Southwest France & Pyrenees Road Bike Tour Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive in Pau

When you arrive at the Pau train station (or the airport), you’ll be welcomed by a local representative who will brief you on the days of adventure ahead. You’ll spend your first night at Clos Mirabel, in the calm of the surrounding vineyards.
Overnight Location: Bed and breakfast in Pau
Distance: None
Meals: Dinner

Day 2 Warm-Up Ride and Winery Visit at Clos Cancaillaü

From the slopes of Jurançon, which overlook the capital of Béarnaise and offer you a breathtaking view of the Pyrenees, you’ll bike along the vineyards this morning that stretch as far as the eye can see before arriving in a superb vineyard near Cuqueron where the winemaker awaits you for a visit to his estate: Le Clos Cancaillaü. You then swap the bike for a good glass of Jurançon and a first glimpse of the local gastronomy. Energized by this tasting, you’ll take the road again through the Béarn vineyards until you arrive in Lurbe St Christau at the end of the afternoon.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Lurbe St Christau
Distance: 80km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 3 Tackle the famous Col de Marie Blanque

After breakfast, you will set off to tackle the famous Col de Marie Blanque (1035m), the junction between the Aspe Valley and the Ossau Valley and the first pass of the day. With your calves warmed up, you then reach the Ossau valley, cross the village of Laruns and take the direction of the winter resort of Gourette and especially the Col d’Aubisque, the natural border between the Pyrénées Atlantiques and the Hautes Pyrénées!

At 1709m altitude, a photo stop is necessary in front of the famous bikes of the Tour de France and the 360 ° view of the Pyrenees and the valley you have just crossed. You can enjoy this view during your lunch break and get back on your bike to start the descent to the Col du Soulor and the Val d’Azun to then reach your evening accommodation in Argelès-Gazost.
Overnight Location: Charming accommodation in Argelès-Gazost
Distance: 97km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4 Hiking at the Cirque de Gavarnie

Wake up gently and put on your hiking boots for today! Today you’ll adventure on foot to discover a true jewel of the Pyrenees: the majestic Cirque de Gavarnie. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this natural and spectacular landscape promises to bring the adventure!
Overnight Location: Charming accommodation in Argelès-Gazost
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5 Conquer the Highest Pass in the Pyrenees

Another night spent in your charming accommodation in Argelès, in the heart of the Gaves valley, will hopefully have you well rested, because today you are setting off to conquer the highest pass in the Pyrenees: The Tourmalet!

Perched at an altitude of 2115m, this pass will require some effort but will reward you with the beauty of the landscapes that surround it! Once you have passed under the Pic du Midi de Bigorre cable car, the descent to the Campan valley awaits you. From there, you head towards the lake of Payolle and then face the last pass of the stay, the Col d’Aspin (1489m). Your final destination today is in Baronnies, a land of history and character, between abbey and castle, chasm and gourgue.
Overnight Location: Accommodation in Baronnies
Distance: 71km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6 Cycle the Vast Expanses of Gers

Today you head for the vast expanses of the Gers where fields of wheat, maize and rapeseed are intertwined. There, you go into the “slow” mode: ride, enjoy and take your time!

Take the opportunity to discover and enrich yourself with the well-known architectural and gastronomic heritage of these lands between the production of foie gras and the manufacture of Armagnac and Madiran. At the end of the afternoon, you arrive at the Château de Viella where the Bortolussi family awaits and introduces you to the blending of flavors!
Overnight Location: Château de Viella
Distance: 100km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7 Gastronomic Delights in Landes

Last wake-up call in the Gers and last day on the roads of the South-West France! You head west this morning to enter the Landes territory. In Eugenie-les-Bains, a spa resort, the lunch break is on the Prés d’Eugénie estate, at the inn La Ferme aux Grives. This restaurant, awarded 2 Michelin Forks and 3 Gault & Millau Toques, will amaze your taste buds and amaze you in this “Petit palace à fleur de nature”. It is possible to eat at the Gastronomic Restaurant “Michel Guérard” on request today too, so please inquire for details.

Arriving in Pau in the afternoon marks the end of your cycling journey. Au revoir!
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast and lunch