Pyrenean travel agency specializing in your hikes and treks in the Pyrenees, the GR10 and more
BASQUE COUNTRY: Maison IPUTXAINIA, 64220 ASCARAT
ARIEGE: 20 chemin de la montagne, 09000 FOIX
+33 (0)5 34 14 51 50 - +33 (0)6 10 97 16 54
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Stays
Cauterets-Gavarnie: snowshoeing and spa in the heart of the Pyrenees National Park
Central Pyrenees
Guided walking
Guided Walking
6 Days
5 Nights
5 Activity Days
From 875,00 €
This trip to the heart of the Central Pyrenees allows you to discover some of the most beautiful sites in the Pyrenean mountain range. Starting from Cauterets, you will explore two magnificent valleys reminiscent of Canada: the Gaube Valley and the Marcadau Valley. Immaculate snow-covered landscapes, pine groves, valleys, high peaks, waterfalls and frozen lakes are all on the agenda.
In the Luz St Sauveur valley, you will climb two beautiful, easily accessible peaks,: offering superb 360° panoramic views of the region's main peaks over 3,000 metres high: Balaïtous, Vignemale, Néouvielle, Pic du Midi de Bigorre, Taillon... and many more !
Another highlight of the trip is the famous Cirque de Gavarnie with its many peaks over 3,000 metres high, frozen in winter. Home to the largest waterfall in Europe (423 metres), the Cirque de Gavarnie with its magnificent architecture cannot be described, it must be contemplated and discovered. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this natural glacial cirque impresses with its size and height, its walls reaching nearly 1,500 metres.
In the unspoilt and wild setting of the Pyrenees National Park, you can explore gentle trails that are particularly suitable for snowshoeing.
After your hikes, the Les Bains du Rocher spa complex offers you a well-deserved moment of rest and relaxation!
HIGHLIGHTS :
• Accommodation in a 2-bedroom family gîte in the heart of the old village.
• Hiking in the Pyrenees National Park.
• Hikes in the Pyrenees' major listed sites: Gaube Valley, Gavarnie, Marcadau Valley…
• Gentle terrain suitable for snowshoeing.
• Access to spa facilities (5 hours in total) after your hikes.
• Accommodation in a 2-bedroom family gîte in the heart of the old village.
• Hiking in the Pyrenees National Park.
• Hikes in the Pyrenees' major listed sites: Gaube Valley, Gavarnie, Marcadau Valley…
• Gentle terrain suitable for snowshoeing.
• Access to spa facilities (5 hours in total) after your hikes.
Dates and Prices
Departures
Departure guaranteed from 4 people.
Price
Per person: €875 (From 01/04/2026 to 02/06/2026 and from 03/08/2026 to 03/13/2026) Per person: €900 (from 02/08/2026 to 03/06/2026)
Supplements/discounts:
- Additional night in BB double room: €46/pers
- Full board accommodation from dinner on day 1 to breakfast and picnic on day 6
- Transfers during the stay
- Equipment provided: snowshoes, walking poles, avalanche transceiver and hiking crampons
- Supervision by a BE AMM specialist in the region
- Insurance
- Personalised balneotherapy treatments.
- Meals not mentioned in « The price includes »
- Transfers not included in the programme
- Visits
- Drinks
- Administration fees (€15 per file)
Day 1 : Start in Lourdes
Meet at 5.45 pm at Lourdes station and transfer to Cauterets (35 mins). Check into your accommodation. Briefing about your stay.
Day 2 : Pic de Hautacam, a fantastic viewpoint over the Central Pyrenees
Transfer
(45 min). Among the most beautiful viewpoints that are easily
accessible in winter, the Hautacam peak deserves a
place of honour. Easily accessible from the Hautacam ski resort, it
offers an exceptional 360° panorama of the plain
and many peaks of the Central Pyrenees. From Balaïtous to Pic du
Midi de Bigorre via Vignemale and the ‘3000’ peaks of Gavarnie, the
view from a summit of this altitude (1,746m) is incredible!
Distance: 11km, duration: 4 hours, ascent: +280m, descent:
-280m
Day 3 : The Riou Pass and the summit of Pène Nère
Transfer
(50 min). Starting from Luz Ardiden resort, a gentle climb takes
you to the Col de Riou pass between the Cauterets
valley and the Luz St Sauveur valley. The route then follows a
superb ridge to the summit of Pène Nère.
Magnificent views of the Néouvielle massif and the Troumouse
cirque, as well as the peaks overlooking Cauterets.
Distance: 9km, duration: 4 hours, ascent: +420m, descent: -420m
Day 4 : The Marcadau Valley and Refuge
Short
transfer (15 min). A little corner of paradise, the
Marcadau Valley is one of the most beautiful valleys in the
Pyrenees. The route, punctuated by the magnificent Cayan
plateau, waterfalls and forests, makes this site a veritable
‘little Canada’. Arrival at the Grand Refuge Wallon, where the view
of the high peaks on the border (Vignemale, Grande Fache, Cambalès,
etc.) will be the last highlight of the day!
Distance: 16km, duration : 5h45, ascent : +420m, descent :
-420m
Day 5 : The Gavarnie Cirque
Transfer
(55 min). Today's goal is to discover the Gavarnie Cirque from
different viewpoints. First, we will travel across the
Peyrenère plateau, with its gentle slopes offering
superb views of Gavarnie. This will be an opportunity to
better understand the work of the glaciers that shaped these
landscapes, which we are now seeing disappear before our eyes...
Then, we will explore the village of Gavarnie and
observe the heart of the cirque, its frozen waterfalls and the
immensity of its vertical walls.
Distance: 14km, duration: 5.5 hours, ascent: +450m, descent:
-450m
Day 6 : Lake Gaube
Short
transfer (15 min). Starting from the Pont d'Espagne, you will walk
through the famous and unmissable Gaube Valley.
After crossing the forest along the Gave, you will come to
the beautiful frozen Lake Gaube. In the distance,
the majestic north face of the Vignemale, the highest peak in the
French Pyrenees, comes into view. In the early afternoon, after
your hike, return to your accommodation to freshen up, then
transfer back to Lourdes station.
Distance: 5.5km, duration: 3.5 hours, ascent: +270m, descent:
-270m
NB: the order of hikes is subject to the decisions of our mountain guide, who is the sole judge based on the level of the participants and the weather.
The programmes have been drawn up based on the latest information available at the time of writing: unforeseen circumstances are always possible and situations beyond our control may affect the course of the trip. Once on site, our guides are the best judges and may decide to change the itinerary depending on the weather or if the safety of the group requires it.
Welcome
Day 1 at 5:45 p.m. at Lourdes train station for a transfer (35-minute journey) to Cauterets (65, Hautes-Pyrénées). Or directly on site, at the Beau Soleil guesthouse, 21 Rue du Maréchal Joffre in Cauterets (+33 6.61.10.27.21).
Dispersion
Day 6 around 4:15 p.m., after your transfer to Lourdes train station.
Level
Terrain
Hikes in snow-covered mountains, on gentle slopes suitable for snowshoeing.
Level 2
These trips are designed for those looking for an active holiday. A reasonable level of fitness is required. Expect to walk between 3½ and 5¼ hours per day. Ascent speed* +300m per hour.
*Please note that walking times are average times that only take into account the actual walking time without including breaks.
Accommodation
5 nights in a room for up to 2 people, with private bathroom and toilet. The Beau Soleil guesthouse is a friendly, family-run accommodation with a warm, mountain atmosphere. Our friend Anouk brings her sense of hospitality to life here, offering you a warm welcome and cooking up delicious meals using organic and locally sourced produce! The gîte is located in the heart of the old village, 350m from the Bains du Rocher thermal baths.
Meals
- Continental breakfast (tea, coffee, milk, bread, butter, jam)
- Evening meals often based on local specialties, including a starter, main course, and dessert
- Picnics included
- Drinks not included
OTHER ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
On certain dates, the size and distribution of the group according to the type of rooms means that we work with another accommodation partner in Cauterets. If this is the case, you will be informed before your registration is confirmed, so that you can make your own decision.
Les Bains du Rocher
In a minimalist mineral setting, made of stone and noble materials, in a cozy and intimate atmosphere, the Les Bains du Rocher thermal spa offers a program of relaxation, well-being, and aquatic fitness.
Bubble beds, swan necks, indoor pools, hammam, sauna, salt stone relaxation room...
The world of Les Bains du Rocher allows you to enjoy the benefits of thermal water. The outdoor pool, its whirlpools, bubble beds and water currents give you the opportunity to enjoy the landscape and the mountains in all seasons.
Immersing yourself in its 33°C waters will be an unforgettable moment of relaxation after your hikes.
The +: the outdoor pool under the snow, when the flakes swirl and settle delicately on the surface of the water.
Group
Groups of 4 to 12 people.
Supervision
Supervision by a BE AMM specialist in the region
Materials provided
Equipment provided: Snowshoes, walking poles, DVA device (avalanche victim detector), shovel and probe and hiking crampons
To discover
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