Arreau / Pyrenees

Snowshoeing and igloo camping weekend

4,7/5 (11 reviews)

Réf : NKGYGH

Decathlon Travel >
Stay Hiking / Trekking >
Snowshoeing and igloo camping weekend

In summary

Sports

Hiking / Trekking , Snowshoeing
Duration
2 days
Level
Intermediate

Levels

Hiking / Trekking

Snowshoeing

Beginner

For those wishing to walk for up to 3 hours with minimal elevation gain (max. 300m) along roads, tracks, trails, or rolling terrain. Suitable for everyone.

Intermediate

For those wishing to hike for 4 to 5 hours a day, covering an elevation gain of around 600m on trails. You hike occasionally and are in good physical condition.

Confirmed

For those wishing to hike for up to 6 hours a day and/or cover an elevation gain of 600 to 800 meters, both on and off-trail. High-altitude sections are possible. You engage in a sporting activity once a week, hike regularly, and are in very good physical condition.

Advanced

For those wishing to undertake multi-day hikes involving over 6 hours of walking and an elevation gain of 700 to 1,200 meters, off-trail or over rugged terrain. High-altitude sections are possible. You engage in endurance sports several times a week, hike regularly, and are in excellent physical condition.

Expert

For those who want a challenging hike of 7 to 8 hours per day with over 1200 meters of elevation gain off-trail or on rough terrain. High-altitude sections. You have been practicing high-intensity endurance sports several times a week for several years, and you are training for this event.

Beginner

For those wishing to walk for 3 to 4 hours with minimal elevation gain (max. 300m) along roads, tracks, or trails, or across rolling terrain. Suitable for everyone.

Intermediate

For those who wish to hike for 4 to 5 hours a day, covering an elevation gain of approximately 300 to 500 meters on trails. You hike occasionally and are in good physical condition.

Confirmed

For those wishing to hike for approximately 6 hours a day and/or cover an elevation gain of 500 to 800 meters, both on and off-trail. High-altitude sections are possible. You engage in sports activities 1 to 2 times a week, hike regularly, and are in very good physical condition.

Advanced

For those wishing to undertake multi-day hikes involving over 6 hours of walking and 1,000 meters of elevation gain, off-trail or on rugged terrain. High-altitude sections are possible. You engage in endurance sports 2 to 3 times a week, hike regularly, and are in excellent physical condition.

Expert

For those who want to hike intensely for 7 to 8 hours a day with over 1,000 meters of elevation gain off-trail or on rough terrain. High-altitude sections. You have been practicing high-intensity endurance sports several times a week for several years.
Destination
Arreau / Pyrenees
Age
From the age of 18
CO₂-Emissions
4.78 kg CO2
Type of stay

This group trip is perfect for travelers who want to experience a sporting adventure with other enthusiasts and be guided.

Type of stay
In a group
Languages

French

English

Spanish

In a few words

Building an igloo high in the mountains and spending a night in it is possible! With the guidance of a professional , you'll construct your own snow shelter, provided the snow conditions are sufficient and safe. If there isn't enough snow, the experience remains unique: a large tipi with a stove can accommodate up to 8 people for a meal and an evening, or even overnight. Tents are also available, and the more adventurous can sleep under the stars or a tarp. This trip is accessible to everyone, even without snowshoeing or construction experience. After building, you'll stroll under a starry sky before enjoying a cheese fondue and snuggling up in your winter shelter. A night in the winter mountains , perfect for a magical weekend !

The highlights

A fresh but safe experience
Build and sleep in a snow shelter (depending on conditions)
Evolution in small groups

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Photos

Chloé - verified review - february 2025

PATRICIA - verified review - february 2025

Sandrine - verified review - march 2024

Sport

Level

Hiking / Trekking

Intermediate

For those wishing to hike for 4 to 5 hours a day, covering an elevation gain of around 600m on trails. You hike occasionally and are in good physical condition.

The expert's opinion

This weekend is not reserved for extreme sports enthusiasts, however, depending on the weather conditions you will have to navigate through snow of varying depths (if there is any) with an average of 400 to 500m of positive elevation gain, all while carrying your overnight gear (sleeping bag).

In figures

Snowshoes

Average duration/day: 3h
Average distance/day: 6 km
Average daily elevation gain: 200 m
Average daily descent: 100 m

Management

During this stay, several supervisors will be present to guide and assist you, ensuring your comfort and safety throughout the trip.

Band : 1 supervisor for 1 to 8 people

Languages spoken:

French

English

Spanish

Accompagnateur en montagne

You are accompanied by a mountain guide specializing in nights in igloos.

Guillaume

Guillaume or a member of his team will guide you through this unique experience.

Learn more about supervision

Program

Day 1

Day 2

Igloo construction
- Activity Snowshoes
- Duration of the activity 3h
- Distance 6 km
- Positive elevation gain 400 m
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
The day's activities will begin with an introduction and organization of the picnic lunch . The group will then equip themselves with snowshoes or small chains to travel to the area near the winter bivouac. We will bring the necessary equipment to build snow shelters in the afternoon. Depending on the snow conditions and the family size (young or older children), an igloo can accommodate a maximum of 2 to 4 people.
After a light snack and changing out of wet clothes we will set off to catch the sunset and move about in the nighttime atmosphere with the starry sky above our heads.
Back to the cabin to recharge with a "Pyrenean" fondue and a nice little dessert.
Then comes the long-awaited moment to return to your shelter and slip into your sleeping bag to enjoy this unusual night!
Day 1
The afternoon
- Activity Snowshoes
- Duration of the activity 3h
- Distance 6 km
- Negative elevation 200 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Breakfast, prepared by your guide , awaits you in the warmth of the cabin. Time to share your impressions of your Nordic adventure and then ease back into civilization!
Day 2

Note

The program may be modified for various reasons such as the weather, or the physical conditions of the participants.

In case of lack of snow and if it is impossible to make an igloo the stay will not be cancelled because we will be able to go hiking and sleep in a tipi or attempt a winter bivouac.

It's not the mountain that adapts to you, but the other way around!

Accommodation

⛺️ Bivouac / Tent - Day 1

You will sleep in your winter bivouac.

Even if there's no snow, the experience remains unique: a large tipi with a wood-burning stove can accommodate up to 8 people for a meal and an evening, or even overnight. Tents are also available, and the more adventurous can sleep under the stars!

Access

Departure

Arreau, France

Day 1 : 10h00

End of stay

Arreau, France

Day 2 - 11h00

You will be back in Arreau before noon on Sunday

Go to the starting point

Access by train

Take the train toGare de Lannemezan

🚂 It takes 7 hours and 50 minutes from Paris or Lyon to Lannemezan station, then take a Lio bus to Arreau (35 min).

Access by car

Travel to the place of stay with parking available

Would you like to travel on other dates?

Create an alert and we'll notify you by email if new departures are added.

Price details

The price includes

Supervision by a mountain guide
Dinner on Day 1 and breakfast on Day 2
Snowshoes and poles
Materials for building an igloo, a tent, or a heated tipi
The loan of a sleeping mat per person and extra blankets

The price does not include

Transportation to the meeting point
Day 1 picnic
The duvet for sleeping

Options

Flex fare and insurance

Practical information

Specific formalities

Specifics

Before your departure, check with the embassy or consulate regarding the entry and stay requirements for your destination country. You can also find this information on the France Diplomatie website ( https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/ ).

In the case of flights with stopovers operated by different airlines, also check the entry requirements of the countries you are transiting through.

It is your responsibility to ensure you are in compliance, particularly regarding the validity of your identity documents (for example, some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return), visa requirements, necessary vaccinations, and health recommendations. And don't forget to consider any customs restrictions and other potential requirements of your destination or transit country.

ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.

Equipment

Equipment provided on site

A pair of snowshoes
A pair of poles
Waterproof bags (or containers) to put your belongings in overnight
Blankets where you can slip your duvet

Equipment to bring

A 30/40L backpack to carry your belongings for the day
A water bottle (approximately 1.5 liters)
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
A lip balm

For sleeping :

One sleeping bag (comfort temperature -10°C) or two sleeping bags, one inside the other. Knowing that the ambient temperature inside the snow shelter is around 0 to 3 degrees Celsius.
Undergloves
Tights

Other optional equipment:

A pair of binoculars
A camera
Some cereal bars or other dried fruit
A headlamp
A small survival blanket
A knife
A pair of shoelaces

Clothing to bring

Loose-fitting, waterproof and windproof clothing (Gore-Tex type jacket)
A pair of waterproof, warm, and sturdy shoes (heavy hiking boots are suitable). Sneakers and trail shoes are not recommended as they are not warm enough, and since snowshoes attach around the ankle, this type of footwear is unsuitable. Moon boots or other après-ski boots are also not recommended as they are too flexible and will not provide adequate foot support. Canadian-style snow boots are very effective.
A lightweight down jacket
A nice warm down jacket for the evening
A beanie
2 pairs of gloves
2 pairs of wool socks or winter hiking socks
Change of clothes

They traveled with us

Discover the authentic experiences of our travelers

4,7/5

(11 reviews)

At Decathlon, the reviews are reliable.

Reviews displayed in reverse chronological order

Maryline - 49 ans

february 2026 In a couple

Translated from French

Fantastic stay! Between Remy, our guide, the other participants, and the setting, everything was perfect for a weekend getaway 😊

Published on 10/02/2026

Chloé - 32 ans

february 2025 Among friends

Translated from French

Fantastic weekend thanks to our superb guide Rémi, I highly recommend him! However, the snowshoeing/igloo weekend turned into a hike/camping trip that very morning, and we were very disappointed not to have had any other options. We had paid to go snowshoeing and build and sleep in an igloo, so we were really disappointed in that respect. Furthermore, a small gesture of goodwill following the cancellation of a spot five days prior (due to an unforeseen injury) would have been appreciated.

Published on 03/03/2025

Decathlon Travel's response

Translated from French

Hello Chloé,

Thank you for your feedback! We're delighted that Rémi made your weekend enjoyable. We understand your disappointment regarding the last-minute change of plans, unfortunately dictated by the weather conditions.

We appreciate your feedback. We hope to see you again for a future adventure!

The Decathlon Travel team

Antoine - 28 ans

february 2025 In a group

Published on 25/02/2025

Decathlon Travel Partner

The Guillaume team

4.7/5 (75 reviews) • 39 stays

Our local partner is a mountain specialist, producing outdoor adventure and sports holidays in the Pyrenees. Located in Arreau, in the heart of the Hautes-Pyrénées, since 2014, their team brings their passion for the mountains and the great outdoors in all its forms (snow, rocks, whitewater, wildlife, flora) and their recognized expertise to offer travelers unique, all-inclusive sports holidays. To maintain control over their services, our partner ensures they work with few intermediaries. Authenticity is their guiding principle! For nearly 10 years, they have been committed to offering eco-responsible trips while maintaining a personal touch. Our partner's team consists of two employees and around twenty guides of all kinds, all dedicated to sharing their values and ensuring their travelers' satisfaction.

Discover their team and their trips

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In summary

In a few words

The highlights

Photos

Sport

Level

Hiking / Trekking

The expert's opinion

In figures

Snowshoes

Management

Program

Igloo construction

The afternoon

Note

Accommodation

Access

Go to the starting point

Price details

The price includes

The price does not include

Options

Practical information

Specifics

Equipment provided on site

Equipment to bring

Clothing to bring

They traveled with us

Maryline - 49 ans 100% Verified Reviews: Only travelers who have booked with us can leave a review. All reviews are subject to human moderation. Reviews that do not comply with the moderation rules are rejected.

Chloé - 32 ans 100% Verified Reviews: Only travelers who have booked with us can leave a review. All reviews are subject to human moderation. Reviews that do not comply with the moderation rules are rejected.

Antoine - 28 ans 100% Verified Reviews: Only travelers who have booked with us can leave a review. All reviews are subject to human moderation. Reviews that do not comply with the moderation rules are rejected.

The Guillaume team

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Maryline - 49 ans

Chloé - 32 ans

Antoine - 28 ans