Elements beyond our control (weather, level of the group, logistical problems, etc.) may lead the team to modify the programme. Your safety will always be our priority. MEET UP : At 4.30pm in front of Lourdes SNCF station. END OF STAY : Dismissal in Lourdes from midday. LEVEL : There’s something for everyone! Easy walks of 2 to 3 hours at a leisurely pace, with an average difference in altitude of 200 to 300 metres and plenty of breaks for fun activities. CARRYING : You will carry only your gear for the day; your luggage will remain at the centre. GUIDE : A qualified mountain leader specialising in the region and snowshoeing.

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Dog sledding in the Hautes-Pyrénées
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HPTE DeViajes-Ricardo de la Riva

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Snowshoeing in the Cirque de Gavarnie
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Agence Touristique des Vallées de Gavarnie - Pierre Meyer

Snow getaway without skiing

Happy trappers

In Hautacam - Gavarnie - Val d'Azun

Put on some funny snowshoes and venture out onto the white expanse. Spot a capercaillie, find kite and eagle feathers, recognise fox tracks in the snow. Embark on a dogsled before arming yourself with a rifle to try your hand at biathlon. Improvise a snowball fight and have a warm lunch in a secret refuge in the middle of the woods. Then enjoy a hot-water bath at the Jardins des Bains after several days in the fresh air… These are great holidays that leave children with radiant smiles and cheeks tenderly reddened by the fresh air and giggles.

From

3580 €

per family

6 days

5 nights

I would like to book my stay

The price includes

5 nights’ accommodation in a holiday centre and refuge, full board
5 days snowshoe trekking with a mountain leader in Val d’Azun, Hautacam and Cirque de Gavarnie
Introduction to biathlon
Dog-sleigh ride
Admission (1 hour) to the Le Jardin des Bains spa centre

You’ll love

The magic of the places you pass through
The beauty of the scenery, with parents and children guided by a mountain professional
The variety of activities and surprises
The night in a comfortable refuge in the woods

programme

On the programme for your stay

6 days / 5 nights

Day of arrival

Welcome and transfer to the Val d’Azun. Discover your accommodation where you will pack your gear for the next 4 evenings.
Transfer time: 30 min.

Continuation of the stay

Snowshoeing to Soum lake

Short transfer to the Col du Soulor at the foot of the proud Pic du Gabizos. This is the long-awaited moment to put on your snowshoes and take your first steps in the snow. The walk leads to the Soum lake along a beautiful panoramic route, overlooking the Ouzoum valley on one side and the Val d’Azun on the other.
Walking time: 2 hours. Difference in altitude: + 150 m / – 150 m.

Introduction to biathlon

Back at the Col du Soulor, meet Florent for an afternoon of introductory biathlon. It’s never too late to follow in the footsteps of French champion Martin Fourcade! With a course, equipment and practice adapted to all ages, children and parents alike will be introduced to shooting during this delicious moment of sharing and fun!
Transfer time: 30 min.

Hiking in the Cirque de Gavarnie

The day is devoted to discovering the valley and the Cirque de Gavarnie. There are no clowns or tightrope walkers here, just breathtaking scenery, with walls hundreds of metres high and plastered with snow and ice, culminating at an altitude of over 3,000 metres. The easy hike takes you to La Prade, a small, luminous plateau nestling in the middle of this natural amphitheatre. The scale of this UNESCO World Heritage Site is absolutely spectacular. Snowball fights, snowmen and other winter pleasures in this enchanting setting before heading home. Then, in the evening, it’s time to enjoy the inevitable tartiflette with local cheese, well deserved after all that effort!
Walking time: 2 to 3 hours. Difference in altitude: + 150 m / – 150 m. Transfer time: 1h45

Panoramic family hike

Head for Hautacam for a panoramic hike to the summit of Dabant-Aygue or the slopes of Pic de Naouit. Armed with your trusty snowshoes, you’ll make your way across the white winter blanket that dominates the whole of the Gave de Pau valley. The plain stretches endlessly beneath your feet, and the view is magnificent, with towering peaks stretching all the way to the summit of the Pic du Midi and its astronomical observatory.
Walking time: 2 to 3 hours. Difference in altitude: + 200 m / – 200 m. Transfer time: 1h15.

Dogsleigh ride

Back in Hautacam, another magical interlude awaits you… You’ll set off for a ride through the splendid landscapes of the massif, comfortably seated in a dog-sled team!

Wellness break in a spa

After this unforgettable moment, on the way back to Argeles-Gazost, you’ll stop off at Jardin des Bains, a magnificent balneotherapy centre where you can enjoy hot baths, jacuzzis, hammams, massage jets and more for 1 hour. With your body relaxed and rested, return to Arrens!

Snowshoeing at the Col de Couraduque

Head for the Col de Couraduque, with its breathtaking views over the valleys. Snowshoe through the elegant forests of Couraduque, towards the Col de Bazès, at the foot of the imposing peak of the same name, proudly dominating the area. It’s the perfect place to put on your trapper’s hat and learn how to read the forest and recognise animal tracks and signs. As you make your way through the woods, you’ll come across a charming refuge nestling in a clearing. It’s here that you’ll spend an unforgettable evening by the fireplace, pampered by Vanessa and Mathieu.
Walking time: 3 to 4 hours. Difference in altitude: + 200 m / – 500 m. Transfer time: 15 min.

Day 6

Morning departure

It’s time to leave this little corner of paradise, full of good memories and unforgettable moments with the family! After breakfast, climb up to the Col de Couraduque, then transfer and dispatch.
Walking time: 1 hour. Difference in altitude: + 200 m. Transfer time: 30 min.

Your offer in detail
Elements beyond our control (weather, level of the group, logistical problems, etc.) may lead the team to modify the programme. Your safety will always be our priority.
MEET UP: At 4.30pm in front of Lourdes SNCF station.
END OF STAY: Dismissal in Lourdes from midday.
LEVEL: There’s something for everyone! Easy walks of 2 to 3 hours at a leisurely pace, with an average difference in altitude of 200 to 300 metres and plenty of breaks for fun activities.
CARRYING: You will carry only your gear for the day; your luggage will remain at the centre.
GUIDE: A qualified mountain leader specialising in the region and snowshoeing.

expert

Our expert

Stay

©
Julie, creator of holidays and breaks in the Hautes-Pyrénées

As an adventurer and lover of the great outdoors, I specialise in holidays that are full of emotion! Don’t hesitate to contact me to adapt this holiday. See you soon in the Hautes-Pyrénées.

Julie Richard

I personalise this holiday

Nordic

Your Nordic area

Val d’Azun

Close to the Pyrenees National Park, Val d’ Azun is a paradise for Nordic skiers, set in an unspoilt, pastoral mountain landscape. The resort offers a wide range of fun activities in a warm and friendly atmosphere, in the heart of an authentic valley.

Hautacam

All the charms of an accessible family resort, with beautiful panoramic views, plenty of sunshine and safe, fun areas where you can enjoy nature and breathe in the fresh air.

whirlpool

Your spa centre

bubble of well-being

Le Jardin des Bains

Le Jardin des Bains takes you on a journey through time and space. Transparency and a play of light between indoors and outdoors, large glass roofs and an invitation to explore the different atmospheres, whether plant, floral or mineral.

Emerald Forest: jacuzzi, bubble beds and waterfalls.
Ziggourat: hammam, Turkish bath and aromatic baths.
Walking trail: various pools and open-air jacuzzi.

accommodation

Hosting

Holiday centre and gîte in the Val d’Azun

The first 4 evenings will be spent in a family-run holiday centre in Arrens-Marsous, in the heart of the peaceful Val d’Azun. Overnight stays will be in shared rooms, sleeping 3 to 5, with shared bathroom facilities.

The last night will be spent in a cosy, recently renovated refuge, also in shared rooms.

Breakfast and dinner are taken at the accommodation. You will have a picnic lunch with fresh local produce prepared by a local caterer or by the host.

budget

Budget

The estimated budget for this trip is €3,580 per person.

Included in this suggestion :

5 nights’ accommodation in a holiday centre and refuge on a full-board basis
5 days accompanied snowshoe trekking in the Val d’Azun, Hautacam and the Cirque de Gavarnie
Introduction to biathlon
Dog-sleigh ride
1 entry (1h) to the Le Jardin des Bains spa centre
Star walks, without sharing. Easy level
Varied programme suitable for families

will love

Our commitments

Just give us a call and we’ll organise everything for you: a cosy residence at a good price, a good address for dinner, a snowshoe walk with a guide, a hot bath in the open air, a dog-sledding trip… And we’ll share our tips with you to make sure your holiday is like no other.

Tailor-made holidays and weekends

We listen to you and advise you so that we can work with you to create an ultra-personalised holiday plan.

All-inclusive holidays

Flights, trains, shuttles, accommodation, ski passes, equipment, ski lessons, activities… We can organise it all!

Free service

We offer public prices without intermediaries. With us, you won’t pay more!