What to do in the Pyrenees in winter?

What to do in the Pyr ...

Are you planning a winter vacation in the Pyrenees ? Get off the beaten track and follow our program of fun and original activities to make your winter stay in the Pyrenees unforgettable! With its ice mountains, snowy valleys and pine forests, the Pyrenean scenery lends itself well to winter sports. There's more to having fun in the Pyrenees than just skiing ;)


Learn about caving in the caves of the Pyrenees

When it's cold outside, we look for indoor activities. So, we take you into the bowels of the earth to discover nature, from the inside! Even if we know more and more about our environment and its workings, this underground world remains shrouded in mystery. Whatever your level and your sporting abilities, the specialized instructors will be able to guide you, in complete safety, in this wonderful universe.



Visit an underground cave

We stay underground for a more family-friendly visit. In the Ariège Pyrenees, the Lombrives cave has been a refuge throughout history. From prehistory to the present day, many generations have left their traces there. It must be said that this cave is truly fascinating with its concretions, its lake and its " cathedral ". Different visits have been planned to satisfy all your desires, from family hiking to caving discovery.

Walking in nature

Winter is a good season to enjoy nature in peace and quiet. You will come across far fewer hikers than in the summer. You can admire this magnificent picture-postcard panorama, formed by the Pyrenean mountains under the snow. The fir forests are not bare and are home to many wild animals. If you are discreet, you will probably come across a few...



Our favorite : An exploration of the Gavarnie cirque ! For the more athletic, you can also practice ice climbing there.


The Pyrenees in winter The mountain is yours, in its white coat


If you are more of a cyclist, the mountain passes and roads offer you an exceptional environment with viewpoints that match these sporting challenges.



To find other cycle routes, the tourist office website provides you with the most beautiful cycle routes in Occitanie. For advice, tips and good deals: the Maison du Vélo website is very comprehensive.


Cycling in winter

The brave and well-equipped can take on the winter roads


Fishing for Pyrenean trout in a fish farm

A fish farm is the ideal place to try trout fishing in the Pyrenees in any season. If you are already a fan, this will be an opportunity to practice this hobby outside the regulated period and improve your techniques to be ready for the opening of the fishing season!


Read our article on a great fishing trip for “Troute des Pyrénées”, which welcomes you to Gavarnie-Cèdre.


Trout fishing in the Pyrenees

Learn or improve yourself! Photo @Lesley Williamson


Practice an original winter sport

Winter sports in the Pyrenees remain a must . But there are many other activities to discover, apart from skiing. We offer you our most unusual ideas to enjoy the snow without putting on skis:

  • Rediscover your inner child and go sledding. Well yes, sledding is not just for children. You too still have the right to have fun, experience intense sliding sensations and finish your crazy race in the snow! You will find, in many resorts, slopes reserved for sledding.
  • Take a sled ride with sled dogs or pulled by a horse.



Yoga in the snow Snowshoe yoga hiking, what a great idea! Photo: @ Omahatha Yoga


Discover the sky in the observatories

The observatories of the Hautes Pyrénées and the Ariège Pyrenees offer one-off workshops during events, introductions or courses to admire the sky at this time of year when the Milky Way is wonderful to observe.

  • Want to get even closer to the stars? Head to La Mongie station.



Peak of the South of Bigorre

The Pic du Midi de Bigorre, a breathtaking view


Relax in wellness centers

After sport, comfort… What if we went to relax in a wellness center ? After all these sporting and invigorating activities, it is high time to take care of yourself and recharge your batteries to fill up on energy!


We tested a nice hot bath in the Pyrenees for you!


Our favorites:


Taste mountain gastronomy

In the Pyrenees, there are many local products to taste : mountain cheeses, trout from the Gaves, black pork, Tarbais beans... This typically mountain cuisine has managed to preserve its authenticity, while evolving into a renowned gastronomy. Toulouse and its cassoulet, the garbures of the southwest, the Pyrenees pies... The typical dishes of the region are gourmet and generous.


Are you spending your holidays in a ski resort? So what do you eat at the foot of the slopes? Our blogger tells you all about mountain gastronomy.


At the bottom of the Barèges slopes, near the Col de Tourmalet and the Pic du Midi, the Auberge du Lienz, chez Louisette welcomes you in a friendly atmosphere to enjoy this family cuisine in all simplicity, based on good local products and ancestral recipes .


Pyrenees gastronomy

Yum, we need hearty dishes in winter! © SOLLUB / Adobe Stock


Visit the sacred city of Lourdes

This city with a special destiny will amaze you. Of course, the sanctuaries, the basilica and the other churches are magnificent. In addition, religious tourism has developed there and offers you all kinds of activities and visits on this theme. But, there is also a lake, a funicular, a fortified castle and a Pyrenean museum to see.


For a sneak peek of your visit, follow our blogger during her 24 hours in Lourdes, the sacred city at the foot of the Pyrenees.

Hotel Belfry & Spa by Ligne St Barth

Hotel Belfry & Spa by Ligne St Barth
Hotel Belfry & Spa by Ligne St Barth

A modern and contemporary hotel A Lourdes institution, the Grand Hotel de la Grotte has just changed hands. It is ...

560 m - Lourdes

Hotel Helgon

Hotel Helgon
Hotel Helgon

OPEN FROM APRIL TO OCTOBER It is in a warm, family and professional atmosphere that we welcome you to the Hotel ...

802 m - Lourdes

Hotel Croix des Bretons

Hotel Croix des Bretons
Hotel Croix des Bretons

OPEN FROM APRIL TO OCTOBER It is in a warm, family and professional atmosphere that we welcome you to the Hotel ...

811 m - Lourdes


We hope that these few ideas have inspired you for your next winter vacation in the Pyrenees.

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Article written by Stéphanie Tempier for the Toulouse Pyrénées Guide.


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