



Bujaruelo and the French side of the Vignemale · Adventure and Nature
A multi-day circuit of the Vignemale massif, the highest peak in the French Pyrenees, by way of the Cirque de Gavarnie.
Activity overview
The Vignemale Circuit goes around the highest mountain in the French Pyrenees in 3-4 days, with the Oulettes de Gaube and Bayssellance refuges, and the Cirque de Gavarnie to close the trek. With an Ecotour mountain leader and the option of adding the summit of the Petit Vignemale.
From €340 per person (classic 3-day circuit) or €455 (4 days with the optional ascent of the Petit Vignemale), for groups of 6-10 people, with guide, insurance and half board in the refuges included. Midday packed lunches, transport and technical equipment are not included; confirmed on request depending on dates and the actual group size.
Ask about the full package
Reading the landscape
Geology and landscape, Wildlife, Plants and Heritage: a closer look at the setting of this activity. Documentary images of species or places not taken at the exact point of the route are shown for reference only, and sightings are not guaranteed.










Local photos: Ecotour archive. Documentary images: free-licence image banks or Wikimedia Commons, used under licence or with permission. The species and features shown are documented in the area, but seeing them during the activity is not guaranteed.
Before you book
This is an international high-mountain trek: you need good fitness and, if you add the summit, previous experience on glacier terrain.
Private group
The activity is reserved exclusively for your group. The total price is split between participants, so the more of you there are, the less each person pays, with no change to the route, the attention you get or the guide's judgement.
The deposit to confirm your date is €60 and is deducted from the total. Before you pay, you'll receive the change and cancellation conditions in writing.
Ask about dates and availabilityBefore confirming, we go over your experience, fitness and kit with you.

Who'll be with you on this activity
Crossing into France over the Col des Mulets and sleeping in the highest staffed refuge in the French Pyrenees is not a route you improvise: the guide checks the state of the Ossoue glacier before suggesting the optional ascent of the Petit Vignemale.
The Ecotour guide who leads you on this trek adapts the plan to the group, that year's snow and the weather on both sides of the border.
Detailed itinerary

DAY 1
Setting out from Bujaruelo, you head up the upper Ara valley to the Col des Mulets, the border between Spain and France, then descend to the Oulettes de Gaube refuge, with the north face of the Vignemale straight ahead.

DAY 2
Climb to the Hourquette d'Ossoue and, as an optional extension, ascend the Petit Vignemale (3,032 m) over glacier terrain. Night at Bayssellance, at 2,651 metres the highest staffed refuge in the French Pyrenees.

DAY 3
Descent past the Ossoue dam to the La Grange de Holle refuge, leaving the highest part of the trek behind.

DAY 4
The last day, crossing the Plateau de Bellevue with views of the Cirque de Gavarnie before returning to Spain over the Port de Bujaruelo (Port de Boucharo).
Vignemale Circuit: a trek around the giant of the Pyrenees
Vignemale Circuit: a trek around the giant of the Pyrenees · from €124 / person
4-day activity. Choose the start day and the following days are selected automatically.
30% deposit to secure your spot We confirm within 24 h
We book this option with you on WhatsApp: we confirm the date and terms straight away.
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Your booking
Deposit (30%)
If the outing doesn't go ahead (for example, the minimum group of 4 isn't reached) we refund the whole deposit; the same if you cancel 7 days or more ahead.
After payment, we'll ask for a short 1–2 minute activity form so we can prepare properly.
Activity highlights
With you throughout the trek.
Ecotour mountain leaderWhen bookings open, the planned price will include arranging the refuges on the trek on a half-board basis.
Refuge booking managementDinner and breakfast at every refuge on the trek, included in the price.
Half board in the refugesIncluded for the whole trek.
Accident and third-party liability insuranceA private group of travellers to share routes, photos and upcoming departures.
Access to the Ecotour Explorers communityIncluded in the activity.
Public liability and accident insuranceTo the meeting point in Torla or Bujaruelo.
TransportFood and drink for each day, apart from what the refuges themselves provide.
Daily packed lunchesCrampons, ice axe and harness for those adding the optional ascent.
Technical equipment for the Petit VignemaleIn Torla or directly at the Bujaruelo refuge, the start point of the trek.
From €340 per person for the 3-day version, or €455 for the 4-day version with the optional ascent, with half board in the refuges included, for a group of 6 to 10 people.
The trek crosses into France over the Col des Mulets: bring a valid national ID card or passport.
We go over your real experience of multi-day treks with you and, if you are interested in the Petit Vignemale, your previous experience on glacier terrain.
Before you set off

Well broken-in boots with good grip for mixed terrain of rock and lingering snow.

A full layering system: the trek crosses cols above 2,700 metres.

A valid national ID card or passport: the trek crosses into France over the Col des Mulets.

35-45 litres, with your personal kit for the 3-4 days.
Once your date is confirmed, you'll receive the final kit list, adapted to the forecast and ground conditions.

Caring for the environment
Frequently asked questions
No, it is an optional extension of one extra day. The circuit of the massif (3-day version) does not include the summit; the 4-day version does, subject to the conditions on the glacier that day.
Yes, the trek sets out from Bujaruelo (Spain) and crosses into France over the Col des Mulets, so bring a valid national ID card or passport.
Bayssellance, at 2,651 metres, the highest staffed refuge in the whole of the French Pyrenees.
From €340 per person for the classic 3-day version, or from €455 for the 4-day version with the optional ascent of the Petit Vignemale, for groups of 6 to 10 people. This includes a mountain leader, insurance and half board in the refuges on the trek. It does not include transport, midday packed lunches or technical equipment for the Petit Vignemale.
From July to September, when the cols are clear of lingering snow and the Ossoue glacier offers the best conditions for the optional ascent.
It is organised for groups of 6 to 10 people, with a mountain leader throughout the trek.
Gallery
Reviews
Rut V2 weeks ago
Red deer rut
A wonderful experience in a luxury setting. We got in touch with Javi after finding him online and it was a great decision. He's a young guy, passionate about his work and about nature, and it shows. He explained so many things about the rut and the surroundings, and brought samples to show us how animals are tracked, always with respect and without disturbing their habitat. He also took loads of souvenir photos, both of us and of the animals, which we really appreciated. I loved the equipment he uses: he has a screen that attaches to the camera, so we could all enjoy the views without needing telescopes. Thank you so much, Javi, for the experience. You're a truly lovely person.
M. Villar (Proska)2 weeks ago
Red deer rut
Without a doubt an unforgettable experience. Several companies offer the rut, but not like this one: his knowledge of the subject, together with the technology he uses, guarantees a complete outing and lets you enjoy the activity to the fullest. 100% recommended
Loisian2 weeks ago
Red deer rut
We can only thank Javi for our outing: the day before the weather was awful and he advised us to postpone it, so we wouldn't climb up and not see the rut. The next day was wonderful, the views beautiful, and thanks to his experience and his technology we could see everything as if we were at the cinema. If we come back, we'll do it again. 100% recommended
Juanma Ferrer Navarro4 weeks ago
Red deer rut
A really good person who knows the Val d'Aran very well. We had a great morning listening to and watching the rut with Javier, who will be your guide. On top of that, you learn a lot about the local flora and fauna of Aran.
sonia Jiménez2 months ago
Rafting
⭐⭐⭐⭐ An unforgettable week in the Val d'Aran with Ecotour (Javi) We've just spent a week's holiday in the Val d'Aran organised by Ecotour, and we couldn't be happier with the experience. The days were full of adventure, nature, excitement and fun. We'd especially like to highlight Javi, who was much more than a guide. His huge knowledge of the area, the wildlife, the plants and the history of the valley gave every activity extra value. You can tell he's a true nature lover and knows how to pass that passion on to the people with him. During the week we did e-bike rides, rafting, canyoning, a spectacular trek in Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park with the climb up to Portarró, and we also visited some of the prettiest villages in the Val d'Aran. One of the most special moments was being able to see such emblematic species as the Apollo butterfly, a protected species that is increasingly hard to find. If we had to find a "but", it would only be the rafting, which surprised us least compared with the rest. Even so, we enjoyed the whole experience a lot. We'd also like to thank Javi for his great tips on where to eat in Vielha. He recommended restaurants with excellent value for money, where we could enjoy the valley's food without spending more than we needed to. All in all, a totally recommended experience for anyone who wants to discover the Val d'Aran in a different, active and authentic way. Thank you, Javi, for making this holiday such a special memory. We'll definitely be back!
PAU RODRIGO9 months ago
Snowshoeing
Excellent experience with Javi on a snowshoe route. Vast knowledge about everything to do with the mountains. Going with him guarantees you'll enjoy your adventure 200% and come back with a smile. He works really hard. The best guide I've ever met. See you soon, Javi. Take care 👋👋👋
Jose Manuel Luque Rodriguez11 months ago
Snowshoeing
More than a guide, a friend!! His level of knowledge about the mountains, snow, animals and everything related to the mountains is exceptional. My experience with him on snowshoes: 15 out of 10!! A professional and one of those people who only give... Personally, I didn't meet a guide, I made a friend. Professionally... one of a kind... I'd always recommend him, and I already do. A hug, Javi.
José Luis Durán12 months ago
Red deer rut
With Ecotour we did two organised rut outings last September. Although in the morning we didn't manage to see any deer (because, unfortunately, the wild boar hunt was on), the experience, both the trekking + observation outing and the afternoon observation, was great. Javier is a great professional who radiates friendliness and passion for his work, and he passes that on in everything he explains. I think we couldn't have found a better guide. A completely recommended experience with him. To repeat another year!
Joan Palomer12 months ago
Red deer rut
We went to see the rut with two little girls, and with Javi it was great fun and he was very attentive. For our next outing in the area, we'll definitely hire him.
Montse Coca1 year ago
Red deer rut
A great afternoon: Javi took us to an area where we could see and hear the rut, treated us to a small snack of local produce and told us about the life of the deer, the differences between antlers… You can tell he's passionate about his work. Thanks to the camera and lens he uses we could see them really well and watch their behaviour during the mating season. A great experience, highly recommended.
Antonio disa1 year ago
Red deer rut
We did an outing to look for deer and listen to the rut. Javi is a very good guide, a person with a huge knowledge of the mountains and a great photography enthusiast. An experience to repeat.
Carlos N1 year ago
Snowshoeing
We did a snowshoe route and the experience was heartwarming. Javi as a guide doesn't just pass on his love of the mountains, he teaches you to love and understand them; on top of that he's one of the group, he's your friend and he cares about every single person in it.

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