Sports and leisure activities Hautes-Pyrénées

Located between 1,700 and 2,215 meters above sea level, the Saint-Lary Mountain Bike Park, with its 10 marked trails, is one of the best places for downhill mountain biking in the Pyrenees. Thanks to the Bouleaux chairlift equipped with bike racks, access to the slopes is quick and easy. The trails, suitable for experts and beginners alike, offer a fun and friendly experience. Although the terrain is safe, we strongly recommend that you wear the correct equipment: helmets and gloves are mandatory. Children under 12 must be supervised.

Aline, with her light gait, guides you through the most beautiful Pyrenean landscapes, offering a delightful experience! During the summer, whether it's for a day or a multi-day getaway, she'll take you out with her donkeys, who'll carry your equipment for you. So you can walk with a light heart and nimble feet! In the evening, sit by the fire, listening to Aline's spellbinding tales and dreaming... In winter, don your snowshoes and head out into the snow in search of ermine tracks!

To enable fishing enthusiasts to enjoy their hobby in the best possible conditions and keep fish populations healthy, the Federation works to protect aquatic environments, manage fish stocks and promote recreational fishing. The federation is made up of 18 approved associations. On the website, you'll find all the information you need about your fishing licence, the best places to fish and the calendar of events.

This paragliding school has been open since 1998. It's more than just a sport, it's a real passion. Thrill-seekers will discover the pleasure of soaring and gliding in total freedom over the wild and authentic sites of Aubisque, Soulor or Hautacam. ABACO offers educational tandem flights all year round and courses for all levels, weather permitting. Get ready for an unforgettable experience!

The Bernicaze farm offers to discover the region on horseback. All the horses are born and raised at the farm and are particularly well adapted to the terrain. Adeline accompanies these 2 or 3 hour outings where panoramic views and forest trails will enchant you. Day trips or hikes of several days, in the heart of the Pyrenees (Gavarnie, National Park...), are also possible. Courses are organized for children from 8 years old.

The teaching team at the French Ski School in Saint-Lary-Soulan offers a wide range of tailor-made products. Opting to learn with one of the French Ski School's instructors means benefiting from the guidance of a highly qualified educator. During school vacations, group lessons last 2 hours, with variable prices. Please note that only ESF instructors are authorized to issue level certificates.

This area includes a mogul track, the first in the Pyrenees, and is waiting for the most dynamic. Snowboard lovers will also be served with a restructured snow-park, with sound, boardercross and quality modules. This is the high altitude area of Saint-Lary. Always well covered with snow, it is as big as many other resorts in the Pyrenees. At the foot of the Pichhaleye peak (2,626 m), you descend between pine trees and waterfalls and you can discover the lake of Loule in a superb setting. A specialist ensures the maintenance of this place.

At Soum-de-Matte, the view on the massif is exceptional and not to be missed. By the cornice, you can ski to the heart of Espiaube, an area much appreciated by snowboarders and good skiers. This area is part of the Saint-Lary-Soulan ski area, for all skiers, and also promises great sensations to the most athletic, with vertical drops of more than 700 meters continuously. For all information, see the tourist office of Saint-Lary-Soulan.

This mountain sport association offers outings for climbing, hiking, canyoning, alpine skiing, trucking. It is a dynamic club that brings together qualified coaches for snowshoe or walking tours, in the Pyrenees, the Alps and even abroad. See the French Mountain and Climbing Federation (FFME) website for all practical information by showing the region.

The tour of the lakes, from late May to early October, offers hikers a memorable experience. They follow the trail to Aubert and Aumar, which starts from the Lac d'Orédon parking lot. Located on the left-hand side of the route des lacs, about 1 km after Orédon, the trail takes less than an hour to reach the first laquette. The hike continues along the GR10 towards Estoudou, before returning to Orédon, the starting point for this trail, which is accessible to all walkers in good physical condition.

If you're looking for originality, you've come to the right place! Marc Dequidt creates and composes religious and decorative stained glass, and also works glass into objects and furniture. All styles are present, from antique to design, even futuristic, and lamps, mirrors and coffee tables are mounted with lead and soldered with tin. If you'd like to discover the art of stained glass, then take on this project at your own pace. Everything is provided at a reasonable cost, and you'll leave with your own custom-made stained glass. Don't hesitate to call before coming to the workshop!

This magnificent golf course overlooks the town of Bagnères. An 18-hole course and a quality driving range are available. Here, one comes for the qualities of the course, in a pleasant and restful green setting, but especially for the pleasure of playing golf while enjoying a breathtaking view of the Pyrenees and the Pic du Midi. The days are very pleasant and if you are a novice, don't hesitate to try the courses offered here

Fans of strong sensations, with Christophe Gillet. An experienced monitor, he will be happy to welcome you to discover the subtleties of paragliding in a tandem flight or to introduce you to the different techniques of takeoff, master's degree in wind and various walks of ground. Each internship is very complete since it includes a practical part and a theoretical part. The maximum number of pupils is set at seven. Christophe and his entire team prepare you for the pilot patent, the tandem qualification and lead you to the competition. They adapt to your level. You will have no routing problems because the sites are easy to access, they range from 300 to 2 200 m and transportation to take-off sites is ensured by the School of Paragliding. By passing through Christophe's expert hands, you will feel pousser and free. Good flight!

For the little ones, learning to ski will be done through games and in a good mood with the mini piou club. Group and individual lessons are available from the age of 4. Older children can follow these group lessons and at the end of the stay, take the tests. Adults can also be tempted by ski touring or off-piste skiing at Bernazaou, with a difference in altitude of 1,250 m. The school also offers handiskiing: an individualized and adapted teaching formula, with some instructors speaking sign language.

The great quality of this golf course, flat with a view of the Pyrenees, is that it allows everyone to express themselves according to their handicap. Planted with 4,500 trees, the site is exceptional for its natural beauty which reveals the Pic du Midi on a clear day. A traditional golf course located in a natural wooded area, this course spreads out the 5 900 meters of its 18 holes over 40 hectares. The driving range is open to all and a state-qualified instructor provides training for beginners. After a full round, golfers meet at the Pré Vert for a hearty meal.

Looking for a guide for your hikes in the Pyrenees? Don't worry, the Aventures en Pyrénées team is here for you. Explore Haute-Bigorre, in the heart of the Pyrenees, and the Campan valley. The range of excursions on offer is vast, and if you've got a few days to spare, the Pyrenees on the Spanish side await you, with overnight stays in hostels. The catalog is extensive, offering not only summer holidays, but also activities such as trekking, climbing, canyoning, snowshoeing and mountain biking.

In the heart of the Louron valley, the 32-hectare Lac de Loudenvielle, managed by APPMA du Louron, offers a wide range of activities. Fish for fario trout and brook salmon, stroll along the paths around the lake, enjoy the children's play areas or sail on the lake. You can also relax at the Balnéa spa center, which uses sulfur hot springs. With easy access by car and located at the foot of the Val Louron and Peyragudes resorts, it's an ideal destination in summer and winter alike.

For almost three decades, this paragliding school has been sharing its know-how. It offers three options: tandem flights, first flights and 3- to 6-day courses. For thrill-seekers, speed-riding is available, provided you have good skiing skills. Depending on the duration of the course, you can progress from novice to autonomous. What's more, the school also trains instructors. A great experience.

All year round, Bruno offers a variety of hikes and snowshoe hikes, as well as outdoor activities. In his preferred terrain, explore the Pyrenees. Formulas, adapted to all members of the family, range from half-day to several days: overnight stays in igloos, night snowshoe hikes, accompanied itineraries with bivouac and camping options over two days, discovery of Nordic walking between Nistos and the Baronnies, ascent of easily accessible summits up to the famous 3,000-meter peaks!

The small airfield of Tarbes-Laloubère hosts the Aero Club of Bigorre. There, you will be able to learn gliding, to get your ULM or twin engine pilot's license. The aeroclub also organizes discovery flights on board its DR400 or its TB9 Sonata. Ideal for amateurs who would like to take their pilot's license. You can test before flying. You can also rent an aircraft if you already have your license without forgetting your medical certificate.

Fly like a bird, without the noise of an engine - that's the challenge taken up by the Vélivole association at the Laloubère aerodrome. Ideally located on the Tarbes plain, this association invites you to discover the joys of gliding, in perfect harmony with the environment. Whether you want to fly over the Piedmont or get close to the mountains, the Laloubère aerodrome offers you a unique aerial experience that respects nature. Once released from the tow-plane, the glider continues its flight without any noise impact, leaving you to enjoy the peace and quiet of the air.

With an east-west orientation for optimum sunshine, the ski area guarantees constant snow coverage thanks to a high-performance network of snow guns, ensuring perfect skiability whatever the weather conditions. Situated at altitudes between 1,600 m and 2,400 m, the ski area enjoys ideal natural snow conditions every winter. It offers 51 runs on two slopes. Skiers will particularly appreciate the Vallée Blanche, a 5 km itinerary in the heart of nature, and the famous 2.7 km piste 007, which offers splendid views.

More than a great mountain professional, Yoann is passionate about the Pyrenees. He will take you to meet the shepherds in the summer pastures, he will take your family to observe the marmots and isards, he will make you watch by the fire for an evening of tales and extraordinary stories. He knows all the paths that run through the mountains, from those used by the men's smugglers between France and Space during the war to those that allow you to reach the summits of more than 3,000 metres. In winter, Yoann puts on his snowshoes.

The Saint-Lary ski area boasts over 100 kilometers of slopes and 3 snow parks spread over 700 hectares of terrain. One of Saint-Lary-Soulan's main assets is that it has been designed so that all members of the family can enjoy the whole area. As well as being served by numerous lifts open to pedestrians, the ski area offers a number of easy-travel alternatives to the more difficult pistes.

AP SPORTS Peyragudes is a ski rental service located in Germ, in the Peyragudes resort. They offer a range of skis for hire, from beginner to top-of-the-range, at great prices. They also offer snowshoe rentals for those who want to go for a walk. The AP SPORTS team is professional and welcoming, ready to advise customers on how to make the most of their stay in Peyragudes. The store also offers a rental equipment storage service, enabling customers to collect their dry skis and boots the next day.