Pyrenees National Park, UNESCO world heritage

Beginning of your stay in Cauterets.  Situated at 950m altitude, Cauterets has an authentic, Pyrenean mountain charm and is well known for its thermal spas. Time to discover and enjoy the town. It is also possible to go hiking.

The Turon des Oules and the plateau du Lisey

Hiking in a forest environment, to Turon des Oules, from where you will overlook the resort of Cauterets, or to the Lisey plateau, a glacial valley with the possibility of continuing to the pass that promises you a magnificent panorama. Night in Cauterets. Distance : 12km, duration : around 5h, altitude gain : +850m, descent : -850m (Turon des Oules and Plateau du Lisey).

At 8am short transfer to the Pont d’Espagne. Discover the sumptuous Gaube valley and its mountain lake nestled in the heart of landscapes of great purity. After the Gaube lake, an easy itinerary will lead you to the Oulettes de Gaube site with its guarded refuge, at the foot of the imposing and magnificent north face of Vignemale (3298m). Return by the same itinerary to the Pont d'Espagne : possibility of returning to Cauterets by hiking along the Chemin des Cascades or by public shuttle. Night in Cauterets. Distance : 24km, duration : around 7h45, altitude gain : +800m, descent : -1350m (Return to Cauterets by hiking from the Pont d'Espagne). OR Distance : 16,5km, duration : around 5h45, altitude gain : +700m, descent : -700m (Return to Cauterets by public shuttle from the Pont d'Espagne).

At 8am short transfer to the Pont d’Espagne. Still in the heart of the Pyrenees National Park, this hike takes you to the neighbouring Gaube valley : the Marcadau valley. A superb loop itinerary will allow you to discover many beautiful turquoise lakes at an altitude of more than 2400m: Embarrat, Pourtet, Nère lakes... Then you will descend towards the Wallon guarded refuge on the banks of the Gave du Marcadau, which you will have to follow until you reach the Pont d'Espagne through forests and waterfalls. Possibility of an easier round trip in the valley. At 5pm, return to Cauterets by public shuttle. Night in Cauterets. Distance : 20km, duration : around 7h, altitude gain : +1000m, descent : -1000m OR Distance : 15,5km, duration : around 5h, altitude gain : +450, descent : -450m (round trip itinerary).

From Cauterets, the walk will lead you to Luz-Saint-Sauveur, another well known thermal spa spot by taking the mythical "GR 10-Transpyrenean" via the Riou pass, which separates the valleys of Cauterets and Luz. From the pass the panorama is immense : the Barèges valley, the Néouvielle massif, the Cirque de Troumouse and at your feet, the Luz Ardiden ski resort. On the slopes of Cauterets, you can see the Cirque du Lys, the Pic Cabaliros and the nearby peaks of the Marcadau valley. Night in Luz Saint Sauveur. Distance : 22km, duration : around 8h15, altitude gain : +1200m, descent : -1400m (room version). OU Distance : 19km, duration : around 7h30, altitude gain : +1100m, descent : -1300m (shared dormitory version).

At 8am, transfer from Luz St Sauveur to Lac des Gloriettes. Starting from the great lake of Les Gloriettes and its dam, you go up the Estaubé valley to its Cirque, in the heart of high altitude lawns inhabited by marmots and numerous herds. By the superb belvedere of the Hourquette d'Alans (2430m), descend into the Gavarnie valley without tiring of admiring landscapes of incomparable mineral purity. In good weather, it is possible to climb the Piméné (2801m) from La Hourquette d'Alans. One of the most beautiful views of the Pyrenees from the summit ! Night in Gavarnie. In bad weather or at the beginning of the season (if late snow on the route), a variant is possible. Distance : 14,5km, duration : around 5h30, altitude gain : +750m, descent : -1050m OR Distance : 19,5km, duration : around 7h30, altitude gain : +1200m, descent : -1500m (Piméné variant) OR Distance : 13km, duration : 4h, altitude gain : +345m, descent : -635m (bad weather or late snow variant) OR Distance : 13km, duration : around 4h30, altitude gain : +400m, descent : -700m (bad weather/late snow variant)

At 8am, short transfer from Gavarnie to the Col des Tentes. From the Col des Tentes, you have the possibility to climb two fantastic belvederes on the Gavarnie Cirque (in a round trip) : Le Pic des Tentes (2322m) and Le Pic de Pahule (2292m). Back to the Col, the route descends towards the heart of the circus via the Port of Boucharo on the French-Spanish border, the Pouey Aspé valley and the Bellevue plateau, allowing you to admire the wall of the Gavarnie Cirque in all its mineral immensity, an amazing and impressive limestone amphitheatre known worldwide. Finally, a short round trip to the foot of the Gavarnie waterfall, one of the highest in Europe (423m), will magnificently conclude your hike. Night in Gavarnie. Distance : 19km, duration : around 7h, altitude gain : +6505m, descent : -1450m

Enjoy your last moments in this high place of Pyreneism, classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. At 11.30am, transfer back to Cauterets to pick up your vehicle. If you have come by train, you can book a transfer to Lourdes train station (at no extra charge).