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The French Pyrenees 10 days hiking
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| ITINERARY - difficulty grade B ( height gains of up to 800m, 2,700 ft a day ) | ||
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Day 1: France |
Meet
in Pau: and travel to the mountain town of Cauterets on the threshold
of the Pyrenees National Park. Cauterets is our base for three nights.
By vehicle, ascend the winding road into the Cambasque Valley, one of
several valleys that converge on Cauterets. Enjoy an afternoon warm-up
hike by following a portion of the long distance hiking route known as
the GR10 (Grande Randonnée 10) up the open valley. The trail passes by
a waterfall and tiny Lac Noir before arriving on the shores of picturesque
Lac d'Ilhéou, a perfect introduction to the Pyrenees high country. Cauterets
is our base for three nights. Our hotel is normally the very comfortable Hotel Bois-Joli, Cauterets. See http://www.cauterets.com/ for more information aout this beatiful region. |
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| Day 2: France | Marcadau Valley: Transfer to the Pont d’Espagne (Bridge to Spain) in the Pyrenees National Park. Hike past meadows, waterfalls, and rushing streams in the lush landscape of the exquisite Marcadau Valley. | |
| Day 3: France | Hourquette d'Ossoue: We return to the Pont d’Espagne for a chance to explore the Vallée de Gaube which leads to the base of Vignemale— the highest peak in the French Pyrenees. We hike past the still waters of Lac de Gaube, the renowned "mirror of Vignemale," to the Refuge des Oulettes. From here, you can enjoy a stunning view of the vertical north face of Vignemale. Our goal is the Hourquette d'Ossoue, a lofty pass high on the shoulder of Vignemale. | |
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Day 4: France
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Gavarnie. We hike to Gavarnie
via the Vallée de Lutour. This vigorous high mountain crossing will
lead you past alpine lakes and over a remote pass through one of the
most pristine landscapes in the Pyrenees National Park. |
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Day 5: France |
Cirque de Gavarnie: Hike into the awe-inspiring Cirque de Gavarnie via a trail that climbs quickly to the Plateau de Pailla before making a gradual descent into the cirque. Portions of this trail follow natural limestone ledges. | |
| Day 6: France | Brèche
de Roland: Transfer to the Col de Tentes, a mountain pass near
the Spanish frontier. From here we hike to the Refuge Sarradets just below
the legendary Brèche de Roland. Afetr a short pause we continue on a never-to-be-forgotten
hike into the brèche itself. Stand in this enormous notch at the top of
Gavarnie’s cirque wall and gaze over the magnificent Ordesa Canyon into
Spain. Legend has it that the brèche was carved by the sword of Roland,
nephew of Charlemagne, in the 8th century. |
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| Day 7: Spain | Torla, Spain:
Travel to the Spanish stone village of Torla at the mouth of Ordesa
Canyon. We hike to Torla via the pass called the Port de Boucharo
on one of the old pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. From the
Port de Boucharo, the trail descends into Spain's Ara River Valley. Near
the valley floor are some wonderfully old specimens of the red-berried
European yew (Taxus baccata)—called tejo in Spanish. The path eventually
arrives at the picturesque stone bridge that spans the Ara River at San
Nicolás de Bujaruelo. The path continues downstream through beautiful
stands of white fir (Abies alba)—known as abeto in Spanish—to the mouth
of the Bujaruelo Valley and Torla. Alternatively, you can travel to Torla by vehicle via the mountain pass known as the Col de Pourtalet. En route, stretch your legs on a short stroll through the open meadows of the Cirque d'Anéou at the foot of the striking Pic du Midi d’Ossau. Torla is our base for four nights. Our hotel is the Hotel Edelweiss, Torla, Spain |
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| Day 8: Spain | The
Ordesa Canyon: A brief shuttle ride transports you into the Ordesa
Canyon with its 800 meter high glacier-carved walls. Hike to the spectacular
Circo de Soaso by way of the main trail along the canyon floor. The trail
passes through beautiful beech forests and leads past the lovely Cascada
de la Cueva ("waterfall of the cave") and the stair-stepped cascades of
the Gradas de Soaso. From the Circo de Soaso we return via the Faja de
Pelay—a natural limestone ledge that contours the south canyon wall about
2,000 feet above the floor of the canyon. The walk along the Faja de Pelay
is one of the classic hikes in the Spanish Pyrenees—spectacular and dramatic
and well within the reach of an experienced mountain walker. The views
from the Faja de Pelay are magnificent and include Monte Perdido and the
conspicuous notch of the Brèche de Roland (Brecha de Roldán, in Spanish).
Eventually the trail reaches the Refugio y Mirador de Calcilarruego from
where the Senda de los Cazadores ("Hunter’s Path") descends in a series
of switchbacks to the valley floor. |
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| Day 9: Spain | Pardina
Canyon: We walk through wild and lonely canyon country. Vultures
soar over the remote Pardina Canyon (which you’ll traverse via the exciting
Faja de la Pardina), waterfalls plunge over limestone cliffs, and dark
beech forests offer welcome shade as you make your way down the Añisclo
Canyon to San Urbez. Here, cross a marvelous stone arch bridge spanning
the narrow gorge of the Vellós River to trail's end. |
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| Day 10: France |
Ordesa Canyon: Today we explore the Northern side of the famous canyon, following the Faja Petazals as it climbs out of Spruce forest onto hillsides covered with yellow broom and other spring flowers. (5hrs walking) | |
| Day 11 France |
Tella
& Pau: We travel back to Pau, France via the Tunel de Bielsa.
En route, we stop for a hike at the remote mountain-top village of Tella.
Pine, rosemary, lavender, and boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)—known as boj
in Spanish and buis in French—line the fragrant path as it loops by four
stone chapels dating from the 11th to the 16th centuries. Take time to
enjoy the peace of the surrounding mountains before continuing the journey
to Pau. Our hotel is normally the Hotel Le Renaissance, Pau. |
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| Day 12 France |
Fly home? or at least back to Pau or Toulouse for sight-seeing. | |
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Based on: What is included: What is NOT included: Key points: |
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| Trip Facts:
Total Distance - Average height climbed a day - Highest pass - Languages - French (6 days), Spanish (4 days). Difficulty - For good hikers |
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| homepage - faqs + equipment list - about us - contact us - client comments - timetable + prices - homepage | ||