Want to visit the Gavarnie Cirque and take the opportunity to discover the most beautiful tourist sites around Gavarnie (Pic du Midi, Gavarnie, Pont d'Espagne…)? So my 3-day tourist tour in the Pyrenees may be able to inspire you ...
My itinerary in the Pyrenees national Park crosses a natural heritage of great wealth both in terms of fauna and vegetation. It allows you to discover magnificent nature, breathtaking landscapes and small hilltop villages. For activities, there is something for everyone (hydrotherapy, mountain biking, hiking, gastronomy…).
Below are the steps of my road trip with the Google Map of the route.
Note that this tourist circuit is ideal to schedule for un big weekend or to do on the occasion of your holidays in the Pyrenees.
How to visit the Cirque de Gavarnie and its surroundings?
How to go to visit the Cirque de Gavarnie, the Pic du Midi and the other sites of the Gavarnie valleys? Where to leave, by what means, what is the nearest train station or airport?
Base and starting point of my tour
It is undoubtedly to Luz Saint-Sauveur that you have to go to be at the center of my circuit, equidistant (30 minutes trip) from the Grands Sites du Cirque de Gavarnie, the Pont d'Espagne and the Pic du Midi.
I who live near Muret in the Haute-Garonne, I simply took my car in the direction of Tarbes then Argeles Gazost to arrive at Luz Saint Sauveur in just 3 hours and from there, I started my excursions from 3 days in the heart of the Pyrenees.
Which station, which nearest airport?
For those traveling by train, they can arrive by TGV at the Lourdes station which is 30 km from Luz Saint Sauveur.
And for those who travel by plane, they will be able to land at theTarbes Ossun Lourdes airport or toPau Pyrenees airport.
In these last two cases, renting a car on site will be the only solution to be able to freely make this circuit.
What to see around the Cirque de Gavarnie?
To prepare my itinerary, I first had to determine the main stages of my circuit.
My goal was to visit in just 3 days the Gavarnie Cirque but also make beautiful hikes, discover lakes and waterfalls and of course visit the 3 largest Pyrenean sites classified Major sites of Occitania !
I therefore chose to limit my circuit in the Pyrenees to Gavarnie valleys which bring together the following territories:
- Argelès-Gazost Valley
- Bareges-Tourmalet
- Cauterets
- Gavarnie-Gedre
- Val d'Azun
- Luz-Saint-Sauveur Valley
Sights near the Cirque de Gavarnie
Here are the most beautiful sites that I have chosen as stages of my tourist circuit because they are real must-sees in the Gavarnie valleys :
- Luz-Saint-Sauveur
- Pic du Midi de Bigorre
- Gavarnie Cirque
- Roland's Breach
- Gedre
- Pont d'Espagne
- Gaube Lake
Cirque de Gavarnie Tourist route map
Spectacular panoramas, observatory between heaven and earth, thermal springs, this is the program for DAY 1
Luz-Saint-Sauveur - Departure of my tour
The first thing to do when you arrive at Luz Saint-Sauveur (Place du 1 mai 8) is to go to the Tourist Office to get maps and good gourmet addresses. For brochures, they can be downloaded from the site: https://www.luz.org/fr/nos-brochures/
Also remember to book treatments based on thermal water at the Luzea wellness center (swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna, hamman, Roman baths…).
Then head to your hotel or Airbnb to settle in and put all your luggage.
Finally, you can take the road towards Bareges then Tourmalet to visit the Pic du Midi 1st stage of my tour.
How to visit the Pic du Midi?
It takes a good hour to go from Luz Saint Sauveur to the Pic du Midi ring road. Classified as a major Occitanie site, it is one of the most visited tourist sites in France! So plan to go early enough ...
Pic du Midi by cable car
To take the Pic du Midi cable car (45 €), you must park at the station La Mongie hence the largest ski area in the French Pyrenees (between the legendary Col du Tourmalet and the Grand Tourmalet).
It takes you on a magical and majestic journey to the top of the Pyrenees to the observatory located in the clouds at 2 meters above sea level. A grand and splendid show awaits you on arrival (see video below).
Pic du Midi on foot
I did not do it but I know that athletes can do a trip to access the Pic du Midi by the chemin des Muletiers (20 km)), by the Col du Tourmalet (14 km) or by the Toue hut (13 km).
Pic du Midi - 3 hour hike
When you arrive at Barèges, at the penultimate bend of the Col du Tourmalet, take the path on the left (direction Lac d'Oncet). From there, you will follow a fairly easy 3-hour hike which offers you a magnificent viewpoint at the top.
Pic du Midi - 4h30 hike
Starting from Artigue, you can take another hiking trail 5 kilometers before arriving at La Mongie, on the Campan side.
Pic du Midi video
Better than photos or great speeches, here is a nice overview of what awaits you, up there !!!
After having made the most of your day, return to Luz Saint Sauveur to spend the night.
Hotel near the Cirque de Gavarnie
As I have already mentioned, Luz Saint Sauveur is the ideal place, the best placed to choose a hotel well placed for my tourist circuit of the Great Pyrenean Sites (Cirque de Gavarnie, Pont d'Espagne and Pic du Midi) .
THEHôtel Le Montaigu is located only 200 meters from the center of Luz-Saint-Sauveur and offers very attractive prices.
More information about this hotel near the Cirque de Gavarnie
grandiose natural circus, impressive walls and beautiful walks, this is my schedule for DAY 2
In the heart of the Pyrenees National Park, very close to the Franco-Spanish border, where the Mont-Perdu massif stands with to the south, the canyons of Ordesa, Aniscle and Pineta, is the majestic Cirque de Gavarnie (23 km from Luz Saint Sauveur).
How to visit the Cirque de Gavarnie?
Registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997, this natural circus surrounded by sixteen peaks over 3 meters is home to the highest waterfall in Europe.
The best way to visit the Cirque de Gavarnie is to plan a short hike to admire the site and reach the large waterfall.
How to get to the Cirque de Gavarnie?
Stage on the roads of Saint-Jacques de Compostelle, the village of Gavarnie is also listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its parish church.
At the arrival at the village, we are facing the wall and, in just 1h30 of walking Without any particular difficulty, you arrive at the foot of the circus where the old circus hotel is located, at the foot of the walls which culminate at an altitude of more than 3 m and the great waterfall that springs from its 000 m high.
To do this, you can go on foot or on horseback. Everything is very well signposted on site, you will follow a marked path accessible to families.
Hike to the Brèche de Roland
The Brèche de Roland (2 m) is a natural geological curiosity. It is a deep gash on the crest of the Cirque de Gavarnie.
To get there, take the direction of Pass of the Tents, to the section of disused road on the mountainside. Without crossing the pass, you will have to continue to the left on a path where you will find a sign. Then going up the slope which straightens, you have to take a path coming from the left and continue to the right in order to pass 2 switchbacks. You get to a torrent that you have to cross using a chain. On the other side, a marked path will guide you to the Col des Sarradets where you will see the famous Brèche de Roland appear.
By continuing you will pass on the side of Spain then you will come back down by turning back the same path (no loop).
It takes about 3 hours to walk there and back.
What to see in Gèdres?
After your beautiful hike at the Cirque de Gavarnie, you can stop en route in the village of Gèdres.
One of the main attractions in Gèdres remains its 5 mills which belong to different families in the village. There is an interpretive trail that allows you to admire them by taking a small free guided walk that leaves from the village.
Then, you will come back to Luz Saint Sauveur to spend the night at theHôtel Le Montaigu or in Airbnb.
Large classified site, torrents, waterfalls and lakes surrounded by beautiful meadows, here is the program for DAY 3
Today, morning departure for a long and beautiful day around the Great Site classified in Occitania: the Pont d'Espagne. You will get there from Luz Saint Sauveur in 1 hour drive.
It is the ideal starting point to go and enjoy the Gaube lake at 1 m but also from Vignemale. The latter is (with La Pique Longue) the highest peak in the Pyrenees. It rises to 3 meters and is located on the Franco-Spanish border.
How to get to the Pont d'Espagne?
From the village of Cauterets (7 km trip), you can go to the gates of the Pont d'Espagne by car or by shuttle.
On the site, there is a car park and an information point which welcomes you and provides information on hiking possibilities.
How to get to the Pont d'Espagne?
Access to the Bridge and its Waterfalls is done in just 5 minutes walk from the parking lot.
This 1886 bridge was used by shepherds and for crossings and trade with Spain.
the Pont d'Espagne is located at an altitude of 1500 meters and reveals a wild flora and fauna, well preserved with incredible landscapes: waterfalls, lakes, meadows, pine forests, prestigious peaks ...
What to see at the Pont d'Espagne?
When you are on the site, you will be able to discover after a few minutes of walking the Meillon monument. The way is indicated. From there, you will have a panorama of all the peaks and landscapes around the Pont d'Espagne including the summit of Vignemale.
Then continuing the path (15 minutes walk), you arrive at the Clot plateau. The site is ideal for relaxing by a river… Note that you can access it by cable car if you don't like walking.
How to get to Lac de Gaube?
To access Lac de Gaube, you will have 2 options:
- Take a nice hike from the Pont d'Espagne by taking the GR10 from the car park (very nice walk from 1 hour to 1:30 one way);
- From the Pont d'Espagne car park, you can take the Puntas cable car then the Lac de Gaube chairlift (20 minutes ascent + 15 minutes on foot on a flat path).
What to see at Lac de Gaube?
At an altitude of 1 meters, this magnificent lake with turquoise water and a fantastic postcard setting offers a viewpoint on the summit of Vignemale. For lovers of hiking and beautiful landscapes, from Lac de Gaube, they can go to the Oulettes de Gaube refuge (see below).
Hike to the Oulettes de Gaube refuge
To access the hiking trail, you will have to bypass Lake Gaube on the right and take the trail that climbs a little away from the lake. We take the direction of the Esplumouse waterfall.
Then the path goes straight up, passes through a plateau and continues to climb (harder) to finally arrive at the Oulettes de Gaube refuge where the view is really superb.
Airbnb Cirque de Gavarnie
Want a change of scenery, nature, originality? For a short stay in a dream setting facing the Cirque de Gavarnie, I recommend you to experience a night in an indian tipi (4 to 5 people / tipi) with the amenities of a fully equipped sheepfold (kitchen, 2 bathrooms, fireplace, wifi, etc.).
See this Airbnb accommodation at Cirque de Gavarnie
… Si had had 1 more day ...
Circuit Pyrenees and villages of character
I added the Argelès-Gazost stage to the map of my tourist circuit, but I didn't have time to enjoy it in just 3 days. For those lucky enough to have a little more time, from Argelès Gazost, they can visit typical villages of the Val d'Azun and villages perched in the Luz valley...
Want to discover my beautiful region of Occitanie a little more?
here is my circuit from Montpellier to Perpignan
mon weekend around Carcassonne
un weekend in Saint Guilhem le Désert
ou the route of the most beautiful villages of Lot and Aveyron
And if you are looking for holiday destinations in France: Where to go in France this summer?