Pyrenees Walking

Walk from a central base each day, walk hut to hut on a trek, or from hotel to hotel, the choice is yours, and this part of the central Pyrenees offers an excellent range of walking for all levels.  From relatively easy valley and high plateau walking that is accessible by car to serious mountain climbing – you’ll find it all here.

Pyrenean Odysseys is based in the heart of the Pyrenees National Park on the French side of the Mont Perdu World Heritage Area.  Many of our treks (Mont Perdu Tour + Pyrenean High Route 3 & 4) and our guided day walks (Discover Our Pyrenees, Pyrenees Biodiversity) take place within this protected universe.  We are very close to the Spanish border and our hut to hut treks criss-cross back and forward across the border allowing you to discover the very different Spanish side; on both the Mont Perdu trek and the fourth week of the Pyrenean High Route, we also spend several days in the Ordesa National Park.  Our Neouvielle Lakes Trek allows you to discover the paradise of the Neouvielle Nature Reserve, and both the Valleys of the Lavedan and Pyrenees Biodiversity weeks take you into the Pibeste Nature Reserve.  This multitude of protected areas gives you an idea of the diversity and importance of the natural landscape on offer here.

The Pyrenees are home to more than 250 unique plants and flowers as well as being one of the few places in Europe that you can see the famous bearded vultures (Lamergeyer) and golden eagles. Walking with a guide gives you a much better chance of spotting the unique Pyrenean flora and fauna.

Pyrenean Odysseys offer both guided and independent walking holidays.

Small Group Guided Walking Holidays

Walk with one of our qualified, professional mountain leaders in a small group (eight or less).  The security and information provided by the guide allows you to appreciate the mountain environment in all its splendour and learn more about making your own way in the mountains.  If you are a group of four or more, and you are first to book, you can either choose to have a private group, or to receive a discount and allow others to join your group.  Talk to us about this when you enquire.

Mini-Treks

Start or end the summer with a three day mini-trek.  For the May bank holiday explore the Pibeste Nature Reserve and the Val d’Azun, for the August bank holiday we spend three days and two nights high in the Marcadau Valley high above Cauterets.

Discover the Pyrenees – our signature trip…

Based in Luz St Sauveur at Hotel Les Templiers your guide leads you on four day walks that take in the highlights of the Hautes-Pyrenees.  Two day excursions, including a cable car trip up to the Pic du Midi Observatory and a visit around the vibrant Argeles or Luz market, broaden your historical and cultural horizons.  In this trip you discover all four of the Grand Sites in the Hautes Pyrenees.

Pyrenees Biodiversity

Delve into the flora, fauna and ecosystems of the Pyrenees with Jonathan. Currently doing his masters in Sustainable Mountain Development Jon has a wealth of information about the mountains to share with you.  Based in Luz St Sauveur at Hotel Les Templiers.  One trip per month from June to September.

Foothills to Summits

In June the pastures are full of flowers and the peaks remain snow capped.  This week allows you to span both worlds by firstly exploring the foothill valleys and ridges before heading up into the high mountains above Cauterets, finishing the week with an ascension of the Vignemale, the highest summit in the French Pyrenees at 3298m.  Mix of B&B and refuge accommodation.

Neouvielle Lakes Trek

This hut to hut trek through the Neouvielle Nature Reserve is perfect for those in a couple or a group where people have different walking levels.  Each day we walk hut to hut, with the option of resting at the hut (and by the lake), or extending to take in a summit or high pass.  Get away from it all and walk from 4-8 hours each day depending on how you feel.

The Pyrenean High Route: HRP1, HRP2, HRP3 and HRP4.

Start this grand traverse of the Pyrenees at the Atlantic Ocean with the aim of arriving at the Mediterranean Sea some time later…  These first four weeks take you from the Atlantic Ocean to the Port de Bielsa; travelling through the Basques country, the Bearn and most of Bigorre.  Each year we aim to add another week to eventually take you all the way from one end of the Pyrenees to the other.

Tour of Mont Perdu

This is our equivalent of the Tour of Mont Blanc, but you get to climb the summit.  This hut to hut trek takes in some of the most diverse scenery of the entire Pyrenean range and you remain within the Mont Perdu World Heritage Area for the whole week.  From the impressive glacial cirques of the French side to the deep canyons on the Spanish side.  Top it all off with the ascension of the great lost mountain of the Pyrenees, the Mont Perdu.

 

Independent Walking Holidays

If you have some experience walking in the mountains and would prefer to walk independently we offer marked maps and route notes which allow you to discover the many great walking itineraries in this area.  Available from May through to late October.

Valleys of the Lavedan Hotel to Hotel Walk

We transport your bags – you walk from the foothills into high mountains between the B&Bs and hotels we have chosen for you.  This is a hugely flexible walk, with easier and harder options on most days.  A real favourite.  May – October.

Eco Independent Walks

Leave your car at home.  The carbon impact of your holiday is determined by how you get here because the distance is generally large.  Come by train to Lourdes and SNCF bus to Luz and then set out from Hotel Les Templiers each day, or start from a point accessible via the local bus network.  Good for you and the planet.

Middle Mountain Walks

Minimise your carbon impact by taking the train to Lourdes and then hiring a car.  These day walks are easier than the Eco Independent Walks because you use your car to gain height each day.  Return to your base in Hotel Les Templiers each evening.  Car hire possible at Lourdes train station.