📷 Photo by Cédric Le Bars on UnsplashPyrenean cols: Tourmalet and Gavarnie
The great climbs of the Tour de France and the rock amphitheatre of Gavarnie.
- Distance
- 122 km (76 mi)
- Driving
- 1 h 41 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 5
- Countries
- France
- Updated
- August 11, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 122 km (76 mi) with 5 stops, from Pau to Col du Tourmalet. About 1 h 41 min of driving in total.
More road trips in France · More road trips from Pau
Route description
Pau’s Boulevard des Pyrénées looks straight across to the mountains, and the château where Henri IV was born stands at its end. From here head south-east to Lourdes, a pilgrimage town with a vast sanctuary on the river and a castle on a rock above the old town.
The road then enters the mountains, following the Gave de Pau through a narrow gorge to Luz-Saint-Sauveur, a spa village with a fortified church. From Luz the D921 climbs on to Gavarnie at the end of the valley.
From the village of Gavarnie a mostly gentle path, about an hour and a half each way, leads to the foot of the Cirque de Gavarnie, a vast rock amphitheatre with one of Europe’s tallest waterfalls. Parking in the village is charged in summer, and the walk is best done early before the day’s heat and crowds.
Return to Luz and take the D918 east up the Col du Tourmalet, at 2,115 m the most climbed pass in Tour de France history, then down past La Mongie. Expect cyclists on every bend, and give them room on the steep hairpins. The pass is usually closed by snow from late autumn until late spring, so this route is for summer.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Pau
France - 243 km
Lourdes
France - 331 km
Luz-Saint-Sauveur
France - 419 km
Cirque de Gavarnie
NatureGavarnie, FranceA vast rock amphitheatre with one of Europe’s tallest waterfalls. A flat path from the village reaches its foot.
- 529 km
Col du Tourmalet
ViewsBarèges, FranceAt 2,115 m, the most climbed pass in Tour de France history. Expect cyclists on every bend.
Suggested stages and overnight stops
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Pau → Lourdes · 43 km · 0 h 36 minOvernight nearby, for example: Camping du Loup (2 km); Aire Camping-car Le Pibeste (7 km).
- Day 2: Lourdes → Luz-Saint-Sauveur · 31 km · 0 h 26 minOvernight nearby, for example: Camping Toy (< 1 km); Camping les Cascades (< 1 km).
- Day 3: Luz-Saint-Sauveur → Col du Tourmalet · 48 km · 0 h 40 minOn the way: Cirque de Gavarnie.Overnight nearby, for example: Camping Les 4 Véziaux (12 km); Camping Toy (12 km).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and July–August. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
Practical notes for the road
- France: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autoroutes; the limit drops to 110 km/h in rain. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Road rules and fees change. Check official sources before you travel.
FAQs
How long is Pyrenean cols: Tourmalet and Gavarnie?
3-day road trip of about 122 km (76 mi) with 5 stops, from Pau to Col du Tourmalet. About 1 h 41 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Pyrenean cols: Tourmalet and Gavarnie?
We suggest 3 days: about 1 h 41 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Pyrenean cols: Tourmalet and Gavarnie start and end?
It starts in Pau and ends in Col du Tourmalet.
Which countries does Pyrenean cols: Tourmalet and Gavarnie pass through?
France.
Where can you camp along Pyrenean cols: Tourmalet and Gavarnie?
OpenStreetMap lists 156 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 20 km of the stops on this route. For example: Camping du Loup, Aire Camping-car Le Pibeste and Camping Deth-Potz.
When is the best time for Pyrenean cols: Tourmalet and Gavarnie?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and July–August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
