PYRENEAN PEAKS & PASSES
Challenging walks in high mountain scenery
Explore the majestic Pyrenees to its most stunning passes and summits. Discover breathtaking views and challenging routes.
Tour details
The construction of the hydroelectricity scheme in the 1950s, and the ski stations in the 1970s, have given the valleys of the Central Pyrenees roads reaching high into the mountains. These allow you to tackle passes and summits - that were once accessible only with an overnight stay in a refuge - as day walks from Hotel Les Templiers in the historic centre of Luz St Sauveur.
Luz is an excellent base camp from which to explore; it gives you access into the frontier summits along with the Néouvielle Nature Reserve. Given the strenuous and high altitude nature of these walks we have included the option of guiding for either three or six days of the week (for groups of four or more), which also allows you to tackle, should you choose, more challenging itineraries than we would suggest walking independently.
Budget
675€ per person
This price includes :
- seven (7) nights B&B accommodation in Hotel Les Templiers
- marked maps & walks notes each day
- help with walk selection each day to make the best of the weather conditions at the time of your stay
- general assistance during your stay
- full briefing
Options :
- single room supplement (+€35/day)
- pick-up at Lourdes station (€80 - up to 4 people)
Itinerary
Day 1
The Saugué Plateau and Portaillou Pass (2200m) provide you with spectacular views firstly into the Gavarnie Cirque and finally, from the pass, onto the frontier summits including the Breche de Roland and the Taillon, which you tackle later in the week. An excellent warm up walk through the pastoral scenery of the high Pyrenees. The plateau is dotted with barns, sheep, cattle, flowers, butterflies, bees and blueberries, depending on the season.
Day 2
The Madamette Pass and Peak: At 2657m this peak is accessible yet interesting, with wonderful views onto the big lakes of the Neouvielle Nature Reserve. Walk up through the pretty valley of Aygues Cluses you follow the GR10 to the pass and return via a circular route taking in a series of lakes, including the peak if you fancy. The scenery is very different from the first day – granite rather than limestone, less pastoral and a higher mountain atmosphere – all lakes, rhododendrons and pines.
Day 3
The Brèche de Roland (2800m) with the option of the Taillon Summit (3144m) provide a challenging day out. Starting your walk at 2200m is already high mountain terrain. The Brèche is a huge rectangular cleft in the frontier chain above the Gavarnie Cirque. It is spectacular enough in itself, and by passing through it you have the option of climbing to the Taillon (3114m) or the Casque (3007m) summits from the Spanish side.
Day 4
Just to the side of the Cirque de Troumouse is the Hourquette d'Héas, aeccessible via the beautiful Aguila valley. Spectacular views on both sides. Option of less climb and a walk into the Troumouse Cirque itself, or both if you have the legs.
Day 5
The Gavarnie Cirque and Piméné Summit. Gavarnie is the most well known site in the Central Pyrenees, and is the home of mountaineering in the Pyrenees. This walk from Gavarnie village (1300m) takes you high above the cirque to either the Hourquette d’Alans (2430m), the Petit Piméné or the Piméné Summit itself (2801m) for fabulous views in all directions.
Day 6
The Bernatoire Lake and Peak: The drive into the Ossoue Valley is an adventurous start to the day in itself. The Bernatoire Lake sits right on the Spanish border and is famous as the route by which Spanish cattle cross over at the end of July each summer to graze in French pastures, an exchange that dates back to medieval times. The peak is 300m above and well worth the extra hike.