Guidebook with maps/step-by-step
Day 1 - Walk down the Allées P. Sabatier, at the end of which you continue straight ahead on a wide path that runs along the left bank of the Ariège and passes near Savignac. Continue along the left bank, crossing the main road to reach a road leading to Perles et Castelet. In the center of the village, turn left to cross the main road again via a small tunnel. The route begins on a track that climbs south-westwards, then heads north-westwards, and after a few minutes gives way to a path that climbs steeply up this north-facing slope. Pass the Bisort hut (1275m), then the Tessoula and Mouscadou huts (basic accommodation, sleeps 2-3). After the Mouscadou hut, head west away from the stream onto the moorland and climb to the summit of Pic des Carmilles. At the summit, turn due south up the ridge line for about 50 m, then turn sideways onto the more forested west-facing slope until you find the Bretounels hut (1612 m - sleeps 4 - fireplace).
Day 2 - Climb through sparse forest and then moorland in a general south-easterly direction to the Campalou ridge (Sarrat). Follow it southwards. After about 1 hour, the path joins the GR10 from the Plateau de Beille. It then overlooks the pretty Embizon pond. Continue south on the Isards ridge. At the Col de Belh (2247m), turn right (south-west) and head more or less sideways towards the Col de Terre Nègre (2304m), then descend south-west towards the Refuge du Rulhe (2185m).
Day 3 - From the refuge, climb up the valley to the Col des Calmettes (2318m). Head northeast on the flank, then descend to a small estagnol, which you skirt to the left. Then skirt a knoll and descend due east into a small combe with a stream running through it. Climb east-north-east through a scree of large boulders, overlooking the Etang Bleu, then onto the steep final ridge to reach the Pyramide de Lherbès (2439m). Follow the northeast ridge for a while, then turn right (south) to start the descent. Take two switchbacks, then continue eastwards on the flank, descending into the valley. At 2,056 m, you reach a flat area and approach the Lhause stream. Follow its left bank to overlook the Comte pond. At the end of a new flat, descend to l'Estagnol du Comte (1652m). Follow the left bank of the Mourguillou stream to a bridge formed by a large slab: the Pont des Pierres (1538m). Cross the bridge and descend into the undergrowth until you reach a forest track, which you follow for two hairpin bends before finding a path that gradually approaches the stream. Continue downhill to the village of Mérens.
Day 4 - Climb to the church of Mérens d'en Haut, on the western slope, following the GR 10. Continue uphill along the paths that cut twice through the twists and turns of the road. At the top, turn right and leave the road to the left after 100 m to find a path heading south-east. You pass the sulphur springs. Head up the Nabre valley on the right bank, always close to the stream. At 1730m, cross a footbridge. The path takes us to the Jasse de la Présasse (1832m), from where we change general direction, turning south to enter the narrow mouth of the Estagnas ravine. Climb up the left bank of the stream to Lac d'Estagnas (2056m), which you skirt to the right before climbing up again to Porteille des Bésines (2333m). Continue south-west down a gully that is a little steep at first. At around 2220m, you come to a grassy flat and head due south away from the stream to reach the Refuge des Bésines (2104m).
Day 5 - Descend a few dozen meters to the south, then more steeply to the west, still following the GR10 markers. Climb up the Coume d'Anyell stream, sometimes on the right bank, sometimes on the left, to the Col de Coume d'Anyell (2470m). Beware: below the col, snow may persist late into early summer. Descend due east, still on the GR 10, then quickly abandon it to continue on the flank, following the GRP Tour des Montagnes d'Ax eastwards. This takes you over the pass separating the upper Orlu and Lanoux valleys. On this northern slope, the landscape becomes much more mineral, lined with rocky needles. The downhill path now wanders between the rocks. After about 5 minutes' descent, you find the GR7, which you follow north-west to the Faury pond, then down the valley through a succession of small ponds to the En Beys pond. Follow the left bank to the En Beys refuge (1970m).
Day 6 - Retrace your steps from the previous day to the end of the étang d'en Beys, then, at the crossroads between the GR7 and the GRP, follow the right-hand path through the grassland, passing between two ponds. The path then climbs steeply through the mineral world to the Couillade d'En Beys (2370m). From here, you overlook the impressive cirque of the Peyrisses ponds. Cross the pass and descend due north (be careful not to try to reach the outlet stream of the Peyrisses ponds), passing close to small lakes. The path climbs a knoll before descending into the talweg (running north-west) carved out by the Coume d'Eychouzé stream. At around 1950m, you reach a flat area (hut) that leads to the southern end of the large Naguille pond. Bypass it on the left bank. At the dam, descend a few steep switchbacks, cross the outlet stream via a footbridge (1813m) and then embark on the long, hard descent through a majestic beech forest to the Forges d'Orlu (912 m). Stay on the left bank of the Oriège and follow the river through undergrowth to the village of Orlu.
Day 2 - Climb through sparse forest and then moorland in a general south-easterly direction to the Campalou ridge (Sarrat). Follow it southwards. After about 1 hour, the path joins the GR10 from the Plateau de Beille. It then overlooks the pretty Embizon pond. Continue south on the Isards ridge. At the Col de Belh (2247m), turn right (south-west) and head more or less sideways towards the Col de Terre Nègre (2304m), then descend south-west towards the Refuge du Rulhe (2185m).
Day 3 - From the refuge, climb up the valley to the Col des Calmettes (2318m). Head northeast on the flank, then descend to a small estagnol, which you skirt to the left. Then skirt a knoll and descend due east into a small combe with a stream running through it. Climb east-north-east through a scree of large boulders, overlooking the Etang Bleu, then onto the steep final ridge to reach the Pyramide de Lherbès (2439m). Follow the northeast ridge for a while, then turn right (south) to start the descent. Take two switchbacks, then continue eastwards on the flank, descending into the valley. At 2,056 m, you reach a flat area and approach the Lhause stream. Follow its left bank to overlook the Comte pond. At the end of a new flat, descend to l'Estagnol du Comte (1652m). Follow the left bank of the Mourguillou stream to a bridge formed by a large slab: the Pont des Pierres (1538m). Cross the bridge and descend into the undergrowth until you reach a forest track, which you follow for two hairpin bends before finding a path that gradually approaches the stream. Continue downhill to the village of Mérens.
Day 4 - Climb to the church of Mérens d'en Haut, on the western slope, following the GR 10. Continue uphill along the paths that cut twice through the twists and turns of the road. At the top, turn right and leave the road to the left after 100 m to find a path heading south-east. You pass the sulphur springs. Head up the Nabre valley on the right bank, always close to the stream. At 1730m, cross a footbridge. The path takes us to the Jasse de la Présasse (1832m), from where we change general direction, turning south to enter the narrow mouth of the Estagnas ravine. Climb up the left bank of the stream to Lac d'Estagnas (2056m), which you skirt to the right before climbing up again to Porteille des Bésines (2333m). Continue south-west down a gully that is a little steep at first. At around 2220m, you come to a grassy flat and head due south away from the stream to reach the Refuge des Bésines (2104m).
Day 5 - Descend a few dozen meters to the south, then more steeply to the west, still following the GR10 markers. Climb up the Coume d'Anyell stream, sometimes on the right bank, sometimes on the left, to the Col de Coume d'Anyell (2470m). Beware: below the col, snow may persist late into early summer. Descend due east, still on the GR 10, then quickly abandon it to continue on the flank, following the GRP Tour des Montagnes d'Ax eastwards. This takes you over the pass separating the upper Orlu and Lanoux valleys. On this northern slope, the landscape becomes much more mineral, lined with rocky needles. The downhill path now wanders between the rocks. After about 5 minutes' descent, you find the GR7, which you follow north-west to the Faury pond, then down the valley through a succession of small ponds to the En Beys pond. Follow the left bank to the En Beys refuge (1970m).
Day 6 - Retrace your steps from the previous day to the end of the étang d'en Beys, then, at the crossroads between the GR7 and the GRP, follow the right-hand path through the grassland, passing between two ponds. The path then climbs steeply through the mineral world to the Couillade d'En Beys (2370m). From here, you overlook the impressive cirque of the Peyrisses ponds. Cross the pass and descend due north (be careful not to try to reach the outlet stream of the Peyrisses ponds), passing close to small lakes. The path climbs a knoll before descending into the talweg (running north-west) carved out by the Coume d'Eychouzé stream. At around 1950m, you reach a flat area (hut) that leads to the southern end of the large Naguille pond. Bypass it on the left bank. At the dam, descend a few steep switchbacks, cross the outlet stream via a footbridge (1813m) and then embark on the long, hard descent through a majestic beech forest to the Forges d'Orlu (912 m). Stay on the left bank of the Oriège and follow the river through undergrowth to the village of Orlu.
