Discover the Pyrenees

 

As its name suggests this holiday is a week of classic Pyrenean walks and scenery, food, history and culture. During your walking days you will explore four areas of exceptional natural beauty.  Your guides will introduce you to the flowers, plants, animals and geology of this fascinating area of the French Pyrenees.

Each day two walk options are offered in the same location – one 5-6 hour walk (including breaks and lunch, 500-800m ascent) with Mandy and one “ramble” with either Sian, Laurent or Fran if the walk levels within the group are different.  We meet up for lunch.  Your excursions will introduce you to the food, history and culture of the area (market trip and historical villages walk + cable car ride up Pic du Midi) and our destinations allow us to explore two neighbouring valleys (Campan and Cauterêts).  This holiday really gives you the best of the Pyrenees.

At the end of the week you will have discovered all four of the Grand Sites of the Hautes-Pyrenees: Lourdes, Gavarnie, Pont d’Espagne and the Pic du Midi.

Optional extras:

– ‘Revitilisation Package‘ at the Luzéa thermal baths to ease away any aches and pains.

– French lessons with Fran in July and August

Price: 795€ pp twin share for 7 nights in Hotel Les Templiers, organic buffet breakfast each day, 6 dinners in Les Templiers restaurant or another local restaurant when Les Templiers restaurant is closed, 4 picnics, 4 guided day walks, day excursion to Pic du Midi and to Luz or Argeles market + historic villages walk. Single supp. 17€ per day. 15% Discount in June and October, so 675€pp. Dates 2012: 2-9 June, 23-30 June, 21- 28 July, 11-18 Aug, 29 Sep – 6 Oct, 6-13 Oct and 13-20 Oct. Contact: Sian.

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Only in October: View the sunrise from the Pic du Midi de Bigorre.  In October sunrise is relatively late (~7am) and the Pic du Midi is the perfect place to view it from.  We leave from Hotel Templiers at 4:15am, arrive at Col du Tourmalet before 5am and are up the top of Pic du Midi around 7am to see the sunrise.  Walk back down for breakfast on the Col du Tourmalet and watch the valley wake up.

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Four spectacular Pyrenean walks, two day excursions :

Day 1: Arrive in Luz and settle into Hotel Les Templiers.  Enjoy a welcome drink in the lounge and a briefing on your week.

Day 2: Today we get up high with a walk up into the Cirque de Troumouse, part of the Mont Perdu World Heritage Area and the largest glacial cirque in the Pyrenees.  Those wanting a full day walk will start from Héas and walk up onto the cental plateau, whereas those wanting a more relaxed walk will first visit the hamlet of Héas with its chapel, learn something about the culture and lifestyle of the Pyrenean shepherds (which is listed on the cultural World Heritage register) before driving up to the plateau for a walk around the high lakes.

Day 3: The Gavarnie  Cirque is the jewel in the crown of the Central Pyrenees, part of the Pyrenees National Park, the Mont Perdu World Heritage Area and a Midi-Pyrenees “Grand Site”. Walking into the cirque via the Espugettes Refuge and the spectacular balcony path even in the height of summer you’ll cross very few people.  Those wanting a gentler walk will begin at the church and walk along a flattish path to the centre of the cirque.  The Gavarnie waterfall has the highest vertical drop of any in Europe (426m) and some of the most spectacular views in the Pyrenees await you.

Day 4: In June and October we visit the large and varied Argeles market in the morning.  We buy bits and pieces for our lunchtime picnic – dried sausage, cheese, organic bread, tomatoes and whatever else is on offer than looks appetising. Plenty of time to admire the local produce and everything else around the centre of town.  Then we head up to the viewpoint at the Pietat Chapel for our picnic before a short walk to the beautiful little village of St Savin for a coffee and to visit its church and admire its houses and gardens.  We then have an afternoon trip around the the Pyrenean Eden – the lovely Val d’Azun.  From July-Sept we visit the Luz market in all its summer splendour, followed by a picnic on a hillside around town.  An evening walk around the historic buildings and sites of Luz completes the day.

Day 5: The waterfalls of the Pont d’Espagne are varied and wonderful.  Depending on the group and the season you might stay low and walk up alongside them all, or start higher and head for the Lac de Gaube and the Refuge des Oulettes.  Spectacular scenery all around and your second Midi-Pyrenees Grand Site.

 

Day 6: A day trip to the Pic du Midi observatory at 2877m for big views over the mountains and your third Midi Pyrenees Grand Site.  To get there we drive over the ‘Col du Tourmalet‘ of Tour de France fame, and either walk from here for the sunrise walk in October, or we ride the impressive cable car to the top for panoramic views and a visit to the observatory itself.  We visit the neighbouring Campan Valley and return to Luz via a scenic foothill drive.

Day 7: The last guided walk day is more flexible depending on the wishes of the group. Your guide will offer suggestions and the group can then decide.  It could be the Bergons summit, a relatively easily reached peak above Luz with spectacular views of Gavarnie, the wilder and less-known Bernatoire valley or a walk towards a lake for another swim.  It could also be an afternoon walk up to the Plateau de Lumière and then on to dinner at the Auberge du Lienz with a torchlight descent after dinner.

Day 8: Leave Luz on the SNCF bus and visit Lourdes (your fourth Grand Site) before you head onwards.

Weather conditions, snow melt early in the season and group members can influence itinerary choices and your guide will assess these each day when choosing a walk with the group.

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No dinner day is Friday, giving you the opportunity to try one of the other restaurants in town or have a gourmet dinner at the Auberge du Lienz.

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Price: 795€ pp twin share for 7 nights accommodation in Hotel Les Templiers, all breakfasts, 6 dinners, 4 picnics, 4 guided day walks, excursion to Pic du Midi observatory and excursion to the market historic villages walk. Single supp. 17€ per day. 15% Discount in June and October.

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Dates 2012: 2-9 June, 23-30 June, 21- 28 July, 11-18 Aug, 29 Sep – 6 Oct, 6-13 Oct and 13-20 Oct.

Contact: Sian.