| HOLIDAY
ITINERARY
DAY 1 - Fly to Pau Pyrenees
The best way to get to the
Pyrenees is on a Ryanair schedule to Pau. We pick you up in
our minibus and drive you to Luz St. Sauveur, in the French
Hautes Pyrenees. In the evening you meet up with your guide
for a briefing.
DAY 2 - The Cirque of Gavarnie to the
Pimene
The first day of the trek will see us climb from the village
of Gavarnie to the summit of Le Pimene at over 2800 metres.
This classic ascent gives truly spectacular views over the
cirque, Mont Perdu and across to the Vignemale where we will
be heading later in the week. We spend the night at the Espuguettes
Refuge, located on a plateau with unrivalled views of the
cirque. Here you are likely to be treated to a traditional
chorus by the Guardian. Allez Tonio!.
DAY
3 - Les Balcons de Gavarnie, L’echelle de Sarradets
and La Breche De Roland.
All that in one day! The vertiginous balconies will lead us
into the natural amphitheatre of the cirque of Gavarnie and
to the foot of the Grande Cascade, the highest waterfall in
Europe. From here we will climb the Echelles (ladder) des
Sarradets until we reach the Breche refuge at 2027 metres.
DAY
4 - Through the Breche and into Spain
From the refuge have a short climb to the Breche at 2800 metres.
From here we have a few options as we can either head West
to the Taillon for a classic 3000 metre peak and a relatively
short day, or East to the Casque and then across the top ridge
of the cirque of Gavarnie, over La Tour and onto the Col de
la Cascade. This is a truly unique trekking experience.
DAY 5 - Towards the Vignemale, highest of all French Pyrenees
Today we head down from the Breche refuge, into Spain at the
Port de Boucharo before crossing back into France at the col
de la Bernatoire. Several peaks are possible on the way although
this is already a long day at a time when legs may already
be tired. We may decide to take it easy. On reaching the barrage
d’Ossoue, we climb up the lower flanks of the Vignemale,
home of infamous Henry Russell, until we reach the Baysellance
refuge at almost 2700 metres.
DAY
6 - Le Petit Vignemale
After a short ascent of the Petit Vignemale at 3050 metres,
we head North on lesser known paths towards the valley de
la Fruitiere. There are several different possibilities on
this day, with high cols, little known spectacular peaks,
lost mountain lakes and finally plenty of descent. We spend
the night at the very comfortable Hotellerie de l’Estom
on the shores of the lake..
DAY
7 - Peak Ardiden and Luz Saint Sauveur
We finish with a big day setting off early in order to begin
the climb towards this craggy peak during the cooler hours
of the day. We climb past the lonely Russell refuge before
eventually finding the South West ridge of Peak Ardiden. We
follow this rocky ridge to the summit at 2988 metres. After
a well deserved lunch, we descend into the bucolic Bernazeu
valley, before finally descending into the valley of Luz Saint
Sauveur where a warm shower, a cold beer and a hearty feed
awaits.
DAY 8 - Fly back to London
You head back in our minibus
to Pau Airport or Lourdes SNCF to connect with transport back
home.
Please Note: All the above routes are weather dependent.
In case of difficult conditions Pyrenean Mountain Tours staff
will advise you on appropriate route choice.
EQUIPMENT
AND PACKING IDEAS
Attention needs to be given to the possible effects of sun
and dehydration and you must carry plenty of water and sunscreen.
We recommend that people joining this trek are equipped with
the following:
Technical equipment
Comfortable Walking Boots (3 or 4 season)
Walking pole or Ice Axe (depending on season)
Clothing suggestions
Thermal underwear
1
set as a base layer
Shorts
Fleece
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof overtrousers
Warm hat
Warm gloves
Sun hat or peaked cap
Sunglasses
Shorts and T-shirts
Good quality walking socks
Other items
40-60 litre rucksack
Head torch and batteries
Sun block for face and lips
Personal First Aid kit (plasters,compede, paracetamol)
Water bottle or Platypus
Penknife
Optional
items
Change of clothing to include: underwear, tracksuit bottoms,
dry shirt, spare socks.
Camera
Paperback novel (light!)
Maps
Ear plugs (there is always one snorer !)
Snack bars/dried fruit/chocolate
Sheet sleeping bag liner (if you like them....)
Additional items for Unguided Group
Compass
Altimeter
GPS
25 metre walking rope
Some of the technical equipment can be hired through
Pyrenean Mountain Tours if ordered in advance. Please call
our UK office on (0044) 01635 297209.
Please remember to carry as little gear as possible. A heavy
rucksack will make the trip hard work and less fun.
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Ski trips and more throughout Europe and beyond
Don’t let our name fool you: as well as Pyrenees
trips, we can take you to the Alps, South Tyrol, Dolomites,
Tatra Mountains and even further. In France, Spain,
Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Poland, Slovenia…even
Mongolia.
Downhill skiing, alpine skiing, off piste, telemark
skiing, ski tours, ski touring snowshoeing, trekking,
mountaineering, expedition training, motorcycle tours,
expedition training, walking, activity holidays, canyoning,
mountain biking, white water rafting, road touring,
cultural tours and study – chances are we have
just what you’re looking for. We can also arrange
all accommodation, from a hotel or B&B to a self-catering
apartment or gite.
Can’t see what you’re after? We’d
be happy to arrange a bespoke trip for you.
Pyrenean
Mountain Tours
2 Rectory
Cottages, Rectory Lane, Wolverton,Hants,
RG26 5RS, UK
tel and fax: (0044)(0)1635 297209, web: www.pyrenees.co.uk
(Pyrenean
Mountain Tours is a trading name of European Mountain
Holidays Ltd.)
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a few more details |
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Reccomended
maps
PYRENEES
SHEET 24 (1:50 000), Gavarnie - Ordessa
IGN Sheet Number 1748 OT (1:25 000), GAVARNIE
IGN Sheet Number 1647OT(1:25 000), VIGNEMALE
Books
The best general guidebook for this area of the
Pyrenees is published by the Cicerone Press:
Walks and Climbs in the Pyrenees by Kev
Reynolds.
Also
very useful is the Rough Guide
to the Pyrenees (published by the Rough
Guides Series) and Trekking in the Pyrenees
(published by Trailblazer)
Order
books
online at: www.amazon.com.
Questions
?
Email Rufus
for help.
Fitness and Walking
Standards
Walkers should be able to walk for up to 7 hours
a day over some quite steep and varied terrain
covering about a 800 - 1000 metres of altitude
gain. These walks are classified as a Grade C
walk (see descriptions
of grades here)
Not sure if you
are up to it ?
Do not be shy about discussing your level of fitness
with Wendy.
She will be able to advise you. People of all
ages and fitness levels are welcome and all can
enjoy mountain activities if the selection of
routes is appropriate.
| .....travel
details & costs |
What
your Holiday will Cost
This holiday costs £560
per person in a 2 star hotel, based on two people
sharing a twin or double room.
Discounts
We are able to offer some discounts on groups
of four and more. Please call for details - 01635
297209.
Departure Dates &
Flight Details
12/07/08
06/09/08
Often the cheapest and easiest way to get
to the Pyrenees by air is with Ryanair
who operate the following flights:
Daily:
London Stansted to Pau (Pyrenees), 06.20 arrives
09.15, flight number FR2356.
Pau (Pyrenees) to London Stansted, 09.40 arrives
10.30, flight number RF2357.
From
May 2008 Ryanair have a new flight from Bristol:
Bristol Internation to Pau Pyrenees, 19.20 arrive
22.20, flight number, FR6032
Pau (Pyrenees) to Bristol International, 22.45
arrives, 23.35 flight number FR6033.
Transfer
Arrangements
We
collect you from Pau in our minibuses and coaches
for a fixed fee of £40
per person.
Tel: 01635 297209
Email: Pmtuk@aol.com
Transfer Time: 1 hr 45 mins.
Alternatives
You can also fly with Ryanair
to Biarritz and Carcasonne and with Easyjet
to Toulouse.
We don't currently offer transfers to meet these
flights. You could either rent a car or catch
a train to Lourdes SNCF train station and we will
collect you there. Transfers to and from Lourdes
cost £30 per person.
Car
Hire
On some of our independent walking holidays you
need your own car. We have included the cost for
this within the overall holiday price. If you
are driving your own car to the Pyrenees we will
reduce your invoice accordingly.
Included
in the Price
• Seven days half board in hotels and
huts
• 6 days guided trekking with a qualified
mountain leader
Not
Included in the Price
• any extra activities you choose to do
on top of what is listed above
• international travel
• picnic lunches
• drinks and beverages
Spending
Money ?
There are cash machines at Pau airport and in
Luz Saint Sauveur if you need money at the beginning
or end of your trip. You will only need money
for drinks and snack bars in the refuges.
Accommodation
List
Night
1:Hotel Templiers
Night 2:Refuge des Espuguettes
Night 3:Refuge des Sarradets
Night 4:Refuge des Sarradets
Night 5:Refuge de Baysellance
Night 6:Hotellerie d’Estom
Night 7:Hotel Templiers
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