Hiking in the Pyrenees National Park - 8 days

Check-in at the hotel. Enjoy the first dinner of the week and recharge for tomorrow’s hike.

The day starts with a short transfer to Lac d’Estaing, where you continue up the GR10 trail through lush pine forest. The trail continues to the high pastures of Arrioussec, where you may encounter herds of the traditional Pyrenean horned cows. These peaceful animals are so calm that you can often walk among them without them moving an inch!

From the Col d’Ilhéou, the journey continues to Lake Ilhéou, a perfect place for a well-deserved break. Then a pleasant descent to the scenic Cambasque Valley awaits, where you will be picked up by a transfer to save a few extra kilometres on the way to Cauterets.

Cauterets is a charming and lively mountain town in the Pyrenees, which in the 19th century attracted romantic writers, artists and the wealthy bourgeoisie. They came here to ‘take the waters’ – what the French call le cure – thanks to the health-giving thermal springs. They also explored the city’s surrounding natural wonders and enjoyed the cable car and railway, which unfortunately are no longer in operation.

12 km, +1050 m, -870 m

After a short transfer from Cauterets to Pont d’Espagne by the local shuttle bus, the hike up to Lake Gaube begins. Here, the mighty north face of Vignemale and the glittering crevasses of the Petit Vignemale glacier are reflected – one of the most magnificent and dramatic views in the entire Pyrenees.
You continue along a glacial river through alpine meadows, where countless waterfalls line the trail, until you reach the Oulette mountain refuge. From here, mountaineers take on the Grand Vignemale. However, your hike gradually progresses towards the Col d’Ossoue, a place that takes you close to the Petit Vignemale. Here, you can choose to climb the summit or continue straight down to the stunning Baysellance refuge, where you’ll spend an unforgettable night.
12.6 km (14.4km), +1200 m (+1400 m), -100 m (-400 m)

Get up early to experience the magical sunrise over the Ossoue Glacier – an experience well worth the effort! Where yesterday’s hike was characterised by uphill sections, today’s stage is a pleasant descent.
You’ll descend through the scenic Ossoue Valley, surrounded by babbling brooks and waterfalls. There are also plenty of marmots, especially in the flowering meadows at higher altitudes. These charming animals are often easy to spot and make excellent subjects for photographs.
Along the way, your eyes are increasingly drawn to the majestic Cirque de Gavarnie. You might even be surprised how this breathtaking view challenges yesterday’s panorama as the most beautiful you’ve ever seen!
17 km, +170 m, -1455 m

The Cirque de Gavarnie is considered by many to be the most exceptional and memorable site in the entire Pyrenees. Here you will hike gently up a wide path to the Bellevue plateau, which offers outstanding panoramic views of the majestic mountain scenery all around. From the plateau you descend to the heart of the impressive natural ‘amphitheatre’ that is the Cirque de Gavarnie.
Here you are greeted by myriad waterfalls, many both high and powerful, dramatic rock walls and a peaceful valley floor. The magnificent Grande Cascade, which falls from a height of around 400 metres – more than 100 metres higher than the Eiffel Tower – is one of Europe’s highest waterfalls and an unforgettable feature of the landscape.
The final stretch is along the Espugues trail, which cuts through a steep rock face and offers spectacular views. You’ll spend the night at the Espuguettes refuge, located at an altitude of around 2,030 metres. The views from here are outstanding and provide a fantastic perspective on the raw and rugged beauty of the Pyrenees.
11 km (14 km), +902m (+1110 m), -350 m (-540 m)

Today you can choose between a relatively easy hike to Maillet or a more challenging ascent to the summit of Pic du Piméné (2801 m), which offers one of the most spectacular views of the Cirque de Gavarnie. From the summit you can admire the Brèche de Roland and a series of 3000-metre peaks rising above the eternal snow. In the distance, the Vignemale massif, which you crossed two days earlier, is visible.
The descent takes you through the magnificent Cirque d’Estaubé and on down to Maillet, near Troumouse.
If you choose to climb the Petit Piméné, you should expect an extra 360 metres of elevation gain and about 1 hour and 45 minutes of hiking. For the full ascent of Pic du Piméné, this means an additional 550 metres of elevation gain and about 2 hours and 30 minutes of hiking. The choice is yours, but both options promise a memorable day in the magnificent nature of the Pyrenees!
14,4 km (20 km), +650 m (+1200 m), -850 m (-1400 m)

After a moderately steep climb, the hike continues through the vast natural arena of the Cirque de Troumouse and its inviting meadows. This cirque is an impressive natural amphitheatre, located at an altitude of around 2,100 metres. It is the largest glacial cirque in the Pyrenees, with a diameter of approximately 11 kilometres, and is surrounded by high cliffs and dramatic mountain peaks, creating a breathtaking landscape of rugged beauty.
In the warmer months, the meadows are filled with a sea of wildflowers, and the area is often grazed by sheep and cattle herds, giving it an idyllic and pastoral charm.
The descent leads to the village of Héas, famous for its small historic chapel.
In the afternoon, you’ll take a transfer to Lourdes, a town world-famous as one of the largest Catholic pilgrimage centres. Lourdes attracts millions of visitors every year, thanks to the Marian apparitions reported by Saint Bernadette in 1858. Here you can visit important landmarks such as the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, the cave where the apparitions took place and the baths believed to have healing powers.
9,5 km, +300 m, -600 m

We at EverTrek hope you have had a great trip!
We hope to see you again.