1
Estaing - Arrens
Arrival can be arranged at Argelès-Gazost or Lourdes (on request in Tarbes, Pau, Toulouse, or elsewhere...).
Transfer to the Estaing Valley. Depending on your time of arrival at the meeting point, we can drop you off at various spots along the route, so your daily stage can be adjusted to the time you have available.
In any case, the official starting point is set in the majestic surroundings of the Val d'Azun and the Hautes-Pyrénées: the legendary Lac d'Estaing, once home to fairies, bordered by a fir forest and a welcoming shore, perfect to get you started. The GR10 trail will guide your steps as you descend the valley. Two route variations will then be available to suit your desires: one slightly more challenging, passing through the high pastures on the slopes of the Pic du Midi d'Arrens before plunging into Arrens-Marsous with a spectacular view of the Pic de Gabizos. The other, more peaceful, takes you through the idyllic Col des Bordères, with its meadow parcels dotted with barns and Bigourdane houses, lazily descending through the Arboretum with its rich species, down to Arrens-Marsous. The final climb to the heights of the village will bring you to the farm and your guest room, where your stay awaits. A first discovery of the place, the hosts, the animals, and the delightful farm scents!
Activity Time
3h30 to 5h of walking.
Elevation
+490/-500m.
Transfer Duration
30 min approx.
Accomodation
In a guest room, at the farm.
Luggage Transfer
Yes
2
Soum Lake Loop via the Soulor Ridges
Starting from the farm, follow ancient paths on a hike towards the Artigaux: these quarters of barns and meadows were once reclaimed from the forest, which still preserves its hedges and groves, creating a magical setting where wildlife and pastoral life blend. Higher up, these woods and meadows give way to moors and high pastures. After this pleasant ascent, on wide ridges with gentle slopes, the panorama opens up to the towering mountains of the National Park, the Val d'Azun, and the wild Ouzom Valley. Walk, admire this unparalleled landscape, and in the summer, listen to the bells of the herds surrounding you near the Soum lake (pond). Let yourself be captivated by the splendor of the Petit Gabizos, gracefully rising before you. In these vast moorland and grassy areas, you may occasionally spot flocks of grey partridges of the Pyrenees. After crossing the Col du Soulor, you’ll only have to reach the Col de Saucède before descending via the GR10 and the Queen of Hortense's path towards Arrens. It's the perfect opportunity to visit the Maison du Parc National des Pyrénées before heading back to the farm, where you can find the cheese curing room, and perhaps the cows, sheep, and pigs...
Activity Time
4 to 4.5 hours of hiking, depending on your preferences.
Elevation
+650 to 800m/ -650 to 800m, depending on your preferences.
Accomodation
In a guest room, at the farm.
3
The Capercailllie Loop
A magnificent climb awaits you today, along the ridge, with a beech forest on one side and a vast panorama on the other. Of course, every ridge leads to a summit! This one will not leave you indifferent, as the 360° view is truly captivating: the Val d'Azun and the peaks already admired, as well as the wild Bergons Valley, the distant plain, the Pic du Midi de Bigorre, and many other Pyrenean summits. After this spectacle, a discreet path winding through rhododendrons and heather leads you to stunted and twisted beeches mixed with fir trees. Stay quiet and stick to the trail: many forest inhabitants are likely surrounding you, but it’s important not to disturb them for their survival. Indeed, this is where roe deer, foxes, wild boars, and of course the Grand Tétras (capercailllie), a magnificent and rare bird species, live. Through the coolness of the fir forests, you will soon reach the Col de Couraduque, where, if not in the mood for a picnic, you might treat yourself to a panoramic lunch at the col’s restaurant. A descent into the Val d'Azun follows, with a stunning view over the villages and their characteristic slate roofs. Through the fields, facing the towering peaks, return to Arrens-Marsous and the farm.
Activity Time
3.5 to 5 hours, depending on your preferences.
Elevation
+600 to 800m / -600 to 800m, depending on your preferences.
Accomodation
In a guest room, at the farm.
4
End of the stay or custom hike with a guide.
After your breakfast and at a time that suits you, transfer to Argelès-Gazost or Lourdes (or elsewhere, on request...).
Optional: You can also choose to have a private hike with a mountain guide that day. The guide will take you on a hike of your choice, tailored to your level and preferences. Whether it's a lake (or several) in the heart of the Pyrenees National Park, a summit ascent, a completely off-the-beaten-path route, or a day of birdwatching and/or wildlife observation... This day will also include an additional night with half-board at the guest room.
Transfer Duration
30 min approx.
