Individual hikes : One day hikes

General
All hikes can be done without a guide, unless mentioned otherwise.
Always check the weather forecast. Some of the hikes can not be done with fog.
All the hikes suggested, are previously hiked by the Bergtoppers, to exclude any surprises!

Explore the surroundings of the valley

You start the hike from the village Seix.
ia a small road you walk to Oust. Ypou pass Hotel de la Poste and cross the river ‘Garbet’. You follow the river upstream and arrive in a small village Vic d’Oust.
Here you can find a Roman church from the 11th century. At certain days it is also possible to admire the inside of the church.
From Vic d’Oust you walk to Souiex, via small tracks.
In Souiex you can lunch at the local café ‘Perroquet’.

After having lunch you first follow the river ‘Salat’ and after that you into the direction of ‘Cos de Bergerac’. Here you follow a path of sand and you climb 50 meters for a superb look on Seix.
You descend to Seix were you can close the day with a glass of wine at one of the terraces.

Remarks

Bring your lunch, if you do not intend to eat at the Perroquet.
Start and finish in Seix.
Approximately 4 hours hike, 50 meters difference in altitude.
Hike is suitable for everyone.

Climbing a small mountain

The climb starts at a car park in the direction of Esbints.
You start with an easy climb on a friendly path through an ancient forest. You’ll see signs which tell you something of the surrounding. You do not have to get bored during the climb!!
After about two hours you’ll reach the top with a magnificent view of Mont Valier and several other peaks. There is an orientation table to show all the names of the peaks you’ll see. You can also have lunch at a picnic table.
After having lunch you will descend via a different track and again there are some signs about the environment.

Remarks

Bring your lunch.
Start and finish at the parking of ‘Sentier du Cos’.
Approximately 4 hours walk, 500 meters difference in altitude.
Hike is suitable for everyone.
The hike can also start at Seix (plus 1,5 hours)

Hike from Salau (860 meters) to Cirque d’Anglade (1499) and back

You start your walk at the parking near Auberge les Myrtilles. Via a paved road you go ahead for the mines. After an hours walk you will reach the mines.
Today the mines are not in use anymore, but they used to provide a lot of work for the people of Salau. Perhaps in the future an outdoor center will open its doors in the old buildings.
At the mines you can take a short break, to prepare for the climb to the Cirque d’Anglade. It is a long, steep climb of 250 meters. It is not difficult but very tiring. Through the trees during the climb, you’ll see the effect of the mining business on the environment.

After a climb of an hour the reward is given… An impressive cirque and a marvelous cascade. It is strange that the water flow ends up in a quiet pool.
You can have your lunch in the valley and a well deserved break.
It is possible to do some real climbing, but watch yourself. It is most likely to see some Isards, because there are about 500 of them living here.
Via the same track you will descend to the mines. At the mines you take a track through the trees back to Salau, were you finish at the Auberge Myrtilles. If the terrace is open, you can have a drink…

Remarks

Bring your lunch.
Start and finish in Salau.
Approximately 4 hours hike, 600 meters difference in altitude.
Hike is suitable for everyone.

Hike to the chateau

You start in Seix and walk upstream the river the Salat, in the direction of the kayak base.
From here you go on via an unpaved path to end in a village where people only live in the summer. Now you enter the forest to walk via nice tracks to the chateau. This is a nice place to lunch.
After the lunch you descend via another track to another village.
Finally you reach Seix……….

Remarks

Bring your lunch
Start and finish in Seix
Approximately 5 hours walk, 700 meters difference in altitude.
Hike is suitable for everyone.

Circulair tour from Aulus to Cascade d’Ars

This hike starts in Aulus les Bains where you go up on a car track for 4WD. It is an easy start but you go up! After 1 hour you cross a river via a bridge and the path becomes a little path. No acces for 4WD!
Very soon you have a splendid view on this waterfall. This waterfall consits of 2 parts but that you will notice….
If you go on by this track you finally reach the top of the waterfall where you can cross the stream by a bridge.
After you have crossed the bridge you climb for a little while before you go down. One hour later you reach the lake Etang de Guzet. A round lake where you can take a nice stop.
After the lake you go further down and finally you reach the starting point of the hike.
This circulair tour has to be done if you are here……

Remarks

Bring your packed meal
Start and end : Aulus les Bains
About 7 hours hiking, 1000 meter difference in altitude
Hike is suitable for everyone

Hike from the river Riberot to the cabin of the ‘Bergtoppers’

The start of this hike is the Riberot, the river that comes from the Mont Valier reservate, a beautiful spot with a superb view…
You walk via the GR10 in the direction of the Cap and start right away with a steep climb. After a while you pass a cabin that can be used as a shelter.
After the climb the track gets easier and while passing cows, sheep and horses you will reach a lovely lake where you can have lunch. I even saw people once swimming in the lake… (brrr)
It is another 3 hours walk to the Bergtoppers.
Depending of the time of year you could run into Isard (Spring) or raspberries (Autumn).

Remarks

Bring your lunch.
Start at the river Riberot and finish at the Bergtoppers.
Approximately 7 hours walk, 1.000 meters difference in altitude.
Hike is suitable for everyone.

Hike from the Col de la Core (1395 meters) to Etang d’Ayes (1860 meters) and back to the Col de la Core

Today you start your hike at the col de la core. This col is done several times in the Tour de France.
From the Col you go up for 100 meters which is pretty heavy. After this climb it becomes easier and after a while you find lots of framboses. When you go out of the trees you climb a little more and on your right hand you will see Etang de Bethmale.
After this point of view you will reach another col very soon. Here you also find a cabin where you could spend the night.
After this col you will reach etang dÁyes in less then 30 minutes.
This lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in the Pyrenees.
After your picnic and your swim you walk back to the col de la core.

Remarks

Bring your lunch.
Start and finish at the Col de la Core.
Approximately 6 hours hike, 900 meters difference in altitude.
Suitable for everyone in a good shape.

Circular tour at the Cirque the Cagateille

If you’re hiking the “Tour de Balade” this will be your last day, that you could end with a nice circular tour.
From the parking place for the Cirque de Cagateille you start your hike and you will enter de Cagateille after 30 minutes. A beautiful view at several cascades and an enormous wall of rock. It looks like ‘little Canada’.
You continue your walk to two mountain lakes, where you have the opportunity to swim. Today you can reach the magical height of 2.000 meters!

Remarks

Bring your lunch.
Start and finish in the gite of Bidous.
Approximately 7 hours hike, 1.000 meters difference in altitude.
Hike is suitable for everyone in good shape, not possible to walk in fog.

Hike from Seix (500 meters) to Cominac (750 meters)

The hike starts in Seix.
You’ll walk through the cute village Seix and you’ll cross the river Esbints. Now you’ll start an easy climb to a holiday village.
From here you’ll follow the GR Pays. Among others you’ll have a beautiful view at the mountain village Sentenac d’Oust. Most of the time you’ll walk through a forest and occasionally you’ll pass some small villages.
After about three hours you’ll reach Soueix, where you can have a cup of coffee/tea. You can even have lunch in the local pub. They serve only one menu including wine, for a reasonable price.
From Souiex you’ll walk on and reach a ‘platform’.
After the platform it is another hour till you reach the cabin of Cominac.

Remarks

Bring your lunch.
Start in Seix and finish in Cominac.
Approximately 5 hours hike, 200 meters difference in altitude.
A nice walk, suitable for everyone.

Hike from Cominac (750 meters) to Aulus les Bains (750 meters)

Today you’ll do a real mountain hike!
You’ll start with a nice climb where you’ll see orchids in Spring and probably see foxes. After the climb you’ll walk for a while at an unpaved track. After this track you’ll ascend again.
You’ll pass some big boulders and you’ll have the most beautiful views along the way. You could even see a paraglider fly by. The top is the perfect spot to have lunch.
Passing the top, you’ll walk through the forest and you’ll start to descend to Aulus les Bains.

Remarks

Bring your lunch.
Start in Cominac and finish in Aulus les Bains.
Approximately 6 hours hike, 800 meters difference in altitude.
Suitable for everyone.

Hike to Cascade d’Ars

From the gite or the hotel you can make a very nice walk to the Cascade dÁrs.
Of course you can also do nothing or doing something else then walkiong, but
The cascade is very interesting….

Remarks

Bring your packed meal
Start and end: gite or hotel in Aulus
Approximately 3 hours hike, 700 meters difference in altitude.
Suitable for everyone.

Hike from Aulus les Bains (750 meters) to Bidous (750 meters)

Today will be a superb hike, some call this the queen of hikes.
You’ll start with a climb via the GR Pays/GR 10 to a cascade. At this cascade is a beautiful cirque. You’ll have to see this…
From here on you’ll continue to ascend to the ski area “Guzet Neige”, a beautiful spot to have lunch.
This is the highest you’ll get when you are walking the (luxe) Tour de Montagne: 1.650 meters.
You’ll continue to walk on small tracks and you’ll slowly start to descend in the direction of St.Lizier d’Ustou and Bidous.
The last part of the hike is through trees and you’ll descend via a friendly path.

Remarks

Bring your lunch.
Start in Aulus les Bains and finish in Bidous.
Approximately 5-6 hours hike, 1.000 meters difference in altitude.
Suitable for everyone.

From the col de pause (1527 meters) to the paradise and back via the GR10

Let the circular tour surprise you! Some people think that this is paradise……

Remarks

Bring your lunch
Start and finish at the Col de Pause.
About 5 hours hike, 1000 meters difference in altitude.
Suitable for everyone in a good shape.

Circular tour at Bidous

From the gite of Bidous you go to the parking before the Cirque de Cagateille that you can reach in 1 ½ hours via a very nice track. After this point you walk a little hour more and then you are at this very beautiful Cirque. There is a very impressive view at several cascades and an enormous wall of rock. It looks like ‘little Canada’.

Remarks

Bring your lunch.
Start and finish in the gite of Bidous.
Approximately 5 hours hike, 400 meters difference in altitude.
Hike is suitable for everyone.

Hike from Bidous (750 meters) to Rouze (950 meters)

Today you’ll have the opportunity to slow down a bit. You can sleep in and start easy the hike, which will take about 3-4 hours. You’ll pass plenty of nice spots to have lunch.
You could also start with a different morning walk, to the Cirque de Cagateille (3-4 hours there and back). The Cirque de Cagateille is a circular valley with lots of cascades.
It reminds us of Canada.
From Bidous to Rouze you’ll pass a small supermarket and a swimming pool where you can have a refreshing splash!

Remarks

Bring your lunch.
Start in Bidous and finish in Rouze.
Approximately 4 hours hike, 800 meters difference in altitude.
Suitable for everyone in a good shape.

Hike from Rouze (950 meters) to Pont de la Taule (700 meters)

This is the last day of the Tour de Montagne but certainly not the least!
After having breakfast at the goat farm of Rouze you’ll descend via a forest to the village Couflens. Via the road and some short cuts you’ll climb to the Col de Pause, the highest top you’ll reach today.
From the top you’ll leave the GR10 track and you’ll descend via an old track to the valley of the river Estours. Next to a nice cascade you’ll have a fine lunch!
You’ll continue to descend along the river Estours, sometimes you have to cross the river. Eventually you’ll reach the river Salat and the ‘real’ world.
When you reach the river the Salat you find your car to drive to Pont de la Taule, otherwise you have to walk another 2 km.

Remarks

Bring your lunch.
Start in Rouze and finish in Aunac.
Approximately 7-8 hours hike, 800 meters difference in altitude.
Suitable for everyone in good shape.

Hike from Bergtoppers naar Seix

Today is a very easy day. After your breakfast you go down where you meet the GR10. You walk further down through the valley the Arigue. By some little tracks and a beautiful wood you pass the gite of Esbints. Here are some chickens, dunkeys, a pig and some horses. A nice place for a brake?
You go further by the road and afer 30 minutes the GR10 to the right. You go on via a nice track through the woods and a little later you see Camp Peyret. From here you can go to a nice point of view (Cos) or you go down to the Salat and later to Seix.

Remarks

Bring your lunch.
Start Bergtoppers, end in Seix.
Approximately 2 till 5 hours hike, 400 meters difference in altitude. (300 extra is optional)
Suitable for everyone.

Hike from Couflens to Seix

From Seix you drive to Couflens where this hike starts. From Couflens you climb to Col de Pause via the GR10. You pass some cute houses with very nice flowers on your way up.
After 2 till 3 hours you can reach the Col. A nice spot where you can have a bigger break
. Via an old track you descend to the valley of the river Estours. You will see a beautiful cascade and a cabin of the ONF (Forestry)
. With fine weather this is a nice spot to have your lunch.
After having lunch you descend to the river Salat and reach the ‘real’ world. From here on it is only one more hour to Seix.

Remarks

Bring your lunch.
Start at Couflens and finish at Seix.
Approximately 6-7 hours walk, 800 meters difference in altitude.
The hike is suitable for everyone.

Hike from the Col de la Core to the river of the Riberot

From the Col de la Core you go up for the Col d’Auedole via a nice, rough path. probably you will see lots of raspberries and some isards.
After a 1 ½ hours walk you reach a cabin, a shelter for maximum 5 people.
From here it is only 20 minutes to go a lake with a beautiful view: Etang d’Ayes.
A beautiful place to have a break. You can even have a swim at the lake… After another hours walk, you will reach another cabin. Here you find a sign for the valley of the Riberot and you start the descend to the river Riberot.
A beautliful spot to sit at the river and view Mont Valier.
You could extend the walk for another hour to a beautiful cascade.

Remarks

Bring your lunch.
Start at the Col de la Core and finish at the Riberot.
Approximately 6 hours hike, 900 meters difference in atitude.
Suitable for everyone.
The hike can be extended.