Reach the summit of several classic 3000 metre peaks

Return each night to the comfort of your hotel or cottage

Enjoy the flexibility of independent walking with detailed notes, maps and car hire

See fabulous wildlife, eagles, griffon vulture, marmottes, isard and more.

This is a 'fly-drive' holiday in the High Pyrenees. The walks are designed for fit walkers who are keen to get to several mountain tops in one week but want to return to a hotel or self catering base for the evening. You can walk to at least three 3000 plus metre summits. All of the days in this itinerary are graded C or D. The Itinerary is designed so that you hike to the summits of some of the most famous peaks in the Pyrenees. As well as enjoying fabulous views you are likely to come across Izards (Pyrenean Chamois), Griffon Vultures and, with luck, the rarer Lammergier.

Lots of other peaks are also possible, so please treat the itinerary below as a sample of what is possible. There is a lot of flexibility with this holiday as you can choose between self catering, b&b or half board at a hotel in the centre of Luz Saint Sauveur. Have a look at the relevant web pages or get in touch with Wendy for more details about the different houses, flats and hotels.

This package is ideal for customising so if the following routes do not exactly fit your walking ambitions, just contact Wendy to discuss possibilities. Perhaps you want a shorter trip, or more days in the Pyrenean villages but fewer days walking? Or there is always the option of spending a night or two in a refuge and perhaps walking into Spain. Pyrenean Mountain Tours will help you to plan your ideal independent High Mountain walking trip.

HOLIDAY ITINERARY

DAY 1 - Fly to Pau Pyrenees
The best way to get to the Pyrenees is on a Ryanair schedule to Pau. Pick up your hire car at the airport and drive to our base in Luz Saint Sauveur where you will be met by one of our staff. Once you have settled into your accommodation, we will discuss the possible routes with maps and help you to decide which walks you wish to do. Below are six possibilities you may wish to try during your stay. There are of course many others.

The Madamete (2657m)
This walk serves as a good warm up day. It takes you into the heart of the Neouvielle Nature Reserve. From the peak you get a great view of some of the summits you will reach later in the week.

The Pimené (2890m)
This is a a tougher walk. You start in the famous mountaineering town of Gavarnie and head up towards the Cirque of Gavarnie (a UNESCO world heritage site) before climbing to the classic peak via the Espugettes refuge. The views from the Pimené are some of the best in the Pyrenees. As you look south you can see far into the Spanish mountains

The Petit Vignemale (3050m)
This classic day starts from the Barrage d’Ossoue above Gavarnie. You visit the historic Bayssellance refuge before attempting this steep peak. On the way up you see the Glacier d’Ossoue - the largest remaining ice field in the Pyrenees. You can get drinks and omelettes for lunch at the Bayssellance refuge.

The Turon de Neouvielle (3035m)
Turon de Neouvielle (3035m) The Turon de Neouvielle is one of the peaks that you will have seen from the Madamette (above). To get there you walk via the Glere refuge and the pretty Glere lakes. The route to the top of the peak is hard work but you are rewarded with great views of the Vignemale, Breche de Roland and the Taillon.

The Breche de Roland (2800m) and the Taillon (3144m)
The Breche de Roland is probably the best known landmark in the Pyrenees and getting there is a fantastic day out in the mountains. You start from near the Spanish border at Boucharo, traverse under the north face of the Taillon, visit the remote Sarradets refuge and finally reach the Breche, a massif stone 'doorway' between France and Spain. Those who want to, can extend the walk by a further two hours and climb to the summit of the Taillon (3144m).

The Breche de Tuquerouye (2666m)
The highlight of this walk is a spectacular and sudden close up view of the north face of the Mont Perdu and its hanging glaciers. There are no sights finer than this anywhere in the Pyrenees

DAY 8 - Fly back to London
You head back to Pau Airport 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 4season)
Walking pole or Ice Axe (depending on season)


Clothing suggestions
Fleece
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof over trousers
Sun hat or peaked cap
Sunglasses
Shorts and T-shirts
Good quality walking socks

Other items
Altimetre
GPS
Map set
A small rucksack
Sun block for face and lips
Personal First Aid kit (plasters,compede, paracetamol)
Water bottle or Platypus
Penknife