The wonders of the Pyrenees | Découvrez les Hautes-Pyrénées : Nature, Montagnes & Aventures

itinerary

Your itinerary

8 days / 8 nights

Distance covered: 373 km

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Itinerary of the Pyrenees Wonders Roadtrip

Not to be missed on the road

The Lakes Route

Col du Tourmalet

Pic du Midi

Gavarnie Circus

Pont d'Espagne

Lourdes

programme

On the programme for your stay

8 days / 8 nights

Day 1

Louron Valley & Romanesque chapels

Set against a backdrop of majestic peaks, the lake brings colour to this pretty valley nestling between the Peyresourde and Val Louron-Azetpasses. The villages dot the soulanes in harmony. Each one hides astonishing Romanesque chapels, precious treasures with splendid murals painted to thank God for the fruitful trade in leather and wool between this French valley and its Spanish neighbour. Spared by the wars, these chapels are now listed masterpieces.

On the horizon rises a barrier of ports and peaks at over 3,000 m, like a wall designed to preserve the tranquillity of this secret valley. You contemplate it, comfortably immersed up to your neck in the warm waters of Balnéa.

As night falls, the villages of the valley light up one by one, like lanterns in a single garland, and the lake glows with reflections.

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Paintings in the church of Saint Barthélémy de Mont
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Eric Martin

Day 2

High mountain lakes route – Néouvielle National Nature Reserve

49 km / 1h12

The Lakes Route, the highest in the Pyrenees, winds between stone walls and climbs to Lac de Cap-de-Long (2,161 m), Lac d’Orédon (1,849 m), Lac d’Aumar (2,198 m) and Lac d’Aubert (2,150 m). It takes you to the heart of the Néouvielle National Nature Reserve, a wonderful garden. Created in 1936, long before the Pyrenees National Park, this nature reserve – one of the oldest in France – has the distinction of containing the highest concentration of lakes in the Pyrenees. No-one has ever been able to count them! They dot the landscape, forming a string of azure mirrors that glisten amidst meadows, rhododendrons and the tallest hooked pine forests in Europe. Home to marmots, this protected area is also a haven for a multitude of wildlife species. You might even spot a bearded vulture circling above Néouvielle.

This evening you’ll sleep in a chalet-hotel on the banks of Lac d’Orédon. Don’t forget to look out for the stars, because here, far from the light pollution of the cities, the nights are sparkling.

Day 3

Aulon – Hourquette d’Ancizan – Lake Payolle – Bagnères-de-Bigorre

57 km / 1h20

A day in the intimacy of the Pyrenees, ending with a dreamy night perched in the stilt huts on the edge of the Payolle lake in a pine forest. Here it is known as the “Little Canada” of the Pyrenees. The landscape is one of vast plateaux and dense forest, wooded hills, rolling pastures and meandering streams. Cows and horses graze freely. In the early hours of the morning, when the dew evaporates under the first rays of the sun and the evanescent mist clings to the coniferous forests, the atmosphere is fantastic, almost mystical.

To reach the Payolle plateau, its lake and its perched huts, you can take the classic route of the main mountain passes, via the Col d’Aspin (1,489m) and its superb viewpoint. But we recommend a slightly longer but beautiful, wild and quiet route via Hourquette d’Ancizan. If you follow this route, you can have lunch at a tasty restaurant hidden away in the charming village of Aulon, perched on a promontory at an altitude of 1,230 m at the foot of the Pic de l’Arbizon. At the top of the village, you’ll meet Céline, who breeds her herd of Angora goats with their long, curly fleeces, and produces sumptuous mohair wool. Her colourful shop sells balls of wool, knitting kits, magnificent plaids and more.

Day 4

Baronnies – Gourgue d’Asque – Gouffre d’Esparros

74 km / 1h46

Head for the little-known Pyrenees and its foothills, with the high peaks as a backdrop. Here the mountains are not really mountains at all. The gentle landscape of the Baronnies is best described as rolling hills, wooded valleys and rolling fields. Along the way, you’ll discover the enchanted world of the Gourgue d’Asque, known as the little Amazon of the Pyrenees. A fascinating walk in a lush natural setting. The moss and lichen that cover the trees and pathway seem to conceal elves and fairies. You’re more likely to spot the spotted salamander, the discreet emblem of a rich, unspoilt fauna.

In this secret land of the Baronnies, a land of mysteries and legends, you’ll also discover the Gouffre d’Esparros, an extraordinary underground gallery whose concretions will make even the most experienced speleologists swoon.

The day ends in a magnificent mansion, both chic and cosy, in the heart of the famous spa town of Bagnères-de-Bigorre.

Day 5

Pic du Midi to Luz Saint Sauveur

47 km / 1h07

Take time to wander around the spa town, discovering its charming little streets and its superb market hall where you can do a bit of shopping before setting off on your adventure. The route you’ll be taking today is one of the most feared by cyclists… It’s the one that leads up to the famous Col du Tourmalet. It is here that some of the heroic, but also tragic, pages of the world’s most famous cycling event were written: the Tour de France.

At 2,115 m, it is the highest road pass in the Pyrenees and the highest point on the main pass route. It’s an incomparable viewpoint: from up there, the panorama is splendid.

Before reaching the top of the pass, stop off at La Mongie. A spectacular cable car ride will take you to the summit of the Pic du Midi. You can visit the site, stroll along the terraces, venture onto the vertiginous Ponton dans le ciel and admire the view of the Pyrenees chain. Exceptional!

Then you’ll cross the Col du Tourmalet into the Pays Toy region, where Patrick, a shepherd, is waiting to welcome you to his guest house.

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Cycle up to the Col d'Aspin ©Tourmalet Pic du Midi
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Laurent GAITS Tourmalet Pic du Midi

Day 6

Gavarnie & the great cirques – Unesco

44 km / 1h06

Today, you’ll discover some intense and spectacular scenery: Gavarnie, Troumouse and Estaubé, the great cirques of the Pyrenees, listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. More than just geological curiosities, their semi-circular walls create grandiose, extraordinary landscapes. They look like pure invention. “A miracle, a dream” said Victor Hugo.

A colossus of the Pyrenees, the Gavarnie cirque is as majestic as the emotions it arouses. A breathtaking sight.

The birthplace of Pyreneanism, this exceptional site has attracted scientists, painters and poets since the 16th century. Anyone arriving in front of this prodigious wall, 1,500 m high and 6 km in circumference, can easily understand why. Its concentric tiers follow one another in almost perfect symmetry, dominated by a cohort of giants: the Casque (3,006m), the Marboré (3,248m), the Taillon (3,144m) and the legendary Brèche de Roland. Not forgetting, in the background, one of the highest waterfalls in Europe, at 423m…

Day 7

Cauterets-Pont d’Espagne & Lac de Gaube

42 km / 1 hour

With the north face of the Vignemale (3,298 m), the highest peak in the French Pyrenees, as a backdrop, Lac de Gaube offers one of the most picture-perfect views of the Pyrenees. The site was dear to the hearts of many writers who came to stay in the Pyrenees in the 19th century, and was often mentioned in Parisian salons for its beauty and the calm of its waters. It must be said that the crème de la crème of the literary and fashionable world of the time came here for a day out: Victor Hugo, Alfred de Vigny, Chateaubriand, George Sand, Queen Hortense de Beauharnais, Napoleon III… Located at the end of the Val de Jéret and its famous waterfalls, Lac de Gaube is an easy 1-hour walk away, after crossing the no less famous Pont d’Espagne. The less adventurous can reach it in less than 15 minutes’ walk thanks to the ski lifts.

Whatever your choice, be sure to pay close attention. You’re in the heart of the Pyrenees National Park, where you can admire tumultuous waterfalls, lush forests, meadows covered in wild flowers and shy marmots…

Day 8

From Saint-Savin to Lourdes

56 km / 1h25

After a few days spent exploring the celebrities of the Pyrenees, we invite you to leave the main road and try out the back roads that lead to the intimate, confidential but always wonderful Pyrenees. You’re about to discover the secret Val d’Azun. A magnificent little unspoilt valley, dotted with a dozen small mountain villages with slate roofs and stone walls. Pastoral traditions are still very much alive here, and the farmhouse cheese is famous. On your itinerary, we invite you to stop off for a gourmet meal at one of the best restaurants in the region.

At Le Viscos, we’ve been in the restaurant business for 7 generations! That’s what we call a safe bet. This local institution is nestled in Saint-Savin, a charming little village on a balcony overlooking the valley. Its covered buildings resting on wooden pillars lining the square give it the air of a bastide town.

To round off this day and this journey, we offer you a new and personal experience in a place that is unique in the world. Head for Lourdes and its magnificent torchlight procession , which sets the Marian city ablaze every evening.

Day of departure

Sanctuary of Lourdes

The whole world knows about Lourdes, yet few people know what really lies behind the image, behind the clichés and preconceptions. For no one can know the energy of this city unless they have experienced it first-hand.

Arriving at the Porte Saint-Michel, what strikes you is the sheer size of the site. On the horizon is the spire of a bell tower topped by a cross. Two basilicas are in view. The third is hidden beneath our feet. A beautiful 400 metre-long esplanade decorated with flowers sets the scene. Against all expectations, this is a natural site.

You can hear the Gave, the mountain river that flows through Lourdes; you can see rocks, trees, hills and meadows; you can feel the wind. Most of the visit takes place in the open air, in a vast, green natural setting.

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Lourdes
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HPTE - Eric Martin Le Figaro Mag

People come here to caress the rock of the Grotto, burn a candle, collect water from the fountains… Simple gestures that everyone can do. Religious, pagan or superstitious gestures, each with its own meaning.

You’ll discover an exceptional heritage: the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, slender and white, perched on the rock of the Grotto and topped by a spire; the Basilica of the Rosary , with its facades adorned with splendid Venetian mosaics by G.D Facchina, who notably decorated the Opéra Garnier; the Basilica of Saint Pius X, an astonishing underground monument; the arcades inspired by Bernini’s colonnade in Saint Peter’s Square in Rome…

And you’ll be touched by the unique atmosphere, marked by great simplicity, where everyone can show themselves as they really are.

expert

Our expert

Stay

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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

whirlpool

Your spa centre

bubble of well-being

Balnéa

On the edge of the lake and facing the mountains, Balnéa plunges you into a world of refinement and raw beauty. The water comes from naturally hot springs, the inspirations are far away, and the relaxation is varied…

The centre offers 6 areas: Roman with a 33° lagoon (jacuzzis, hammam, whirlpool baths, etc.), Tibetan with personalised treatments, Japanese with saunas and Inca, with outdoor baths. The Amerindian and Mayan areas are reserved for families.

Aquensis

The azure-blue facade of a private mansion marks out Aquensis, a thermal spa and architectural gem.

Baths and a lagoon bubble under a majestic cathedral-like wooden frame, next to an exceptional hammam. Animated pools with whirlpools, water curtains, swan necks and underwater music, not to mention saunas and jacuzzis on the terrace, complete the offer. Upstairs, 19th-century salons provide an elegant setting for massages and body wraps.

accommodation

Your accommodation

Nights to suit you

We’ve unearthed some addresses that don’t always feature on the major online booking platforms.

A renovated former monastery, a cabin perched in the middle of a forest, a lakeside refuge, a Spanish inn, a charming bed and breakfast, a cosy hotel…

budget

Budget

The estimated budget for this stay is €709 per person.

Included in this suggestion :

8 days/8 nights with breakfasts included in a choice of classic and unusual addresses (lakeside refuge and perched hut)
Grande Route des Cols des Pyrénées, Route des Lacs de Haute Montagne and scenic escapes on piedmont roads
Cirque de Gavarnie (UNESCO), Cauterets-Pont d’Espagne in the Pyrenees National Park (car park, Puntas cable car and Lac de Gaube chairlift),
Gourgue d’Asque
Pic du Midi cable car
Visit to the Gouffre d’Esparros
Sanctuary and Grotto of Lourdes
Balneotherapy in the hot springs of the Pyrenees
Gastronomic lunch or dinner
A personalised travel diary
Michelin road map with annotated route

Plane + Car from €1087 / person
Plane tickets and car hire included

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!