• Traversing the Pyrenees National Park

• 20 June - 10 September (every day subject to availability)

• From £595/€665

• 7 nights, 6 day's self-guided walking moving between gites and refuges

• A spectacular traverse of the Pyrenees National Park
• A series of magnificent, must-see sites such as the Cirque de Gavarnie with the highest waterfall in Europe
• Wonderful trails through a series of cirques with beautiful lakes
• Plenty of wildlife with vultures, eagles, marmots and isards
• Only carrying a light rucksack

• 5 nights in gites and 2 nights in mountain huts. All nights are in dormitory style rooms with shared bathrooms. Dormitories vary in size. Blankets are provided (so you don't need to bring sleeping bags). Tasty and filling meals are taken in a large dining room where a great atmosphere prevails as walkers share their stories and experiences.

• 7 nights' Half Board accommodation. Transfer either at the start or end of holiday (1 hour). Full walking notes and maps. Transport of luggage between accommodation (except on two nights).

• Travel to Cauterets or Maillet, lunches, drinks with meals, showers in the mountain huts, any excursions or entrance fees, travel insurance

• See other walking holidays in the Pyrenees: Cerdagne Explorer - Pyrenees Coastal Trail - Azun Valley: Pyrenees Balcony Trail
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Walking Profile

6 days independent walking moving between gites and mountain huts with one circular trail. It is graded challenging with average days which include 5 hours of walking and 800m of ascent & descent (Maximum 1200m). Paths are generally good and well defined, although they can be rocky and mountainous in character in places. You should have a good head for heights and be able to navigate.

Walking Holiday Day-by-day

Day 1: Arrival

Welcome at Cauterets if arriving by train or at Auberge du Maillet if arriving by car.

Day 2: Cauterets - Le Clot

Transfer if you arrived by car. A relatively easy day to start the week. The trail meanders in and out of beech and fir woodland before crossing summer meadows and then onto the edge of the National Park. You will be entering the land of isards, marmots and large birds of prey. 4 hrs, +800m, -200m (optional detour which adds 1hr 30).

Day 3: Tour from Le Clot

A circular trail around the Carinquere Massif in the Marcadau Valley. It crosses summer pastures, climbing and contouring the marvels of this lake land region. You’ll discover the eastern side of the mighty Vignemale Massif. 6hrs, +/-850m

Day 4: Le Clot - Refuge de Baysellance

Today you’ll approach the highest summit in the Pyrenees, le Vignemale (3298 m) by the hanging Gaube valley and its famous lake, loved by the romantic writers such as Sand, Baudelaire and Hugo. You’ll discover a rich flora as you pass through various stages of vegetation to reach the high Hourquette d’Ossoue pass at 2736m, the highest point of the day. 5hrs, +1200m, -100m

Day 5: Refuge de Baysellance - Gavarnie

Another ‘classic’ day, passing under one of the biggest glaciers in the Pyrenees, the Ossoue Glacier. After a spectacular traverse above the Ossoue Gorge, it’s an easy trail, accompanied by marmots with rich flora in the summer pastures. Then cross several wild valleys & reach the village of Gavernie below its famous cirque. 5hrs +200m, -1500m.

Day 6: Gavarnie - Refuge des Espuguettes

Your trail goes around Cirque de Gavarnie, the highest limestone mountain & waterfall in Europe. Despite its popularity, the walk around the cirque provides a relatively wild and very spectacular day out. Your itinerary follows ledges in the cirque but without ever being overly exposed, the walk is still ‘aerial’ and breath-taking. The site also has a rich fauna and flora (birds of prey, marmots, isards) & from your refuge you are often treated to a beautiful sunset. 4hrs 30, +900m, -300m.

Day 7: Refuge des Espuguettes - Le Maillet

After the pleasant crossing of the Cardous Plateau at the foot of the impressive north face of Astazou and Swan Couloir, you pass by Hourquette d'Alans to reach the less frequented but nonetheless wild and beautiful Estaube Cirque which harbours Lake Gloriettes. After a small climb you have a pretty balcony trail which takes you to Troumouse Cirque. Your traverse finishes on reaching Le Maillet. 5hrs 30, +700m, -900m.

Day 8: Departure

After breakfast departure by car or transfer to train station.