Gavarnie
4.7
| 3 reviews

Climb 3 Spectacular Pyrenean Summits

France,Spain
4 nights
Challenging

Explore 3 mighty Pyrenean peaks during a 3-day camping trip. 5 days. 3 days off work.

What's Included?

Small Like-minded Groups

Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 8 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people
From

…

excluding flights
From

…

excluding flights

What's it like?

4.7
| 3 reviews
Gavarnie
Vignemale
Cirque de Gavarnie
Benh LIEU SONG / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

Summit 3 Pyrenean peaks - Petit Vignemale (3032m), Pic du Piméné (2801m) and either Casque or the Taillon (3000m), or if you’re lucky, both

Pass through Roland’s Breach, a natural and extremely photogenic gap, 40m across and 100m high separating France and Spain

Experience awe-inspiring views of the Mont Perdu World Heritage Area, including France’s famous glacial cirques and some of Europe's tallest waterfalls

Key Information

Day 1

Gavarnie

Travel to the lovely mountain village of Gavarnie where your guide will be waiting for you. Settle into your accommodation and after a briefing on the days ahead, sit down for dinner with the rest of your team.

Day 2

Pic du Piméné (2801m)

Hiking

8hrs · 10km · 1450m up · 1450m down

Climb to the summit of Piméné and get an awe-inspiring view of the Mont Perdu World Heritage Area, including France’s famous glacial cirques, Gavarnie, Estaubé and Troumouse. These serrated limestone formations are connected via much-loved hiking routes and are home to some of Europe's tallest waterfalls, including the Grande Cascade de Gavarnie (423m). Return to base for a well-earned rest and another night under the stars.

Day 3

Cirque de Gavarnie

Hiking

6-7hrs · 12km · 1000m up · 1000m down

Depending on conditions, traverse the Breche de Roland (2,800m) and ascend either the Casque or the Taillon (or if you’re lucky, both) - 3000m peaks connected via a ridge that encloses the Gavarnie Cirque. Summit/s in the bag, return to your campsite for a well deserved meal and a drink or two.

Day 4

Petit Vignemale (3032m)

Hiking

8hrs · 15km · 1250m up · 1250m down

Set off from the Ossoue Valley (1800m) and follow the vertigo-inducing GR10 path to the Baysellance Refuge - the highest in the Pyrenees. Summit Petit Vignemale and get a never-ending view of the Ossoue Glacier and the Gaube Valley. Legs suitably tired, head back down for a final night in these spectacular mountains.

Day 5

Journey home

Enjoy a last breakfast in the Pyrenees and then head back to Lourdes airport or continue travelling through this beautiful region.

The Area

map

Logistics

Starts

Gavarnie

18:00

Ends

Gavarnie

09:00

Transfers

Your guide will be waiting for you at the Grange de Holle campsite, in the village of Gavarnie. Buses run from Lourdes Airport (LDE) and take around 1 hour and 40 minutes and cost €2 (until the end of August only). If you'd rather take a taxi, these usually cost around €75. Your host can help you with this and will try to team you up with other members of the trip so you can share the costs.

Travel options

There are regular flights to Lourdes (LDE) from airports across the UK and Europe.

What about all the carbon?

We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.

Day 1

Campsite · Solo tent

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 2 – Day 4

Campsite · Solo tent

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 5

Departure day

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

What is the food like?

Breakfasts will be simple - think bread, cheese, spreads and fruit-juice. Picnic lunches include sandwiches, snacks, fruit and biscuits to fuel your journey and dinner features three delicious courses of hearty mountain foods - warm stews with bread, cheese fondue, followed by a sweet treat. Most dietary requirements can be catered for, just let your host know in advance.

What is the accommodation like?

The Pyrenees

You'll stay be staying in the small campsite in the grounds of the Refuge Grange de Holle, a rustic mountain hut concealed from the crowds in the Pyrenees National Park. Facilities are shared and there is a dining room complete with a cosy fireplace, a meeting room and a terrace that's ideal for soaking up the sunshine. You will have breakfast and dinner at the Refuge but will sleep in tents on the grounds.

Solo travellers will get their own tent and those travelling as a pair can share a tent if they like.

Matt(October 2019)

Beautiful surroundings, great guide, good hiking.

Rich(August 2019)

An incredible part of the world. Beautiful views!

Ceri(August 2019)

Mandy the guide was great, the other trekkers and the views also.

Guides

Fully qualified, English speaking mountain guide

Accommodation

4 nights camping

Meals

Munch on tasty food throughout

Transfers

To and from the hiking route

Our trips are hassle-free by design. We include all the activities and equipment, as well as many of the meals, so you can simply rock up with your rucksack and share the adventure with your new pals.

Personal Expenses

You know your own spending habits best, so please budget an appropriate amount for things like optional meals and drinks, shopping, optional activities, and laundry.

What do I need to bring?

  • 3 season sleeping bag
  • Sleeping mat/Thermarest
  • Camping pillow (optional)
  • 40 to 60-litre rucksack
  • Waterproof rucksack cover
  • Comfortable, broken-in walking boots
  • Walking poles
  • First aid kit
  • Clothing suitable for mountainous terrain - pack for all climates
  • Lightweight towel
  • Suncream for face and lips (Factor 50)
  • Roll of toilet paper
  • Water bottle or Platypus type hydration system – 1.5 to 2 litres
  • Penknife
  • Head torch for use in the refuges
  • Survival blanket (light foil blanket to keep injured people warm)
*Requests for optional extras can be made after booking on your “My Bookings” page

Dorm room alternative to camping

Payable Before Departure

Dorm room alternative to camping

… Per person, Per night

Extra night camping inc. dinner & breakfast

Payable Before Departure

Extra night camping inc. dinner & breakfast

… Per person, Per night

Any excess luggage can be safely left at your accommodation during the day.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

  • 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
  • 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
  • 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

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