The Ossau valley, a jewel in the Pyrenees!

Starting from the small village of Laruns, the road will take you to the Bious-Artigues lake, where the starting point will be. This is an easily accessible mountain area, provided you don't go there on a Saturday afternoon or Sunday - it's a popular spot with the locals and quickly becomes overcrowded because of the narrow car park.

An ascent of a few hours to the Ayous refuge will allow you to discover different environments: forest, scree slopes and ridge paths. The waterfalls on your left as you approach the first lakes will not leave you indifferent, but be very careful as the path is technical and slippery. Just follow the GR10 signs, which are very well maintained. You should also be aware that you are in the Pyrenees National Park, so there are safety rules and standards to be observed: Pyrenees National Park

At an altitude of 1980m is the refuge d'Ayous overlooking Lac Gentau. The view from here is impressive, timeless and majestic. At sunrise, if you're on the refuge's terrace, you'll have the chance to admire this imperial sunrise. It's easy to photograph from the refuge, but you need to be on the lookout because the mirror of the Pic du Midi d'Ossau only lasts a few minutes at this angle from the refuge. Once you've finished, you'll have to wait until 12 noon to catch the sunset, which is just as magnificent.

This area is often inhabited by semi-wild horses, which are very docile and not afraid of humans. They may even be in front of your tent when you wake up on the plain of Lac Gentau.

The rest of the hike will take you past several lakes, then after climbing a small, highly technical pass you'll arrive at Lac de Peyreget at the foot of a scree slope. Take your time to admire this natural and escapist setting. It's the most exotic spot on this walk. You're in the heart of the Pyrenees National Park, far from anywhere. There is no network, and the Pombie refuge, which is now the closest to you, is at the back of the scree facing you. It's a 2? hour walk (based on 3km/h).

It's also the place to be for Pyrenean marmots! The plain before the lake is full of marmot galleries! As you look towards the lake, there is a scree slope on your left. It is the refuge of these small animals. Peyreget is a magnificent place to bivouac. Your tent will find its place in this vastness, and close to this scree you will be sheltered from the wind. However, be careful when you eat, as the animals living in this area will not hesitate to come and eat out of your bowl if you are busy doing something else. The same applies to any food taken with you or lying around the bivouac area.

Behind the scree in front of you lies the next stage of your GR10 adventure! It's up to you to choose whether to climb it or go around it! Climbing the scree is easy, thanks to the cairns (the small mounds of stone that mark out the GR10). However, in bad weather, the stones can be very slippery, and there are also some nice crevasses that are sometimes difficult to see, which is why a path leads around the scree. You will then arrive at the Pombie refuge, where you can descend to Laruns along well-marked paths offering panoramic views of the Ossau valley.

This is one of the corners of nature still preserved from the mark of man and yet easily accessible for active people who practise a regular sporting activity. We recommend exploring the Ossau valley through the Pyrenees National Park.