Is it allowed to camp or pitch a tent?

Camping is permitted in the Pyrenees National Park provided you follow these rules: – you must be more than an hour’s walk from a road access point – pitch your tent after 7 pm and leave before 9 am the following morning Designated camping areas are marked out near some mountain huts. You are not allowed to light a fire whilst camping. However, you may use self-contained portable stoves. In the Néouvielle Nature Reserve, camping and wild camping are only permitted at the Aubert and Orédon sites. In other natural areas , please ensure you do not breach the regulations and official decrees. Also check that the area you have chosen is safe and that you are not on private property.

I’ve got a dog – where can I go for a walk?

In the heart of the Pyrenees National Park, dogs – even when kept on a lead – are not permitted. We’ve got plenty of other walks you can do with your dog here . In protected areas, there are also a few exceptions on the trails: – Gavarnie – from the village to the Hôtellerie du Cirque (3-hour round-trip walk) – Cauterets – Lake Gaube (from the Pont d’Espagne via the Puntas chairlift) + Ilhéou (as far as the refuge) The following are exempt from the bans: – herding or livestock guard dogs (pastoralism) – guide dogs for the blind – avalanche rescue dogs – dogs certified for scientific missions

I drive to work – which car parks are authorised?

In Luz-Saint-Sauveur, all car parks are free, as is the local shuttle bus , which takes you to the starting points of certain walks. There are also car parks at the listed sites: – Pont d’Espagne (Cauterets – paid car park) – Auberge du Mailhet (Cirque de Troumouse) – Col des Tentes (Gavarnie) – Village of Gavarnie (to access the cirque – paid car park)

Can I go swimming in the lakes and rivers?

In the core zone of the Pyrenees National Park , swimming and other aquatic and water sports involving partial or total immersion in water are prohibited. Wading in watercourses is also prohibited. These regulations help to protect the highly sensitive flora and fauna in wetlands and aquatic environments, particularly in light of the global warming we are now experiencing. Find out more about the new regulations on water-based and nautical activities: click here. In the Néouvielle Nature Reserve , swimming is now also prohibited, as are all water-based and nautical activities (including the use of boats, paddleboards or floating devices). Outside the regulated areas , swimming is not recommended due to the numerous dams in the valley and the risk of sudden rises in water levels.

Where is fishing permitted?

You must have a fishing licence, which you can buy from our Tourist Office. Fishing is a regulated activity which you can also enjoy in the Pyrenees National Park. You can find all the information here!

Check out the checklist for the keen hiker

Follow our advice before you set off

Fancy getting away from it all and making the most of the great outdoors? Hiking is an activity that anyone can enjoy, provided you follow the right safety tips. By preparing properly, kitting yourself out well and respecting both your own pace and the environment, you’ll be able to enjoy outings that are both safe and pleasant. Ready to take your first steps on the trails?

This handy checklist will help you get fully prepared for a walk in the mountains. It’s the perfect guide to help you make sure you’ve packed everything you need in your rucksack so you can enjoy the great outdoors to the full.

Our ideas to motivate you

1Book a mountain guide

Set off with a guide or a mountain leader & get the benefit of a professional’s advice.

This way!

2See the terms and conditions

Check the mountain weather forecast if you’re planning an early morning walk. Make sure you pack practical, protective and warm clothing.

Live info

3Choose a suitable route

Plan an alternative route that suits your fitness level. Let your family and friends know the route and your estimated times.

Our hidden gems

4Find out about the rules

Find out about the regulations and safety precautions. Check the condition of your shoes and equipment.

Official documents

5Pack your bag properly

Take an IGN map, a mobile phone, a compass or a GPS device with you. Make sure you take plenty of food and drink with you.

Our shops

6Look after your health

Pack a first-aid kit and check your third-party liability cover. Obey the road signs and report any incidents.

Report here

MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE under the stars

Whether you’re staying in a mountain hut or camping, savour the tranquillity of a night in the mountains and marvel at the stars as if they were raining down… Just a few hours’ walk from Luz, you’ll find several staffed mountain huts.

Download the list of mountain huts

WE TELL YOU EVERYTHING Have a look here

Protect the mountains

1 | Fill your insulatedwater bottle with tap water.

2 | Pack a zero-wastepicnic using reusable containers.

3 | Take bin bags for your rubbish and your dog’s poo.

4 | Choose local producers and farmers’ markets.

5 | Walk or use public transport to get there.

6 | Respect the peace and quiet of the area.

7 | Do not light fires to prevent wildfires and damage to the environment.

8 | Do not pick plants or mushrooms, and do not take any animals.

9 | Do not leave your vehicle parked overnight to protect the sites.

10 | Use the yellow bins in the village to dispose of plastic bottles, bags, sachets, vials, jerry cans, plastic film, trays, metal packaging, jars, tins, paper and cardboard cartons.

11 | Dispose of glass in the‘
’recycling binsbehind the Tourist Office, 40 Avenue de l’Impératrice Eugénie, Route de l’Agnouède, 6 Route de Gavarnie, Place Saint-Clément, Rue de la Lanne…

Near the herds

1 | Keep your distance and stay calm.

2 | Keep your dog on a lead.

3 | Do not approach a calf; its mother may charge.

4 | Do not stroke the animals or the shepherds’ working dogs.

5 | Do not walk through the herd; walk round it instead.

6 | Close any gates behind you.

7 | Do not fly over the area without authorisation from the prefecture.

^{Source: Barèges Valley Trade Union Committee}

You may occasionally come across a Patou in pastoral areas (a Pyrenean dog that guards herds during the summer grazing season). We’ll advise you on how to react when you encounter one whilst out walking.

Keep calm around dogs

Take action against the Patou

High-altitude fishing

Whether you prefer fly fishing or spin fishing, you’re free to choose how you’d like to track down the famous Pyrenean brown trout across the 42 mountain lakes and 300 km of rivers, with the help of a fishing guide.

Before you actually cast your line, pop into the local fishing association to find out how to fish whilst protecting aquatic environments.

Beware of still waters

In the mountains, conditions can change very quickly. Natural dams can form following a landslide or an avalanche and block a river. Even if they appear stable, they can give way suddenly and cause flash flooding.

When you’re out walking, keep an eye out for high-risk areas and follow safety guidelines. Staying informed and alert is essential for enjoying the mountains without putting yourself in danger.

1 | Stay on the riverbanks and keep an eye on children.

2 | Choose areas that allow for a quick retreat should the water levels rise.

3 | Do not settle in areas where a sign warns of a risk.

^{Source: www.edf.fr}

Fancy finding out more?

Protects biodiversity

IN THE NATIONAL PARK

The National Park invites you to experience the very best the mountains have to offer and to share the emotions that only nature can provide. Fifty years of work on the ground have enabled the preservation of our natural, cultural and landscape heritage, as well as initiatives supporting pastoralism and built heritage, visitor facilities, and raising awareness and educating all members of the public about the protection of our mountain regions.

The core zone of the National Park is a natural area subject to regulations set out in a code of conduct

You too can help to preserve our Pyrenean heritage!

View the regulations here

In the Reserve

The National Park is responsible for protecting the Néouvielle granite massif, a true haven of beauty featuring numerous lakes and magnificent panoramic views in shades of azure and turquoise.

Specific regulations apply within this nature reserve.

View the regulations here

Is it allowed to camp or pitch a tent?
Camping is permitted in the Pyrenees National Park provided you follow these rules:
– you must be more than an hour’s walk from a road access point
– pitch your tent after 7 pm and leave before 9 am the following morning
Designated camping areas are marked out near some mountain huts.
You are not allowed to light a fire whilst camping. However, you may use self-contained portable stoves.
In the Néouvielle Nature Reserve, camping and wild camping are only permitted at the Aubert and Orédon sites.
In other natural areas, please ensure you do not breach the regulations and official decrees.
Also check that the area you have chosen is safe and that you are not on private property.
I’ve got a dog – where can I go for a walk?
In the heart of the Pyrenees National Park, dogs – even when kept on a lead – are not permitted.
We’ve got plenty of other walks you can do with your dog here. In protected areas, there are also a few exceptions on the trails:
– Gavarnie – from the village to the Hôtellerie du Cirque (3-hour round-trip walk)
– Cauterets – Lake Gaube (from the Pont d’Espagne via the Puntas chairlift) + Ilhéou (as far as the refuge)
The following are exempt from the bans:
– herding or livestock guard dogs (pastoralism)
– guide dogs for the blind
– avalanche rescue dogs
– dogs certified for scientific missions
I drive to work – which car parks are authorised?
Can I go swimming in the lakes and rivers?
In the core zone of the Pyrenees National Park, swimming and other aquatic and water sports involving partial or total immersion in water are prohibited. Wading in watercourses is also prohibited.
These regulations help to protect the highly sensitive flora and fauna in wetlands and aquatic environments, particularly in light of the global warming we are now experiencing.
Find out more about the new regulations on water-based and nautical activities: click here.
In the Néouvielle Nature Reserve, swimming is now also prohibited, as are all water-based and nautical activities (including the use of boats, paddleboards or floating devices).
Outside the regulated areas, swimming is not recommended due to the numerous dams in the valley and the risk of sudden rises in water levels.
Where is fishing permitted?

Set off on an adventure with a guide

CHECK OUT OUR PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS

A PICTURESQUE COUNTRY

€5.50 at the Tourist Office

Have fun whilst you hike (quizzes, sketches, poems, selfies, portraits…), explore the authentic villages that give the Pays Toy its charm, and try to win a spa pass by completing 5 trails.

LUZ VALLEY: LAKES & PEAKS

€12.50 at the Tourist Office

From Luz, discover 20 spectacular hikes near Gavarnie, the Pic du Midi and in the National Park: IGN maps, mountain information, and a focus on nature and history!

Order it!

Flip through the hiking notebook

Hike from Luz

10 summer walking adventures starting from Luz-Saint-Sauveur and Luz Ardiden

_{It is recommended that you use the services of a mountain professional (guide or leader) when hiking this summer route (to be undertaken when there is no snow). The information provided on www.luz-tourisme.com and the signposting are for guidance only and do not in any way engage the liability of the French Hiking Federation or the Luz-Saint-Sauveur Tourist Office. The maps are for guidance only and cannot be regarded as official routes. Despite the care taken in producing this website, the content herein does not constitute a contractual document, and the Luz-Saint-Sauveur Tourist Office (SIRET No. 31896425100017) accepts no liability for any changes or errors, and cannot be held liable in the event of any accident or damage suffered.}

Before you leaveTAKE PRECAUTIONS

We’ll help you get a clearer picture so you can make a safe exit.

Check it out here!