Welcome

Pyrenees Cycling Holidays a perfect base to discover road cycling through the mountains of the Pyrenees, experience mountain biking through one of the largest forests in Europe.

Our own hotel Les Sorbiers in the village of Bareges situated on the Col Du Tourmalet an ideal place from which to base your cycling holiday in the French Pyrenees. Our cycling holidays in the centre of the Pyrenees between the Atlantic and the Med, offer of some of the classic Cols of the Tour de France and some of the most picturesque cycling in the world. The awe and mystique of the Pyrenees Mountain passes are something you cannot describe with words you have to cycle the pyrenees to know.

In Cycling terms our area is described as The Circle of Death. One of the defining Pyrenean Landscapes; a line of huge mountains like watchtowers looking in both directions over the long roads weaving up the glacial valleys towards the passes. The mountains that make up the circle of death ring the northern part of the ancient French viscount of the Bearn and the mountains of the Bigorre. Gaston Febus, Viscount of Bearn and the Count of Foix, declared the Bearn, a country apart, of itself from the crown of France. The old region known as Bigorre became the department of the Hautes Pyrenees and is now popularly known as 'the Gateway to the Pyrenees'.

Few in cycling succeed in living their dream, but many can touch the hem of the cloth in which dreams are woven. Anyone can climb the famous cols of the tour de france.

2009 RIDE YOUR OWN TOUR DE FRANCE French End to End is our version of the Tour De France, from Calais to the Pyrenees and finish on the Col du Tourmalet for 9 memorable days in France check out our holiday packages for more detailed information.

Pyrenean Scenery has five main Characteristics.

1. An absense of major lakes as in the Alps.

2. The rarity and the elevation of the passes.

3. Cirques: These dead-end, glacier formed amphitheatre walls of rock at the upper ends of the valleys are a distinct Pyrenean feature.

4. A large number of mountain torrents, in French 'Gaves', often in the forms of waterfalls taller than any other in Europe. The highest, at 505 metre, is the Grande Cascade at Gavarnie from the famous Cirque on the Spanish frontier, heads the Gave du Pau.

5. The dry gulches and craggy ravines commonly found on the Spanish side.

For the road cyclist and mountain bikers it offers everything you could want in a compact area. The mountainous terrain varies from the gently undulating plain of the Tarbais foothills to uncompromising mountains of the Tour De France and the road network reflects these differences offering rides of all styles. Located in the Pays Toy this area is an unspoilt region of the Hautes Pyrenees and many traditional methods of farming and tourism mean that this area is not that busy even in the height of summer. The pyrenean chain through south west France along the Spanish border the Pyrenees stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Mediterranean Sea in the east. In between are snow-topped peaks and lush valleys packed with history and culture, where the Tour de France and the famed mountain ascents of Tourmalet and the Aspin take place here during July, in this picturesque area of south west France.

You can find some of the Pyrenees other well known Cols of the Tour De France, Tourmalet, Aspin, Aubisque, Luz Ardiden and Hautacam all can be found within an hours ride of your base for the week Les Sorbiers www.lessorbiers.co.uk

At 1250m altitude, Bareges is officially the highest thermal spa village in France. In fact, the existence of Bareges can be attributed to the discovery of its thermal waters by the Baregeois. The curative properties of the spa waters were well known to the local farmers, who bathed their animals and the healing properties of the spa waters were first recorded in the 15th century by a farmer trying to help out his favourite injured sheep which after a dunk got miraculously better. Better yet imagine the way Napoleon planted the trees behind Bareges in the 18th century to protect and avert avalanches and landslides away from the village of Bareges and the Col du Tourmalet, believe us when we say our cycling tours and mountain biking trips, here will overwhelm your mind with the possibilities.

Our mountain biking holidays are second to none we have been MTBing in the area for the last 17 years. We know every trail, decent and climb. Most importantly we explain ourselves what you can expect to find and where you can find it or alternatively we can guide. Our MTB weeks are very popular and we have limitations on dates with guides.

The lush wooded valleys of the Hautes Pyrenees are ideal for mountain biking at all levels. The Eastern Pyrenees offers little shade by comparison with relentless heat and hard gravel tracks. Whether you prefer to kick up some dust, climb through the shade, or tackle demon descents, Les Sorbiers will help you find your ideal down hill descent.

With over 400km of local way marked tracks to explore.

-Route planning library self guided.

-Drop off and pick up service.

Consult our library of local route information and plan your days riding (unguided). There's no need to take a minibus from our base, all the routes you could hope for are right on the doorstep. Set out from Les Sorbiers and ascend the winding route up to Pic d'Ayre then descend Pierre Polonaise 57 hairpins back into the valley, perhaps head to the right after 6km to the Aygues Cluses Valley. Here you'll find over 200kms of way marked mountain biking tracks. Alternatively, head out of Bareges and up the Col de Tourmalet an hours climb descend to La Mongie and catch the cable car up to Pic du Midi 2877m, from here you can traverse the valley sides and have a 20 km descent back to the village great views of the pyrenees a fifth of France can be seen from here!!!

The population is low in comparison to the UK or even other parts of France leading to quiet if not deserted roads making the pyrenees and ideal area for road cycling and perfect for mountain biking.

All of our holidays take place from Les Sorbiers our recently renovated hotel in Bareges providing for all cyclists needs. The climate is Mediterranean and is much more moderate than some of the alpine regions, making riding practical at all times of year.This also contributes to scenery of unparalleled beauty, leading to cycling holidays which are not quickly forgotten.