Walking in the Pyrenees National Park

8 Days & 7 Nights

4.6

Walking in the Pyrenees National Park

Classic walking in the Pyrenees National Park
UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Cirque du Gavarnie
Traditional and charming villages of the Pays Toys
The Pont d’Espagne, a famous mountain link between France and Spain
Unforgettable Pyrenees landscapes—mountain peaks, waterfalls and lakes

Follow trails through the heart of the Pyrenees National Park surrounded by classic mountain landscapes. Discover many natural highlights such as turquoise lakes, waterfalls, jagged peaks, flower-strewn meadows and dramatic cliffs. Walk to Cirque du Gavarnie, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and to the Pont d’Espagne, an ancient bridge high in the Pyrenees that used to be at the border of France and Spain. Stay in Cauterets and Luz Saint Sauveur, two small, lively mountain towns of character and explore traditional Villages of the Pays Toys.

From £965.00

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Itinerary

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Day 1 Arrive in Cauterets and overnight

Arrive in the town of Cauterets and the heart of the Pyrenees National Park. A spa town and popular in the 19th century for tourism not only for this reason, but also because it is surrounded by high mountain peaks.

Enjoy sitting at an outdoor café, admiring the view and sampling some great local wine and cuisine.

Overnight Cauterets

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel le Bois Joli | Hotel

Behind its beautiful 19th century façade are comfortable rooms with a chalet-style décor. Enjoy a local wine on the terrace while people-watching!

Hotel Lion d’Or | Hotel

This hotel is located in the center of Cauterets and has been family run for 4 generations. It is situated in a charming house with stylish decor and a warm and relaxing atmosphere.

Day 2 Walk to Pont d’Espagne. Belvedere Cable Car. Walk to Lac Gaube 8 miles / 12 km

Walk along the GR10 route and follow the Gave to Marcadau to the Pont d’Espagne, a famous stone bridge and an area referring to a stunning waterfall and the scenic area beyond. From here take a cable car up to Belvedere and then walk to Lac Gaube, a turquoise lake surrounded by high mountain peaks. Walk back to Pont d’Espagne and from here catch the local bus back to Cauterets.

Ascent/Descent: 670m/300m

Overnight Cauterets

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel le Bois Joli | Hotel

Behind its beautiful 19th century façade are comfortable rooms with a chalet-style décor. Enjoy a local wine on the terrace while people-watching!

Hotel Lion d’Or | Hotel

This hotel is located in the center of Cauterets and has been family run for 4 generations. It is situated in a charming house with stylish decor and a warm and relaxing atmosphere.

Day 3 Cable car to Cirque du Lys. Walk to Cauterets via Lac d’Iheou 7 miles / 12 km

Take the cable car up to the Cirque du Lys in order to begin your walk. From the Cirque du Lys there are fantastic views of the Pyrenees mountains and lakes. Views that you will not forget very quickly. Work your way down way down along a trail to the stunningly blue Lac d’Heou. A delightful scene, why not soak your feet before joining the GR10 and walking all the back to Cauterets along this famous trail.

An alternate valley walk (13 km) will also be provided this day if you are travelling outside the dates that the cable car runs—approx. 2nd week of July to 1st week of September.

Walk 1 - Cable car to Cirque du Lys. Walk to Cauterets via Lac d’Iheou Ascent 0m / Descent 1300m

Walk 2 - Cauterets Loop walk Ascent 750m / Decent 750m

Overnight Cauterets

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel le Bois Joli | Hotel

Behind its beautiful 19th century façade are comfortable rooms with a chalet-style décor. Enjoy a local wine on the terrace while people-watching!

Hotel Lion d’Or | Hotel

This hotel is located in the center of Cauterets and has been family run for 4 generations. It is situated in a charming house with stylish decor and a warm and relaxing atmosphere.

Day 4 Transfer to Viscos. Walk to Luz Saint Sauveur via Pont Napoleon 8 miles / 13 km

Today a short transfer (30 mins) brings you to the next sunny and awe-inspiring valley. En route to Luz Saint Sauveur, your overnight stop for the next few nights, you will be dropped off in the village of Viscos, perched on a slope in the valley with stone houses and a stunning outlook. From here take trails through forest and the surrounding countryside and along the valley. Perhaps stop for lunch in the village of Sazos, another beautiful spot and one of the Pays Toys villages.

Then pass over the magnificent Pont Napoleon which spans the valley of Gave de Gavarnie before arriving into the town of Luz Saint Sauveur, a hiker’s haven!

Ascent/Descent: 390m/500m

Overnight Luz Saint Sauveur

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel les Templiers | Hotel

Located on a side street in the centre of Luz, the Hotel Les Templiers is a blend between history and comfort. The rooms are all different with either a view of the fortified church St. André, or of a small indoor courtyard.

Hotel Montaigu | Hotel

This hotel is nicely located just on the edge of Luz Saint Sauveur, close to the chateau and with great mountain views. Peaceful and quiet its rooms are simple but very comfortable, some with little balconies.

Day 5 Free day in Luz San Sauveur

Today is free to explore the town of Luz Saint Sauveur, located in the one of the most beautiful valleys of the Haute-Pyrenees and at an altitude of 711 m. It is truly a haven for hikers!

Perhaps take in its historical heritage with visits to the Templar Church of St. Andrew, the spa district and the castle. There is even a municipal pool for you to swim in should the day be warm.

Overnight Luz Saint Sauveur

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel les Templiers | Hotel

Hotel Montaigu | Hotel

Day 6 Cirque du Gavarnie 8 miles / 13 km

Catch the local bus (45 min journey) to the village of Gavarnie, where you begin today’s fabulous walk. First take the trail alongside a small river and then divert off the trail into the hillside. Once you arrive in the cirque, you can see why it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. It is a spectacular sight and provides a striking insight as to how the Pyrenees Mountains were formed. Walk into the base of the cirque before making your way back down the trail to Gavarnie.

Ascent/Descent: 570m/570m

Overnight Luz Saint Sauveur

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel les Templiers | Hotel

Hotel Montaigu | Hotel

Day 7 Villages du Pays Toys 7.5 miles / 12 km

The Pays Toy region is situated at the heart of the central Pyrenees and has many exceptional sites including the mythical Col du Tourmalet and the magnificent Cirque de Gavarnie (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), which you walked to yesterday.

Walk straight out of your hotel out of Luz and into some Pays Toys villages surrounding Luz Saint Sauveur, including Viella, Betpouey and Viey. Typically they have traditional stone houses and fantastic views over the surrounding mountains.

Ascent/Descent: 680m/700m

Overnight Luz Saint Sauveur

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hotel les Templiers | Hotel

Hotel Montaigu | Hotel

Day 8 Onward Travel

THIS TRIP'S CARBON SCORE

This trip has a carbon score of 7kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 7kg is equivalent to 1 single running shoe (not even a pair!). Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information on how we've carbon counted our trips.

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Other Information

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Is it for me?

This tour offers moderate walks over 8 days in the Pyrenees National Park, discovering classic mountain landscapes based in two different locations, Cauterets and Luz Saint Sauveur. Enjoy being completely surrounded by spectacular scenery, stay in comfortable 3* hotels and experience memorable, yet achievable walks, for those with good physical fitness.

Trip Type:

Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!

Activity:

Multi Centre Walking | With a mix of loop and point-to-point walks stay 2 or 3 nights in one place which offers the chance to slow down and really explore a destination.

This trip is suitable for:

Solo Travellers, Families with Teens

The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years

Ideal if you have an interest in:

National Parks

Alpine Walking

Grade & Terrain

This tour has a moderate grading. As you are walking in the high Pyrenees there will most definitely be some elevation gains and losses. On Day 3 there is a significant elevation loss as you take a cable car up to a peak and then walk down from there. However we do provide an alternate walk in the valley for this day if you do not want to take a walk with such a large elevation loss or if you are travelling outside of the dates when the cable car runs (see availability). These walks have been put together specifically so that most people in good physical shape can do them. So although you are in the mountains they are still only moderate. The terrain is a combination of dirt or rocky trails, country tracks and lanes or tarmac country lanes.

Accommodation & Meals Navigation What's Included

Included

7 Nights accommodation in comfortable hand-picked 3* hotels
7 Breakfasts
Luggage transfers
Day 1 Transfer from Lourdes Train Station to Cauterets
Day 4 Transfer to Viscos
Day 8 Transfer from Luz St Sauveur to Lourdes Train Station
Detailed information pack, route notes, maps, GPX tracks and access to the Macs navigation app
24/7 telephone support from our UK office

Excluded

Travel insurance (required)
Travel to Lourdes
Travel from Lourdes
Lunches & Dinner
Drinks and snacks
Taxi transfers or public transport should you need to skip a stage
Personal equipment
Cable car tickets, bus tickets

Extras

Private transfers
Additional nights before, during and after the walk

When to go Travel & Transfers Info & FAQ

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.

How far in advance do I need to book? How fit do I need to be? How do the baggage transfers work? What equipment do I need?

WHY MACS?

Reasons to believe in Macs Adventure:

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