Guided "intermediate" level walking holidays in the Pyrenees with Mountainbug



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Walking holidays- guided and independent walking holidays in the French Pyrenees

Intermediate Pyrenees Walking Holidays

Our intermediate walking holidays are aimed at keen walkers looking to expand their European walking and discover the most beautiful walking routes of the Pyrenees. The trip will not just be about walking - you will also learn about the history, language and culture of the Pyrenees, as well as the special mountain geology, flowers, animals and birds.

Pyrenees walking holidays - Cirque de Troumouse

walking pyrenees

Discover all that the Pyrenees have to offer, from quiet lakes to high peaks, on an intermediate walking holiday

Walking holidays in the Pyrenees - Lac d'Ets Coubous in the evening

We are based in the village of Bareges - on the edge of the Neouvielle Nature reserve and the Pyrenees National Park, and only a short drive from the lovely walks above Cauterets, the Vignemale area and the spectacular limestone cirques at the Spanish border (Gavarnie, Troumouse, Estaube). During a week's intermediate level walking holiday, you will experience a wide variety of walks - past pretty villages and ancients barns, on bergers' paths through terraced meadows, up to high lakes and secluded valleys with rushing streams, and we'll climb to the towering peaks and ridges to look down on the stunning Pyrenees mountains. Photo gallery

Confirmed "Intermediate" level Pyrenees walking holiday dates for 2012:

DATE	TRIP	PRICE (pp based on 2 sharing)
22nd-28th April	Aragon special Pyrenees walking holiday	865 €
20th-26th May	Aragon special Pyrenees walking holiday	865 €
June 16th - 23rd	Intermediate-Adventurous guided Pyrenees walking, with a 2-day refuge trek	715 € + 1 night hut fees
June 23rd - 30th	Guided intermediate level Pyrenees walking Spring flowers special	715 €
July 7-14th	Guided intermediate level Pyrenees walking	715 €
August 4th-11th	Guided intermediate level Pyrenees walking	715 €
September 1st-8th	Gavarnie & Ordesa special intermediate-adventurous level with 3-day mini-trek	680 € + 2 nights hut fees
September 8th-15th	Neouvielle lakes special walking holiday, including 3-day mini-trek	680 € + 2 nights hut fees
September 15th-22nd	Gavarnie & Ordesa special intermediate-adventurous level with 3-day mini-trek	680 € + 2 nights hut fees
September 22nd-29th	Guided intermediate level Pyrenees walking	715 €
30th Sept-6th October	Aragon special walking holiday	865 €
28th October-3rd November	Aragon special walking holiday (Autumn half term)	865 €
Other dates	Please enquire if you have a group of 2 or more and would like us to schedule a trip. Our calendar is FLEXIBLE at the moment.	Please enquire

An example week’s Pyrenees guided walking itinerary

Saturday - Day 1 Walking Pyrenees: Free afternoon

Arrive late afternoon. We suggest a leisurely stroll to the creperie at St Justin where you can enjoy a traditional French snack in the sunshine. The restaurant is on an isolated promontory looking out onto the lovely Bastan valley, the village of Barèges and the towering mountains on every side - it can only be accessed on foot and has wonderful views.

Walking Pyrenees - Barn next to St-Justin

Sunday - Day 2 Walking Pyrenees: Montagne Fleuri and the valley of Bareges
Leaving from the house (1250m), we cross the Bastan river and attack the horizon which dominates the view from our patio. A steady ascent from the village takes us to the farms and meadows of the Transarrious plateau, where following a farmers' track we walk amongst ancient barns and grazing animals to reach the Montagne Fleuri path. The trail ascends through shady forest - keep an eye out for coal tits and crossbills flitting in the trees, and lots of wild mushrooms amongst the leaf-litter. At the top, 1900m, we traverse across to a rounded ridge and our lunch stop looking right across to the Spanish frontier and the Brèche de Roland. Now making our way down the ridge, we peek into a hidden cirque, strewn with ancient cabins and bergers’ paths, then rejoin the woods of the "Bois du Lys" - home of elusive deer and capercaille. After a zig-zag descent through woodland and a grassy hillside that is smothered with flowers in the Springtime, we can return directly to the village, or there is the option to continue along to St. Justin to admire the views from the lookout point, and enjoy a cool drink and an icecream on the terrace of the creperie de St. Justin.

Monday - Day 3 Walking Pyrenees: Pic de Viscos (2141m)

Pyrenees walking holidays - group on the summit of the Pic du Viscos

An exciting day, tackling the watershed between the valleys of Luz and Cauterets. The Pic du Viscos stands guard over the two valleys, with spectacular 360 degree views across the high peaks and the plains.

A steep ascent from the Luz ski carpark takes us to the Col de Riou (1949m), and a pleasant grassy walk through pasture. The route turns progressively more rocky, becoming an easy scramble (don't look down!). Lunch in the shade of the gnarled Pin a Crochets, before we climb the peak itself at 2141m. This is a great spot to see vultures and eagles, playing on the thermals.

Descend to a lower trail, lined with wildflowers, to circuit back to the bus.

Walking holidays - Griffon vulture soaring above the Pic du Viscos

Tuesday - Day 4 Walking Pyrenees: Breche de Roland (optional ascent of Le Taillon, 3144m)
A dramatic drive to the Col de Tentes (2208m), then an easy warm up to the Port de Boucharo (2270m) and the Spanish border. From here, we follow a good path, which skirts above the Pouey Aspe valley. An easy scramble takes us up to the Col des Sarradets, with spectacular views of the Cirque de Gavarnie and the legendary Grande Cascade. After a quick break at the Sarradets refuge, we climb to the Brèche de Roland (2807m). This incredible slash in the frontier cliffs is our window to Spain and looks into the Ordesa National Park. From the Brèche we have the option of ascending the most accessible of the Pyrenean 3000m peaks – Le Taillon (3144m), which will add about 2hrs to our walk. We descend via the same route.

Wednesday - Day 5 Walking Pyrenees - DAY OFF

Your free day to use as you please. We suggest you try out the thermal spa in the village of Bareges, visit the Pic du Midi observatory or take the bus to the pretty towns of Luz St Sauveur or Argelès-Gazost. Here you can stock up on the delicious local sheep’ cheeses and ‘saucissons sec’ (knobbly French salamis). The pilgrimage town of Lourdes is also accessible by public transport (about 1hr by bus).

For those who can’t get enough exercise, there are plenty of trails to be explored on foot from Barèges, and we can arrange activities including paragliding, white water rafting, pony trekking, mountain biking, canyoning etc.

Holidays in the Pyrenees - paragliding from the Col du Tourmalet

Thursday - Day 6 Walking Pyrenees: Aygues Cluses & the Col de Tracens (optional ascent of Pic de Madamète, 2657m)
Five minutes drive to the Pont de la Gaubie (1538m). Our morning’s ascent follows the GR10 and ascends the beautiful Aygues-Cluses valley. The path climbs gently under gnarled pine trees, then across pasture to the Lacs de Madamète – a good place for lunch and a feet-dip before we climb up to the Col de Tracens (2463m). From here, the Pic de Madamète (2657m) is easily accessible for the more energetic walker, but even from the Col the views across the the Néouvielle Natural Park are superb. We descend through very wild and rugged country, across granite boulders with few signs of human passage. From the Lac dets Coubous (2041m) we make our descent back to the Pont de La Gaubie on a good path, keeping an eye out for marmots on our way down.

Friday - Day 7 Walking Pyrenees: Cirque de Troumouse circuit from the hamlet of Heas
A scenic drive through the gorges above Luz brings us to the village of Gedre, then into the valley of Heas. Leaving on foot from this tiny hamlet, a steep but steady zigzag path takes us into a small cirque, from where we leave the main path and take a secret route high above the Heas valley into the great Cirque de Troumouse itself. We hardly ever see another person on this route, and hence there is a good chance of seeing some Pyrenean wildlife - marmots, griffon vultures and the rare and elusive "isard" (Pyrenean Chamois). The valley opens out into the cirque, and we soon find ourselves in grassy meadows dotted with grazing sheep and cattle, where we explore amongst giant boulders to find a traditional turf-roofed shepherd's cabin hidden behind the rocks. The meadows and boulders here are smothered with tiny Alpine wildflowers in the spring, and extravagant purple Pyrenean irises push through the grass in the summer. Soon we come across the beautiful ephemeral lakes in the centre of the cirque. These are fed by meltwater from the small glaciers clinging to the north wall of the cirque, and they are icy cold regardless of the weather! After a relaxing lunch looking out across the lakes to snow-capped peaks, we make our way back across the meadows to another zigzag path descending back to Heas.

Saturday - Day 8 Walking Pyrenees: Home time!

NOTE
These are example routes for an intermediate-level walking holiday in the Pyrenees. A typical mountain day will be 5-8 hours and will usually involve ascents of between 500-1000m. You should have a reasonable level of fitness, but our walks can always be tailored to the needs of your group. Please contact us to discuss a Pyrenees walking holiday that will suit you.

The price of your guided walking holiday in the Pyrenees includes all accommodation, food, local minibus transfers and five days guided walking with a qualified mountain leader.

WALKING HOLIDAYS, PYRENEES - SOME OTHER IDEAS

	Relax and explore…gentle walking holidays Pyrenees An introduction to walking in the Pyrenees, with short walks of 3-5 hours and ascents of up to 500m (often much less). Take the opportunity to explore the beautiful mountain villages of the Pyrenees, visit the rural pastures and catch a glimpse of the traditional local farming methods. Follow a berger as he tends his flock of Bareges-Gavarnie sheep and describes his homeland and way of life. Don’t miss the chance to sample the unique Pyrenean sheep’ cheese, the unusual mountain salamis and, of course, the booze.
	“I’m just going for a short walk. I may be some time”...adventurous walking holidays Pyrenees Long walks and scrambles of 8-10 hours. Bag some of the highest mountains of the Pyrenees. This area has dozens of 3000m+ peaks (that’s why it’s called the High Pyrenees!). Go way off the beaten track, traverse inaccessible ridges and see places that very few have seen before. Stay in remote mountain refuges and feel the sun’s first morning rays, while the valleys rest in the deep shade of dawn.
	“With a knapsack on my back”....trekking on the HRP Intermediate to advanced level walking, with 5-8 hour day length and 1000m+ ascending. Follow the Pyrenean Haute Route in 1- or 2-week stages, overnighting in mountain refuges. Hut-to-hut trekking on the highest and most remote trails of the Pyrenees.

We have a large selection of photos from some of our Pyrenees walking holidays in the Photo Gallery.

Prices and dates for Walking Pyrenees: Please contact us for more information.

Those looking for independent Pyrenees walking are also welcome at our accommodation in Barèges, and we are always happy to pass on our local knowledge and suggest walking routes.

Further information and booking forms