Ax 3 Domaines

A steep climb to the Bonascre ski resort

Cycling climb

Height: 1,375 m
From: Ax-les-Thermes
Distance: 7.8 km
Average gradient: 8.2 %

Short and steadily steep. Combine it with the Pailhères on the same day if your legs are up to it.

Alpine skiing

Height: 1,400–2,400 m
Pistes: 80 km
Runs: 911107
Lifts: 21
Season: early December–late March (2026/27 planned 5 December–28 March)
Lift pass: €47 adult/day, €40 half-day, €41 youth aged 5–17/day (2025/26)
Level: all levels
Snowmaking: approx. 300 snow cannons, covering the main pistes
Snow park: Natural Forest Park on Saquet with boardercross, big air and jib zone, airbag and a “freerando park”
Cross-country skiing: No cross-country area of its own – cross-country skiing is available at Le Chioula and Plateau de Beille

Ax 3 Domaines is the largest resort in Ariège, with three linked areas: Bonascre, Saquet and Campels. The summit is at 2,400 m and the longest run is about 11 km, all the way down towards Ax-les-Thermes. The resort opened in 1955 and was called Ax-Bonascre until 2001. The gondola from the spa town of Ax-les-Thermes means you can get here by train from Toulouse. The Plateau de Bonascre has been a Tour de France finish several times.

Highlights

Gondola straight from Ax-les-Thermes – close to the railway station
Long runs through the forest down to Bonascre, the longest approx. 11 km
Views from Campels over Haute-Ariège and towards Andorra
End the day in the thermal baths of Ax-les-Thermes

Getting here

Flights: Toulouse-Blagnac (TLS) approx. 140 km, approx. 1 h 45 min · Carcassonne (CCF) approx. 110 km, approx. 1 h 50 min · Perpignan (PGF) approx. 145 km, approx. 2 h 30 min
Train: Ax-les-Thermes station on the Toulouse–Latour-de-Carol line (liO train, approx. 1 h 45 min from Toulouse). The Télécabine du Baou gondola runs from the town up to Bonascre. Skirail packages with train and day pass are available from Toulouse.
Bus: Winter bus between Ax-les-Thermes and Savignac-les-Ormeaux
Car: N20 Toulouse–Foix–Ax-les-Thermes, then the D82 approx. 8 km up to the Plateau de Bonascre. Large car parks at Bonascre. Winter tyres or chains needed on the road up.

Accommodation

Accommodation: Flats (résidences) and a few hotels at Bonascre, partly ski-in/ski-out
Places to stay nearby: Ax-les-Thermes (720 m) with thermal baths, hotels and a gondola straight up; Savignac-les-Ormeaux and Tarascon-sur-Ariège (approx. 30 min)

TipsTake the train to Ax and the gondola up – easy from Toulouse. Outside school holidays the Lièvre Blanc chairlift only runs 9–14; after that you reach Saquet by gondola.

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42.7000° N, 1.8200° E