| Les
Encantats, The Aiguestortes, or ‘The ‘Enchanted
Mountains’. Legend has it that in years gone by two
local shepherds avoided the Mass dedicated to the local saint
in order to hunt Izard, they were turned to stone and became
the needle like peaks of the Encantats. It is the abundance
of water and jagged granite ridges which create the beauty
of this National Park. There are more than three hundred lakes,
protected by the rocky ridges which tower above.
This massif, vestige of the most recent period of glacial
activity, presents the walker with an array of crystalline lakes, secret meadows,
small woods, needle shape summits and sharp ridges.
This exceptional six day circuit provides a visual feast
for any mountain lover.
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| 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 in the bar.
DAY 2 - Transfer to the mountain
village of Espot in Spain. The trek starts with a gentle climb
up the valley of Peguera to the Josep Maria Blanc refuge at
2330 metres.
DAY 3 –
As we move from one lake to the next, we make our way towards
the Coll de Saburo at 2670 metres. A straightforward climb
to the peak, the Tuc de Saburo, gives us an unbeatable view
over the Enchanted Needles themselves and the rest of the
park. We then drop down to the glinting waters of Lake Colomina.
DAY 4 - By crossing the Pas
de l’Os - ‘the Bear's foot’ - we make our
way into the Cirque of Saburo. The col du Marr at 2753 metres
allows us into the wilderness of the Monestero valley. Tonight
will be spent at the foot of the colossal petrified needles
which are the Encantats.
DAY 5 – A fantastic day’s
walking starting on the banks of Lake San Maurici. This magical
countryside will lead all the way to the col at the Port
de Ratera. Here we are at the precise watershed point for
the source of the mighty Garonne.
DAY 6– Today is a complex
and little walked route which will take us to the Refuge del
Pla de la Font at 2015 metres. The beauty of this walk is
in the variety of landscapes which we will enjoy along the
way.
DAY 7 - One last little climb
and we reach the Col de Fogueruix. From there a discreet winding
path leads us to the mountain torrent Escrita which we follow
down to the village of Espot.
DAY 8 - Fly back to London
You head back in our minibus
to Pau Airport or Lourdes SNCF to connect with transport
home.
Please Note: This itinerary
may be altered if conditions and weather are judged to put
the safety of the group at risk, or if they indicate another
route would be preferable for the group’s comfort. Pyrenean
Mountain Tour guides and Mountain Leaders reserve the right
to make changes to the itinerary without notice. These changes
will be explained to the group if they occur.
EQUIPMENT
AND PACKING IDEAS
We recommend that people joining this trek are equipped with
the following:
Technical equipment
Comfortable Walking Boots (3 or 4season)
Walking pole if you like them
Clothing suggestions
Fleece
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof over trousers
Warm hat
Warm gloves
Sun hat or peaked cap
Sunglasses
Shorts and T-shirts
Good quality walking socks
Other useful items
40 - 60 litre Rucksack
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 and film
Paperback novel (light!)
Snack bars/dried fruit/chocolate
Sheet sleeping bag liner (if you like them....)
Additional items
Compass
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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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Books
The
best general guidebook for this area of the Pyrenees
is published by the Cicerone Press:
The High Level Route, by George Vernon
But also very useful are 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
You should be able to walk for up to seven hours
a day over some quite steep and varied terrain
covering about a 600 - 800 metres of altitude
gain. This is a grade
C walk.
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
Guided
This holiday costs £525
per person, based on two people occupying a twin
or double room in the hotel and dormitory style
accommodation in refuges.
Discounts
We are able to offer some discounts on groups
of four and more. Please call for details - 01635
297209.
Departure Dates &
Flight Details
Holiday
start date:
02/08/08
We recommend that you use the following flights:
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
• half board accommodation in hotels
• full board accommodation in huts
• guiding fees
Not
Included in the Price
• international travel
• transfers
•
drinks and beverages
Night
1:Hotel Templiers
Night 2:Refuge
Night 3:Refuge
Night 4:Refuge
Night 5:Refuge
Night 6:Refuge
Night 7:Hotel Templiers
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.
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