Day 1: Arrival
We will meet you in your hotel in Tarascon-sur-Ariege at 18:00 for a welcome brief then eat dinner together at a local restaurant. There are regular train links from Toulouse Matabiau train station to Tarascon-sur-Ariege. There is a 20-minute airport shuttle to Toulouse Matabiau train station from Toulouse airport.
Day 2: Hike to Refuge Bassies (1650m)
After breakfast we will take a short transfer into the stunning Vicdessos valley to where we will start our trek at Col de Lers (1517m). The mountain scenery all the way to the refuge is spectacular. The path ascends through broken woodland and rocky outcrops to Pic de Gerentes (2088m). We are now in real mountain terrain on a small path picking our way through boulders to the magical Etang d’Alate (1869m) set in its own mini steep-sided cirque; a beautiful spot for a dip on hot days. A gentle climb takes us to Port de Bassies where we look down to the Refuge nestled in the valley below us, with the Etangs de Bassies forming a thick ribbon of blue. From the col, we descend steep rocky terrain to Refuge Bassies located at 1650m. At the refuge we will be welcomed by the friendly guardians – here, it’s time to take off our boots and admire the Pique Rouge de Bassies from the picnic benches on the grassy terrace, or perhaps after a dip under the waterfall pool next to the refuge. Shower tokens are available for a hot shower at this refuge. We will be sleeping in small dorms of bunkbeds. Height gain 720m | Distance 6.5km.
Day 3: Hike to Pique Rouge de Bassies (2676m)
We will take a simple breakfast at the refuge and pick up a picnic lunch before we walk beside the gently flowing Ruisseau de l’Escale on the limestone rock which forms this peak. The climb to the summit is a delight of large grippy rock outcrops with intermittent clear lakes. We descend a ridge with unsurpassed views via Pic des Planes (2063m), and head back to the refuge Bassies for a hearty three-course dinner. Height gain and loss 1170m | Distance 12.5km.
Day 4: Hike to Vicdessos valley
After a simple breakfast and picnic pick-up at the refuge, we descend past the lakes then steeply through forests into the valley for our transfer back to the hotel in Tarascon-sur-Ariege for a well-earned dinner overlooking the river Ariege. Height loss 700m | Distance 10km.
Day 5: Departure
You can depart on the train of your choice. It’s a short walk to the train station from our hotel.