Skiing in the Pyrenees from Lourdes: Cauterets, Grand Tourmalet, Luz Ardiden, Gavarnie

From Lourdes, several resorts in the Gaves valleys are within easy reach for a day's skiing: Cauterets, Luz Ardiden, the Grand Tourmalet (Barèges – La Mongie), Gavarnie-Gèdre and Hautacam. Staying in Lourdes lets you switch resorts depending on snow and weather, with a wide choice of accommodation and restaurants.

Without a car: the liO 965 regional bus leaves from Lourdes station. It serves Cauterets every day, all year round, in 40 to 45 minutes, for €2 per journey, and in winter also Luz-Saint-Sauveur and Barèges. Once there, the Lys gondola takes you up to the Cauterets slopes, and free shuttles link Luz-Saint-Sauveur with Luz Ardiden and Barèges with Tournaboup (Grand Tourmalet).

By car: from 1 November to 31 March, winter tyres (3PMSF marking) or chains or snow socks in the boot are compulsory in the mountain municipalities listed by prefectoral order, including Cauterets, Luz-Saint-Sauveur, Barèges, Gavarnie-Gèdre and Beaucens (Hautacam). Lourdes is not on the list. The Col du Tourmalet is closed in winter: from Lourdes, you reach the Grand Tourmalet via Barèges.

2026-2027 season (announced dates, subject to snow): Luz Ardiden 25 November to 28 March, Cauterets 27 November to 18 April, Grand Tourmalet 5 December to 29 March, Gavarnie-Gèdre 19 December to 14 March.

Cauterets – Cirque du Lys: 36 km of slopes between about 1,800 and 2,400 m, around twenty runs, reached from the village by the Lys gondola. Adult day pass: €46 in 2026-2027 (public rate, often cheaper online depending on the date). The liO 965 bus links Lourdes station with Cauterets in 40 to 45 minutes.

Cauterets – Pont d'Espagne: in the heart of the Pyrenees National Park, a Nordic area with 36.5 km of cross-country trails plus walking and snowshoe paths, open from 19 December 2026 to 21 March 2027.

Luz Ardiden: 60 km of slopes up to 2,500 m, 32 runs, more than 60% of them red or black: a rather sporty area. Free shuttles from Luz-Saint-Sauveur. Adult day pass: €44 in 2026-2027 (reloadable card, single rate).

Gavarnie-Gèdre (Les Espécières): 33 km and 27 runs between 1,820 and 2,322 m, less than an hour from Lourdes. A human-scale resort at the gateway to the Cirque de Gavarnie, part of the UNESCO site “Pyrénées – Mont Perdu” (listed in 1997). Adult day pass: €35.50 in 2026-2027.

Grand Tourmalet (Barèges – La Mongie): the largest ski area in the French Pyrenees, with 100 km of slopes between 1,400 and 2,500 m and more than 50 runs. From Lourdes, access via Argelès-Gazost, Luz-Saint-Sauveur and Barèges; large free car park at Tournaboup, served by free shuttles from Barèges. Adult day pass: €55 in 2026-2027.

Pic du Midi: a cable car climbs from La Mongie to the summit (2,877 m) in about fifteen minutes. Experienced skiers will find wild, unmarked freeride terrain with up to 1,700 m of descent, on a specific pass. Go with a qualified mountain professional.

Hautacam: a small resort above Argelès-Gazost, between 1,500 and 1,800 m. A small alpine area (4 km, 4 runs) for beginners and 25 km of snowshoe trails. Ski pass: €18, single rate from age 5. Open in periods in 2026-2027: Christmas holidays (19 December to 3 January), January weekends, then 6 February to 7 March, snow permitting.

Smart passes: Cauterets, Luz Ardiden, the Grand Tourmalet and the Pic du Midi belong to the N'PY network. The reloadable pass and the No Souci Pyrénées card (€46 per season in 2025-2026) give discounts, especially on weekdays outside school holidays. Hautacam and Gavarnie-Gèdre are not part of it.

When to come? The French Christmas and February school holidays are the busiest times. Outside French school holidays, the No Souci card gives up to 30% off on weekdays in N'PY resorts.

How many days? Three to five days let you try two or three resorts, choosing each morning according to snow and weather.

Which resorts for beginners? Hautacam and Gavarnie-Gèdre for their human scale; Cauterets and the Grand Tourmalet for their variety. Luz Ardiden and Pic du Midi freeride suit experienced skiers.

Do I need a car? No: the liO 965 bus (€2 per journey) links Lourdes station with Cauterets all year round, and with Luz-Saint-Sauveur and Barèges in winter. If you drive, remember the compulsory winter equipment from 1 November to 31 March.

Where to check snow and roads? On the resorts' official websites and n-py.com for snow; on inforoute.ha-py.fr for roads.

Where to stay in Lourdes? At À l'Ombre de la Tour, 31 rue de la Grotte, 8 minutes' walk from the Sanctuary: studio (2 people), one-bedroom flat (4), duplex (6) or the whole house for up to 12 people, with a fully equipped kitchen for hot meals after skiing, a private garden and free parking 50 m away. Over the last 12 months, accommodation has averaged €17 to €23 per person per night, with the home filled to capacity. Book direct on our official website: save up to 18% compared with booking platforms.