Crossing the Pyrenees National Park

This accompanied itinerant trip offers you a two-week immersion in the mountains in grandiose landscapes (with the possibility of cutting this trip in two and doing a week of hiking). The nights will take place in a refuge, in the high mountains with a guaranteed atmosphere and a change of scenery offering a contemplation of the starry sky without equivalent. The wildlife and the flora will of course not be left out. Finally, you will discover the summer pastures and the Pyrenean pastoral practices.

The detailed program of your stay:

Day 1

Transfer to the Aspe valley near Lescun. From the meadows of the Lhers plateau, we turn our backs on the cute little village of Lescun to go up the valley gently along the torrent; quickly we enter the National Park, then the climb becomes more pronounced from the Deth Caillau hut to the Saoubathou pass (1918 m). From there, we cross the pastures among the sheep until we reach the lake and the Arlet refuge. Around the lake, lawns and red sandstone (wine color) create a striking contrast of colors.

Walking time : 3 to 4 hours. Difference in altitude : + 900m / - 100m.

Day 2

Under the Pic d'Arlet, the Banasse mountain forms a large grassy basin where the herds graze peacefully. We will certainly share a few moments with a shepherd if he is present in his high altitude hut to make the famous and tasty Pyrenean sheep cheese. Descent towards the beech forests of the Espélunguère wood and the Somport pass. Depending on the conditions, your guide may make a short detour to Spain to the Estaens Lake. Night in a gite near the Somport pass.

Walking time : 4 to 5 hours. Difference in altitude : + 300m / - 900m.

Day 3

Very wild route on the edge of the forest to reach the Arnousse hut then the Lary refuge. Climb to the Ayous pass (2180 m) where we join the GR10 and where we switch to the Ossau valley. The view from the pass is striking as it suddenly opens onto the Pic du Midi d'Ossau and its 2 characteristic peaks, standing proudly above the other mountains and pastures. Short descent to the Ayous lakes - real jewels where the Ossau is reflected - and to the refuge.

Walking time : 6 to 7 hours. Difference in altitude : + 1000m / - 500m.

Day 4

Around Ossau, it is a real geological poem that unfolds under our feet: volcanic rocks, sedimentary rocks from the bottom of the oceans, glacial erosion ... the landscape is very rich, as well as the fauna. Around Ossau, the isards are numerous, as well as the marmots keeping an eye towards the sky to avoid being caught by the Royal Eagle. Other large birds of prey animate the sky, such as Griffon vultures and Bearded Vultures. As we approach the Col de Peyreget, we skirt the high colored walls of the Ossau, kingdom of chocards and climbers, before descending into the valley, not without being astonished by the strange Grande Raillère de Pombie, constituting a real river of rock. Once we arrive at the Caillou de Socques, we will take a public shuttle to sleep in a gîte in the valley.

Walking time : 5h. Difference in altitude : + 700m / - 1250m.

Day 5

Shuttle for the Caillou de Socques. Climbing in the beech forest, then in the meadows and along the stream, in the Val d'Arrious: depending on the season, we may see Martagon lilies, Pyrenean lilies, irises and countless other multicolored flowers picked up by some colorful butterflies. Looking back, we can see that the eastern side of the Ossau is not lacking in character either. At the top of the pass and just after the Lake of Arrious, the mythical passage of Orteig -small handrail cut into the side of the mountain- will be one of the highlights of the trip; but depending on the level of the group and the conditions on the ground, your guide may decide to make the whole group go through the Lake of Arstouste located below and to go back up to the refuge of Arrémoulit. Night at the small refuge of Arrémoulit (2280 m), in a very beautiful mineral setting of high mountain: the granitic, pyramidal summits of Arriel (2824m) and Palas (2974m) form a circus which encloses the refuge and the lakes where we are.

Walking time : 5h. Difference in altitude: + 950m / - 100m.

Day 6

Descent to the lake of Artouste, then wild crossing towards the lakes of Carnau; ascent to the pass of Artouste (2472 m). From the pass, we switch to the Val d'Azun and the Hautes-Pyrénées. Descent to the lake and refuge of Migouélou (2278 m); this large lake is held back by a very particular dam, composed of a multitude of arches.

Walking time : 5h. Difference in altitude : + 500m / - 500m.

Day 7

Short ascent to the Col de l'Hospitalet, descent to the north by the Lac de Pouey-Laun. The stage is also very wild, little frequented. After these high altitude sceneries, we progressively gain the valley, the moors with rhododendrons, rowan trees and birches, then the fir trees. We leave the National Park before arriving at the Lac du Tech and return to civilization for a night in a gîte in the valley, in Val d'Azun.

Walking time : 4h. Difference in altitude : + 300m / - 1200m.

Day 8

Short transfer above the lake of Tech, to the Pla d'Aste. We return to the National Park through the forest of fir trees, at the end of which we discover the emerald waters of the beautiful lake of Suyen. We gain altitude by a long ascending traverse, with the lakes of Rémoulis halfway, before reaching the border pass of Port de la Peyre St Martin (2295 m). Short descent to Spain to reach the Respomuso refuge. The setting is beautiful, with a large lake below, some pine trees scattered in the lawns, many valleys and pyramidal peaks dominating the whole. The refuge is also at the foot of Balaïtous, a granite colossus perched at 3144m of altitude, where innumerable ridges converge.

Walking time : 4h. Difference in altitude : + 950m / - 150m.

Day 9

Warming up on the shores of the lake, climb to the lakes and the Fache pass (2664m), with on either side the summits of the Petite and Grande Fache (2947m and 3005m). We cross back into France and go down to the Wallon refuge and its little chapel. The refuge, facing south, is located at the crossroads of 3 magnificent valleys that we never tire of admiring until sunset, lulled by the song of the crossbills of the fir trees hidden in the woods behind the refuge.

Walking time : 5h. Difference in altitude : + 600m / - 850m.

Day 10

Climbing in the pine forest behind the refuge, accompanied by the heady smell of resin. In a few minutes we leave the woods, the landscape opens up, even more offering than the landscape admired from the refuge. We pass the Nère lake, then the Pourtet lake (2420 m). The isards are often numerous in the area. Descent to the lakes of Embarrat dominated by the sharp granite needles of Castet Abarca. More, we follow the peaceful banks of the Gave de Marcadau winding through the grasslands of the Cayan plateau. Night in a gîte close to the foaming waterfalls of the Pont d'Espagne.

Walking time : 5h. Difference in altitude : + 560m / - 920m.

Day 11

Climb along a nice path through the pines and on the granite rocks polished a few thousand years ago by the glaciers, to the Gaube Lake: a real postcard setting, with the Vignemale in the valley bottom reflected in the emerald waters of the lake. The route continues along the axis of the valley, approaching the imposing and disproportionate north face of the Vignemale where some seracs and glaciers still cling. Last efforts to reach the Hourquette de Baysselance (pass perched at 2734m altitude) and short descent to the refuge of Baysselance for a night facing the glacier of Ossoue.

Walking time : 5h30. Difference in altitude : + 1200m / - 150m.

Day 12

Optional ascent of the Petit Vignemale (3032m) for the early risers (and if it was not climbed the day before during the passage of the Hourquette): this 3000 is easy to access (except if hard snow at the beginning of the season) and allows to admire in enfilade all the valley of Gaube, the neighboring massifs of which Gavarnie-Mont Perdu, and also dominates the glacier of Ossoue. After a return to the refuge, descent towards the famous Cirque de Gavarnie by following the GR10 and the long grassy valley of Ossoue.

Walking time : 5h30 or 6h30. Difference in altitude : + 0 or 400m / - 1300 or 1700m.

Day 13

From the village of Gavarnie, climb to the Espuguettes refuge and the Hourquette d'Alans (pass at 2430m) while admiring the immensity of the Cirque, its walls which follow one another interspersed with snowy ledges and a myriad of waterfalls several hundred meters high. We can also see behind us the Brèche de Roland, and closer to us the immense walls of the twin summits of Aztazous. In these limestone grounds, a varied flora covers the lawns of altitude. We go down behind the Hourquette, in the Cirque d'Estaubé, less known than its neighbors, we go down to the lake of Gloriettes and then reach an inn at the foot of the Cirque de Troumouse.

Walking time : 7h. Difference in altitude : + 1100m / - 650m.

Day 14

After an early and rather short climb, we walk in the immense natural arena of the Cirque de Troumouse at 2000m of altitude, encircled by a long ridge bordering or exceeding 3000m of altitude, with the Munia culminating at 3133 m. Descent to the chapel of Héas, the head filled with memories. Warm and friendly lunch in a hostel; hot shower for those who want it. Transfer and dispersion.

Walking time : 3h30. Difference in altitude : + 300m / - 650m.

RENDEZ-VOUS : at 9am at the SNCF station of Lourdes. Be dressed in hiking clothes, with hiking shoes at hand and a full water bottle.

END OF STAY: dispersal from 3:30 pm in Lourdes station.

LEVEL : 5 hours of walking and 650m of difference in altitude on average ; 3 stages of more than 1000m of difference in altitude but without any descent except on D13 which is more sportive (+1100m/-650m for 7 hours of walking). Some optional climbs during the trip.

GUARANTEED DEPARTURE FROM 5 persons

GROUP LIMITED TO APPROXIMATELY 15 people

CARRYING : you will carry only your daily belongings ; your luggage will be transported by vehicle except for the accommodations on D1, D3, D5, D6, D8, D9 and D11 (no need for a sleeping bag).

GUIDANCE : by a qualified mountain leader and specialist of the region.

ACCOMMODATION : 6 nights in gites and 7 nights in mountain huts (no sleeping bag required).

MEALS : Dinners "mountain spirit". We will have a picnic lunch.

TRAVEL : Depending on the number of participants, transfers are made by bus, minibus or cab.