Walking holidays Cathar castles – Aude and Ariege

Day 1 : Welcome at Padern, transport to Montsegur.
Welcome at Padern in the morning, transport to Montsegur. Installation in the lodge, warm up hike (optional) from the village and castle free visit. The Pog of Montsegur symbolize the resistance of the Cathar church facing the church of Rome, but also facing the King of France who took possession of the place after the surrender and the pyre of 1244.
Evening meal and night. 4 km – Walk 01h00 – Positive elevation 220 m.

Day 2 : From Montsegur to Belcaire.
The step ensures the transition from Ariege to Aude department, from Olmes to Sault countries. It is the longest and most physical step, due to the very important elevation. You will cross the beautiful gorges of Frau to arrive at Comus on the Sault plateau, 1 km long cut in the limestone, their name refers to fright and evokes the wild side of the place.
You will cross part of the Sault plateau to go to Belcaire.
Installation in the hotel, evening meal and night. 22 km – Walk 08h00 – Positive elevation 1481 m.

Day 3 : From Belcaire to Puivert.
You will walk through the beautiful royal forests of the Pays de Sault where the vegetation is very dense and almost exclusively forest, the moors are covered with box, heather and juniper. After the plateau of Sault, you will continue your route to Bunague Pays de l’Ours, then to the castle of Puivert, poets and troubadours refuge of the Middle Ages.
Installation in the lodge, evening meal and night. 24 km – Walk 07h00 – Positive elevation 533 m.

Day 4 : From Puilaurens to Prugnanes.
Transfer by minibus from Puivert to Puilaurens castle, jewel of medieval architecture (free visit). After the visit, departure of the hike. You will follow and cross the limestone barrier to Caudies de Fenouillèdes to cross the valley and arrive at Prugnanes.
Installation in the lodge, evening meal and night. 16km – Walk 04h00 – Positive elevation 414 m.

Day 5 : From Prugnanes to Duilhac sous Peyrepertuse.
You will walk to the beautiful gorges of Galamus. Then, between holm oaks and juniper trees, you will cross the Corbières crest to discover the imposing castle of Peyrepertuse (free visit) .
Installation in the hotel, evening meal and night. 19 km – Walk 06h00 – Positive elevation 952 m.

Day 6 : From Duilhac sous Peyrepertuse to Padern
You will descend through the scrubland and walk along the vineyards to the village of Cucugnan, famous for its priest’s legend. Then you will make a small ascent to the castle of Quéribus, guardian of the old border. Finally, after a pleasant descent on Padern, you will see the castle of Padern which overhangs the village. Release of the group on the spot at the end of the afternoon. 16km – Walk 05h00 – Positive elevation 775 m.

Dates : On request

Level : Moderated level between 4 and 8 hours of walking each day with elevation gain from 220 to 1500 m maximum.

Accomodation : 3 nights in lodge and 2 nights in hotel according to availability (double room)

Catering : B&B or half board* (breakfast and evening meal) or full board (breakfast, picnic and evening meal) during 5 days.
* The picnic lunch of the 5th day is included in the half board rate because there is no shop on the village of Prugnanes.

Personal equipment (to provide) : Mountain shoes, change of shoes, warm an drain clothes, cap and hat, toiletries, cereal bars …

Your organizer : Mountain guide (AEM), child of Catalonia
Languages: French, Catalan, Spanish, English.

Luggage Transportation :
Luggage transportation during the tour, from hotel to hotel (1 luggage per person). You will carry only your things for the day.

Transport : 2 transfers during your stay : Day 1 from Padern to Montsegur and Day 4 from Puivert to Puilaurens.

Prices include:
Practice of activity without guide
Roadbook provision with 1 map / day (traced path with markers), compass and GPS if you want
Transfers as described and taxes
Luggage transportation from accomodation to accomodation.
Accomodation in lodge (3 nights) and hotel (2 nights) in double room (B&B or half board or full board).

Prices do not include:
The travel from your home to Padern
The car parking (public at Padern)
Guide (Self-guided formula)
Lunches
Drinks and personal expenses
Multi-risk insurance (optional)
Possible cultural visits (castles, museum).

Period : March, April, May, June, September, October (not starting in July, August, November, December, January, February)

Nombre minimum de participants : Pour que ce séjour soit élaboré, le minimum de participant est de 5 personnes.

Minimum number of participants: So that this trip is elaborated, the minimum number of participants is at least 5 persons.

Insurance (optional):
This contract is underwritten by the company Europ’Assistance. This insurance includes reimbursement of the order, after deduction of a 50 euros deductible, registration fee and the cost of insurance.
In the case of a cancellation, you must inform us in writing as soon as possible, so as not to let it run cancellation penalties. Events guaranteed in case of cancellation: accident, disease or death of the insured or his spouse, ascendants and descendants, extensive property damages caused by fire or natural elements reaching the insurant in his personal properties and requiring his presence , redundancy of the insured, inescapable modification of leave by the employer and unemployed finding work. (See cancellation conditions)
– Cancellation insurance
– Medical assistance, repatriation and transportation
– Stoling and lost luggage

Gps :
We provide you freely a GPS with data path, waypoints locating hotels and point of interest. To take advantage of this offer, a deposit of 200 € will be requested and a lease contract will be signed between the two parties. The deposit will be returned at the end of the tour at the return of the equipment. Do not forget to make your request for provision of GPS when booking.

Booking & payment :
You can make an online reservation using the “choice options” button in the tab “Dates and Prices”, gives you access to our secure payment Payplug service. The totality of the tour is payable.
You also have the option to contact us using the registration form by clicking on the Contact tab, be sure to complete all fields. We will require a first payment of 20% on booking and the balance 1 month before your departure date.

Stay cancellation :
In case of cancellation by you, a cancellation fee will be retained by Inextremis Aventura.
You have a right of withdrawal of 7 days following the date of booking your trip in a time of 30 days before the day of activity.

A more than 29 days before departure: 10% package per person for administrative costs
Between 29 and 21 days: 25% of the total
Between 20 and 8 days: 50% of the total
Between 7 and 2 days: 75% of the total
Within 2 days: 100% of the total

You have the possibility to pay the whole of your stay or to deposit a deposit of 20% on the total amount of your stay. Payment of the balance will be made one month before the start date of your stay.