Skiing in Pyrenees
Hautes-Pyrenees:
Press Info: 31 January 2013
More than great piste skiing in the Hautes-Pyrenees
Nine ski resorts make up the Hautes-Pyrenees ski area in France and even though these resorts currently have the best snow in over 10 years, they also offer so much more than just a week of skiing:
Ice climbing in Gavarnie
The cirque du Gavernie, a UNESCO World Heritage site is a well-known amphitheater of limestone rock, the highest limestone massif in Europe, towering above the ground over 3300m at its highest (Monte Perdido). The French side of the ciqrue in the Hautes-Pyrenees is part of the Pyrenees National Park. Climbers take hiking trails from the town of Gavarnie to the base of the cirque’s walls. The ice climbing in Gavarnie is some of the best in Europe with most ice climbers tackling the 1st ‘tier’. For skiers, 55km of pistes will keep skiers happy in stunning surroundings with 12 ski lifts and the thermal spa in Luzea to relax in.
Snow shoe in St Lary
The beautiful traditional resort of St Lary is the perfect place to snow shoe. Take the lake chairlift at St Lary 2400 and snow shoe with a guide to the beautiful Lac de L’Oule at 1820m. It can take up to three hours to snow shoe around the lake with a picnic en route. Or take the beautiful path via the forest that joins St Lary 1700 with the higher village at 1900m. It is even possible to snow shoe up to the Spanish boarder.
Stay at the 3* superior Cami Real in Saint Lary Village and save up to 30%. Now from £80pp (was £101pp) for 7 nights, self-catering based on 5 sharing a 2 bedroom apartment (sleeps 6). Price includes return Eurotunnel crossing with FREE FlexiPlus upgrade. ACCOMM ONLY from £48pp (was £69) for 7 nights. www.SkiCollection.co.uk or call 0844 576 0175
Star gaze at the Pic du Midi
Spend a night at the highest observatory in Europe, at 2877m. Watch the sun set, enjoy an astronomy presentation and star gaze with an expert on hand. Funded by NASA, for real enthusiasts, there is a 106cm telescope installed in 1963 and used to take photos of the surface of the moon in preparation for the Apollo missions. After sunrise, ski down off piste 1500m+ vertical with qualified mountain guides. The skiing in Grand Tourmalet, made up by the resorts of Bareges and La Mongie, offers the biggest linked area in the Pyrenees. Stay at ski in-out La Mongie, or the thermal spa town of Bareges.
Stay at the 3* Tourmalet in La Mongie from £154pp for 7 nights, self-catering based on 5 sharing a 1 bedroom alcove apartment (sleeps 6). Price includes return Eurotunnel crossing with FREE FlexiPlus upgrade. ACCOMM ONLY from £122pp for 7 nights.
www.SkiCollection.co.uk or call 0844 576 0175
Ice diving in Piau-Engaly
Dive more that 2000m under the ice at the Hautes-Pyrenees ski resort of Piau-Engaly. Crystal clear water, intense blue colours, schools of trout, a silent world. No experience necessary. Diving is possible with guides every day in the winter season (to 25 March 2013). Situated close to the Spanish border and the highest of the Pyrenees ski resorts, Piau-Engaly is a purpose built village with the longest run in the Pyrenees, 7km, 1100m of vertical drop.
Build your own Igloo
A family activity to build an igloo from the foundations upwards in Nistos. At 1700m, once built, enjoy a snow shoe adventure in the forest, share fondue under the stars and sleep the night in your igloo!
For further information, images or press visits please contact:
Vanessa Fisher
Travel & Outdoor PR Consultant
00 44 7957 618525
