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Tourmalet – accommodation recommendations, please

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  • January 14, 2014 at 1:35 pm #20466
    simon104

    Hi All,

    Climbing the Tourmalet is the target for myself and a couple of friends this year. At the moment, we’re considering Lourdes as our base but I’m told that it’s about 17 miles to the start of the Tourmalet climb which is bit long for me as a loosener. Can anyone recommend hotel accommodation they’ve used in the area which is better situated and is suitable for cyclists (e.g. with bike storage facilities) and which isn’t so remote that there’s nowhere local to eat and drink in the evenings? Or confirm whether Lourdes has worked fine for them as a base, please? Alternatively, if there’s a base that enables Tourmalet to be tackled plus another decent climb within reasonable cycling distance, I’d appreciate the advice.

    Thank you.

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Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)
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  • January 17, 2014 at 12:02 pm #768283
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    Old Cranky

    I second the recommendation
    I second the recommendation for Argelese Gozost

    January 16, 2014 at 7:52 pm #768281
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    simon104

    Thanks for all the responses,
    Thanks for all the responses, much appreciated. We’ll be going there for just 3 days at the end of July once the Tour has passed through the Dordogne.

    January 14, 2014 at 10:39 pm #768279
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    Colin Peyresourde

    When are you thinking of
    When are you thinking of going? It can still be snowed over in May.

    January 14, 2014 at 10:37 pm #768277
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    Colin Peyresourde

    asterix wrote:You may or may

    asterix wrote:
    You may or may not like Lourdes as a place – I hate it, full of pilgrimage-related tacky gift shops. You could try Luz Ardiden, or Bareges which are much nicer and closer

    Lourdes is a hole. It always was. Luz is a great shout. I doubt there is much of Bareges left. But you start there then you’re half way up the Tourmalet (purists would say that Argeles Gazost is the real start from that side, but Luz is good enough).

    Cauterets and Cirque de Gavarnie are also two good rides in that valley. But you’ll want to get off and walk to the Cirque. It’s pretty magnificent.

    January 14, 2014 at 10:32 pm #768275
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    Colin Peyresourde

    Try PyreneesMultisport based
    Try PyreneesMultisport based in Luscan (bottom of the Valley that Bagneres-de-Luchon is in. You can do the Tourmalet, Peyresourde, Aspin, Port Bales, Portet Aspet and Superbagneres all from there. In fact there are very few climbs that are too far away.

    You may want to consider which side of the Tourmalet you do. Last year floods washed away Bareges and the roads were closed. I should think it has been repaired by now. But why wait till you get there to find out….so it makes choosing the right location more meaningful.

    PMS are run by an English couple whom you can hire bikes from and also have good route maps.

    An alternative is the little hotels at St. Marie de Campan. Basic, cheap and bike friendly. At the base of the Aspin, Tourmalet and Horquette D’Ancizan.

    January 14, 2014 at 5:29 pm #768273
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    stevemarks

    Argeles Gazost. Stayed at
    Argeles Gazost. Stayed at Logis Bon Repos, has bycycle safe keeping, and a pool. Its handy for Col’s de Soulor, Aubisque, Spandalles, Hautacam, and Luz Ardiden. amoungst many others. I can recommend the breakfasts too. Lovely little town with a casino and nice restaurants.

    http://www.logishotels.com/hotel/en/midi-pyrenees/hautes-pyrenees/hotel-argeles-gazost.html

    Steve

    January 14, 2014 at 2:29 pm #768271
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    asterix

    You may or may not like
    You may or may not like Lourdes as a place – I hate it, full of pilgrimage-related tacky gift shops. You could try Luz Ardiden, or Bareges which are much nicer and closer

    January 14, 2014 at 2:25 pm #768269
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    dave atkinson

    You could try bagneres de
    You could try bagneres de bigorre which is at the bottom of the valley up to campan. we stayed in a gite there one time, it’s a nice little town. you can go up the aspin from the junction at campan.

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