Getting to Grand Tourmalet
The main gateway airports for Grand Tourmalet and the Pic du Midi are Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrenees and Toulouse-Blagnac international airports; Tarbes-Lourdes is closest to the resort, but Toulouse-Blagnac offers more flights. The nearest TGV train station at Lourdes is only 48 km away from the resort.
© Pic du Midi N Strippe
The Grand Tourmalet ski area in the Hautes-Pyrenees, South West France, is located in the valley of the Bastan and connects the small mountain spa town of Barèges (1250 m) and the winter ski resort of La Mongie (1800 m) on either side of the Col du Tourmalet (road closed in winter), to form the largest ski resort in the French Pyrenees. Access is via the former Route nationale D918. Visitors can also stay overnight at the Pic du Midi which is reached by a two-stage cable car from La Mongie.
Nearest Airports to La Mongie, Bareges and Pic du Midi
Drive times to La Mongie (east of Col du Tournet) in good weather and normal traffic:
Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrenees Airport – 51 km / 1 hour
Pau-Pyrenees Airport – 101 km / 1 hour 30 mins
Toulouse-Blagnac Airport – 182 km / 2 hours 15 mins
Biarritz Airport – 205 km / 2 hours 30 mins
Carcassonne Airport – 261 km / 3 hours
Bordeaux Airport – 310 km / 3 hours 30 mins
Distances and drive times to Bareges (west of Col du Tournet) are very similar, but the access routes are different – see driving to Grand Tourmalet below.
Pau-Pyrenees, Biarritz and Carcassonne have few, if any, international flights.
If flying from the UK, Ryanair flies 4 times a week from London Stansted to Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrenees and services to Toulouse Blagnac Airport include 3 flights daily from London Heathrow with British Airways, 3 flights daily from London Gatwick and 1 flight daily from/to Bristol with Easy Jet, and 2 flights weekly to Manchester with Jet2.com.
Airport Transfers to Grand Tourmalet / Pic du Midi
Ski-Lifts Private Transfers to La Mongie / Bareges
Ski-Lifts offer hassle-free, door-to-door transfers from Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrenees and Toulouse-Blagnac airports to La Mongie and Bareges with 24/7 English language assistance if needed. Check transfer prices with Ski-Lifts and book online now >>>
La Boutique des Pyrenees
La Boutique des Pyrenees is a one-stop travel agency that can arrange transport, including airport transfers, as well as accommodation. Tel: +33 (0)5 62 56 70 00 or email [email protected]
Pay-per-seat Shuttle Bus Services
The airport shuttle bus service connecting Grand Tourmalet with Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrenees Airport runs on only two days of the week (currently Saturdays and Tuesdays). For further details and reservations, see the airport website (www.tlp.aeroport.fr) or book through La Boutique des Pyrenees.
Getting to Grand Tourmalet by Rail via Tarbes or Lourdes
The nearest TGV train stations are Gare de Tarbes and Gare de Lourdes, 48km / 1 hour and 38 km / 45 minutes from La Mongie and Bareges respectively. The high-speed train service between Paris Montparnasse and Tarbes-Lourdes runs about 4 times per day and the fastest services takes about 5 hours, although there are slower services as well. Go to www.voyages-sncf.com for details and to book online. The easiest way to get from the train station to the resort is by private transfer. This can be arranged online through Ski-Lifts. For public bus services check with the tourist office.
Driving to Grand Tourmalet
From Paris follow Green route Paris-Limoges-Auch-Les Pyrénées
From Bordeaux follow A62 / E72, motorway from Bordeaux, then exit at Langon and take A65 / A64 motorway to Pau – Tarbes then D821 /D918 to Bareges or D938/935 to Bagneres-de-Bigorre and D918 to La Mongie.
From Toulouse take A64 / E80 Bayonne-Toulouse motorway, then N21 / D821 towards Lourdes / Luz-Saint-Sauveur and D918 to Bareges.
D918 between La Mongie and Bareges closed in winter.
Average journey times:
Toulouse – Tarbes 1 hour 30 mins
Bordeaux – Tarbes 2 hours 30 mins
Montpellier – Tarbes 3 hours 30 mins
Paris – Tarbes 7 hours 30 mins
Channel ports – Tarbes c. 10-11 hours
The final leg of the journey from Tarbes to La Mongie or Bareges takes around 1 hour in good conditions.