Lake Gaube & Gavarnie Waterfall in Pyrenees Valleys
Pyrenees hiking classic tour
departure point Toulouse / Pau / Lourdes
arrival Toulouse / Pau / Lourdes
journey Themes: Observatory, hiking, Santiago pilgrimage, the Holy Land, Tour de France
local scenery: world natural Heritage, Europe's Largest Waterfall, National Park, Lakes, Mountains, Mountains, Mountain Villages, Beautiful Villages
Dates to travel from June 1st to October 20th
Pick du Midi Lookout May 1st to June 1st suspended service until the day
Gaube lake ropeway and lift from June 1the first to September the 20th
you can also hike four hours to Gaube lake, in relation with your own rythm)
(If you do not go to Gaube lake enjoy a simple hiking in the Obisque Pass and Soulor Pass, located in the national park... you can also change the accommodation area in Lourdes)
Price
per personn : 580 €
charter : 1,450 € (1-4 people) 2,030 € (5-7 people)
French driver will guide you in english.
*Customers' meals, lodging and entrance fees are not included.
Mileage 510 Km
Day 1
After leaving Toulouse, we will head to the Pyrenees Mountains, which line the border between France and Spain.
Take a ropeway up to 2,877m to the Pick du Midi Observatory and you will be able to see the magnificent view of the French and Spanish Pyrenees.
In addition to the view from the observatory, which was previously only accessible to astronomers, specialists give lectures on astronomical observation, and you can sometimes observe the sun flare using a telescope.
*Closed from May 1st to May 31st.
The Pic du Midi Observatory is located between the Aspin and Tourmalet Passes, one of the famous Tour de France obstacles in the Pyrenees National Park.
It is very popular as a cycling course, and is crowded with many cyclists on holidays.
With the scenery of the magnificent Pyrenees in the background, we will stop taking photos at each view spot, such as people bicycling over the pass, cows grazing leisurely.
Have lunch at the lovely Luz-Saint-Sauveur village in the mountains.
There are cheeses, saucisson and good bread sold directly by the farmers in the village, so if the weather is nice you can buy food and have a picnic with wonderfull sightseeing.
Over 100,000 years, glaciers shave the mountains, hiking the 1700m-high, 5km-wide giant curl and Gavarnie Valley that were created by the erosion .
Take a stroll along the riverside promenade where there is not much difference in elevation, while looking at the highest waterfall in Europe. On the
huge semi-circular rock surface, the waterfall with the largest drop of 413m in Europe flows down.
The best season is from June to July, when the greenery is beautiful and the plateau flowers bloom all over. You will stay at Cauteret, a pleasant village at an altitude of 1000m.
Day 2
Take the ropeway and lift to the gorgeous Gaube Lake.
You may even be able to see wild guinea pigs early in the morning as the nature remains a lot.
Folding mountains, transparent lakes, and alpine plants blooming remind us of a scenic paradise in the sky.
On the way back, you can get off on the list halfway, but do not use the gondola and slowly go down while sightseeing the Spanish bridge and waterfalls.
*Ropeways and lifts operate from June 1st to September 20th.
If you arrive at any other time, you will be hiking on the Obisque Pass and Soulor Pass realy impressive for cycleman during the "Tour de France" competition; if not amators are legions.
Have lunch at the small Saint-Savin village built around the Romanesque church.
There is a cave where it is said that the Virgin Mary appeared in Lourdes, the holy land of the Catholic Church, and the spring from nearby is famous for its miraculous water.
You can get it from the nearby faucet, so please take it back home.
Arrival to Toulouse.
program
Day 1
08:00 Departure from Toulouse
10:30-12:00 Pic du Midi Observatory
15:00-17:00 Gavarnie Valley
18:00 Arrival to Cauteret (hotel)
Day 2
09:00 Departure from Cauteret
09:30-11:30 Gaube Lake
14:30-16:00 Lourdes
18:00 Toulouse Arrival at hotel
