There are several classic hikes south and southwest of Luchon, though with one exception there's no public transport to the various trailheads. The exception is to Granges d'Astau, jump-off point for the Lac d'Oô, 14km southwest of Luchon, and served by three daily shuttle buses (July–Sept). Here, you'll find the Auberge d'Astau (tel 05.61.79.35.63; €30–40; closed mid-Oct to March), which also functions as a gîte d'étape and restaurant. From the car park here a busy section of the GR10 climbs an hour to the dammed lake, where Refuge Chez Tintin (tel 05.61.79.12.29, www.hebergementsdefrance.com/lac-oo; closed Nov–April) perches beyond the west end of the dam. The onward path leads to the Refuge d'Espingo just below the Col d'Espingo, exactly an hour above Oô. The hut here (tel 05.61.79.20.01; staffed late May to early Oct) overlooks the beautiful, undammed Lac d'Espingo, and the frontier ridge; most day-trippers stop here, as beyond lies serious high-mountain country. If the shuttle's not available, you can also get to the lakes by taking the téléphérique from Luchon up to Superbagnères, then continuing west to the Refuge d'Espingo (5hr total).Another possible walking route from Luchon is to follow the Pique valley south 11km, partly on the D125, to the derelict Hospice de France (1385m), originally founded by the Knights of St John, from where a signposted path climbs a steep, narrow valley to the Boums du Port (2hr 15min), four small lakes beside the highest of which is the small but welcoming Refuge de Vénasque (tel & fax 05.61.94.31.96; closed mid-Oct to May), which serves unusually good meals. Suitably fortified, you can tackle the short, sharp path-climb (prone to avalanches in spring) to the notch on the frontier ridge known as the Port de Venasque (3hr from Hospice de France), with superb views of the Maladeta massif and the Pico d'Aneto, the highest summit of the Pyrenees (3404m). Luchon has two downhill ski resorts within striking distance: the low-altitude Superbagnères, right above the town and accessible by téléphérique (only accessible with a ski pass in winter, otherwise April daily 1.30–5pm; May to mid-June & Sept to mid-Oct Sat & Sun 1.30–5pm; mid-June to Aug daily 9.45am–12.15pm & 1.30–6pm; €7 return, €4 one way), and the higher, better designed Peyragudes 15km by road west.
| 