Pyrénées Off | Découvrez les Hautes-Pyrénées : Nature, Montagnes & Aventures

The price includes

7 nights with breakfast
Pic du Jer pass
Cauterets-Pont d’Espagne pass
Pic du Midi pass
2 hours’ entry to Balnéa
Cimgo descent
A personalised travel diary
Michelin road map with annotated route

1772€ / 2 pers or 885.65€ per person (including 1 disabled person)

programme

On the programme for your stay

8 days / 7 nights

Day 1

Arrival in Lourdes

Your Road Trip begins at a site that is unique in the world: Lourdes, between spirituality and reconnection. No matter what your religion, whether you’re a believer, a churchgoer, or neither, the Marian city has something to offer everyone. As soon as you arrive, you will be free to visit the Sanctuary. Then you’ll have plenty of time tomorrow for your first day in the Pyrenees.

Night 1: Lourdes

Day 2

Sanctuary > Pic du Jer > Torchlight procession

To begin your stay, we suggest you soak up the special atmosphere that emanates from the Sanctuary. Along the banks of the Gave de Pau, no-one is immune to the power of this place of pilgrimage. If you want to see the town from the heights, head for the Pic du Jer, accessible after a few minutes’ ascent by funicular. From its panoramic terrace, you can see the whole of Lourdes, as far as the plain of Pau, Tarbes and the foothills of the Pyrenees. In the evening, a special event brings together thousands of worshippers and visitors. The torchlight procession continues the inexplicable energy of the Lourdes grotto, bringing together communities from all over the world.

Night 2: Lourdes

Day 3

Val d’Azun > Cauterets-Pont d’Espagne > Luz-Saint-Sauveur

115km / 3h10

Make way for the mountains and the Val d’Azun, an unspoilt valley dotted with barns and villages, each more charming than the last. At the end of the route, a first stop at the Lac du Tech, overlooked by an interpretation trail. This 800-metre-long trail features information panels on topics including pastoralism, geology and the mountain landscape. The road continues on to Cauterets, where a cable car takes you effortlessly up to the Clôt plateau. The tarmac road allows you to stroll right through the heart of the Pyrenees National Park. To return to the car, there are two options: via the cable car or along a path that passes the Pont d’Espagne and its large waterfall, a real natural mist-maker. Before heading back to the Pays Toy to spend the night.

Night 3: Viscos

Day 4

Col des Tentes > Cirque de Gavarnie

60km / 1h32

Today you have a rendezvous with the “Colosseum of Nature”, as Victor Hugo called it on his trip to the Pyrenees: the Cirque de Gavarnie. Before stopping in the village, we suggest you continue a few bends higher up towards the Col des Tentes. There’s an interpretation trail at 2200m altitude, the highest in Europe, offering exceptional panoramic views. A tête-à-tête with the 3000m peaks of the Gavarnie cirque. Over a 1.5km round trip, interpretation panels present the natural heritage and the history of cross-border trade. The border with Spain is at the end of the path. Once you’ve appreciated it from its summits, it’s time to contemplate it from below. From the village of Gavarnie, take a walk along the river Gave to the Nadau bridge. A gentle approach to experience the immensity of this 1,500m-high natural wall and its 423m-high waterfall, one of the largest in Europe.

Night 4: Viscos

Day 5

Col du Tourmalet > Pic du Midi > Col d’Aspin > Loudenvielle

80km / 2h04

The adventure continues! It begins with the ascent of the legendary Col du Tourmalet, dreaded by Tour de France cyclists. As it passes, the Maison du Tourmalet-Pic du Midi will be showing two 360° films under a dome. A documentary on the sporting epic of the Grande Boucle and a short animated film on the mysteries of the Night. It’s the perfect way to start the day before taking the cable car up to the Pic du Midi. Nicknamed the “Vessel of the Stars”, this site is home to Europe’s largest International Dark Sky Reserve. Take the time to visit it and stroll along its terraces to admire a unique panoramic view of the Pyrenees. If you’re feeling brave, head for the Ponton dans le Ciel. You will then reach the village of Loudenvielle via the Col d’Aspin, with its panoramic bends over the Aure valley.

Night 5: Loudenvielle

Day 6

Louron Valley > Lake Génos-Loudenvielle

Today we leave the car behind to make the most of a day full of activities. On the programme: a first flight in a two-seater paraglider, taking off from the crests of Azet to fly over the Louron valley; a descent in a cimgo, a tandem wheelchair with 4 all-terrain wheels, to hurtle down the mountain bike trails; a ride in a cani-kart, pulled by a team of around ten huskies to explore the mountain pastures and forests guided by a musher. After these sensations, a moment of relaxation is welcome in the naturally warm waters of Balnéa. The lake at Génos-Loudenvielle is fully equipped for strolling around. You can picnic on the banks and take a contemplative break on the three accessible pontoons.

Night 6: Loudenvielle

Day 7

Col de Val Louron-Azet > Vallée d’Aure > Route des Lacs > Saint-Lary

59km / 1h39

You leave the Louron valley via the Val Louron-Azet pass. The view of Loudenvielle and its lake is magnificent. You then switch to the Aure valley to join the Route des Lacs. The highest road in the Pyrenees winds its way between stone walls and rhododendron groves to reach the gates of the Néouvielle National Nature Reserve. A shuttle bus takes you to Lac d’Aubert and Lac d’Aumar to extend your escape into this heavenly lakeside world. On the way back to Saint-Lary, the Moudang interpretation trail runs through the shade of the woods. A short, bucolic walk (250m long), it awakens the senses with posts for listening to birdsong, smelling the scents of the forest and observing the wildlife. Your day ends in the village of Saint-Lary, with its main street, bars and restaurants with influences from nearby Spain. Take your time wandering around, as the summer evenings are particularly pleasant here.

Night 7: Saint-Lary

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

accommodation

Your accommodation

Nights that suit you

Because the nights are just as important as the days, we’ve taken great care to select our accommodation according to criteria of quality, character and originality.

And we’ve unearthed addresses that don’t always feature on the major online booking platforms. But above all, we can advise you on how to find the right accommodation for you. Our range of accommodation caters for all tastes. Tell us about yours.

budget

Budget

The estimated budget for this stay is €886 per person.

Included in this suggestion :

8 days/7 nights with breakfast
1 Pic du Jer pass
1 Cauterets-Pont d’Espagne pass
1 Pic du Midi pass
1 entry (2h) to Balnéa
1 cimgo descent
Michelin road map with annotated route
Personalised travel pack with daily programme

1772€ /2 pers or 886€ per person (including 1 disabled person)

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!

Access to the Pyrenees