From Gavarnie to Ordesa and back with a guide or walking on your own

Cross the Pyrenees through the Breche de Roland and see bearded vultures soaring above

Climb to the summit of the Mont Perdu

Walk the fabulous Faja de Flores footpath

The summit of Mont Perdu (3355m), the great lost mountain of the Pyrenees, lies hidden from France by the seemingly impenetrable walks of the Cirques of Gavarnie and Estaube. To get to the mountain from Spain is no easier. Explorers first had to hike from the Aragonese village of Torla along the huge Ordesa Canyon and then up through the Circo de Soaso before attempting the stiff climb to the summit. Mont Perdu is the centrepiece of the Spanish Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido which was established in 1918. It is the highest limestone summit in Europe and the third highest peak in the Pyrenees.

Today the national park has grown significantly to 156 square kilometres and incorporates the whole of the Anisclo Canyon. There are more than 1500 species of flowers, 171 species of birds, 32 different mammals and 8 types of reptile in the Ordesa. Most magnificent of all these is the Lammergiere (Bearded Vulture). The Pyrenees is the only place to see these huge birds outside Africa.

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 from there in our minibus and drive you to Luz St Sauveur in the French Pyrenees. If you are joining a group, you meet up with your guide in the bar for an evening briefing.

DAY 2 - Cirques of Gavarnie
We drive up to the village of Gavarnie (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and from there you set off on the first day of the trek via the Cirque of Gavarnie. The morning ends at a memorable lunch spot below the 'Grande Cascade' (the longest waterfall in Europe at 426m). After lunch you trek along a dramatic balcony path and on up to the Espugettes refuge. There are great views of the Breche de Roland.

DAY 3 – The Pineta Valley
The second day of the trek crosses the border into Spain at the Col de Tuqueroye. This high col is also home to a small mountain refuge (the highest in the Pyrenees) and from here you get your first dramatic view of the Mont Perdu (see the photo at the top of this page). We pass the col and head down through the Pineta valley to the Ronatiza refuge.

DAY 4 – Anisclo Canyon
Today is probably the hardest and longest day on the route with a 1600 metre climb and a walk along the top of a cliff edge. You follow the GR11 to the Col de Anisclo before traversing around the Ansiclo peak with the help of some well placed 'calvijas' (see note below). Eventually you come out at the Collado de Goriz and finish with a gentle walk to the hut.

DAY 5 – Mont Perdu Summit
You leave the Goriz early and head first to the Lago Helado at the Col del Cylindro before making the long climb on steep slopes to the summit of the Mont Perdu. From the summit we re-trace our steps back to the hut.

DAY 6 – Breche de Roland
The climb to the cirque of Cotatuero is followed by the unforgettable traverse on the faja de flores, one of the most stunning footpaths in the world. From the top of the cirque of Salarones, we then climb steadily up to the Breche de Roland before dropping down into France and to the refuge des Sarradets.

DAY 7 - Echelle des Sarradets
The last day will take you down the Echelle des Sarradets and into the cirque of Gavarnie. There are great views across to the grande cascade where you began your walk six days ago.

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: On this trek breakfast, packed lunches and dinners are provided by the refuges. This itinerary may be altered if conditions, weather forecasts or the overall fitness of the group are judged to put the safety of the group at risk. Pyrenean Mountain Tour Guides reserve the right to make changes to the itinerary without notice. These changes will be explained to the group if they occur.

CLAVIJAS
Clavijas are a feature on this trek. Years ago people walking up through the Ordesa area used pegs and ropes to help them get safely over some of the more vertical sections of the paths that lead up to the high mountain pastures. There are numerous (and seemingly un-passable) cliff faces in the Ordesa and the clavijas make it possible for people without mountaineering or rock climbing skills to climb them. Some are no more than a length of chain to give you a secure hand hold, others are a series of iron pitons that you climb like ladders. In places there are alternative routes for those who do not want to use the clavijas but sometimes there is no choice.

WILDLIFE
The Ordesa National Park was originally designed to protect the indigenous wildlife in the area. There are lots of mammals and birds of prey to see including:

Griffon Vultures
Egyptian Vultures
Lammergiere (Bearded Vultures)
Golden Eagles
Izard
Roe Deer
Wild Boar
Ibex
Mouflon

For a more detailed list you can consult Trekking in the Pyrenees, (by Douglas Streatfeil-James, ISBN 1873756 21 6) or A Birdwatching Guide to the Pyrenees, (by Jacquie Crozier, ISBN 1 900159 80 5).

EQUIPMENT AND PACKING IDEAS
We recommend that people joining this trek are equipped with the following:

Technical equipment
Comfortable walking boots
Walking pole if you like them
Walkers ice axe (depending on season)
Waterproof map case

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 for Unguided Groups
Compass
Altimeter
GPS