ORDESA GAVARNIE TREK
From France to Spain, and back again
This 4-7 day trek takes you to the Ordesa Canyon and the glacial cirques of the Mont Perdu World Heritage Area, Gavarnie, Estaubé and Troumouse. The incredibly contrasting landscapes on the north and south sides of the Pyrenees, and the overwhelming beauty of it all, are the highlights of this trek.
Tour details
The Mont Perdu World Heritage Area covers an area taking in parts of both the French Pyrenees National Park and the Ordesa-Monte Perdido Spanish National Park. It is only one of only a very few trans-boundary sites listed on the World Heritage register for under more than one criteria.
Budget
975€ per person (min 2 people, 7 nights)
Solo option possible. Ask about this. Requires additional safety precautions
Includes :
- Marked maps & walks notes for each day
- GPS tracks using tracking app
- Full briefing prior to departure in Luz
- All transfers where no public transport is possible
- Hotel room in Luz for first and last nights, bed and breakfast
- Five nights full board in hostels/refuges (dinner, breakfast, picnic)
- General and emergency assistance during your stay
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Luz on the bus from Lourdes and walk 2 mins to reception at Hotel des Cimes (or Templiers) to check in. Organise a time for your briefing. We can suggest a walk around the town or valley depending on the time you have. Choose from one of the restaurants around town for dinner. Shop for picnic supplies for your first day.
Day 2
After breakfast we transfer you up to Col des Tentes at 2200m. From here you have a longish descent to Torla, past the mythical Bujaruelo Refuge and through a wonderful forest next to the river along the GR11 (long distance walking path from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean through the Spanish Pyrenees). You will be glad to arrive in Torla and the comfortable hostel there for the night.
Day 3
Bus (or taxi out of season) from Torla to the Ordesa carpark. A steep climb up one side of the canyon to a spectacular (but not particularly vertiginous) ledge path. Wonderful views from here and a traverse towards the head of the canyon and its waterfall. Descend via the valley bottom and return to the bus and Torla for the night. This is a big day and a shorter alternative is possible.
Day 4
Taxi to Bujaruelo (1340m) so your day is a reasonable length. You climb from there back to the French-Spanish border (Port de Bucharo, 2270m), the highest pass of any of the Camino variant,s and descend to Gavarnie village (1380m) for the night. Wonderful views of the Gavarnie Cirque as you descend via the Bellevue Plateau.
Day 5
Today you have a classic walk around the Gavarnie Cirque, and if you'd like, an extension to the foot of the Grand Cascade. Spectacular all round. You'll spend the night perched high above the cirque in a refuge at 2000m.
Day 6
From the heights above Gavanrie Cirque you climb to the pass above and head over into the Estaubé Cirque. Walk down towards the Gloriettes dam and across a high plateau before your descent to a lovely auberge in Héas.
Day 7
A wonderful last day allows the possibility for a day walk around the Troumouse Cirque. Our alternative path takes you through a natural doorway, giving a spectacular entry. This finishes your discovery of the three glacial cirques of the World Heritage Area. Collection and return to Luz for the night.
Notes
- We have organised this itinerary to make it accessible to most mountain walkers. It remains however, relatively challenging.
- Staying in Torla, rather than either possible refuges allows the greatest flexibility for the Ordesa section of the trek. And allows you to walk with a lighter pack for this day.