Chalet Tourmalet

By Air

The UK operators have flights into Toulouse, Lourdes - Tarbes and Pau. Their schedules and prices change seasonally and some great deals can be had by booking in advance. Hire cars can be booked through various online agencies at a competitive price. See the links below.
Pau is a little over an hour away, Lourdes - Tarbes less, and Toulouse around 2 hours. Local transfers can be arranged through ourselves.

By Road

From the channel ports it's a long drive, Calais is around 700 miles, 11 hrs driving on the peage, with around 70€ for the tolls. The other, more westerly ports are slightly closer. It is possible to avoid the toll roads (there is a good route down from Dieppe for instance) but it takes about 50% longer. The up side of this is that you can see much more of France, maybe use a little less fuel, and the money you save can be spent on a decent meal at a locally run 'Le Routier' restaurant (always pick one that has room for twenty plus trucks outside and is busy at 1pm) or stay a night in one of the cheap chain hotels – although the standards vary enormously! See the link, below, to the Michelin web site which will calculate the quickest, shortest or cheapest route and calculate the tolls for each
It is also possible to travel with Brittany Ferries to Spain (Santander or Bilbao) from Portsmouth, Poole or Plymouth on a 2 day mini cruise. It 's around a four to five hour drive on the toll roads, far longer but far, far prettier through the mountains.

You will pick up the signs for La Mongie a long way out, once you pass through Bagnėres De Bigorre follow the signs (D935) and when you get to Sainte Maire de Campan bear right onto the D918. After 3 k, shortly after the sign for the hamlet of 'Pas De La Barane' there is a 56k milestone (I know it's a kilometre stone but it just don't sound right!), on your right, opposite is the track to the chalet, approximately 100m downhill.

If you are arriving from the south, over the Col du Tourmalet, simply follow the D918 towards Bagnėres De Bigorre, 3k after the hamlet of Gripp keep an eye out (on your left side) for the 56k milestone as above

It is also possible to have your car or motorcycle transported by rail, across France whilst you sleep

We have ample parking.

Advisory

When driving in winter (particularly up from Spain) remember that a lot of the mountain roads and passes are snow bound, and anyway, chains are a wise precaution (Car hire companies will usually supply them on request, if you are at all unsure have a practise beforehand!) If in doubt please don't hesitate to call or text us for an update on conditions before setting out 'Up The Hill'

By Rail

The TGV runs down as far as Toulouse then there is a local connection to Tarbes with a bus service to Bagnėres De Bigorre. The carriage of bicycles is possible.

By Foot or Bicycle

Should you be hiking or biking in the area, the chalet is clearly marked on the Carte de Randonėe no 1747ET almost exactly midway between Gripp and Sainte Marie De Campan - N.42⁰ 57’.963 EE.000⁰13’.899 - derived from a Garmin Etrex, alongside the D918 at the 56 kilometre milestone (see above), 100 meters to the east down a well surfaced track.