Accommodation options

Host

Thomas Galpin

Thomas is a French mountain lover living near the Pyrénnées. He left Toulouse two years ago in order to be closer to the mountains and adopt a «local» life.
Thomas has competed a lot in the past (mostly ultra trail and adventure races), which has developed its adventure spirit. He is constantly searching for creating new adventures and sharing good moments with friends in the mountains.

Follow him in Strava

Day by day:

Day 1: Meet up in Central Toulouse – Welcome Yoga Practice and Home Cooked Dinner 

We will meet for coffee in Central Toulouse before our transfer to Gaudiès.
After taking time to arrive and settle, we will meet in the garden of Zero Neuf for a restorative yoga practice with a panoramic view of the high Pyrénées mountains.

Later we will gather for a home cooked welcome dinner prepared by our Host Joss at her home and our accommodation, Zero Neuf. 

Accomodation:                                                                                               Lunch & Dinner:

Zero Neuf, an 1800’s converted Farm House                                     Included

Day 2: Gaudies – 6 km Farm Trail, Swim and Wildlife Walk

We get an early rise for a meditation and wild swim in front of the lodge in L´Hers river. After a homestyle breakfast, we gather for our first run and introduction to trail running in the area. The run will take us on a 6 km loop starting from our house, above the rolling farmland and along the L’Hers River.

In the afternoon, we will enjoy a delicious lunch and a chance to delve into a Birdlife walk with local Wildlife Enthusiast, Jo.

Accomodation:                                                                           Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner:

Zero Neuf, an 1800’s converted Farm House.                 Included

Day 3: Gaudies to Refuge du Fourcat – Hike to Mountain Refuge – 8 km hike.

On this day our local mountain guide, Thomas Galpin, will take us through untouched forest and up to what will be our home for the next two nights. This refuge perched high above 2000 m overlooks three small lakes, and those that wish can have the opportunity to swim in their waters. During this part of our adventure, we will be carrying our own belongings up to the refuge, so please remember to pack smartly and lightly, and be sure to use a suitable hiking bag.

Accomodation:                                                                     Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner:

Refuge du Fourcat                                                               Included

Day 4: L’Etang du Fourcat – Feature Mountain Run, Triastagne 2878 m – 17 km Run.

Today, we climb above the Refuge on a looped course over two mountain passes and over the Tristagne mountain range.

Today will be the most challenging and we will be diligent in our preparation ensuring everyone has a rewarding experience. We will eat once again in the refuge with food cooked by the resident Guardian.

Accomodation:                                                                                            Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner:

Refuge du Fourcat                                                                                     Included

Day 5: Descent from the Mountains – 8 km hike and transfer to Gaudies via Foix.

Hiking out the mountain range we will reach the old Roman town of Foix for lunch. We will then travel to Gaudiés for a farewell dinner and a final yoga practice.

Accomodation:                                                                                            Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner:

Zero neuf, an 1800’s converted Farm House                                   Included

Day 6: Final Morning Run – Breakfast – Transfer to Toulouse-Blagnac Airport.

In this morning we’ll gather for a final run and share a farewell breakfast to close the experience.

Breakfast:

Included

Shuttle to Toulouse Airport: 10:00 am.

Please arrange onward travel for no earlier than 3:00 pm

Packing List

Keep your packing as light as possible
Consider layers of breathable clothing for sun, cold and wind.

• -Hiking backpack 30L for Days 3,4 and 5.
• Breathable face mask, antibacterial gel (essential to stay in the group).
• Quick-dry running tights and shorts.
• Long sleeve and short sleeve quick-dry shirts.
• Warm jacket or polar fleece.
• Windbreaker jacket (compact).
  Sandals, bathing suit and quick-drying towel.
• Trail running shoes.
• Running socks.
• Night Lamp or headlamp.
• Biodegradable sunblock, hat or cap and sunglasses.
• Biodegradable repellent.
• Personal hygiene and medical kit (recommendation with basic medicines for any ailment).
• Hydration vest or refillable bottles 2.5 lts.
• Thermos for coffee or tea.
• Water resistant 1 day back-pack
• Foldable yoga mat *let us know if you do not have access to one
• Energy snacks (bars, fruits, nuts).
• Small waterproof bag (cameras, phones, etc) in case it rains during our runs (optional).
• Hiking poles (optional).

Weather

The average minimum temperature in Ariège in August is 13.0°C (55°F). The amount of rain in August is low with an average of 6 days of rain in the month. The average maximum daytime temperature lies around 24.0°C (75.2°F).

More Resources

INCLUDED:

• Transportation from and to the airport.
• Transportation throughout the whole experience.
• Specially designed trails along the magical landscapes of the French Pyrénées mountain range.
• Carefully curated culinary and cultural experiences.
• Exclusively designed yoga and meditation sessions.
• All food and lodging needs throughout the experience.
• Global entrance ticket to all the eco touristic areas.
• Knowledgeable and professional local guides.
• Aire Libre & partner brands merchandise.
• La Familia Global Community Membership ($ 25 USD value)
• Professional photographer specialized in sports and action

NOT INCLUDED:

• Inbound and outbound flights to Toulouse / France.
• We encourage you to book a personal travel insurance.
• Extra Meals – Drinks or Alcoholic beverages.

DIFFICULTY
High: This experience has been designed for trail runners with previous experience, used to run 15-20 km per day in rough terrain with elevation gain.

Logistics / Getting There

Fly to Toulouse – Blagnac Airport (IATA: TLS, OACI: LFBO), making sure to arrive at least a couple of hours before the retreat begins and to leave a couple of hours after.

Arrival | Wednesday, August 30th, 2023

Anytime before 13:00 hrs | Toulouse – Blagnac Airport

Farewell | Monday, September 4th, 2023

Any time after 13:00 hrs | Toulouse – Blagnac Airport 

Aire Libre Running will provide a van shuttle from and to the airport.

Travel Specs

• Traveleres no longer need to present a sworn declaration thay they are not infected with COVID-19 and have the option to take an antigen test upon arrival into France.
• There is no quarantine in effect upon arrival
• Check visa requirements depending on the country of residence.
• We recommend passengers to acquire travel insurance to cover Medical and COVID-19 expenses.

Special Notes

Closer to the experience, you will be invited to a WhatsApp group chat.

We use Whatsapp to connect with the group and share detailed info about the trip.Please make sure to download the app so you don’t miss important communication.

Our itineraries are designed to be flexible and subject to change according to weather, participant interest or other conditions.