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photo gallery
The département of Ariège is a marvellous mixture of peaks, ridges, deep valleys and mountain lakes. You can only get a taste of it in a week, but it will whet your appetite for more. (The banner at the top of the page was taken in Ariège.)
Our trek will be based on a gite offering comfortable fully modernised accommodation. We can arrange for full board with impressive menus, or a self-catering basis. From there we can offer anything from a series of guided day trips to a serious high level hut to hut tour among the highest peaks. With a little notice we will tailor your holiday to your desires.
For example, a more ambitious week might involve a programme along these lines:
Day 1: transport from airport to gite.
Day 2: day hike from Aulus les Bains up to the hidden lake of Etang d'Aube, surrounded by mountain peaks. Return to the gite.
Day 3: from Aulus up over the 1900m ridge to the remote mountain refuge of Bassiès.
Day 4: an ascent of Pic Rouge de Bassiès (2676m). Fantastic views to the south of the main ridge of the Pyrenees. A steep descent is followed by an easier ascent to the even more remote Refuge de l'Etang du Pinét.
Day 5: An early start for the ascent of Pic du Montcalm (3077m) and perhaps Pic d'Estats, at 3143m the highest peak in Ariège. A second night in the refuge.
Day 6: A leisurely descent to a gite d'étape (see notes on accommodation) in the valley.
Day 7: Ascent to the refuge d'Etang de Fourcat and the ascent of Pic Malcarat (2865m).
Day 8: From the refuge an early start takes us over the Port d'Albeille into Andorra. We traverse the northwesternmost corner of the Principality, a desolate area of lakes and rocky outcrops, and cross back into France over the col of Port de Rat. Following the Soulcem valley down we reach the car park at the end of the Soulcem reservoir, from whence we are transported back to the gite.
Day 9: transport back to the airport.
We stress this is one of a myriad of possibilities in this area. If you would like a less ambitious trek, or more nights in that comfortable gite, just let us know! We will be happy to put together a bespoke trip for a group of four or more.
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