Tour of the Pic du Midi d'Ossau, country of lakes and shepherds

From the majestic Lescun cirque in the Aspe valley, dominated by the Aiguilles d'Ansabère and the Pic d'Anie, to the delightful Ayous lakes in the Ossau valley, this hike gravitates around the proud Pic du Midi d'Ossau, perched at an altitude of 2,884m in the heart of the Pyrenean National Park. These valleys of the Bearnais are of great beauty, they are also an authentic land of tradition where the famous Pyrenean ewe's milk cheese is made according to an ancestral know-how. We will walk on the paths of the shepherds -which we will often cross- and their flocks, before ending the journey by the historic Chemin de la Mâture.

Your detailed program:

Day 1 - Accous - Lescun

From Accous, climb into the Anitch forest and discover the sublime Lescun cirque: Pic d'Anie, Billare, Ansabère, Chourique, Labigouer... Descent and night in the heart of the village of Lescun.

Walking time : 5h. Difference in altitude : + 600m / - 400m.

Day 2 - Lescun - Arlet

Short transfer and hike in the wild valley of Labrenère which rises gradually in the heart of the National Park, then from the Col de Pau, nice route on the border ridges. The itinerary continues in balcony towards the pass of Saoubathou then the lake and the refuge of Arlet. Night at the refuge of Arlet, at the edge of the lake surrounded by estives and red sandstone.

Walking time : 6 to 7 hours. Difference in altitude : + 900 to 1000m / - 100m.

Day 3 - Arlet - Candanchu

Through pastures and red sandstone; meeting with a shepherd, who will reveal us his secrets of ewe's cheese making, his life in altitude... Descent through the beautiful woods of Espélunguère and Sansanet, before reaching Spain and Candanchu. Sometimes variant by the lake of Estaens. Night in Candanchu where we find our luggage.

Walking time: 5 to 6 hours. Difference in altitude: + 400 to 800m / - 800 to 1200m.

Day 4 - Candanchu - Pombie

Short shuttle. Cross-border route by the crests facing "Jean-Pierre" (nickname given to the 2 peaks of the Ossau summit...), then by the Anéou estives. Arrival at the Pombie refuge, at the foot of theOssau wall, with its warm colors.

Walking time : 6h. Difference in altitude : + 800m / - 450m.

Day 5 - Pombie - Ayous

Gravitation around the giant under the gaze of mountaineers, isards, marmots and other birds of prey. Climb to the Ayous refuge, in one of the most famous postcard landscapes of the Pyrenees, where the Ossau river is reflected in the lakes.

Walking time : 5 to 6 hours. Difference in altitude : + 800m / - 700m.

Day 6 - Ayous - Accous

Short ascent to the Pic d'Ayous, complete panorama on our route. We switch to the Aspe valley by the Baigt de St Cours valley, to finish this trip by the incredible " Chemin de la Mâture ", full of history and carved by the hand of man in a vertical wall. Short transfer (15 min.) to reach Accous, a typical village of the Aspe valley, and night in a comfortable gîte, preceded by a tasty meal prepared by our hosts.

Walking time : 6 to 7 hours. Difference in altitude : + 350m / - 1650m.

Day 7: Dispersion in Accous or in Bedous station.

The highlights of your stay :

• A prestigious tour between Aspe and Ossau valleys !
• The charm of 2 nights in refuges on the edge of a lake...
• ... including the one in Ayous facing the Ossau !