Factsheet|self-guided walk | Level 1/5 | 5-6 walking days Donkey trekking fun
Your holiday Les points forts
• Self-guided, family walking, on foot of the Highest • Discovery of the superb Plateau de Sault ! Pyrenees • A great adventure to live, in company of (more or less…) kind animals ! • Discovery of Pyrenean gastronomy • A warm welcome in each accommodation ! • Variety of accommodations : Hostels, mountain
huts, hotels..
A simple circuit, ideal for families including those with small children… the donkeys will be happy to carry them on their backs!
This walk will lead you through a variety of landscapes, including high altitude plateaux with magnificent views of the Pyrenees, typical mountain villages such as Prades, Comus and Montaillou, forests on north-facing slopes and south sloping pastures…
A patchwork of sceneries will amaze you, and a lot of panoramic views on the Pyrenean summits will wait for you along the crests of Chioula and Balaguès.
We can supply you with GPS tracks for the entire route, just ask us !
www.gr10-liberte.com / www.respyrenees.com Tél : (33) 5.34.14.51.50 ou (33) 6.83.82.98.28 [email protected]
•PROGRAM
Day 1 : Start of the holiday : Donkey trekking fun Arrival at your hotel in Ax les Thermes. Trip to meet the donkeys and get all the information you need to ensure a pleasant time for both yourselves and your big-eared companions ! Night in hotel.
Day 2 : From Prades to Belcaire Walk between Ariège and Aude. Today you will pass across the Aillou plateau where the famous village of Montaillou can be found. The village with just 20 inhabitants is very well-known to experts on Cathar history. Jacques Fournier, the Bishop of Palmers and Great Inquisitor made detailed accounts of the lives of the humble inhabitants of the village, upon which the historian E.Leroy Ladurie later based his book “Montaillou, village occitan”. You’ll then arrive at Belcaire, at the centre of the Plateau de Sault, where you’ll spend the night in a hotel.
Distance : 12km, altitude gain : +260m, descent : -480m.
Day 3 : From Belcaire to Comus Today you’ll be leaving Belcaire through the forest and heading towards the quaint little village of Comus. You can take advantage of the panoramic view of the Gorges de la Frau, carved in the limestone and the Cathar castle of Montségur, which tells the tragic story of the “pure” Cathars. In 1244 the original castle fell at the hands of the Inquisitor, who burnt all the so-called “Heretics” in a fire. Night in gîte.
Distance : 12km, altitude gain : +430m, descent : -300m.
Day 4 : From Comus to the Refuge du Chioula Through mountain pastures and forests you’ll reach the refuge du Chioula with its outstanding views. From sunny plains to lush Mediterranean vegetation and deep valleys shaded by coniferous forest, the diversity of the landscape will leave you speechless. Today’s walk, which comes to a close at the scenic ridges of Chioula is sure to captivate the hearts of both young and old! Night in refuge.
Distance : 13 km, altitude gain : +740m, descent : -280m.
Day 5 : Walk around the Refuge du Chioula Situated amid the forest and pastures, the Refuge du Chioula is the great starting point for many easy walks. From here you can see the whole Ariège Valley on one side, and the Sault plateau on the other, with magnificent scenery and panoramic views of the Pyrenees whichever way you turn. The night will be spent in the refuge.
Day 6 : From the Refuge du Chioula to Prades Today you’ll follow the GR 107 (Chemin des Bonshommes), taking you past the Col de Balaguès to your departure point at the village of Prades. The Chemin des Bonshommes retraces the journey of the last of the Cathar people escaping the Inquisition, which took them to the more welcoming region of Berguedà in Catalonia, Spain. Your holiday ends at Prades, where you can bid a fond farewell to your big-eared friends before leaving Haute-Ariège.
Distance : 10km, altitude gain : +150m, descent : -500m.
This programme is an example of the itinerary we aim to adhere to. It may be necessary, if situations arise that are beyond our control, for the itinerary to be modified.
•DATES AND PRICES
Departures Departures every day from the beginning of May until the end of October. Possible for groups from 3 people (or 2 people for a supplementary fee of €60/person). Consult us for group discounts.
Prices : From 01/05/2018 to 31/10/2018 :
Price/adult based on a group of 3 people 485 € Price/child 4 - 10 years 415 €
Extras/Discounts : - Extra 5 picnics : 47 €/pers - Extra if 2 persons only : 65 €/pers - Extra transfers during the trip (3persons) : 50 €/pers - Extra transfers during the trip (2 persons) : 75 €/pers
The price includes : The price does not include : - Half-board accommodation - Holiday and travel insurance - Information pack with maps - Transport to and from start/finishing points - Donkey hire - Transfers day 1 and day 6 (personal car NECESSARY) - Entrance fees, additional activities - Picnic and Drinks
• TAIL OR MADE HOL IDAY S
We can put together a suitable holiday for you taking into account all your specific requests and budget. Many individuals and trekking companies have relied on us for years. With our tailor-made holidays we always aim to provide you with the best quality at the fairest price.
If you want to :
• increase the comfort of your accommodations, Contact Mathieu • change the duration of your trip, Tél : 0033 5 34 14 51 50 • organize additional activities or visits, Port : 0033 6 83 82 98 28 • get a transfer from/to an airport, [email protected] • organize an extra night
•ORGANIZATION
We propose a self guided, independent formula. You choose your departure date and we will take care of all the rest from the initial meeting time through to the dispersion point. We transport your bags between the accommodations ; we provide the maps and detailed walking route notes sent on the first accommodation. This is a way of enjoying complete flexibility, you dictate the pace and rhythm of your holiday. Moreover, our team will answer all your questions, and will provide all useful advice in order to make this holiday a success.
If you arrive by train, your transfers with extra during the walk :
Day 1 : At 4.00pm, short transfer to the farm to meet the donkeys and be given information about your walks. Day 2 : At 9.00am, short transfer from Ax-les-Thermes to Prades, start of walk. Day 6 : At 4.00am, short transfer from Prades to Ax-les-Thermes, end of stay.
We ask that you arrive on time for these transfers so not to cause a delay for yourselves or other passengers using the same transfer.
•TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Some information Maximum ascent : +740m Global denivelation: 3140m Global ascents : 1580m Global descents : 1560m Level 1/5
Easy. Walks of between 4-5 hours a day, specially adapted for families with children aged 4 years and over. Without any particular difficulties.
Detailed walking schedule
Detail Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 6 Ascent +260m +430m +740m +150m Descent -480m -300m -280m -500m Distance 12km 12km 13km 10km
*Be advised : the walking duration is given to help you in your choice, but this is an average, not including the stops during the walk, and overall walking duration is just an indication, but can be different between walkers.
Guide Self-guided walking, without guide.
Carrying Only personal belongings for during the day and your picnic. Your bags will be carried by the donkeys.
Bibliography - Les Pyrénées : vie sauvage en montagne et celle des hommes, C. Dendaletche, Ed. Delachaux et Neslier, (2003) - Montaillou, village occitan, Le Roy Ladurie, Ed. Folio, (1975) - Pyrénées romanes, de M. Durliat, et V. Allègre, Ed. Zodiaque, (1969) - Le Pays de Sault par P. Moulis (1958) - Pays Paysans Paysages par P. Aussel, G. Maugard, C. Raynaud (2004)
• ACCOMMODATION / FOOD
Accommodation Stop-over gîte, refuge and hotel, rooms for between 2 to 4 people (sleeping bag essential for nights in the gîte and refuge).
Food - Continental breakfast (tea, coffee, milk, bread, butter, jam) - Evening meal at arranged accommodation, very often local specialities, including starter, main course and dessert - Picnics not included. Can be bought at each stage of stay - Drinks not included
•PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Starting : Day 1 at 4pm at your accommodation in Ax les Thermes (09). Ending : Day 6 after your walk, in Ax les Thermes (09).
How to get to Ax les Thermes :
- By train : Regular direct services all year round Paris-La Tour de Carol (66) stopping at Ax-les-Thermes (09). Example times for arrival on Sunday : depart Paris Montparnasse train station at 08.10am, arrive at Ax-les-Thermes at 15.40pm. Example timetable for return journey on Saturday : depart Ax-les-Thermes train station at 10.20am, arrive at Paris Montparnasse station at 18.50pm.
- By car : From Toulouse : motorway A61 direction Carcassonne-Montpellier-Foix ; exit junction A66 (direction Andorra, Pamiers, Ax-les-Termes). Take the speedway to Tarascon sur Ariège and then the highway Nationale 20 to Ax- les-Thermes. From Bordeaux : A62 to Toulouse ; then A61 and A66. From Paris (811km), Limoges, Brive : motorway A20 to Toulouse ; then A61 and A66. From Montpellier : motorway A61 then A66, head in the direction of Andorra until you reach Ax-les-Thermes.
PARKING : Private, unsupervised parking available for free at the accommodation.
Practical information Ax les Thermes tourist office : 0033 (0)561646060 Mountain brigade of Savignac : 0033 (0)5 61 64 22 58. Weather forecast for Ariège : 0033 (0)8 99 71 02 09
• WHAT TO BRING AND PACK
Bags A small day pack for your water bottle, camera, picnic and waterproof. A bag, rucksack or suitcase for your main luggage weighing a maximum of 12kg per person. The size of your bag varies upon the type of activity. For a walker without portage : 30L minimum For a walker with partial portage : 50L minimum For a walker with portage : 60L minimum
Day Bag Whatever activity you participate in, you should always carry in your rucksack waterproof clothing, a picnic, a bottle of water aswell as a small first aid kit and personal belongings, a camera, a hat, binoculars etc.
Walking Boots The type of boot depends upon the activities you take part in however they are one of your most important items. They should be confortable, waterproof and breatheable. For the best protection we advise ankle boots. We recommend our young walkers to wear flexible walking boots with a good sole and back. For mountain walking for more than 4 hours long we recommend a boot with a fairly ridged sole.
If you need to buy a new pair of boots we advise you wear them in before the start of your holiday. Don't wear boots that are too small because feet have a tendance to swell up.
Clothes - A wind and rainproof jacket - A thick jumper or a fleece - Comfortable walking trousers - Shorts, t shirts, aswell as breathable base layers - Spare clothes - Swimwear and towel - For the start and end of season, hat and gloves suitable for GR20 walks at altitude.
For Sleeping - Sleeping bag for all nights spent in the gites and mountain shelters (sheets are provided) - Earplugs
For Picnics - Sealed plastic box (0.5L) to carry salads - Cutlery (folding knife and fork) - A 1L minimum flask
For Walking - Good walking shoes or boots with a good grip sole - Walking socks. - Warm fleece - Shorts and T shirts. - Swimming costume or trunks - Towel - 2 Walking poles (optional) - Water bottle (one litre minimum) - Personal first aid kit with good blister protection - Sunglasses and sun cream - Sun hat - Wind and waterproof jacket (Gore-tex style)
Other little things - A pair of trainers or sandals for a night - Glasses and suncream - Walking poles - Hats - Camera - Small toiletry bag and towel - Torch or headlight - A first aid kit with personal medication, blister plasters (compeed), aspirin and survival blanket.