A weekend to survey the night

3 days/2 nights full board, accommodation in the rural gite Les Terres Nères in Aucun in the Azun valley.

Your detailed program :

Day 1 - Immersion in the world of the night

Morning : Arrival at Lourdes train station at the end of the morning, meeting at 11am for a transfer by minibus to the Pyrenees National Park.

Afternoon: Picnic on the banks of the Lac du Tech, then a walk in the country of the isards and marmots. After the old forest of fir trees, the path goes along the beautiful lake of the Lake of Suyen then rises to the plateau of Labassa, a high altitude pastoral plateau, overhung by the Ledormeur refuge (positive difference in altitude for the day: 450 m, 3h30). Transfer to the Gite Les Terres Nères.

Evening : Welcome aperitif and dinner at the lodge. Discovery of the village of Aucun and night walk to discuss light pollution and its solutions, return to the lodge through the forest. Our steps will be punctuated by some tales and time to listen to the sounds of the night.

Day 2 - Journey to the heart of the stars

Morning : Wake up soft and quiet. Discovery of the wonders of the universe and initiation to the reading of the sky.

Lunch at the lodge.

Afternoon: Departure on foot from the lodge to the Paillassas and the slopes of the Pic de Pan. On this slope which faces the Gabizos (2639m), numerous hay meadows and their barns are the place of life of a nocturnal fauna, discovered in the course of the steps of the bats and the nocturnal raptors.

Evening : Meal at the Auberge du Pic de Pan, night walk to the Pic de Prédouset, observation of the sky with the naked eye, binoculars and telescope. Return to the lodge with the headlamp (positive difference in altitude 600 m, 6h).

Day 3 - The sky seen from the Earth

Morning : Brunch

Afternoon: Transfer to the Regional Nature Reserve of the Pibeste-Aoulhet massif, picnic on the discovery trail above beautiful panoramas on the Gaves valley and on the limestone cliffs where many rock species nest. Bird watching with a telescope.

Transfer to Lourdes train station for 4pm - End of the stay.

Important : The planned itineraries are adaptable according to the level of your group and the weather.

The highlights of your stay :

• Discovery of the celestial vault with observation tools (telescope, binoculars, sky map),
• Hikes in a nocturnal atmosphere listening to the sounds of the night,
• Stroll in the heart of the Pyrenees National Park and the Pibeste-Aoulhet Regional Nature Reserve, territories included in the International Dark Sky Reserve,
• Lodging in a rural gîte in the middle of nature.

Your equipment to foresee:

Mountain shoes, backpack that can hold your belongings for a day hike, clothing for cold weather (down jacket or equivalent, hat, gloves, scarf) and warm weather, rain jacket, hat or cap, sunglasses, sunscreen, water bottle or water bag filled (2 L of water minimum), headlamp, a pair of binoculars if you have, and it will be perfect!