REFUGE RIDE
5 day bikepacking trip into the Ariège wilderness
Sitting in the garden at Zero Neuf, the view of the magnificent haute Pyrénées fills the skyline. Nestled amongst these ancient rocks are our region’s remote mountain cabins. Invisible from here, these humble buildings have long provided food and shelter to shepherds, mountaineers, climbers and hikers.
Lucky for us many of the Ariège based refuge are also accessible by bike and to get to them from Zero Neuf you need to ride through the region from North to South and that means traversing all of the areas best bits. We’re taking our own version of experience, adventure and escape and shifting it to a whole new level.
Our Refuge Rides are five day bikepacking trips, plotted along delicious routes designed to get you to these amazing high altitude locations the slow and scenic way. We let nature set the schedule and leave life behind as we ride into the wilderness and let the beauty of the haute Pyrénées do its thing. We’ll climb to a place where the human world gives way to the natural world and up here it has complete control of the playlist.
The terrain is challenging; on road, track and trail but we take our time, a reminder that the refuge ride is an adventure not a race. The rewards are plenty but this trip if not for the faint of heart; weather in the mountains can be unpredictable, days can be long and the vertical gain is high. Expect to put in a big shift on the bike; a good level of fitness and experience on the bike are imperative.
Starting and finishing at Zero Neuf HQ your first and last night will be spent here with all the usual creature comforts. The remaining three nights are in pre booked cabins and whilst refuge accommodation is basic, the experience is elevated by the resident warden who prepare delicious home-cooked food, the chance to share stories with other guests and the sheer joy of waking to the silence of the mountains.
Interested in becoming a Refuge Rider? The trips are limited so click on the contact link below to find out when our 2023 trips leave.
