Mountain Hiking and camping in the wild, Pyrenees private guide
service at 145€ a day.
Walking and hiking the Pyrenees Mountains
Hiking vacation hiking holidays
in France and Spain: private hikes for yourself, your couple, family
or group
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HIKING PROGRAM
hiking mountain retreat
Spring in the Pyrenees
Wild
French -Spanish border
Wild Pica d'Estats
massive
Wild lakes
Spanish Pyrenees
Made to measure adventure hiking
in the Pyrenees
Pyrenees long distance trails
Trail descriptions
7 days around Peak d'Estats
HRP High Route Pyrenees in F
HIKING HOLIDAYS VACATION
walking the Pyrenees around Friends of
the Pyrenees House
Hiking around Refuge de Certascan (F)
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WALKING, MOUNTAIN HIKING, ADVENTURE TREKKING and MOUNTAIN RETREAT.
Made to measure hiking holidays
for yourself, your couple, family or group
In
the French or Spanish Pyrenees Mountains.
Friends of the Pyrenees offers less expensive walking holiday in France hiking vacation in the most wild mountain
region of the French and Spanish Pyrenees.
A
low cost non profit budget alternative to both much
too expensive commercial hiking tours an to difficult self organizing of
adventure trekking off the beaten paths from your desk at home far from the
Pyrenees mountains.
Two
weeks of adventure
trekking or hiking in France and Spain through the
French, Spanish and Andorran Pyrenees.
Far away from civilization, observing wildlife and flowers, adventure
camping wherever in the wilderness or sleeping in a hut, organizing our
trekking, hike or outdoor survival, meditation and spirituality.
Developping natural fitness, experiencing nature,
personal growht, body awareness, international encounter and friendship.
The hikes and
trekking below are hiking holiday suggestions (Hiking vacation if you're
from the US) they can be adapted according to your
condition and wishes.
However if you don't have
the necessary skills yet or, on the contrary, you're looking for a tougher
hiking or trekking in the Pyrenees, a special tour etc. don't worry :
contact Richard
our mountain leader for
Pyrenees Guide Service and a
made to
measure adventure trekking. Richard offers you the made to measure hike or outdoor survival that suits you along less known trails through
the wilderness discovering the
Pyrenees, observing nature's sceneries,
wildlife and flowers, meeting each
other and developing your skills and knowledge of the Pyrenees for
families, teams or small groups from 3 to 7 (more?
contact Richard).
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Walking the Pyrenees:
Enjoy mountain hiking
the places of natural beauty or the Pyrenean lakes.
Discover and learn to live in a
most simple way wandering this special
natural environment.
Experiencing nature, hiking, camping
in the wild, encounter and friendship.
The
more adventurous the trekking hike, the further it's away from
civilization, so we hike the two, three of us or
in groups of maximum 7, with lightweight tent and rucksack and only the essentials. You
get to learn the skills necessary for trekking and rambling safely through the
mountains.
Richard,
our guide - originally from Flanders (Belgium), and who
lives in the
Pyrenees since several years and now knows them like the back of his hand -
accompanies all adventure trekking in the Pyrenees and the hikes. It's possible to stay in the house for no
extra cost before and after a hike, so you can arrive a few days early or stay a
few days longer.
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Adventure trekking and
outdoors in the Pyrenees
Levels of difficulty.
Our outdoor and
adventure trekking and hikes are classified
according to the level of fitness required at the start and in such a way that each hike can
help you improve
your shape.
Mountain hikes are a like a natural keep-fit course :
In 2
weeks trekking you can turn excess fat into lean muscle!
You can
improve strength and stamina, and also suppleness, because the hikes go through mountain
terrain. And needless to say, your natural beauty returns.
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Our
grading is as follows :
-
Walker : * novice who would like
to hike in the mountains but has little training. He/she cannot yet
read a map and would lose his/her way. If nevertheless you're looking for
adventure
prefer asking Richard's
Pyrenees Guide Service
for a
made to measure hike
-
Learner
:**practices some kind of sporting activity at least twice a week but has little experience of
ascents and descents, walking on other than paths, crossing snowfields or
screens, or orientation in the mountains, consider Richard's
Pyrenees Guide Service
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Hiker
:*** has knowledge of the mountains, of walking on other than paths, crossing snowfields or
screens, can navigate and knows his/her limits,
-
Mountaineer
: ****experienced all-season mountain hiker able to dig out steps with an ice-axe
and to stop him-/herself on a snow slope.
For
your pleasure in safety : choose the hike which suits your ability!
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adventure hiking the Pyrenees for
walkers and learners
WALKS, HIKES, BACKPACKING
TOURS,
SURVIVAL TREKS Off the beaten paths
HIGH LEVEL ROUTES ALONG LESS KNOWN TRAILS IN THE PYRENEES
Don't
worry if you don't find right away a suggested hike or tour that suits you, need to do
some training or on the contrary you're looking for that special unpublished
trek you're dreaming of.
Contact
Richard
and
together draw up a hiking tour or combined tour and stay anywhere in the
Pyrenees between the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.
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Possible areas
for adventure trekking, outdoor survival or exciting hikes include the more famous Pyrenean massifs Canigou, Carlit, Pic d'Estats, Romedo, Alt Sobira, Certascans, Mont Valier, Val d'Aran, Aigues
Tortes, Sant Maurici, Maladeta, Possets, Aneto, Neouvieille, Monte Perdido,
Ordessa, Vignemale, Balaïtous, Pic d'Ainie, Parc National des Pyrénées etc.
For a special tour along long forgotten trails unknown to foreigners and not on
the maps anymore ask Richard for a trek through Alt Sobira, Ariège or the
Carlit massive the areas he knows best.
Richard
is an experienced European Mountain
Leader.
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Terms
:
Basic cost :
145€ per day,
Members : deduce your
membership fee from total amount.
Membership conditions
Included : guiding, hiking tents, cookers, sleeping
mats
Not included :
other gear, food
and travel costs.
When
staying in huts the guide's costs (board and
lodging) are yours, this is usual.
When needed :
some
single person tents, rucksacks and sleeping bags are available and can be
hired (2€ per overnight each) make
sure to contact Richard in time (now!)
to hear if he's still free for trekking or hiking in the Pyrenees the period you want.
A made
to measure tour makes it possible to :
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train
efficiently towards a higher level of fitness,
chose
that areas of the Pyrenees you want to explore,
stay
overnight in tents, warded or not warded huts as you prefer,
make
up an hiking program according to what you are looking for : walking,
hiking, trekking, backpacking, natural fitness training, mountain scenery,
observing wildlife or flowers, wilderness camping, making an effort at your
own rhythm, map-reading and orientation, meditation, body awareness,
teambuilding, cool survival, learn Dutch or some of all of these,
at
any time of the year and on dates which suit you.
More
information on made to measure holidays and hikes
click here
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Walking in the
ASTON MASSIVE,
Climbing Peak d'Estats,
discovering the Ariège Pyrenees
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A
combined stay at hour typical period house and
some beautiful hikes and interesting excursions
-
Level
: for learners who wish to become hikers and gain mountain experience, and for
parents who want their children to get to know the mountains.
-
Number
of tours : 3 or 4, increasing gradually in difficulty (i.e. longer and with
more up and down). Overnights in mountain huts or tents.
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The aim is for you to get to know the Aston
Massif South of Miglos, Peak d'Estats Massif to the West and Trois Seigneurs massif
North of our house . The beginning
of the summer in the Pyrenees is the peak time for flowers.
Participation in the hikes is of course voluntary.
Day walks or longer
shorter hikes in the Miglos valley, a ridge walk, the lakes and mountain huts
on the Andorran border, the Coume de Jas nature reserve and the Fontargente lakes.
Excursions can also be made to the Cathar castles at Montsegur and Roquefixade, to St Lizier, to Foix and more...
for a an enjoyable
walking holiday and hikes in
outstanding scenery.
Basic cost :
180€ per day,
For legal reasons (we
are an association not a travel agency) you need to become a member.
Membership conditions
Included : self catering stay at Friends of the
Pyrenees house, guiding, hiking tents, cookers, sleeping
mats.
Not included: food
& drink,
single person tents, sleeping bags, rucksacks can be hire at 2€ an
overnight, Richards food and beverage is at your costs.
When
staying in huts the guide's costs (board and
lodging) are yours, this is usual.
Need
more information?
contact Richard,
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What you really need to
have in your rucksack to hike the Pyrenees?
1.Basics:
-
a lightweight tent.
A 3-man tent usually sleeps 2 comfortably, should weight max. 3,5kg. Prefer a 2-man tent
if you intend to walk alone = sleeps 1 in comfort, weight less than 3 kg, should
have a double roof. Watch out walking alone: any problem could become a danger.
-
a 70 litre
rucksack. There are
good ones weighting under 2kg empty
-
a light foam-rubber or
inflatable mattress
+ a warm and light synthetic sleeping bag
(max. 2kg) (Down takes moist)
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2. Clothing:
-
one pair of waterproof mountain
boots
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four pairs of
woollen socks
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waterproof lightweight anorak and
over trousers
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a polar type fleece jacket with
wind stopper
-
a warm polar or
woollen shirt
-
change of underwear
-
a warm cap (preferably covering the
ears)
-
a polar or other warm
pyjamas
-
a pair of light sandals
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3. Hygiene:
-
toilet paper
-
handkerchief
-
toothpaste and brush
-
very high protection sun
cream
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soap and towel
-
first-aid kit
containing: painkiller, anti-diarrhoea,
anti-constipation, disinfectant, water disinfectant, aseptic gauze,
plasters, etc
-
tampons
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4. Cooking and eating tools
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As refills are easy to find in Spain and
France choose the Camping Gaz stove (e.g. type 270). You may
have difficulty finding other makes of refills. You'll use probably
2 to 3 small size refills per fortnight.
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knife, fork and spoon
-
a billy (cooking pot) suitable for
eating as well as for cooking
5. Last but not
least : food
-
basics : muesli and noodles
and/or lentils suffice, about 1kg
muesli and 1,5kg noodles or 500 gr og lentils per fortnight. Tea and sugar. tomato sauce, some sweets
etc. Save your money for a better meal or sandwich passing a mountain hut, most
prepared dehydrated foods - except prepared noodle dishes - are poor value for money.
-
don't forget vitamins and minerals,
especially B, anti-oxidants and
zinc
-
Good quality
olive oil : enough for one
tablespoonful a day
or 70% EPA fish oil -
a tin of powdered Isostar or
similar energy-drink is very useful as they also contain salts that you will
lose through sweat.
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How
to get to the Pyrenees mountains
The
address of the house is
:
Le
Castel
,
09400
Miglos
You
don't need a car if your coming for trekking, you can get easily here by train or
(cheaper!) by plane. However when you're coming for holidays staying at
the house you need a car: shops are in Tarascon
(about 10' driving).
- by
plane :
RyanAir has cheaper
flights to Carcassonne from where you can get to Tarascon sur Ariège
by train (OK for hiking) or rent a car (you need a car staying at The
friends of the Pyrenees house).
-
renting a car have a look here
car
rental
-
by
car by drive to Toulouse. From Toulouse take the A66 (
Toulouse
,
Pamiers), the N20 (Foix,
Tarascon sur Ariège)
and the D8 (Tarascon sur
Ariège, Capoulet).
One
can get to Miglos from Niaux
but driving along the D8 until Capoulet is
easier : turn the litle
road up to your left, about 1 km and there you are. Our house looks
like it is on the photo below. For a detailed route description from
your home to Miglos have a look
here
:
- by train : several night trains from Paris to
Toulouse
and one of them going through to Tarascon
sur Ariège. At Tarascon
station ask for a taxi. For train Tabels have a look at the French
railways. Once you're in Tarascon sur Ariège phone for a taxi :
05 61 05 61 83 or 05 61 05 62 89. For information on how
to get from Perpignan to Saillagouse where the Canigou-Puigmal trek
starts click the
Canigou Trek page
-
To
get In Tarascon sur Ariège the night before hikes start you have to leave
in London Stansted (RyanAir)
early in the morning the day before to Carcassone.
At
Carcassonne Airport take bus or taxi to Carcassonne main station (in
French : "gare SNCF"). Trains to Toulouse leave there at
about 12.30,
12.45 and 13.00 all these leave you plenty of time to visit
Toulouse's
most beautiful old city center and get
a train at about 5 p.m. from Toulouse to Tarascon sur Ariège (arrival Tarascon sur Ariège at
about 7 p.m.). Once you're in Tarascon sur Ariège phone for a taxi :
05 61 05 61 83 or 05 61 05 62 89 to drive you to "Le Castel à
Miglos".
Please
don't arrive earlier : the housekeeper needs the week-ends for cleaning
and Richard for relaxing.
Link
French railways national
SNCF timetablel
To get to Saillagouse, meeting point for the Puigmal-Canigo
trek,
RyanAir
flies to Perpignan see the
Puigmal-Canigou page
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This website is the
international Pyrenees mountains information website of Vriendenkring Amitié
Européenne asbl a Belgian small is beatifull non profit association.
Our
other websites are:
www.pyrenees.be for more information in French.
This website also contains a 2 weeks trail description, an alternative high
route through the French and Andorran Pyrenees.
Similar
information in Dutch about our Pyrenees house, family holidays, guided treks
and extended information on our mountain retreat is on
www.pyrenees-pyreneeen.be
As you may guess we cannot earn the necessary money to
run our organization, the house, our trekkings and hikes only through
membership fees.
That's why since 2003 we joined in DialoguE, according to The
Wall Street Journal one of the best European language schools, to provide
high level crash courses Dutch for executive managers and the higher
educated.
Richard our former senior benevolent is working full time as
our
employee now.
Richard has a background in Organizational Development,
expertise in learning and personal development strategies (he teaches that
topic at Continuing Studies of Lille II University).
He's fluent in
English, German and French.
Richard loves teaching his mother tongue in an
efficient one to one setting and is a real expert in client- and dialogue centered learning.
Richard commits himself fully in teaching you Dutch even
starting from scratch in an amazing minimum time.
click here
on this site.
A special website in German
dedicated to this Dutch courses for the higher educated is
www.sprachkursniederlaendisch.de
Same information to our French
full immersion private Dutch courses can be found on
www.apprendre-le-neerlandais.com
responsible editor :
Richard
van
Egdom
office & contact : Lutiau 53, B-6500 Beaumont
Friends of the
Pyrenees House : Le Castel,
F-09400 Miglos
phone +32 60
456 497
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