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Aure Valley and Néouvielle Nature Reserve

7 days

6 nights

6 days of activities

Easy Moderate

Self-guided

Download technical sheet

from 600 €

From Saint Lary Soulan and the Aure valley, you will discover some of the most beautiful hikes in this area, a little Pyrenean paradise. After climbing above the Aure valley, you will visit the Géla and Badet valleys in the Pyrenees National Park and the treasures they contain: Barroude wall and lake, Hourquette de Charmentas, Badet lake... Then you will head towards the Néouvielle Nature Reserve and its multitude of glacial lakes, each one more beautiful than the next. You will then hike in protected areas in the heart of superb scenery of lakes and hooked pines. As you pass through passes and small summits, you will enjoy grandiose views of these preserved landscapes and in particular of some famous high summits such as the Pic du Néouvielle (3091m), the lord of the place with its granite ridges that plunge into the Lac d'Aubert. During this stay, the Pyrenees National Park and the Néouvielle Nature Reserve, wild and natural spaces, sanctuaries of fauna and flora, are available to you.


Dates and prices

Departures

Every day from mid-June to end of September (depending on the snow situation)

Booking from 2 people (solo travelers : please contact us).

 

Price : From 15/06/2022 to 30/09/2022:

 

Price per person for a group of 2 persons

685€

Price per person for a group of 3 persons

640€

Price per person for a group of 4 persons

620€

Price per person for a group of 5 persons

605€

Price per person for a group of 6 persons

600€

 

Extras :

- Single room extra (not available in Orédon) : 105€/pers
- Extra night in St Lary Soulan : please, consult us


The price includes

- Half-board accommodation

- Luggage transfers except for the night of Day 4

- Transfers mentioned in the program

- Dossier containing maps, route notes (1 for 4 persons, given in 1st accommodation)

- GPS tracks if you ask us + access to the detailed itinerary on the Mhikes GPS mobile application


The price does not include

- Travel insurance

- Additional transfers

- Visits

- Shuttle to Orédon day 6

- Booking fees : 15€

- Drinks and picnics 

Day 1 : Beginning of your holiday in Saint Lary Soulan

Beginning of your holiday in St Lary Soulan, a mecca for Pyreneism and a mountain thermal resort situated at 836m of altitude. Depending on your arrival time, possibility to go for a hike to discover the charming Aure Valley. Chemin de Caneilles The Chemin de Caneilles, a short and beautiful path shaded by the box trees, is a discovery route of St Lary surroundings that will take you from St Lary to the village of Sailhan. This itinerary offers various viewpoints over St Lary and the Aure Valley. Distance : 6km, duration : around 2h, ascent : +205m, descent : -205m.

Day 2 : Cap de Pède and the Grascouéou Ridge

This loop itinerary from St Lary Soulan will lead you from the bottom of the valley to Cap de la Pède and its mountain pastures at 1634m of altitude. The hike then goes through the Grascouéou Ridge, by an easy pathway on a wide mountain top offering a magnificient viewpoint : panoramic view of Saint Lary and the neighbouring villages, the high summits of the Aure Valley, Louron and Luchonnais, as well as the nearby majestic Arbizon summit that overlooks Aulon village. The way down goes via the charming and harmonious barns of Grascouéou. Night in Saint Lary Soulan. Distance : 13,5km, duration : 5h30, ascent : +875m, descent : -875m.

Day 3 : The Barroude Wall and Lake

Transfer from Saint Lary Soulan to the Plan village where the hike starts. Today, you are going to discover one of the Pyrenees' wonders : the Barroude Wall and its lake (2355m), nestled in the foothills of impressive cliffs, with summits that are more than 3000m high. You will reach it by an easy and steady climb through the superb Géla valley, discovering its wildlife and its various pastures and herds.  After strolling a bit around the beautiful shores of the Barrounde lake, you will walk until the Badet valley and its lake, then to Piau Engaly via hourquette de Chermentas (2439m). Night in Piau Engaly. Distance : 18km, duration : around 7h, ascent : +1250m, descent : -850m.

Day 4 : The Oule, Bastan and Port Bielh lakes

Transfer from Piau Engaly to the Artigusse car park. A magnificent day, from lake to lake, with grandiose views of the Néouvielle Nature Reserve awaits you. From the Atigusse car park, you quickly reach the Oule lake, which looks like an inland sea. You walk along the lake before heading up to the Bastan refuge (2250m) set in the middle of a superb setting of lakes and hooked pines. You will then discover the small and charming lakes of Bastanet before reaching the much larger one of Port Bielh (2285m), in the heart of a beautiful granite cirque. Then you will descend through the pine forest to the Oule lake. Night at the chalet de l'Oule on the edge of the lake. Distance : 18km, duration : around 6h30, ascent : +915m, descent : -7150m.

Day 5 : Néouvielle Nature Reserve, from the Oule lake to the Orédon lake

This new day's hike takes you to the heart of the Néouvielle Nature Reserve. From the Oule hut, you first visit the secret Estibère valley and its lakes, intimate, wild and rarely visited. Then you reach the col d'Aumar (2380m) in order to switch to the lac d'Aumar facing the Néouvielle and its granite ridges. Via a pretty balcony route through the pine forest, the route leads to the Estoudou pass (2260m) from where the ascent of the Soum du Montpelat (2474m) will allow you to enjoy one of the most beautiful panoramas of the reserve. Finally, a last descent leads you to the edge of the Orédon lake. Night at the chalet /refuge of Orédon on the shore of the lake. Distance : 14km, duration : around 5h45, ascent : +945m, descent : -905m.

Day 6 : Néouvielle Nature Reserve, Madamète loop

From Orédon, you climb towards the Aubert Lake (2148m) via the magnificent Laquette path which runs alongside a tumultuous torrent and its waterfalls. The itinerary then weaves its way between the Aubert and Aumar lakes to start its ascent in the direction of the very beautiful and small Gourg de Rabas lake in order to reach the Hourquette de Madamète (2509m) and then the Madamète peak (2657m): another very beautiful view from this summit. Via the Col de Tracens (2463m), you then descend into the Ets Coubous valley and its lakes. Last climb to the hourquette d'Aubert (2488m) to return to the car park of the lake of Aubert. Return shuttle to Orédon in July/August (3€/pers, not included in the price). Night at the chalet /refuge of Orédon on the edge of the lake. Distance : 14,5km, duration : around 6h, ascent : +1100m, descent: -800m.

Day 7 : End of your holiday in Saint Lary Soulan

In the morning, transfer from Orédon to St Lary Soulan. End of the trip. 

This program is an example of the itinerary we aim to adhere to. It may be necessary, if situations arise that are beyond our control, for the itinerary to be modified.

Welcome

Day 1 at your accommodation in St Lary Soulan (65), according to your arrival time.


Dispersion

Day 7 after your transfer from Orédon to St Lary Soulan (65).


Level

Nature of the terrain 
The hikes are on good paths, the terrain is varied but often rocky.

Level 3/5
For hikers with a good physical condition, a good endurance and a first experience of mountain hiking. Walking times are mentioned for information only. They are average times that only take into account the effective walking time and do not include the stops during the hike. Depending on the weather conditions, the walking pace can also vary, ranging from +400m to +500m of climbing per hour.


Accommodation

Half-board in a double room :
2 nights in hotel** on Day 1 and Day 2 / room with shower and toilet
1 night in hotel*** on Day 3 /room with shower and toilet
3 nights in a mountain chalet/refuge on Days 4, 5 and 6 / room with shared bathroom

 

Please note that according to the Covid-19 regulation which will be in force in the refuges in 2022, it is possible that blankets will not be provided. In this case, it will be necessary to bring a sleeping bag for those nights. This will be specified to you as soon as possible before your stay.

 

Food
- Continental breakfast (tea, coffee, milk, bread, butter, jam)
- Evening meals are often based on local specialties and include a starter, a main course and a dessert.
- Picnics are not included. Possibility to buy one on spot.
- Drinks are not included    


Carrying luggage

You will need to carry a day pack only (personal equipment needed during the day, water, picnic...). Your main luggage will be transferred by car between the different accommodations, except for the night at the Oule chalet on Day 4, for which you will have to carry your personal belongings needed for the night (clothes, toiletries...). We kindly ask you to make sure that your main luggage is easily transportable (please see below our recommendations regarding the equipment).


Guide

Self-guided hike, without a guide.

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