Itinerary
- Day 1
Cauterets
Your hiking adventure starts in Cauterets, a thermal spa town where you'll have options to shape your day. You can take a forest walk up to Turon des Oules (1380m/4528 ft) to check out the old thermal hotels, or head toward the Lisey plateau, a glacial valley where continuing to a mountain pass will give you panoramic views across the region.
Optional Activities
- Forest walk to Turon des Oules (1380m) thermal station
- Trek to Lisey plateau and mountain pass
Landmarks Turon des Oules Lisey plateau - Day 2
Cauterets
A short transfer takes you to Pont d'Espagne, where your hike begins. From there you'll make your way up to the Oulette's de Gaube refuge, and the views really open up once you reach Gaube lake with the glaciated valley stretching below. The Pique Longue vertical rock face creates quite a backdrop. For the return, you can either trek the Chemin des Cascades route back or catch a public shuttle down to Cauterets.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to Oulette's de Gaube refuge
- Trek along Chemin des Cascades (option) or return by public shuttle
Landmarks Pont d'Espagne Oulette's de Gaube refuge Gaube lake Pique Longue Chemin des Cascades - Day 3
Cauterets
After your morning transfer to Pont d'Espagne, you'll spend the day on a loop hike through the Marcadau valley in the heart of Pyrenees National Park. The turquoise alpine lakes sit above 2400m/7874 ft, and you'll pass Embarrat, Portet and Nère lakes along with the well-known Wallon refuge. Your route descends through forests and past waterfalls back to the trailhead, then you'll take a public shuttle to return to Cauterets by afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Loop hike through Marcadau valley
- Visit turquoise alpine lakes (Embarrat, Portet, Nère)
- Pass Wallon refuge
- Descent through forests and waterfalls
Landmarks Pont d'Espagne Marcadau valley Embarrat Lake Portet Lake Nère Lake Wallon refuge - Day 4
Cauterets to Luz-Saint-Sauveur
Today follows the legendary GR 10-Transpyrenean trail as you walk from Cauterets to Luz-Saint-Sauveur. You'll tackle the Col de Riou pass between the two valleys first, where you get panoramic views across the valley of Barèges, the Néouvielle massif, and the Cirque of Troumouse. After that descent, you'll reach this thermal spa town by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk along GR 10-Transpyrenean trail
- Cross Col de Riou pass
Landmarks Col de Riou Cirque of Troumouse Néouvielle massif - Day 5
Luz-Saint-Sauveur to Gavarnie
After a short transfer to the trailhead, you'll explore two glaciated cirques, Estaubé and Gavarnie. You'll head back to Gloriettes Lake and then follow trails up the Estaubé valley, climbing to Hourquette d'Alans where the panoramic views are quite something. Later you'll descend into the Gavarnie valley, where you'll be staying for the next two nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to Gloriettes Lake
- Trek up Estaube valley to Hourquette d'Alans
Landmarks Gloriettes Lake Estaube valley Hourquette d'Alans Gavarnie valley - Day 6
Gavarnie
A morning transfer brings you to Col des Tentes. You have chances to climb two great viewpoints here: Le Pic des Tentes (2322m/7618 ft) and Le Pic de Pahule (2292m/7519 ft). From the pass, you'll descend toward the cirque's center by way of the Port of Boucharo on the French-Spanish border, then through Pouey Aspé valley and the Bellevue plateau. You can finish with an optional short trip to the Gavarnie waterfall, one of Europe's highest falls at 423m/1388 ft.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Views of Gavarnie Cirque
- Optional short round trip to Gavarnie waterfall
Optional Activities
- Climb Le Pic des Tentes (2322m)
- Climb Le Pic de Pahule (2292m)
Landmarks Col des Tentes Le Pic des Tentes Le Pic de Pahule Port of Boucharo Pouey Aspé valley Bellevue plateau Gavarnie Cirque Gavarnie waterfall - Day 7
Gavarnie to Pierrefitte-Nestalas/Lourdes
Your stay concludes with a transfer from Gavarnie back to Pierrefitte-Nestalas station. From there, you'll catch an SNCF bus to Lourdes station. If you left a car in Cauterets, you have the option to arrange a return transfer there at no extra cost instead.
Optional Activities
- Arrange return transfer to Cauterets (no supplement)
Landmarks Pierrefitte-Nestalas station Lourdes station
