Luz Ardiden

Hairpins up to the ski resort

Cycling climb

Height: 1,715 m
From: Luz-Saint-Sauveur
Distance: 13.3 km
Average gradient: 7.4 %

Some thirty hairpin bends that can be seen from the valley – a lovely photo opportunity. Easy to combine with the Tourmalet from the same village.

Tour de FranceLance Armstrong crashed here in 2003 when a spectator's bag caught on his handlebars.

Alpine skiing

Height: 1,680–2,500 m
Pistes: 60 km
Lifts: 10
Season: December–late March (planned until 29 Mar 2027)
Lift pass: €44 adult/day (2026/27, standard price)
Level: intermediate and advanced, but there is a beginners' area
Snowmaking: approx. 116 snow cannons (approx. 21 km of pistes)
Snow park: Snowpark for all levels, boardercross and beginners' zone in the Aulian sector

Luz-Ardiden lies high above Luz-Saint-Sauveur in three sectors, Aulian, Béderet and Caperette-Cloze, and has one of the most varied areas in the Pyrenees for experienced skiers. The summit at 2,500 m gives views of Vignemale and the Gavarnie massif. Around 60% of the pistes are red or black, and the Bernazaou valley is a classic freeride and ski-touring area. The resort opened in 1975 and is a famous Tour de France climb with nine stage finishes, most recently Tadej Pogačar in 2021.

Highlights

Belle Bleue, a blue piste approx. 5 km long
Freeride in Caperette-Cloze and the descent towards Bernazaou
Tour de France finish nine times (1985–2021)
Free shuttle from Luz-Saint-Sauveur

Getting here

Flights: Lourdes-Tarbes (LDE) approx. 55 km, approx. 1 h · Pau (PUF) approx. 95 km, approx. 1 h 35 min · Toulouse (TLS) approx. 215 km, approx. 2 h 30 min
Train: Lourdes (TGV/TER), then liO bus to Luz-Saint-Sauveur and the free shuttle up
Bus: liO buses Lourdes–Luz-Saint-Sauveur; free daily shuttle Luz–Luz-Ardiden (Aulian) in winter; ski buses from Tarbes airport, Lourdes station, Pau and Toulouse at weekends and during school holidays
Car: A64 exit Tarbes Ouest/Lourdes, N21 to Pierrefitte-Nestalas and the D921 to Luz-Saint-Sauveur, then 12 km of mountain road up. Winter tyres or chains/snow socks compulsory 1 Nov–31 March. Free parking at Aulian and Béderet

Accommodation

Accommodation: Almost no accommodation at the resort; people stay in the valley
Places to stay nearby: Luz-Saint-Sauveur (12 km, approx. 20 min) with the Luzéa thermal baths; Barèges (approx. 20 km), Esquièze-Sère

TipsStay in Luz-Saint-Sauveur, where you have Luz-Ardiden, Grand Tourmalet (Barèges) and Gavarnie all close by. Take the free bus up and avoid the stress of fitting chains.

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42.8800° N, 0.0600° W