If you are used to the Alps then one of the first things you will probably notice about Pyrenean pistes is that they are much less commercialised and much less crowded, outside of school holidays it is often possible to enjoy weekday skiing with hardly any queues. Weekends and school holidays are busier but still quiet by Alpine standards.

Snow sports available include Skiing, Cross country, Snowboarding and Raquettes (Snow shoe trekking).

Equipment hire is exceptionally cheap, typically €32 per week for skis, boots and poles.

The main ski stations in the area are Luz Ardiden with 65km of piste, La Mongie with 120km of piste, Gavarnie with 50km of piste, and Hautacam with 32km of piste. Luz Ardiden is the closest station, the Gîte lies on the same mountain.

Tuition is available at Luz and La Mongie with qualified Ecole De Ski Français Teachers, English speaking teachers are usually available.

A ski bus runs from Sazos to Luz Ardiden mornings and afternoons, a daily return ticket is around €5, if you plan to visit the other stations then a rented car is recommended, we strongly advise that you also rent snow chains. Access to stations does not usually require chains but after heavy snow falls they are sometimes mandatory.