Hiking
On foot
The Hautes-Pyrénées has 7,266 km of hiking trails. From unrestricted country roads to those with a difference in altitude of more than 3,000 m, a territory of a hundred landscapes awaits you. The mythical GR10 crosses the Pyrenees, a white line, a red line: no doubt, it guides you from Arrens-Marsous, to Cauterets, Grust, the Vieille Aure and could even take you to the Basque Country. As a long-distance path, it does not overshadow the marked paths of the Val d'Azun, Gavarnie and the Grand Tourmalet. Guides and guides ensure total safety thanks to their perfect knowledge of the natural environment and its traps. The possibilities of hikes are endless: a walk to discover pastoralism and join the sheep in the summer pastures, discovering barns or mills, the wine route in the Madiranais, the lakes of Castelnau-Magnoac... Gentler paths, crossing plains and hills, such as the Trait vert to discover Tarbes and its agglomeration, Lourdes and its "voie verte des gaves" or Maubourguet following the pilgrims' route to Santiago de Compostela. With the family, on your own or with a guide, hundreds of 100% nature outings await you, always with exceptional fauna and flora.
On horseback and on a donkey
On the steep paths, you will come across brave little merens scrabbling around with smiling riders: it is difficult to resist riding in the Pyrenees. There are many horse farms and riding centres in the department and, from the foothills to the valleys, they almost all offer rides in exceptional settings. The website of the departmental riding committee lists them precisely and it is an excellent base which will allow you to choose and organize your ride. Depending on your level, your expectations and the area of the Hautes-Pyrénées in which you wish to ride, the centres but also the farms and the pony-clubs offer you the opportunity to discover the Hautes-Pyrénées through an unforgettable activity.
Bike rides, bicycle touring and mountain biking
Without taking shortcuts, which would be tempting with the 1,600 km of signposted paths awaiting cyclists, it can easily be said that in such a majestic setting the little queen could only find her kingdom. From the legendary jerseys of the best climber of the Tour de France to the lovers of gentle rides on two wheels, all have a particular attachment to the Hautes-Pyrénées. We can safely bet that you will join the endless list of those who have fallen under the spell of the department's roads. Whatever your level of sport, it is expressed in an exceptional setting: from the plains to the high mountains, on tracks or trails, in the open air or in the undergrowth, happiness is on the road and you hold the handlebars.
MOUNTAIN BIKING
More than 1,600 kilometres of marked trails await you: there is something for all levels and generally in an incomparable environment.
Some sites are certified by the French Cycling Federation. This is the case for the mountain bike area of the Pays des Gaves with 73 itineraries spread over 5 sectors: Lourdes, the Argelès-Gazost valley, the Val d'Azun, Cauterets, and the Pays Toy. In Haute-Bigorre, 356 km divided into 23 circuits await you. In the Baronnies : 6 tracks and 117 km.
Extreme mountain bike enthusiasts will have a great time with the descent of the Pic du Midi de Bigorre: 1,800 m of vertical drop, in a high mountain setting. Be careful, you are in the middle of nowhere, without any signposting or special facilities... This descent was awarded the "Etoiles du Tourisme" trophy in the "Sport and Adventure" category.
Cyclotourism
The 14 mythical passes and climbs of the Pyrenean stages of the Tour de France have been the scene of exploits, anecdotes and also dramas. The Vallée des Gaves, to name but one, is a little paradise to be discovered in the foothills or at altitude, between little-known routes and legendary roads: discover some twenty itineraries devised by professionals through the information sheets that present them. They are available from tourist offices, so don't hesitate to ask those of your holiday destination, as many of them offer these booklets. Note that in homage to the champion Laurent Fignon, who was very attached to Bagnères-de-Bigorre, the old access road to Barèges now bears his name. Dedicated to cyclists, it was the setting for the Tour de France from 1910 onwards and its 2.4 kilometres and 200 metres of positive gradient are exclusively dedicated to two-wheelers. In the same spirit, the greenways are ideal for discovering the region in complete safety and the Gaves route follows a mountainside itinerary whose smooth surface on the first section, between Lourdes and Pierrefitte-Nestalas, is punctuated by information on audio terminals.
Mountaineering, climbing and via-ferrata
Climbing and via ferrata are two of the most sought after activities for sportsmen who like the sweet vertigo of the void on a background of strong sensations. We advise you to use the services of mountain guides who are there to help you reach the summits. Some 17 natural climbing sites and about 500 routes are listed in the department, for all types of climbing, rocks and levels. For the via ferrata, from the Pont Napoléon in Luz-Saint-Sauveur to the Chaos de Coumély in Gavarnie via the aliases of Cauterets, you will find three wonderful sites to evolve on the wall of the gorges, mainly from May to October for simple reasons of weather. Mountaineering is not left out, as you can imagine, with mythical ascents such as that of the peak of Aneto, very specific, or the Vignemale and its 3 298 meters.
Golf
Although they are not all alike, the department's golf courses have one thing in common: they all have a sumptuous setting. Whether you want to sharpen your swing at the top, on the 18 holes of the Bigorre Golf Country Club which dominates the Haut Adour valley, in the heart of the Laloubère racecourse, with the Pyrenees chain in the background or in the majestic site of the 5,000 trees of the multiple species of Lannemezan: the golf culture is very present in Bigorre! Lourdes offers a course with a sporting character nestled in the middle of a forest of fir trees which runs along the west bank of the lake and Tarbes does not hesitate to line up the fairways in the woods with a start and finish near the castle while a 12th century chapel adjoins the club house. All of them propose free initiations, it will swing, we know it!
Fishing
Who is the boss here? In the water, it's the trout and that's it! Or almost. Imagine that with a network of 2,687 kilometres of first and second category rivers, 220 mountain lakes and 22 lakes, the fishing area is exceptional! The Neste d'Aure, the Gave de Pau and the Adour are the three main basins which provide a fabulous playground for fishing enthusiasts, but there are many small sub-basins which have their own charm. Rivers, streams and brooks are a trout paradise. The Pyrenean trout is famous! There are 18 fishing routes, including specific ones such as those for mountain lakes, salmonid no-kill routes, those for children, leisure trout routes, and some thematic ones in relation to fish..
Bungee jumping
Without being in Avignon, there is no shortage of bridges in the department, but as curious as it is, it is only at the Napoleon bridge in Luz-Saint-Sauveur that you can defy the laws of gravity and throw yourself into the void... to float there without damage! The site is famous for its history and its architecture, and thrill-seekers will find the 90-metre drop awaiting them.
Hot air balloon
At the mercy of the wind, it will transport you into the incomparable sky of this immense territory: let yourself be carried by the currents and above all by the charm of the hot air balloon. Still not very developed, this timeless way of discovering the department is nevertheless very popular in the Baronnies area. The Escaladieu Abbey is used as a take-off base for the balloons that gently fly over the surroundings of this flagship site in the Hautes-Pyrénées. By night or by day, climb into the basket and enjoy the immensity that unfolds at your feet.
Ski
Skiing in the Hautes-Pyrénées is a moment of happiness and conviviality with resorts that are close to nature, respectful of the sites, flora and fauna, welcoming and human-sized. Downhill or cross-country skiing, snowboarding and new snow sports, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, sledging, the Hautes-Pyrénées and its twelve resorts are up to the highest standards: quality accommodation, services on the slopes and in the resorts, good snow cover throughout the season, and the latest structural facilities. And now, with the take-off of grass skiing, you can really ski all year round in the Hautes-Pyrénées.
Astronomy
Wherever you are in the department, the Pic du Midi seems to accompany your movements. A world-famous symbol for scientists and sky lovers, it is increasingly opening up to tourism with overnight stays and magical meals at 2,877 metres, but it is still a mythical observatory! A major research centre, its domes contain coronagraphs that are perfect for admiring the sun rising over a bed of clouds, as well as the largest telescope in France, whose 2 metres provide a perfect view of the celestial vault. Not all of them are accessible to you, but to get a good view, the T 400 is more than enough! Here, you will have the chance to have as a canvas one of the purest skies that the world allows. Introductory courses are also offered with one of the most powerful telescopes, the giant T 800. You will have understood, the sky is lived here with emphasis, according to your desires and your expectations, it awaits only you: it is ready!
