| Walking
in a Group
Group
walking is also a nice, relaxed way to meet people because
you are discovering new things together. You will be made
welcome whether you come as a single person, a couple or a
group. The supportive bonds that build up in a walking group
can be very strong. We even have people who met in our groups
planning their holiday dates so they can meet again!
Maps
You don’t need to do any map reading or navigation
but we find that most people joining these guided holidays
like to have their own maps so they can track their progress.
You’ll find a list of recommended maps and books in
each of the itineraries shown on this website. The guide will
show you where you are on the map or, on treks, will plan
each day’s walk with you ahead of time over a drink
at the refuge. You can learn a lot about map reading from
our leaders. They all speak good English.
  
Local
Transport
We arrange all the local transport needed for these walks.
Your guide drives you to and from the start and finish on
day walks; our staff drop you at the start point of a trek
and will collect you from your final destination. On our Two
Centre Holiday we will move your luggage in the middle of
the week. There’s no need for you to use your own car
or public transport. We can also, by arrangement, collect
you from Pau or Lourdes for a quick transfer up into the hills.
Which Guided Walk is for You ?
We offer a wide range of guided walking holidays and
treks. Some walks return to the comfort of a small two star
hotel at the end of each day, others are based in two separate
valleys. Treks traverse the high mountains of the Pyrenees
– often passing between France and Spain. Choosing the
right walk for you depends on a number of factors, such as
how fit and used to hill walking you are – (see the
Walking Grades on the right). Would you rather stay in a village
setting or hike miles away from the roads and stay in refuges?
Are you more interested in flora, fauna and culture or high
mountain landscapes and peaks?
   
The guided walks you will find on this site are very varied
in feel and challenge. Some are relaxed strolls where the
emphasis is on enjoying the scenery at a comfortable pace,
stopping regularly for photos and learning a bit more about
these magnificent mountains. A local catchphrase is 'the mountains
are for everyone’ (it sounds better in French!) and
you certainly don't have to be an Olympian to enjoy walking
here. However, other holidays are much more demanding physically
and you'll end the day with that pleasurable feeling of having
really used your body. These guided walks involve elements
of climbing or scrambling and long hard days. So do make sure
that you check the Walking Grades and choose something that
is right for you - and if you are not sure, just ask us.
These
are the guided walking holidays we are offering this year.
Valley, Middle Mountain or Higher Mountain Day Walks:
Discover the Pyrenees
Pyrenean Peaks
Middle Mountain Walks
High Mountain Hikes
Two Centre Holidays:
Pyrenean Spa Towns
Hut to Hut Mountain Treks:
Tour of Mont Perdu
The GR10
Neouvielle Lakes
Encantats Nature Park
High Level Route Wk1
High Level Route Wk2
Mini Trek to Torla
Holiday Dates
Guided treks and walks are generally available between
the 1st of July and the end of September (see the dates on
each itinerary page), but we can often also offer them in
May or June by arrangement for groups of four or more people.
Please check with our office for your preferred dates.
International
Travel
There are several ways to travel to the Pyrenees and you are
welcome to choose how you get here. Ryanair operates flights
to Pau (about an hour and fifteen minutes from our base in
Luz St. Sauveur) and there are a variety of train services,
local and TGV to Lourdes (forty minutes drive away). We operate
regular transfers to and from Lourdes and Pau but may, on
occasion, be able to transfer you from Biarritz or Toulouse.
Transfer charges are listed in each of the holiday descriptions
on this website (see the panel to your right).
Driving to the Pyrenees is a good option if you have the time.
Allow fourteen hours from the North of France and five to
six hours from the Spanish ferry ports of Bilbao and Santander..
Blogs
This year we are opening a series of ‘web-logs’
– commonly known as Blogs. There will be a Blog for
each of the walks that we offer so that you can read about
other people’s experiences, share yours and tell others
about your time in the Pyrenees. If you write up your walk
and submit it to the Blog we will offer you a discount of
£25 on your next holiday. It’s easy to do –
simple click on the ‘Blog’ icon on the holiday
itinerary pages on this website and follow the instructions.
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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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choose your walks |
Walking
Grades
Each of the walks is given a grade. This will
help you choose an itinerary that is within
your capabilities and fitness.
Grade A: walks involve no more
than 3 hours walking a day. The walk will be
in a valley or at moderate altitude (not exceeding
2,000 metres) and there will be plenty of chances
to stop and look around. The paths you follow
will be in good condition and not very steep.
Grade B: walks involve about
five hours walking, but you will find that some
of these days are on rough paths at altitudes
of up to 2,500 metres. The terrain can be occasionally
steep for short stretches.
Grade C: expect to walk for
anything up to seven hours a day at quite high
altitudes over rough rocky terrain and at a
good pace. Early in the season (July) these
walks may occasionally require the use of crampons
to cross high passes or to reach a peak.
Grade D: these are for fit,
experienced walkers with a high degree of motivation
and sense of adventure. Often these walks take
8 - 9 hours a day and follow routes at high
altitudes over rough or snowy terrain. There
are occasional days of 9 or even 10 hours for
particular sections of treks and they may involve
moments of ‘exposure’ where you
walk next to a steep drop.
If you are in any doubt about which grade of
walk would most suit you, please telephone and
we will happily discuss your holiday with you
in detail. Email Simon
for advice.
Discounts
We give a £20 per person discount to customers
who have holidayed with us before and are returning
for a second, third, fifth or even seventh year!
(One third of our customers are returners, we
are pleased to say.) And, if you are booking
for a group of six or more people, we can often
negotiate a special price.
Clubs,
Schools and Charity Groups
We work with many walking clubs, schools and charities
and have done so for several years. We have lots
of experience in arranging trips for diverse groups.
If you are interested in organising a group trip,
email your thoughts to Simon.
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| .....travel
details & costs |
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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.
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