GR10 CAUTERETS – NEOUVIELLE

GR10 CAUTERETS - NEOUVIELLE

Vignemale, Gavarnie and the Néouvielle Lakes

READY TO HIKE ?

The GR10 crosses the French Pyrenees from east to west, or west to east, between Hendaye on the Atlantic Ocean and Banyuls on the Mediterranean Sea. To make the full traverse seven or more weeks are required, but of course it is possible to split the walk into sections and walk just for a week or two on part of the trail.

In the section proposed here you will cross the highest pass on the GR10 trail: the Hourquette d’Ossoue at 2734m, along with the Madamète Pass at 2509m. For most of the trek you will stay high in the mountains, sleeping in gites and refuges, dropping down in the middle into Luz St Sauveur for a taste of village life. You will cross two protected zones: the Pyrenees National Park and the Néouvielle Nature Reserve. This trek is recommended for people in good physical condition. The days are relatively long and demanding and there are generally no options for shortening them. Our Gavarnie Balconies Trek is recommended for those wanting a bit more flexibility and shorter days. The Pyrenees National Park trek also has shorter days, generally covering less distance.

BUDGET

915€ pp

This price includes :

• 7 nights accomodation in hostels & refuges

• All dinners, breakfasts & picnic lunches

• Transfers to the start & from the end of the trek

• Transfers during the trek as required

• Marked maps & walks notes

• Full face to face briefing on weather/snow conditions before you set off

BOOK NOW AT sian@pyrenees-mountains.com or +33(0)5 62 92 81 52

ITINERARY

DAY 1

We collect you from Lourdes and transfer you to Cauterets and your hostel for the night. We go through all the maps and walk notes to make sure you are comfortable with the trek to come, and are up to date with the weather and snow conditions. Cauterets is a good village for last minute gear purchases if you are missing anything.

DAY 2

You walk out of Cauterets for your first day in this marvellous landscape. The waterfall path leading up to the Pont d’Espagne is a wonderful start. A coffee stop in front of the waterfall here and then a short climb for your lunch break at the edge of the Gaube Lake. The afternoon climb leads you to the Refuge des Oulette de Gaube in front of the stunning north face of the Vignemale (at 3298m it is the highest mountain in the French Pyrenees).

Walk time: 5h40
Ascent: 1240m

DAY 3

Today is a long day. First you walk up to the high pass of the Hourquette d’Ossoue for a view onto the summits above Gavarnie, and you then have a long walk down towards Gavarnie through the pastoral Ossoue Valley. Night at Grange de Holle.

Walk Time: 7h30
Ascent: 585m
Descent: 1255m

DAY 4

Another long day awaits where you head north up to the Saugué Plateau and then down to the charming village of Luz Saint Sauveur. There is the possibility of catching the bus to avoid the last part of the day. Night in a comfortable hostel in the centre of the village.

Walk Time: 8h30
Ascent: 245m
Descent: 1005m

DAY 5

We transfer you up to Tournaboup early to start your day walking into the Néouvielle Nature Reserve through the Aigues Cluses Valley and over the Madamette Pass (2509m). Descent for your night in the Refuge de l’Oule by the lake of the same name.

Walk time : 7h30
Ascent: 1059m
Descent: 700m

DAY 6

You have a spectacular walk past the Bastan and Campana lakes and a long descent to the hamlet of Artigues, where you spend the night in a comfortable hostel.

Walk Time: 6h30
Ascent: 686m
Descent: 1205m

DAY 7

Your last day provides you with magnificent views of the Pic du Midi de Bigorre as you walk underneath it and back to Tournaboup. We collect you for your return to Luz Saint Sauveur and a comfortable bed for the night.

Walk time: 6h45
Ascent: 1180 m
Descent: 970 m

DAY 8

Bus to Lourdes to connect with your train or plane. There are various options – we will help finding on that fits your schedule.