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France · Hautes-Pyrénées

Pyrenees Grand Tour

The classic four-col tour of the central Pyrenees. Tourmalet, Aubisque, Soulor, and Aspin in a single loop.

Route plate for Pyrenees Grand Tour
Elevation © NASA SRTM · Roads © OpenStreetMap contributors

The central Pyrenees has a cluster of four cols that the Tour de France has used dozens of times: Tourmalet, Aubisque, Soulor, and Aspin. This loop strings them together in 130 km with roughly 3,500 m of climbing, starting and ending in Bagnères-de-Bigorre.

Less altitude than the big Alpine loops, more sustained gradients, and a fraction of the tourist traffic. The Aubisque and Soulor are linked by a balcony road along a cliff face that ranks among the most scenic stretches of tarmac in Europe.

The route

  1. Start

    Bagnères-de-Bigorre

  2. Col d'Aspin

    1490 m · France

  3. Lac de Payolle

    Alpine lake below the pass

  4. Summit cows

    Free-roaming herds graze the col

  5. Stop

    Arreau

    Valley village

  6. Col du Tourmalet

    2115 m · France

  7. La Mongie ski resort

    Base for the Pic du Midi cable car

  8. Pic du Midi observatory

    2,877 m peak reached by cable car

  9. Octave Lapize monument

    At the summit of the Tourmalet

  10. Stop

    Luz-Saint-Sauveur

    Junction to the Cirque de Gavarnie

  11. Col d'Aubisque

    1709 m · France

  12. Cirque du Litor

    Amphitheatre of limestone walls

  13. Painted bike sculptures

    At the summit and along the road

  14. Balcony road to Soulor

    One of the great Pyrenean corniches

  15. Col du Soulor

    1474 m · France

  16. Val d'Azun

    Pastoral valley descent

  17. Stop

    Argelès-Gazost

    Valley return via the Gave de Pau

  18. Finish

    Bagnères-de-Bigorre

Who it's for

  • Cyclists: the Pyrenean equivalent of the Stelvio-Gavia-Mortirolo triangle, achievable in one long day or split more civilly over two.
  • Motorcyclists: a superb route. The Aubisque balcony road alone justifies the trip.
  • Drivers: the same route works for any car. Surfaces are good throughout, the narrowest section is the Aubisque-Soulor traverse.

Practical notes

  • Base: Bagnères-de-Bigorre or Luz-Saint-Sauveur. Both have good cycling hotels and easy access to every climb.
  • Season: late May to October. Tourmalet and Aubisque occasionally close briefly in early June after late snow.
  • Fuel: fill up in the valleys before climbing. No stations at altitude.
  • Weather: Atlantic-influenced. Expect more rain than in the Alps, especially on the Aubisque side. Bring waterproofs.
  • Variant: the Aubisque-Soulor balcony road is the scenic highlight of the loop. Do not skip it for a valley shortcut.

Passes on this route

Pyrenees Grand Tour — quick answers

How long is the Pyrenees Grand Tour?
130 km with 3,500 metres of climbing.
How long does the Pyrenees Grand Tour take?
1–2 days. Cyclists, motorcyclists and drivers pace it differently; the route itself is designed around that timeframe.
How hard is the Pyrenees Grand Tour?
Difficulty: Hard. The rating reflects cycling effort. For motor vehicles it is a purely scenic drive.
Which passes does the Pyrenees Grand Tour include?
Col d'Aspin, Col du Tourmalet, Col d'Aubisque, Col du Soulor.
When is the best time to ride the Pyrenees Grand Tour?
Late May to October. High passes carry snow into early summer; confirm opening dates close to your trip.
Is the Pyrenees Grand Tour paved?
Yes, the Pyrenees Grand Tour runs entirely on paved roads.