The Red runs above Bareges
The Red runs above Bareges
Mountainbug offers Alpine skiing in the impressive Grand Tourmalet (Barèges-La Mongie) ski domain; the largest ski resort in the French Pyrenees. We offer either hotel or catered chalet accommodation, as well as ski-touring and off-piste trips. Our Winter Calendar has details of our prices and availability.
Skiing in the Pyrenees is a secret well-kept by the French and relatively unknown in the UK. Read some of the Pyrenean skiing myths exploded here. You can explore kilometres of well-groomed piste set in beautiful unspoiled scenery, for a fraction of what you would pay in the Alps, and without the crowds. The Pyrenees are wonderful in the winter, receiving more snow annually than the Alps due to their maritime position near to the Atlantic coast. The weather conditions are also ideal – stable high pressure systems bringing clear blue skies, interspersed with heavy snowstorms to refresh the slopes.
The legendary Pic du Midi off-piste skiing routes
The legendary Pic du Midi off-piste skiing routes
As a result, the Grand Tourmalet resort has a long season from the end of November through to the middle of April. Recent huge investments in snow-making equipment should guarantee snow throughout.
Grand Tourmalet resort also offers a range of ski passes, from one day to whole week passes, with discounts for students and families. An adult day pass for the whole resort is approx 35 €, and a 6 day pass for the whole resort is approximately 180 €. A complete price list can be found on our Dates & Prices section.
Skiing Pyrenees - Quiet pistes with stunnng views
Skiing Pyrenees - Quiet pistes with stunnng views
What level of skier is the Grand-Tourmalet resort good for?
It’s great for all levels.
Beginners have gentle nursery slopes to practice on, with “magic carpets” taking you up the slopes. There are then beautiful, wide runs to try your new skills on, including a green run back to the village. The resort has 22 green and 21 blue pistes, making it possible to visit all of the five interconnected ski areas without straying onto anything too challenging.
The gentle run down to Bareges
The gentle run down to Bareges
For the more advanced skier, there are 22 red runs, and 5 blacks, as well as huge off-piste potential. Off piste-skiing and ski touring in the Pyrenees is becoming more well-known and the local ski instructors are swift to encourage forays away from the pistes. The Pic du Midi lift is now open to anyone wishing to attempt the legendary off-piste descent from the observatory at 2877m right down into the Barèges sideof the resort.
If you’d like to take your skiing or snowboarding to the next level or want to really reach those hidden places, which few get to, then we’d recommend you join one of our guided ski-touring or off-piste ski safari trips.
On these trips, you’ll be accompanied by a local, qualified, experienced guide who knows the area intimately and can take you to exciting, unknown places where you can carve your own route in virgin, untracked powder. Your guide will take care of all the safety aspects (such as carrying emergency gear, avalanche trackers) and where to go.
Taking a rest from a day's skiing in the Pyrenees
Taking a rest from a day's skiing in the Pyrenees
Read more about the Grand Tourmalet ski resort and the opening of the Pic du Midi to skiers at www.pistehors.com (good off-piste skiing website). To quote the site: "Barèges already offered many and extensive off-piste opportunities but this move has placed it firmly in the big league."....
The Sunday Times said “that Barèges is the best kept secret in the France....The traditional spa town of Barèges could be a Pyrenean version of Chamonix but the challenging skiing and open access of the Pic is more like la Grave."
Snowboarding in the Pyrenees
The Tourmalet ski area is ideal for snowboarders because almost all of the resort is accessible by chairlift and most of the runs are really long and wide.
Beginners will find the easy slopes of Laquette ideal for learning, and the ski school instructors are great fun, helping you do what you came out here – enjoy the snow.
Intermediate and advanced boarders in particular will love the snow park and huge off-piste potential just next to most of the runs. The resort is home to several important snowboarding/freeride competitions - the Dragon team made good use of the chalet’s railings in the heavy winter of 2005!
Quicksilver 4* TTR "Mathieu Crepel Invitational" (February 2008) - the first World Championship snowboarding event to be held in the Pyrenees, arranged by Mathieu Crepel - local snowboarder and World Champion in 2005/2006. Some of the best riders in the World met at the Tourmalet ski resort to take part in this slope-style contest on a Big Air jump constructed on the "piste de Toue".
Departing for the pistes in Bareges
Departing for the pistes in Bareges
How do I get to the resort from Barèges?
The ski resort has free parking both in the village and just up the road at Tournaboup, where the main lifts depart.
From our base in the village of Barèges, Tournaboup is five minutes ride on the free ski bus, which stops every 15 to 20 minutes near your accommodation.
Snowboards at Intersport
Snowboards at Intersport
Gear Hire
We work with a couple of local ski hire shops, providing the best ski and snowboard gear for our clients with a high level of service. Except for peak times, it is easy to arrange gear hire when you arrive. However, for peace of mind, we can reserve your gear for you. See our ski/snowboard hire page for details and prices.
Chalet Les Cailloux under snow
Chalet Les Cailloux under snow
Accommodation
MountainBug offers ski and snowboarding accommodation in either our 3-star catered chalet or our 3-star hotel. Both are based in the traditional French mountain village of Barèges, one of the most well-known French ski resorts.
Your holiday price includes half-board accommodation, with afternoon tea, based on two people sharing an en-suite bedroom. Discounts are available for large groups (8 or more) and for triple and quadruple rooms, so please enquire.
The chalet is perfect for relaxing après ski, in front of the fire in the lounge, where there’s a good selection of English books, family games, CD and DVD player with a big-screen digital projector, free internet access and a well-stocked bar.
Hotel du Tourmalet has its own café-bar for a relaxing drink or a hot tub for a therapeutic dip! Both accommodation options are seconds from the main street of Barèges, which has restaurants and bars open to all.
Early evening apres-ski in the Hotel du Tourmalet bar
Early evening apres-ski in the Hotel du Tourmalet bar
Pyrenees apres-ski
Barèges is a small, friendly French mountain village. It’s quiet out of the main season but gets lively during the holiday periods. The village has several good bars and many hotels, all of which have a public bar.
The chalet’s local bar, "Le Richelieu, made famous by its legendary 2.5l lager "giraffes", is run by our neighbours and is just round the corner from the chalet. It has a pool table and "babyfoot" table football, and shows all of the big games for sports fans.
The Hotel du Tourmalet has its own café-bar, serving drinks and tapas from 5pm in the evening and is open to both residents and non-residents.
The village also has a cinema and thermal spa baths. The spa is the highest in France and has recently been completely refurbished - well worth a visit for some apres-ski pampering!
Now choose your ski or snowboard holiday dates, then contact us to book.