Mini-Treks

We are offering two mini-treks over the UK bank holiday weekends, and the Torla mini-trek any time from mid July to end Sept.  Maximise your time in the Pyrenees by catching the night train down and back.  For the Val d’Azun trek at the end of May you will discover the spectacular Pyrenean foothill area around the Pibeste and the Val d’Azun and are based in a charming B&B for the two nights.  On the Marcadau trek, the Refuge Wallon is used as a base camp to reach higher ground and we stay here for the two nights allowing a lighter day pack to be carried on the middle day.  These mini-treks could be seen as an introduction to trekking, to see if it is something you would like to do for a longer period in the future, or as a short break at the start and end of summer.

Pibeste and the Val d’Azun (26-27-28 May 2012) 295€pp

We collect you from Lourdes station on Saturday (26th May) morning and then drive to Segus to start our walk over the Pibeste Summit to arrive at our B&B in Salles.  The Pibeste Nature Reserve is really at its best in spring – the south facing slopes are green and full of flowers and interesting plants.  The views over the plains and the higher summits are truly spectacular.    On Sunday you will walk from the B&B up over the Mont de Gez and into the Val d’Azun, discovering this valley that is often called the ‘Eden of the Pyrenees’.  Monday will see you head further into the Val d’Azun before heading back via the B&B to collect bags and head to Lourdes where you’ll have time for a look around and dinner before you catch the night train back to Paris.  Arrive back in London around 10am Tuesday.  Price includes two nights half board in B&B, three picnic lunches, three days guided trekking. Contact Mandy.

Ordesa, ‘Faja de las Flores’ and Breche de Roland: mid July-Sept 2012, price depending on group numbers.

Some big sites in three days.  Collection in Lourdes and drive up to the Spanish border carpark.  Trek over to Torla on the first day where you stay overnight.  Walk the famous Faja de la Floras, the balcony path around the Ordesa Canyon before returning to France via the Breche de Roland.  Stay a night in the refuge there in order to do the Taillon peak (3144m) the next day.  A great short trek in the middle of the summer.

Marcadau Valley staying in Refuge Wallon: (25-26-27 Aug) 295€pp. Two people interested.  Two more make it a goer.

After collecting you off the night train in Lourdes we head straight up to Pont d’Espagne above Cauterets, leaving the van and heading for Refuge Wallon in the Marcadau Valley.  There are three main valleys branching out from this refuge, giving us three great options: the Aratille lake and pass for a spectacular view into Spain, the opal-coloured lakes of Cambalès or  the famous Col de la Fache, where allied pilots escaped Nazi forces during the Second World War and Republican forces fled from Franco in the Spanish Civil War.  On our last day we take a circular route via a series of lakes including the magical Lac Pourtet before heading down to meet the path back to Pont d’Espagne.  Price includes two nights half board in Refuge Wallon, three picnic lunches, three days guided trekking.

Contact: Mandy.

EQUIPMENT AND PACKING IDEAS