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
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Cauterets and overnightArrive 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.
Behind its beautiful 19th century façade are comfortable rooms with a chalet-style décor. Enjoy a local wine on the terrace while people-watching!
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.
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
Behind its beautiful 19th century façade are comfortable rooms with a chalet-style décor. Enjoy a local wine on the terrace while people-watching!
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.
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
Behind its beautiful 19th century façade are comfortable rooms with a chalet-style décor. Enjoy a local wine on the terrace while people-watching!
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
An included transfer brings to the Railway Station in Lourdes. From where you can make your onward journeys.
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 about how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
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.
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 in Scotland, the world renown Tour Du Mont Blanc and Germany's Moselle Cycle Path, to name but a few!
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.
Solo Travellers, Families with Teens
The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years
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.
On this tour you will stay in hand-picked and comfortable 3* hotels.You will be warmly welcomed by these family-owned accommodations.
Alternate Accommodation
We will always try and accommodate you at the accommodations listed. However, if those listed are unavailable, alternative accommodation of the same or better standard than those described will be provided.
Single Rooms & Solo Walkers
If you require single rooms we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable. We welcome solo walkers on this trip with a supplement. Although you should of course take extra care in the outdoors when walking solo.
Some of the walks will be way-marked with either a red and white GR sign, when on a GR Trail and some also signed with yellow signposts. Together with use of our Macs Adventure smartphone app and GPX tracks, you will have no problem finding your way.
- 7 Nights accommodation in comfortable hand-picked 3* hotels
- 7 Breakfasts
- Luggage transfers
- Day 1 Transfer from Lourdes Train Station to Cauterets
- Day 8 Transfer from Luz St Sauveur to Lourdes Train Station
- Day 4 Transfer to Viscos
- Detailed information pack, route notes, maps, GPX tracks and access to the Macs navigation app
- 24/7 telephone support from our UK office
- 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
- Private transfers
- Additional nights before, during and after the walk
We would encourage you to travel anytime during the available dates which is mid-May until the end of September. In the spring there will be plenty of wildflowers, summer is warmer but should never be really hot, especially when you are in the mountains and September is a fantastic time to go when the trails are quieter.
Please bear in mind that the Cirque du Lys Cable car only runs from approximately the second week in July until the first week of September. Therefore if you want to include the Cirque du Lys walk on Day 3 you will need to travel within these dates. For cable car and local bus timetables please see your information pack. You can start your tour on any day of the week during the season, subject to availability.
Included in the cost of this tour is a transfer on Day 1 from Lourdes Train Station to Cauterets and on Day 8 from Luz Saint Sauveur to Lourdes Train Station. The best airport to fly into is Toulouse. Make your way from the airport into central Toulouse by an airport shuttle bus or by train. You may then board a train from Toulouse to Lourdes. Direct trains are approximately every 2 H and the journey takes about 2.5 H. Please let us know what time you would like to be picked up both on Day 1 and Day 8 so we can time these transfers accordingly. Please check the SNCF website for train details.
From Luz Saint Sauveur, an included transfer brings to the railway station in Lourdes. From where you can make your onward journey by train. Check SNCF for train details.
Your bags will be transferred with you on Day 4 from Cauterets to Viscos, where you will begin your walk. Your luggage will then be taken on to the hotel in Luz Saint Sauveur. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.
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.
We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalised as this region is very popular, especially in July and August. You will find up to date availability on our website.
This tour has a moderate grading. These walks have been put together specifically so that most people in good physical shape can do them.
Your bags will be transferred with you on Day 4 from Cauterets to Viscos, where you will begin your walk. Your luggage will then be taken on to the hotel in Luz Saint Sauveur. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.
Your detailed information pack will be sent to you after you book. This has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes and a day pack.
Why Macs
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At Macs, we don’t do tour buses, groups, or guides. Instead, we give you the freedom and confidence to have your own self-guided hiking or biking adventure.
This is active travel led by you.
You choose your departure date and who you travel with, we do the rest.
We sort accommodation and luggage transfers and provide your route in an easy-to-use app.
We give you everything you need to travel independently but we're here 24/7 if you need us.
Getting from A to B under your own steam is intensely rewarding. With Macs, you'll see the world, and yourself, differently.