Chalet du Bastan
Summer Season
The Pyrenees offer some of the best walking anywhere. Whether it is a gentle stroll through wooded valleys or a walk along the high mountains, all tastes are catered for. Chalet du Bastan offers the perfect base to explore the area from. Gavarnie, a famous World Heritage site, with the Cirque du Gavarnie and the spectacular Breche de Roland is less than an hour away. These are well worth a visit. The Cirque can be reached by a trail along the river and is a gentle walk. The Breche de Roland is more suited to experienced walkers. There are guides available to help you plan your route from the local tourist offices. The lesser known Cirque du Tromouse is well worth a visit. It is much less popular than the Cirque du Gavarnie and has spectacular views. It is possible to see marmots, eagles and izards, the local equivalent to the chamois.
Barèges has a paragliding school, quad biking, the largest privately owned botanical gardens in France and a thermal spa. There is white water rafting, bungee jumping, and mountain biking all on offer close by. Visit the Tourmalet website for details. There is a market in the town every Wednesday during the summer, selling local produce.
Barèges is on the route of the Tour de France, and all summer cyclists tackle the Col du Tourmalet in droves.