5 Day Ariege Aran Hiking Holiday

You will be collected from Toulouse airport and transferred to the starting point for your trek in the beautiful Riberot valley area of the Ariege Pyrenees.

Your first day of hiking is the most challenging. This trek sure does start with a bang with a steep climb straight up through woodland onto a ridge with stunning views.

After breakfast you’ll head you’ll head out for your second day of hiking. The path starts off steeply as it rises up through the woodland before emerging by the ruins of an old mountain hut. The path carries on upwards to the Col de Catouère at 1700m alt before climbing further to eventually reach the path that contours the hillside and leads to the Mines de Bentaillou. More steep climbing to the Col de la Serre d’Arraing and then descent to the refuge next to the lake. Accommodation in the refuge is in bunk rooms. The food here is superb with home made meals created from locally-sourced produce. Make sure you try the homemade cordials and liqueurs too!

A long but spectacular day today taking you across the high mountains into Spain. Your hike will take you up to a high point of 2470m and will involve some ascent on scree and possibly crossing compact frozen snow early in the season. Walking crampons may be advisable. You will pass little mountain lakes, see raptors such as griffon vultures and maybe also golden eagles and bearded vultures up in this environment. Look out also for chamois and red deer. You will eventually arrive at the Montgarri refuge which is across the border in Spain at 1670m alt. You’ll get a good meal here as well as a hot shower and a night in a bunk room. 

You will head back up into the mountains today with a hike back over the border to France and a high point of 2503m alt. There are some pretty steep sections, both up and down, on today’s route including possible frozen snow sections and sections with handrails. This is a wild and beautiful mountain environment where you’ll pass mountain lakes and cross mountain cols. Make sure your camera battery is fully charged! Your destination is the Estagnous refuge which is in a stunning setting at the foot of Mont Valier. The food and atmosphere here are superb.

Your final day is the one with the most descent as you make your way down through a wild and unspoilt environment to the Riberot valley. You will spend the night back at your starting point in the Maison du Valier where once again a superb meal awaits you.

A sad day today as you are transferred back to Toulouse to make your way home.