
Chemin de la Liberté – WWII Freedom Trail over the Pyrenees I 6 days I JULY I AUG I SEPT
The Chemin de la Liberté is a demanding but spectacular freedom trail of great historical interest. Over the course of four days you will follow the escape route used by thousands fleeing occupied France during World War II.
You will begin in St Girons, before trekking high into the Pyrenees. Here you you will stay in a mountain refuge at over 2,200m before descending into Spain. We offer the highest standard of wild camp support including pre camp buffet lunch, tent and cooking equipment transfer for wild camp, support staff and a sleeping bag and mat out service so you can travel lighter.
Click ‘reserve’ below to select your preferred trip dates. If you would like to travel on dates not available below, please contact us to enquire about alternative dates.
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Reviews 4 Reviews5/5
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Vacation Style Holiday Type
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Activity Level Tough - Trip grade 4
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6 - 25
Chemin de la Liberté – Freedom Trail, Ariege Pyrenees
Duration: This trek can be done in 5 or 6 days and includes 3.5 days of trekking.
Accommodation:
Option A – 5 days total, 1 night in an auberge, 1 night wild camp, 1 night high mountain refuge, 1 night hotel £575 per person for groups of more than 6 people.
Option B – 6 days total, 3.5 days trekking, 2 nights in an auberge, 1 night wild camp, 1 night high mountain refuge, 1 night hotel, £750 per person
Private groups – With Private groups of more than 6 people we can offer changes to the services mentioned to tailor this to the groups needs.
About Chemin de la Liberté – The Freedom Trail
Every year, the “Chemin de la Liberté ” trail inspires trekkers in the Pyrenees to make their own journey to commemorate the 782 Allied airmen and Jewish refugees who risked their lives escaping during World War II through Ariege.
Read BBC Radio 4 presenter Ed Stourton’s memories of his crossing on the commemorative walk in July 2011 here or watch a video of a fellow trekker’s journey here.
Dates & Availability: Trips available mid July – September. Please note these are booking up quickly. If you would just like to visit the Halifax bomber memorial site, please contact us. We offer this excursion from June.
- Accommodation and food as specified in the programme
- Transport to and from Toulouse Blagnac on a single timed transfer per group. Other transport options on request.
- Local transport as per the itinerary
- Guiding by a qualified International Mountain leader
- One guide to 10 guests maximum ratio
- Wild camp support – Three course evening meal and breakfast
- Tents carried in by our team
- Sleeping back and mat carry out on request by our team so you travel lighter
- Transfer of bags from location to location on the first 2 nights
- Buffet lunch at the Col de Core
- Flights
- Insurance
- Mountain snacks
- Any additional transport or accommodation needed if you have to leave the group for a medical or fitness reason
You will walk with only a day sack on the first 2 days of the trek and our team will meet you with your additional luggage at the end of the day.
Day 1 On the first night you will have the chance to sample local cuisine at a local restaurant in Seix.
Day 2 The second night offers a farm experience with all home grown and made produce at Aunac or Esbintz. All our clients report having had a fabulous meal brought to them by Adeline (Esbintz) or Francois (Aunac). You may sample sorbet made on site!
Day 3 On arrival at the col de la core you will receive a buffet lunch before the evening wild camp. For dinner we give you a 3 course meal including tasty starters that are carried in by our team.
Day 4 In the evening you will have a dinner provided by the Estagnous refuge and drinks are available from their bar
Day 5 Celebratory meal in Vielha A rewarding tapas meal with an excellent local wine selection and a great variety of gins and juices too!
Lunches: On most days you will receive a large and varied packed lunch but please do supplement with your own snacks.
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On the border On the border
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Joanna on Cap de Pecouch Joanna on Cap de Pecouch
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Descent to Espugues Descent to Espugues
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Freedom Trail Pyrenees Trekking The Freedom Trail is a demanding WW2 escape route trek from France over the Pyrenees Mountains into Spain. Local people risked their lives to help the thousands of allied servicemen and Jewish refugees flee to safety. The trekking is tough and steep, taking us through spectacular scenery.
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Sea of cloud outside Estagnous Sea of cloud outside Estagnous
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Freedom Trail, Pyrenees Trekking The Freedom Trail is a demanding WW2 escape route trek from France over the Pyrenees Mountains into Spain. Local people risked their lives to help the thousands of allied servicemen and Jewish refugees flee to safety. The trekking is tough and steep, taking us through spectacular scenery.
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Freedom Trail, Pyrenees Trekking The Freedom Trail is a demanding WW2 escape route trek from France over the Pyrenees Mountains into Spain. Local people risked their lives to help the thousands of allied servicemen and Jewish refugees flee to safety. The trekking is tough and steep, taking us through spectacular scenery.
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Freedom Trail, Pyrenees Trekking The Freedom Trail is a demanding WW2 escape route trek from France over the Pyrenees Mountains into Spain. Local people risked their lives to help the thousands of allied servicemen and Jewish refugees flee to safety. The trekking is tough and steep, taking us through spectacular scenery.
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Freedom Trail, Pyrenees Trekking Freedom Trail is a demanding WW2 escape route trek from France over the Pyrenees Mountains into Spain. Local people risked their lives to help the thousands of allied servicemen and Jewish refugees flee to safety. The trekking is tough and steep, taking us through spectacular scenery.
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Freedom Trail, Pyrenees Trekking The Freedom Trail is a demanding WW2 escape route trek from France over the Pyrenees Mountains into Spain. Local people risked their lives to help the thousands of allied servicemen and Jewish refugees flee to safety. The trekking is tough and steep, taking us through spectacular scenery.
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Sarah Kitchner Perrow Fundraisers Sarah Kitchner Perrow Fundraisers
Package Confirmed Dates | Trip Status Trip Status | Price (PP) Excluding Flights | Price (PP) Including Flights | |
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25/07/2021 - 30/07/2021
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Available |
£750.00 |
N/A |
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15/07/2021 - 20/07/2021
|
Spaces |
£750.00 |
N/A |
|
31/07/2021 - 05/08/2021
|
Available |
£750.00 |
N/A |
|
28/08/2021 - 02/09/2021
|
Spaces |
£750.00 |
N/A |
|
25/09/2021 - 30/09/2021
|
Available |
£750.00 |
N/A |
Fantastic I have no hesitation in recommending the freedom trail with Anne. It was Brilliant. The support team were excellent and everything was very well organised. Thank you. Steve
The trek was what I was expecting as the information had made it clear that it would be tough and you would need a reasonable level of fitness. Having said that it never felt too much, just stretching enough to make you know you had done something memorable, but it always felt achievable. The pack list was also good as you need decent light weight kit. What was your favourite part of the trip? (via Aula) I loved the scenery on the second night whils sitting drinking wine looking at the views after a wonderfully refreshing swim in the mountain lake. The climb on the second day was wonderful with waterfalls and sun streaming through the trees. Memorable. Rob
Absolutely loved it! Excellent organisation, spectacular scenery, great company and historically interesting. Will definitely be looking at some of your other trips.
"Just wanted to thank you for a wonderful time over the last week. You were a superb guide and I felt very safe in your hands. It was certainly a physical challenge for me and my caravan backpack but we all came through didn't we? I'd have gladly parted with my bouncing bomb at any stage during the trek but Francis and the boys would never have let me forget it! "