Day 1: Arrive Foix
There are regular train links from Toulouse to Foix. From Toulouse airport there is a 20-minute airport shuttle to the main train station in Toulouse (Matabiau). We will meet you at your hotel in Foix at 18:00 for a welcome brief and ‘apero’ with your guide. The hotel is a 5-minute walk from Foix train station. We will discuss packing and kit. After the briefing we will have dinner at a local restaurant. You can leave luggage at the hotel for your return at the end of the hike.
Day 2: Foix – Roquefixade
We will aim to depart from the hotel at 10:00 to allow time for repacking. After an initial climb the path is gentle and mainly contours the hillside with views across the valley to the mountains before we arrive at the gite d’etape at Roquefixard – simple, clean and comfortable, in shared rooms with excellent home-cooked food, local beers and wine, and friendly hosts. Height gain 935m | distance 15km.
Day 3: Roquefixard to Monferrier
After breakfast we will have time to climb to the Chateau of Roquefixard which has a commanding position above the village. Then we will descend through the forest past small farms and numerous hamlets which appear to have stood still in time. A final climb on small forest tracks brings us to our charming auberge in Montferrier. Height gain 500m | distance 12km.
Day 4: Monferrier to Comus
En route we will visit the Chateaux of Montsegur. A traverse through pine trees takes us to the steep, high-sided Gorge de la Frau. A rugged path leads to Comus and the family run accommodation Silence de Midi in the tiny village of Comus. Height gain 950m | distance 18km.
Day 5: Comus to Ax-les-Thermes
Today we walk across the Plateau de Sault; an area abundant in wildlife and wide-open views of the majestic peaks of the Pyrenees. We then take a path descending steeply through beech and pine forests arriving at our hotel in the mountain spa town of Ax-les-Thermes. Height gain 500m | distance 17km.
Day 6: Day off in Ax-les-Thermes
Today you can take a dip in the wonderful spa baths and spend the day exploring this pretty mountain town. You are free to chose your own lunch and dinner on this day; there are many cafes and restaurants to explore.
Day 7: Ax-les-Thermes to Merens-les-Vals
As we climb from Ax-les-Thermes, the valley sides steepen and the scenery becomes much more mountainous. Our route today is a mix of forest paths and small mountain roads before arriving at our auberge in Meren-les-Vals. Height gain 1100m | distance 14km.
Day 8: Merens-les-Vals to L’hospitalet-près-l’Andorre
A beautiful mountain day over a high col through rugged terrain with wild Meren horses grazing next to clear mountain streams. After the col we drop down into the valley past lakes to the rail side village of Hospitalet pres L’Andorre; here we take a step back in time when we check into our comfortable and hospitable mountain hotel. Height gain 1250m | distance 15km.
Day 9: L’hospitalet-près-l’Andorre to Porta
Today we climb to a higher mountain plateau before descending to our auberge accommodation in the pretty village of Porta. Here, the scenery changes to wide-open glacial valleys high in the Pyrenees. Height gain 650m | distance 10km.
Day 10: Porta to Latour-de-Carol
This final day of walking has unsurpassed beauty in the form of forests, wide-open and empty cols, pastures with trickling streams and beautifully restored Catalan farms. The final descent into Latour-de-Carol follows a broad ridge with small canals flowing with clear water contouring the hillside. We walk along one of the ancient waterways into this pristine town and spend our final trek night in an historic auberge full of charm. Height gain 800m | distance 17km.
Day 11: Transfer by train from Latour-de-Carol to Foix
Check back into the hotel and spend the rest of the day exploring Foix the capital town of the Ariege with its magnificent chateau and secret cobbled streets. We will spend a final meal together at a restaurant in Foix.
Day 12: Departure day
Depart Foix after breakfast.