DAY HIKING TOUR
With a home-base return every evening, we will complete three shorter single-day hikes to a variety of destinations. Three additional days are built into the structure for visiting cultural and historic sites, enjoying local cuisine, and wine tasting. Only a small day pack is required for the hikes on this tour. The two bases are Puivert, a charming village that is home to Puivert Castle, the Troubador Museum, and a local brewery; and Caudiès, a lovely mountain village that is nestled in a valley surrounded by beautiful vistas, a local pub, and vineyards. During this adventure, we will visit several historically significant sites from both the 13th century and WWII.
Puivert Castle and Valley
ITINERARY
Day 1 / Arrival and Welcome
Guests will be met in Foix mid-day. Following lunch, we will visit Foix castle, then head to our first home-base in Puivert at the Au Petit Verger – a lovely, cozy home and inn with an amazing host. The drive from Foix to Puivert takes less than one hour, and is scenic with beautiful pastoral views. After settling into the hotel, we will review the next day’s hike before enjoying dinner with the group. We will rise early the next morning and set off on our first day hike.
Included: Lunch, dinner, castle visit
Lodging: Chambre d’hôte
Pickup time / 11 AM
Pickup location / Foix train station
Day 2 / Forest, Valleys, and History
Our first hike begins across the valley from Puivert Castle. A hike of easy-to-mid difficulty, there is a gentle undulation as we make our way through beautiful, forested terrain. Following the hike, we will drive to the Maquis memorial to visit this important center of WWII and resistance history in this area. We will have a picnic lunch and enjoy the stunning views from the top of the mountain, before making our way back down to Puivert for the evening.
Included: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Lodging: Chambre d’hôte
Distance / 11km/7mi
Ascent / 289m/950ft
Descent / 309m/1,015ft
Max Elev. / 720m/2,360ft
Time / 4 hours
Day 3 / Market Day and Castle Visit
This morning, we travel to the town of Quillan to experience their open-air market, followed by lunch at a local galette and crepe restaurant where all the ingredients are sourced from area gardens and farms. In the afternoon, we return to Puivert, where the choice is yours to either visit the castle, the fascinating Troubadour Museum, or the local pub. For those who wish to remain at the hotel, there are areas with hammocks to relax, read, or enjoy the tranquil view.
Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, castle visit
Lodging: Chambre d’hôte
Day 4 / Belvédère Overlook Hike
For our fourth day of adventure, we begin by driving to the ridgeline above Quillan, then make our way to the Belvèdere overlook that provides a majestic view down into the valley. From there, we descend to the lovely village of Nébias, with a gentle ascent to a local waterfall, finally returning to Puivert, where we will transition to Caudiès and our second home-base.
Included: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Lodging: Chambre d’hôte
Distance / 13km/8mi
Ascent / 269m/883ft
Descent / 406m/1,332ft
Max Elev. / 654m/2,146ft
Time / 4 hours
Day 5 / Gorge Visit and Local Wine Tasting
Today we drive to the Gorge de Galamus, a breathtaking natural site carved by water over millions of years. From there, you may also walk to the hermitage. We will have a picnic lunch at Quéribus Castle. While there is time to visit the castle, admission is not included. After lunch, we will visit Maury to experience a one-of-a-kind, delicious regional wine tasting.
Included: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Lodging: Chambre d’hôte
Day 6 / Gorge Hike and Castle Visit
Welcome to our last day of hiking! Today, we hike through the Gorge de St. Jaume, another natural site formed over millions of years, with a mystical, magical ambience. From there, we undertake a gentle ascent to the highest point, with views across the valley, and the ruins of two castles on either side of the trail. The trails on the way to Puilaurens are mostly wide and accessible, with some narrow points. Our hiking day closes with a visit to Puilaurens Castle, where we will be joined by a local historian with unique expertise in the fortification and military history and strategy behind the medieval castles in the area.
Ending the evening on a high note, we will enjoy dinner at the Grand Duc, which is truly a memorable experience and an example of some of the finest cuisine the region has to offer.
Included: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Lodging: Hotel
Distance / 13km/8mi
Ascent / 845m/2,772ft
Descent / 583m/1,913ft
Max Elev. / 737m/2,418ft
Time / 5 hours
Day 7 / Transition Day
After breakfast, you will be transported to the well-preserved, medieval walled city of Carcassonne, where you can tour the historic town, shop, or enjoy lunch at one of the many cafés or restaurants. There are wonderful lodging options near the train station, should you wish to stay for the night and travel to Toulouse the following day.
Included: Breakfast
Drop off time /
12pm local time
Drop off location /
Carcassonne train station
