Country:
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Start lower down at the Tounaboup car park.GR®10signposts.
To my knowledge, there is only one spring at Col d'Estoudou on the second day. You will therefore need to bring at least 2.5 litres of water per person per day.
Three days in the Néouvielle Reserve and its lakes
This three-day hike allows you to see at least 20 lakes.
It is divided into three parts and includes two nights in a refuge (or in a tent).
The first day is quite difficult.
The times for each stage are those I have noted. They include photo breaks, meals, discussions, and time spent with your feet in the water. Please note that there are three hikes (normal walking pace).
Details
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
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Activity: Walking -
Distance: 37.73 km -
Average duration: 3 days -
Difficulty: Difficult -
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Back to start: Yes -
Ascent: + 2,609 m -
Descent: - 2,611 m -
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Highest point: 2,503 m -
Lowest point: 1,449 m
Photos
Stages of the route
This route needs several days, find the details below:
Notes
This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:
Worth a visit
There are thermal baths in Barèges.
The hike can be accessed from Barèges (see description in the first day's hike) or from Bagnères de Bigorre via the Col du Tourmalet. You then need to descend to the Tournaboup car park.
Reviews and comments
4.8 / 5
Based on 43 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
4.9 / 5
bouquetindu78
Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Jul 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes
Thank you very much for this hiking tour! The landscapes were magnificent, breathtaking
However, the weather forecast was a little longer than what we actually experienced.
If you are an experienced hiker, the times can be shortened (5 hours instead of 7.5 hours on the first day, then do the second and third days in one day)
Enjoy your hike!
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Arthur41
Hello, I'm coming from Paris. How can I get to Barèges? I imagine I need to take the TGV to Lourdes, which I recently did for another hike, but I can't find any transport to get to the start of the hike.
Thanks in advance!
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lemarcheur65
Hello
Personally, I'm not capable of doing that.
For me, hiking is about enjoying walking, observing and taking photographs.
I am aware that these are not easy paths, but mountain trails that can sometimes be steep.
Take a look at the diagram showing the ups and downs.
Distance: 38 km
Elevation gain: +2,610 m
Elevation loss: -2,610 m
Enjoy your hike!
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marcassin
Okay, thank you.
I have another choice to make, so north as you say.
Either as you suggested, I'll come from Barèges.
Via the Bastan refuge and the next day I'll go to St Larry Gr10 via the Portêt pass.
Or to the Aygue-Cluses refuge, then further south towards the Coste Queillère hut (overnight), via the Barèges pass, then the Lac de l'Oule and St Larry via the Portêt pass?
What do you think of the scenery?
Thanks for your help
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marcassin
Hello
I'm going to pass through there for the GR10.
Is it better to go via the north or the south?
Barèges, via the south to the Orédon refuge, or via the north towards the Barèges pass, or simply the GR10 access route?
What do you think?
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Jedel
Overall rating : 4 / 5
Date of your route : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes
Superb hike
Be careful, the path is difficult to find after the Aygue Cluse refuge.
Bastan refuge: nothing special...
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eternity
hello
for the hike, are refuges mandatory or are they allowed?
thank you
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popaulito
Overall rating : 4.3 / 5
Date of your route : Sep 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No
Thank you for this route, which I followed from my tent. The landscapes are beautiful. Less crowded outside the GR trails, at least at the end of September.
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machy_shadows
Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Aug 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes
Some beautiful stages in the Néouvielle Reserve!
There were people on the trails, but it wasn't crowded (we were there on the weekend of 15 August), and you can meet people who will share the stages with you!
The lodges are very good. Good signposting, well-maintained trails!
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fredrichard7
Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Jul 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes
A very beautiful route, fairly busy on most sections.
As indicated in the description, the first stage is quite long. However, the climb is fairly gradual, which makes it possible to complete it without too much difficulty, despite a short steep section at the end. The second stage is shorter, but with steeper sections, both uphill and downhill. As for the third stage, the climb is gradual, as is most of the descent.
We stayed at the Bastan refuge (very friendly welcome, good food), then at the Orédon chalet-hotel (good food, generous portions and very comfortable (with a shower!)). By taking full board each time, you can reduce the weight of your bag. And in both cases, the picnics are good and generous (especially the one at the Orédon chalet-hotel).
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Rafalk
Overall rating : 4.7 / 5
Date of your route : Jul 11, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes
Great hike, on the GR trails, which are more beautiful and peaceful off the beaten track. The Bastan refuge is magnificent!
Thank you!
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viralouest
Overall rating : 4.3 / 5
Date of your route : Jun 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No
Superb hike! My appreciation of how easy it was to follow the route comes from the terrible weather conditions. After Aygues-Cluses, there was non-stop rain and fog all the way to Bastan. We got a little lost after the Hourquette de Nere. We had to head east through the rhododendrons to find our way back. Although we had a map and GPS, the total lack of visibility didn't help. I set off with two people who were new to the mountains. In the end, everyone was delighted with the three days. Thank you, lemarcheur65, for this route.
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Random_Goat
Overall rating : 4.7 / 5
Date of your route : May 25, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No
Very nice hike. We spent one night at the Aygues Cluses hut and two nights camping (at Lac de L'Oule and Lac Blanc).
I would recommend that beginners use a GPS and an IGN map (which is standard practice). We were surprised by the amount of snow on the Hourquettes, thinking that there wouldn't be much left at the end of May, but we were wrong! (Yes, we're not from around here.)
As the description of the hike says, the first stage is quite tough, although I think that without snow it would be within everyone's reach. For us, between the difficulty of finding our way with the covered trails and the difficulty of moving forward in the snow, we ended up shortening the first stage and heading straight to L'Oule after the Hourquette de Nere.
We met some lovely people and the scenery is magnificent. Thank you very much for the route description for this hike, which, outside the Néouvielle reserve, is not that busy (at least in May :p)
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