La Mongie

The Grand Tourmalet lift-pass covers the linked ski areas of La Mongie (1800m) and Barèges (1250m), which lie on opposite sides of the 2115m Col du Tourmalet (a celebrated climb in the Tour de France). The terrain on the La Mongie side is on either side of a relatively narrow valley, making things feel rather compact at first encounter. For novices it’s a good thing, of course, with ski-school areas readily accessible.
On the other hand, intermediates looking for Blue-graded cruising opportunities will find themselves taking the Espade chairlift to reach the northern sector further up the valley for another haul up to some reasonably long and not too flat descents from 2500m.
Alternatively – and here’s where it gets interesting – head over the Col into the next valley, where things really open up. Although the return runs into Barèges itself are quite low, the piste teams usually manage to keep them open, and there’s plenty of terrain around the higher Super Barèges sector, with some charming descents through the forests above the town.

La Mongie’s original purpose-built style is looking outmoded and won’t appeal to everyone, but each season brings significant improvements, as existing accommodation is upgraded to meet the expectations of today’s visitors. This modernisation effort is given a further boost by the presence of brand new self-catering apartments (see details in Where to Stay), although just about everywhere is conveniently situated for access to the lifts and ski-school assembly points.
Happily the real-world approach to everyday practicalities also extends to the refreshingly affordable pricing of lunchtime menus in the village bars and restaurants.

Family skiers looking for a solid-value, linked-domain alternative to the Alps without sacrificing a high-altitude location. In addition to readily accessible beginner and early-intermediate areas, there’s terrain for cruising fans and for those looking to raise their game on some steeps, too. With the Pic du Midi and the freeride descent from the top, there's really something for everyone.

The slightly homely overall feel is more than skin-deep; it’s a friendly place, both on and off the mountain. Travel-wise, the most obvious appeal is to anyone considering budget flights into Pau and Toulouse, but the Greener high-speed rail option into Tarbes also makes increasing sense.

Cross-Country Skiing