Five days, roughly 900 kilometres, combining the medieval Périgord with the high passes of the Hautes-Pyrenees. Begin in Sarlat, ride south through Rocamadour and the Lot valley, cross the Gers into the foothills, spend two days on the high cols — Soulor, Aubisque, Spandelles, Luz Ardiden, Tourmalet, Hourquette d'Ancizan, Portet — and loop north back to the Dordogne.
Day 1 — Sarlat to Rocamadour and South
Leave Sarlat on the D704 south and detour to Rocamadour before noon — you want to be there before the day-trip coaches arrive. After Rocamadour, continue south via the D673 through the Lot valley toward Figeac, then swing west through the Gers toward Auch — wide, rolling, uncrowded roads through Armagnac country. Overnight in Auch or Mirande.
Day 2 — Auch to the Pyrenees Foothills
Head south toward Tarbes and then Lourdes. The foothills begin to appear around 40 kilometres south of Auch. Lourdes is a useful overnight stop: good fuel options, numerous hotels, and direct access to both the Tourmalet valley and the Aubisque valley.
"Two days, seven passes, and the particular feeling of a range that gives back precisely as much as you put in. The Pyrenees do not do casual."
Days 3 & 4 — The Col Days
Day 3: Lourdes south to Luz-Saint-Sauveur, then the Spandelles, then Luz Ardiden for the summit view, and finish with the Tourmalet from the west. Overnight at Sainte-Marie-de-Campan or Bagnères-de-Bigorre. Day 4: The Hourquette d'Ancizan from Ancizan to Sainte-Marie, then the Aspin, then south to Saint-Lary and up to the Portet. Plan 150–170km maximum and start early both days.
Day 5 — North to Sarlat
Head north from Lourdes through the Gers on a different route from the outbound. You arrive back in Sarlat in the late afternoon with five days, seven passes, two medieval cliff-face villages, and a great deal of good road behind you.
The Five-Day Loop — Summary
- Total distance Approximately 850–950km depending on col choices
- Daily average 150–190km — col days shorter by distance but longer by time
- Difficulty Intermediate to advanced — col days require mountain riding experience
- Best season June and September
- Base for col days Lourdes or Luz-Saint-Sauveur
- Guided version Available as part of our Grand Tour Northern Extension
