Day 1: Arrive in Saint Girons

You'll be transferred from Toulouse Airport to the quaint town of Saint Girons, where we'll stay in the stunning 19th century Chateau de Beauregard, famously requisitions during WW2 by the Germans. This is just a flavour of the history to come... Our first dinner and briefing together will be at the Aubberge d'Antan, a delightfully rustic and traditional Michelin guide restaurant. Santé!

Day 2: Saint Girons (391m) - Aunac (766m)

We'll kick our first day of hiking off dutifully with a huge fresh breakfast, before making our way to the start point of the trek, the Pont le Chemin de la Liberté. It was by this bridge that trains would slow down to allow evaders to escape into the woods and join the resistance.

We'll follow their footsteps, meandering through the trees until we reach the rustic Gîte d'Etape... so rustic that one of it's main selling points is it has sit down toilets! We'll eat a home cooked meal outside on the terrace together and fall asleep to the sound of the trees whistling and the donkeys braying. Bliss!

Day 3: Aubac (766m) - La Cabane de Subera (1,499m)

We start tackling some real ascent today hiking through Beech forests and up various easy cols before taking shelter in a shepherd's hut. It's wild camping with a roof and a shepherd's fire, with nothing but goat bells and crackling embers to send you off to sleep. Isn't this what it's all about?

Day 4: La Cabane de Subera (1,499m) - La Refuge des Estagnous (2,245m)

Another big old ascent day and today is marked by the visiting of a WW2 Halifax bomber crash site, where we'll pay our respects and imagine what its must have been like all those years ago.

Climbing up the Col de Craberous (2,382m) we'll pass boulders, ales and maybe even some snow. It can get a bit scramble here but you'll be safe in the hands of your guide and the sight of mountain ponies, Griffon vultures and the view at the top are sure to make it all worth it!

Our end point for the day is the Réfuge des Estagnous, where we'll enjoy another hearty dinner, hopefully a spectacular sunset and one hell of a good sleep.

Day 5: La Refuge des Estagnous (2,245m) - Pont de Perosa (1,500m)

We begin the day with a descent (woohoo!) down to Lac Rond before traversing to the Etang Long and the Frontier Col (2,522m). After some summit selfies we'll head down towards Lac de Claire for a potential wild dip and some lunch and then down to the river where we'll pick up a transfer if the road conditions are good.

We'll end up in the stunning Spanish mountain town of Arties where we'll enjoy some light tapas before continuing on to Bagnères-de-Luchon, the spa town we end our trip in. We'll have a bit of down time then get all jazzed up for our end-of-trek celebratory meal together.

Day 6: Departure

We'll have the morning free to enjoy a leisurely breakfast, and a wander around the magnificent town of Vielha until it’s time for our transfer to Toulouse Airport for our flight home.

Hopefully you'll be fully rested and restored and plotting your next trekking adventure!

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Fully qualified, highly experienced and local guide
• Return transfers to Toulouse Airport
• Transfers to and from mountain base
• Guest house accommodation and mountain huts throughout the trek (incl. 1 night of camping)
• All meals as per above
• Celebration meal
• Camping equipment (except that in the kit list)

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

• Flights
• Personal equipment
• Dinner on arrival (due to differing flight times)
• Insurance
• Snacks, alcohol etc
• Any costs associated with having to leave the expedition early

• Day sack (40-50L)
• Dry stuffsacks - France has banned plastic bags
• Waterproof rucksack cover or liner
• Warm headgear
• Sun hat with wide brim or neck covering
• Sunglasses
• High SPF sunblock and lip salve
• Base layers (thermal ones for high altitudes)
• T-shirts (preferably not cotton)
• Fleece
• Waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers
• Shorts/ trekking trousers - ones that convert to shorts are ideal
• Underwear (preferably not cotton)
• Gloves for higher altitudes
• 3/4-season walking boots
• Trainers/ crocs/ sandals for the evening
• Trekking socks
• Evening clothes
• Water bottles or bladder - 2L capacity
• Basic wash kit and alcohol gel
• Personal first aid kit and medication
• Head torch
• Passport with at least 6 months expiry
• Copy of travel insurance
• EH1C (formerly E111)
• Optional
• Sleeping bag liner if you feel the cold
• Water purification tablets (water is supplied but handy to have)
• Toilet paper and trowel if you think you'll need to hide behind a rock during the day!)
• Camera
• Walking poles
• Snacks - you'll be well fed but might want some of your favourite snacks to hand
• Gaiters

We haven’t included flights as this gives you options from the UK. There are many flights that arrive in Toulouse daily from many different airports – chat to us for more information.

We’ll pick you up from the airport at 11.30 am on day one of the itinerary. On the final day, we’ll drop you off at Toulouse airport for 2.30 pm. (These times are approximate and are TBC.) Please find flights that work for these timings.

If there are any issues with this please do let us know and we’ll try to help, however it might mean getting a hire car, train or taxi to your start/finish point.

The base is 1h 40 mins drive from Toulouse Airport

How fit do I need to be?

You'll need a decent level of fitness for this trip. Experience with hillwalking, light scrambling and walking for 6-8 hours a day is preferable. There'll be steep sections, higher  sections and parts with ropes for scrambling up, so if you're comfortable with that and feel fit enough to do it for several hours a day, you'll be fine!

What's the weather like?

This trek runs in the summer, where temperatures can reach the mid 20's (centigrade) in the day and drop to below freezing up high at night. Generally though, an average of 18 degrees is perfect trekking weather. It is the mountains though, so weather can change at the drop of a hat. It's important you bring clothing for all eventualities.

Will there be any WiFi or mobile phone signal on the trek?

WiFi will be available in the guesthouses at the start and end of the trek, but the mountain huts are sadly (or happily!) too remote for internet. Signal will probably be patchy but intermittent throughout the trail.

Is there a minimum age for this trip?

Yes, all our trips are for people of 18 years of age and older.

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