, Part 6: Aulus-les-Bains – Merens

We also have a medium-level traverse close by in the Pyrenees Coast: Pyrenees Coastal Trail

Please consult us for a price on any of the above options.

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If you want to learn more about Southern France’s culture through tailor-made activities and visits, check out those trips that include a few days in the South West. Contact us to add them to your hike.

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