Adventure
Dates
This trip is now offered as a bespoke tour. There is no set date for it. Drop us an email at either gary@bigsmileadventures.com or info@bigsmileadventures.com and we can discuss running this tour for you.
Price €950 P/person
Fastpacking Duo
Tour du Peric & Tour du Canigou
Our Fastpacking Duo week is not one to be missed if you are into Fastpacking. Combining two classic Fastpacking tours into one week, this trip really does deliver a great insight into the fabulous region of the Pyrenees Orientales here in the Eastern French Pyrenees?
Starting off with the two day Tour du Peric and completing 62.5 km’s with 3143 mtrs of ascent/descent it’s a big hello to the region
«This is an outstanding circular route that lays between the Pyrenees Orientales and the Haute-Ariege here in the South of France and could almost be labelled a tour of the lakes as we traverse alongside so many mountain lakes ranging from small to large on this two-day journey. The Peric Massif rises to a heady height of 2810 meters above sea level and sits on both sides of the watershed between the med and the Atlantic. Steep cols, big boulder areas, large green open plateaus and beautiful old forests keep you inspired and your camera close to end.»
https://bigsmileadventures.com/2021/10/08/tour-du-peric-fastpacking/
At the end of day one, we stay in a manned refuge and so are able to grab a cold beer or two before dinner. The huts work on Demi pension (Breakfast, Dinner & Bed) & sleeping is in a dorm. The second day sees us re-joining the GR10 and descending through beautiful river fed valleys back to our starting point.
From there we transfer over to our comfortable accommodation for two nights in the Catalan Mountain village of Arles sur Tech that sits at the foot of the Canigou Massif. We have a free day the next day to re-stock on supplies for the Tour du Canigou, hike or run a local trail or just to chill out by the swimming pool.
The next day we transfer up to Refuge Batére from where we start our Tour of the Canigou Massif. Sleeping in manned refuges again on a demi pension basis we traverse the massif in three days and if the weather is good, we ascend to the summit of Canigou (2784 mtrs) by the famous chimney route. Every day on the Tour du Canigou the vistas and terrain change completely. It is beautifully quiet and remote area although it is serviced by manned huts as well. This tour is a well-kept local secret that rivals anywhere and should not be missed.
On the Tour du Canigou over the three days we complete 67.7 km’s with 3847 mtrs of Ascent and Descent.
« The Pic du Canigou is the symbolic mountain of the Catalan people. Rising 2784 mtrs above sea level this mountain dominates the land of Catalonia, the Spanish side and the French side.
Resting in the Pyrenéés-Orientales, Canigou sits less than 50 km’s from the sea. Due to its sharp flanks and its dramatic location near the coast, until the 18th Century the Canigou was believed to be the highest mountain in the Pyrenées. Twice a year in early February and end of October, with good weather the Pic du Canigou can be seen at sunset from as far as Marseille, 250 kms away, by reflection of light.»
https://bigsmileadventures.com/2020/06/26/fast-packing-the-tour-du-canigou-three-days-2-nights/
This Fastpacking Combo of the Peric and Canigou are rated tough as we have a lot of distance and up and down over 5 days, but with have a chilled day by the pool, between the two fast Packs.
By the end of the week taking in both tours our totals for the week are
130 km’s and 6990 mtrs of Ascent/descent.
Overview of Itinerary:
This is a Land only trip and you must make your own way to and from the start and finish of the trip and is based on twin sharing of hotel rooms and shared Dorm accomodation in the mountain refuges.
Included:
Twin room shared Hotel accommodation
Mountain Refuge Dorm style bed accomodation while Fast Packing
Dinner on Arrival night
Breakfast on Departure day
Breakfast & Dinner on all Fast packing days
Fully qualified International Mountain Leader
Not Included:
Flights
Transfers to or from start and finish points of trip
Trip & mountain insurance
Dinner on Day 4
Lunches
Hill Snacks
Drinks
Tips
Day 1 – Arrival Day,
Inc: Dinner & Hotel room based on Twin sharing
Settle into your accommodation and meet your guide to check kit and talk about the coming week before having dinner.
Day 2 – Tour du Peric
Inc: Demi Pension at Mountain Refuge (Dinner, Bed in Dorm & Breakfast)
Distance : 31.89 km Ascent : 2114 mtrs. Descent :2061mts
Day 3 – Tour du Peric –
Transfer that evening to Arles sur Tech and Hotel Accommodation
Inc: Hotel Accomodation based on Twin Sharing, Breakfast & Dinner
Distance : 30.51 km. Ascent : 1029mtrs. Descent : 1360 mtrs
Day 4 –
Free day, possible to re-supply, hike run local trails or just chill. Hotel accommodation
Inc: Breakfast, Twin shared Room
Day 5 – Tour du Canigou
Inc: Breakfast, Dinner, Night in Mountain Refuge Dorm room.
Distance : 17.3km. Ascent : 946mtrs Descent :1119mtrs
Day 6 – Tour du Canigou
Inc: Breakfast, Dinner, Night in Mountain Refuge Dorm Room
Distance : 18.93 km Ascent : 1254 mtrs Descent :855 mtrs
Day 7 – Tour du Canigou
Inc: Breakfast, Dinner & Hotel accommodation Twin sharing room.
Distance : 31.5km Ascent : 1647 mtrs Descent :1912 mtrs
Day 8 – Departure Day.
Inc: Breakfast
Trip finishes after breakfast.