…you can get here by airplane

We don’t care how you get here, just get here if you can.

Apologies for the earworm (you can thank Oleta Adams for that - now we’re showing our ages!).

Travel to the Pyrenees is super simple no matter what method you choose, here’s our guide to making things even easier for you. This blog is mainly for getting to our corner of France from the UK and Ireland but there are some hints and tips that will help you from all around the globe.

Getting to Luchon by tandem

Planes

Our closest airports are Tarbes/Lourdes (102km, 1hr15), Toulouse (146km, 1hr45 ) and Carcassonne (208km, 2hr30), here’s a handy table with flights from the UK and Ireland to these airports.

Flight summary UK and Ireland to South West France

When we look for our own flights, our first port of call is always skyscanner to give you an idea of times and prices without the airlines using their sneaky bots to work out demand and putting prices up. When you’ve chosen your ideal flights book with the individual airlines on either RyanAir, EasyJet, British Airways.

Flying over the channel

Airport transfers

We can help organise airport transfers for larger groups, we use a local bus company for this. If you’re travelling with bikes, skis, snowboards or paragliders we’ll make sure that they bring a trailer so you can all travel in comfort.

For smaller groups we can welcome you and return you to the airport. If you’re having a longer stay in a number of places in the Pyrenees we can also help move you and/or your luggage (if you’re on your bike) to some of the other fabulous accommodation across these mountains. It’s also worth checking out BlaBlaCar, a widely used car sharing site in France.

Train ride to the Pyrenees

Trains

Whilst direct train travel to Bagneres de Luchon isn’t possible until 2024 (we’ll have a sparkly new hydrogen powered train from the end of the valley), it’s easy to get from the UK and even further afield. Hop on the Eurostar to Paris and then jump onto one of the high speed trains to Montrejeau via either Bordeaux or Toulouse.

The Man in Seat 61 is a brilliant resource for hints and tips on worldwide train travel.

To book your seats use the SNCF website, if your school French is a little rusty, do your research on the english language version but try and book using the French version as we’ve found that sometimes its much better value (cheeky scamps!).

Automobiles

If you fancy a drive through the stunningly diverse French countryside, there are numerous highlights to break up your trip. Maybe a drive over the magnificent Millau (pronounced meow) viaduct, visit Europes highest sand dune at Pilat, find the swimming pool in La Rochelle (yes we used the Tricolor too!), go brandy tasting in Cognac, marvel at the medieval ramparts in Dinan or have a drive around the world famous Le Mans race track.

Classic 2 CV

There are various ways to cross the channel, the super fast eurotunnel or the well known dover to Calais ferry route. It’s also possible to cut some corners and make your drive a little shorter by taking the ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe, Portsmouth to Caen, Poole to St Malo or cut the biggest corner possible and travel from Plymouth to Santander or Bilbao in Spain. Our friends at Freewheeling France have a great article detailing the popular ferry routes from the UK and Ireland here

For tips on routes we love using www.viamichelin.com as it has options to visit sites of interest en route and calculates the cost of travel too. There’s also trusty google maps and Travel France for loads of advice.

Electric vehicles 

If you’re lucky enough to have an electric vehicle you’ll love driving in France. The charging network is brilliant, most town halls have a charging point close by. Additionally, use the app that your car manufacturer recommends to pick and choose the best and fastest charging points. Enjoy a leisurely drive through France knowing that your next charging point is easily accessible.

We think we’ve covered most things, but please ask if you have any questions.