Pyrenean Group Holidays

The Meridian Way

A new and fascinating walking holiday following the Meridian Way, a route that roughly follows the International Greenwich Meridian through the department of the Hautes Pyrénées. We pick up the route at the town of Lourdes in the north of the department and then wend our way southwards to Gavarnie.  The walking is mainly on good paths and tracks with no scrambling. We start in the foothills and the holiday  builds up to a climax at Gavarnie in the heart of the mountains. Famous for the World Heritage site of the Cirque de Gavarnie we will have the chance to explore this spectacular amphitheatre of peaks rising to over 3000 metres. Luggage is transferred for you between hotels so you only need to carry a daypack.

Itinerary

Day 1:  Transport from the airport to the hotel at Lourdes with a chance to have a look around the town in the evening if there is time. 

Day 2: From Lourdes to Argelès-Gazost. We can take the funicular railway from the outskirts of Lourdes to the summit of the Pic du Jer (890 m) which has excellent views looking back over the town. From the summit there is a network of paths and tracks, which follow above the East side of the main river, the Gave de Pau, before dropping down to Argelès-Gazost. Approx. 18 km and 350 m ascent, 5 hours walking. 

Day 3: From Argelès-Gazost (420 m) we climb up old shepherds' paths to the picturesque village of St Savin with its 12th-century abbey church.  We then continuing to Pierrefitte Nestalas. From here, to avoid walking along the road, which follows the narrow gorge, we take the scheduled bus to Luz St Sauveur with time to visit the town and fortified "Templar" church in the afternoon. Approx. 12 km, 480 m and 4 hours walking. 

Day 4: A whole day at Luz St Sauveur with a choice of a rest day or a walk to explore the magnificent Bastan valley. 

Day 5: Luz to Gèdre (1000 m) mainly following the GR 10. Gèdre is a small village in a magnificent location with soaring mountains on three sides. Approx. 15 km, 650 m and 5 hours of walking.

Day 6: Gèdre to Gavarnie (1400 m). Heading south from the village we can approach Gavarnie via footpaths over grazing land. In case of bad weather or snow on the ground we can use an alternative route, which although it is half on tarmac it is not a through road so has very little traffic and has spectacular views.  Approx.  15 km, 800 m and 5 hours walking.

 Day 7: Day walk at Gavarnie either to visit the Cirque de Gavarnie or, with some transport and suitable conditions, visit the Col des Tentes (2208 m) and walk back to the village. Second night at Gavarnie. 

Day 8: Return by coach to the airport.            

NB

There is a daily bus service between Lourdes and Gavarnie so it would be possible for members of the group to have a day off whenever they liked/needed and take a ride instead of walking.

Accommodation

Each night is spent in two star hotels all rooms en-suite. Meals will normally be taken at the hotels but at Gavarnie we eat at a nearby restaurant.

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