The Top 10 Snow Season Activities
Besides skiing, winter offers up an exciting range of activities like snow-shoe hiking, sleigh dog rides, snowmobile tours, heli skiing and cross country skiing. Cauterets and Hautacam are the two nearby ski stations with ski lifts and both are within a 30 minute drive. Both offer exhilirating ski slopes with instruction available for all levels, ranging from beginners blue runs through to advanced red and black runs.
1. Bagnères La Mongie | Ski Station
Considered the best ski station in the region, can get a little crowded on the slopes. Excellent for the experienced skier.
2. Gavarnie Gèdre | Ski Station
Gavarnie is our preference as the facilities and pistes are wonderful not to mention the fantastic view and nearly always uncrowded. In addition to its ski area totaling about thirty tracks, it offers many other activities.
3. Cauterets | Ski Station
Cauterets is another ski station that is close by, beautiful scenery and excellent restaurants. Good facilities and family friendly slopes.
4. Hautacam | Ski Station
The closest of the ski stations, Hautacam is 20 kilometers of ski slopes served by 10 ski lifts. A total of 15 runs meander between steep slopes, hilly passages and slopes suitable for skiing. Very family friendly.
5. Artouste | Ski Station
Popular with snowboarders, Artouste comprises a ski area of 25 km of pistes on 150 hectares, featuring thematic areas, snowpark, snowcross, freeride and Kid Park.
6. Gourette | Ski Station
The ski area is suitable for all levels of skiing since Gourette offers two areas for experienced skiers (Cotch and Pène Blanque areas) as well as a space dedicated to beginners ( The Happy Place) located at the top of the Bezou cable car.
7. Mountain Luge Hautacam
Hautacam is a one stop leisure park located in a beautiful mountain setting. Besides a great range of winter family friendly activities including the mountain luge and tobogganing.
8. Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing is really just walking but with the aid of snowshoes (tennis racket type shoes) to stop you sinking into the snow. It is the ideal way to discover and enjoy snowy terrain in the Winter! There are a number of snowshoeing tours run by qualified guides, operating from the various ski stations.
9. Snowmobiling
If skiing is not your thing, but you love high speed sports, then snowmobilng is an excellent way to experience the snow slopes and get the adrenaline pumping. Many of the ski resorts have snowmobile circuits and guided snowmobile expeditions with vehicles available for hire.
10. Horsedrawn Sleigh Ride
If you really want to slow the pace down and still enjoy the winter scenery, a traditional horse drawn sleigh ride is a great way to do just that. Horse drawn sleigh rides operate from Gavarnie.