ITINERARY
Day 1 / Arrival & introduction to the region’s lesser-known history
Guests will meet at the Courtyard Marriott - Toulouse Airport at 10:00 AM. Following a picnic lunch, the group visits the first town that was liberated in 1945 and then takes a beautiful hike up and over a col to arrive at the week’s lodging. The group will need to be dressed for a hike, with day packs ready, before the pickup in Toulouse.
Pickup Time / 10 AM
Pickup Location / Courtyard Marriott - Toulouse Airport
Included / Lodging, picnic lunch, and dinner
Lodging / Hostellerie du Grand Duc
Day 2 / Hike the historic Cathar pathway from Château d’Aguilar to Château de Peyrepertuse
Departing from the village of Tuchan, under the walls of the Château d’Aguilar, hike through the arid, sun-drenched plains of the Corbières region, dotted with wild herbs like thyme and rosemary.
Ascending, the path weaves through Mediterranean scrubland and sparse forests, revealing dramatic views of the high Pyrenees in the distance. Ascending again to the ridge that approaches Queribus Castle, we follow the ridge line with magnificent views, before descending toward the village of charming village Cucugnan and walking across the valley and approaching Peyrepertuse Castle, perched high on a limestone ridge. The cliffside fortress, known as the "Celestial Citadel," dominates the skyline, offering incredible vistas over the rugged terrain and a sense of awe at the Cathars' choice of such a commanding, strategic location.
Profile of the Route / DISTANCE 21 km/13 mi | ASCENT 905 m/2,570 ft | DESCENT 705 m/2,313 ft | MAX ELEVATION 588 m/1,929 ft | TIME 6 hours
Included / Lodging, breakfast, dinner, castle visit
Lodging/ Hostellerie du Grand Duc
Day 3 / See the pure beauty of the region with a hike to the Gorge de Galamus
The day’s adventure begins with a gentle ascent through vineyards and valleys to walk directly under the impressive Peyrepertuse Castle rising from the cliff face. We will then embark across the plateau and ascend steadily to a lookout point with stunning views out across the mountain range. The trail narrows and includes some rock steps as we near the top before descending through beautiful forest tracks to the majestic and mystical Gorge de Galamus. The Gorge de Galamus is a breathtaking natural site carved by water for millions of years. With crystal clear waters running through the gorge, walking the road built in 1890 will leave you with an unforgettable experience. There will be time to explore the ancient hermitage built into the side of the cliff. Even the best photographs can’t do it justice!
Profile of the Route / DISTANCE 15 km/9 mi | ASCENT 1,104 m/2,966 ft | DESCENT 1,113 m/3,652 ft | MAX ELEVATION 904 m/2,966 ft | TIME 6 hours
Included / Lodging, breakfast, dinner
Lodging/ Hostellerie du Grand Duc
Day 4 / Traverse a sacred mountain to end in an ancient village
Our third day of hiking then begins just up the road from the Gorge de Galamus with a periodically steep ascent from the small hamlet of Camps-Sur-L'Agly to the Cols de Pechines and Campeau. This is a truly peaceful and magical section of the hike on forest track before yielding spectacular views of both the Mediterranean and the high Pyrenees. Walking on trails through woods and horse pasture, we follow the undulating ridge before descending into the valley just outside Cauiès. The group will be picked up in Caudiès and driven back to our lodging.
Profile of the Route / DISTANCE 16 km/10 mi | ASCENT 546 m/1,791 ft | DESCENT 705 m/2326 ft | MAX ELEVATION 916 m/3,005 ft | TIME 7 hours
Included / Lodging, breakfast, dinner
Lodging/ Hostellerie du Grand Duc
Day 5 / Feel the passion of the region with a tour of local artisans
The morning will be set aside for reflection, discussion, and coaching with Victoria Gronin of Women on Journeys - "Guiding your Journey with Clarity and Strength".
Following the morning’s activities, the group will have a leisurely local lunch before enjoying a wine tasting and chat with the producers to learn more about the different grapes and techniques used to produce wine in this unique region. The day closes with a memorable dinner at the Grand Duc.
Included / Breakfast, wine tasting, dinner
Lodging / Hostellerie du Grand Duc
Day 6 / Hiking in the footsteps of the WWII resistance
Today is a special day as we follow the path of history. We will start our journey from Puivert and hike downhill through a beautiful forest, before ascending uphill again to witness a stunning view of Puivert Castle and the valley. The path is narrow, at times, with a sustained climb to the viewpoint. Along the way, we will come across evidence of battles from World War II, and we will visit the Maqui memorial, which holds great historical significance. After that, we will hike down to L'escale and then return to Puivert, where we will have the pleasure of visiting the castle before returning to Gincla for our final delicious dinner at the Grand Duc.
Profile of the Route / DISTANCE 14 km/9 mi | ASCENT 666 m/2,185 ft | DESCENT 506 m/1,660 ft | MAX ELEVATION 1,022 m/3,353 ft | TIME 5 hours
Included / Breakfast, wine tasting, dinner
Lodging / Hostellerie du Grand Duc
Day 7 / Review the living history of the region and return to the departure location
After breakfast, the group travels back to the Courtyard Marriott - Toulouse Airport. You can then check-in to your hotel or take local transportation into Toulouse city center to enjoy the museums, restaurants, cafés, and historic sites.
Included / Breakfast, picnic lunch
Drop off time / 3pm local time
Drop off location / Courtyard Marriott - Toulouse Airport
This itinerary is given for your information and may be changed at the discretion of the leaders depending on the weather conditions, physical ability of clients and the trail 'options' we decide together.