Walking Holidays
France

Pyrennees Trek

This self-guided walking holiday is a wonderful trek through the High Pyrenees, undertaking an almost complete crossing of the Western Pyrenees National Park. You’ll discover a superb series of must-see sites with water as your guide from the tranquil lakes of Embarrat to the highest waterfall in Europe at Gavarnie Cirque. The stunning high mountains of the Pyrenees National Park are peppered with beautiful lakes, rich green forests and mountain pastures which you’ll discover with a light rucksack, as your bags are transported for you. Parts of your traverse follow the legendary long distance trail, the GR10, whilst at other times you’ll follow quiet and remote paths.

After a relatively easy start you'll do a circular trail around the Carinquere Massif before approaching the highest summit in the Pyrenees, le Vignemale (3298 m) by the hanging Gaube valley. After passing the Hourquette d’Ossoue pass at 2736m you'll traverse above the Ossoue Gorge accompanied by marmots with rich flora in the summer pastures to reach the village of Gavernie below its famous cirque. Your trail goes around Cirque de Gavarnie, the highest limestone mountain & waterfall in Europe.

Holiday Profile

7 night/8 days: 6 or 7 days independent walking moving between accommodation

Dates

Everyday (subject to availability) from 20 June to 10 September

Walking Profile & Grade

6 or 7 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.

This walking holiday is graded moderate/challenging. See more information about walking grades.

Accommodation & Meals

• Half board
• 5 nights in gites and 2 nights in mountain huts.
• All nights are in dormitory-style rooms with shared bathrooms (blanket provided).

When to Travel

Our self-guided walking trail along the Pyrennees National Park is available from 20 June to 10 September. This trek goes over mountain passes above 1200m and so before mid June there is a high risk of snow on the trail and some of the accommodation is not open. During the rest of June and early July there is a greater risk of encountering snow fields on the trail than later. The summer months are the driest period in the central Pyrenees, but afternoon showers or storms are fairly common. From mid September night time, temperatures tend to be fresher and there is a small risk of fresh snow at altitude. The busiest period in terms of fellow walkers is from Mid July to mid August.

Navigation, Walking Notes & Maps

This walking holiday follows different trails depending on the options chosen. There is the GR (Grande Randonnee) long-distance trail which is very well way-marked with red and white markings. There are also signposts along the trail. The walking follows clear paths for its entire duration. Some small sections follow local or unmarked trails, for example to access accommodation, but these are easy to follow. On this particular walking holiday, we use the Cicerone guide books. As well as the walking notes we supply walking maps. You'll be provided with detailed 1:25,000 walking maps.

Luggage Transfers

On this walking holiday you can choose to have your main luggage transferred between accommodations so you only have to carry a day rucksack with a picnic lunch (supplied by the guest houses and included in the holiday price), water and spare clothes, waterproofs, camera etc. On this holiday several local taxi companies are responsible for transporting your main luggage. Please limit the weight of your bags where possible to 15kg.

Travel Info

How to arrive and leave Cauterets

-Train :
Changes between the Eurostar and TGV are at Lille or Paris. TGV's run from Paris to Toulouse. Regional train from Toulouse to Lourdes. Change & take bus (replaces train) to Cauterets.

- Flights :
There are flights from French and UK airports to Tarbes-Lourdes airport: Ryan Air on Tuesdays & Saturday from London Stansted or Air France via Paris Orly. Taxi transfers can be arranged on your behalf.

- By car :
Park at Auberge de Maillet and night there before transfer to Cauterets for the start of the walk. PARKING :
Parking in Cauterets :
- Free : Bus station, Place de la gare, Thermes Cesar (town centre).
- Parking : Parking Municipal underground, Rue de Belfort - Tel : 0033 562925557, or 0033 562925034 (Mairie), or 0033 562925050 (tourist office)

How to get to Cauterets from Le Maillet:

Transfer from Le Maillet to Cauterets?

We recommend arriving by train to avoid returns to Cauterets to recover your car, because the return journey is long by public transport and very expensive if you take a taxi. If you have to come by car, we recommend that you leave your car in Cauterets on the first day and return by public transport because you will not be tired from a week's walking.

Please contact us for assistance in organising your travel arrangements

Further Information & Advice

For useful advice about independent walking trips and preparing for your self guided holiday please take a look at the articles in our top-tips section. Once you have booked this independent walking or trekking holiday, further information about the walking, the region and what to bring, will be sent to you. We do have a web page dedicated to what clothes and equipment you should bring. Please contact us if you need any further information.

Travel Insurance

All customers booking with High Point Holidays are required to have suitable travel insurance to include cover suitable for the activity as well as emergency evacuation and medical treatment. You are required to accept our terms and conditions as part of your booking.

7 nights / 6 or 7 days walking

• From €765
• Per person based on 2 sharing (where private rooms)
• Without bag transfers: less €110 per booking