Pyrénées

The Cathar Trail on foot

From Port-la-Nouvelle to Quillan

From

540€/person

Presentation of your trip

The castles proudly stand on rocky peaks. You follow the path, carved out eight centuries ago, to reach the summit. Initially serving as military posts guarding the Spanish border, these majestic buildings served as refuges for the Cathars. These are true fortresses where one would live, train, defend and worship. From the summit, you’ll take in a wide panorama, all the better to spot the enemy arriving…Following in the footsteps of hundreds of faithful men and women, you walk along paths soaked in heritage.
Visit the most remarkable Cathar chateaux, nestled in magnificent landscapes: the limestone foothills of Plantaurel, the mountainous Ariégoises forests and the Plateau de Sault, the garrigue, vineyards of the Corbières and the smells of the Mediterranean.

DestinationPyrénées
TypeFree
Length of trip7 days and 6 nights
ActivitiesHiking
Physical level

Collection

The Cathar Trail

Possible periods for this trip

Jan.
Feb.
March
Apr.
May
June
Jul.
August
Sep.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.

Download the technical sheet

Description of the trip Program Travel conditions Dates and price

Trip details

Highlights

A string of medieval castles nestled in superb scenery
Landscape diversity: from Mediterranean garrigue to Ariège forests

Complementary informations

7 days, 6 nights, including 6 days of hiking

Program

Day 1
From Port la Nouvelle to Durban-Corbières.
- Distance : 29 km
- Duration : 7h15
- Elevation gain : 600 m
- Negative gradient : 450 m
Setting off from Port la Nouvelle beach, we head west to the mountains. Through the garrigue and the limestone plateaus, this challenging stage takes us into the Corbières.
Night in Durban.
Day 2
From Durban to Tuchan
- Distance : 28 km
- Duration : 7h
- Elevation gain : 800 m
- Negative gradient : 450 m
In the morning, as the vines gradually take over the scrubland, we pass by the Château d’Aguilar and walk through the land of a thousand Mediterranean smells. Night in Tuchan.
Day 3
From Tuchan to Duilhac sous Peyrepertuse
- Distance : 23.5 km
- Duration : 6h30
- Elevation gain : 700 m
- Negative gradient : 650 m
Arrival at the Château de Quéribus, guardian of the form Spanish border. We then carry on, crossing through the garrigue and the village of Cucugnan, famous for its legendary parish priest, before finishing the hike in Duilhac sous Peyrepertuse, a beautiful village which stands in the shadow of the castle of the same name. Night in Duilhac.
Day 4
From Peyrepertuse to Labastide
- Distance : 22 km
- Duration : 5h30
- Elevation gain : 850 m
- Negative gradient : 370 m
After discovering the imposing Château de Peypertuse, you pass along the ridge of the Corbières. Walk to the start of the Gorges de Galamus. Then, passing between holm oak trees and juniper bushes, we arrive in Camps sur Agly, Labastide. Night stay on a farm.
Day 5
From Labastide to Aigues Bonnes - Château de Puilaurens
- Distance : 24 km
- Duration : 6h
- Elevation gain : 700 m
- Negative gradient : 750 m
Continue on towards Caudiès de Fenouillèdes and cross the remarkable Gorges St Jaume. The smells of the garrigue follow us all the way to the hamlet of Aigues Bonnes. Night stay on a farm.
Day 6
From Aigues Bonnes Château de Puilaurens to Quirbajou (or Labau)
- Distance : 26.5 km
- Duration : 6h30
- Elevation gain : 550 m
- Negative gradient : 400 m
We stop at a real jewel of medieval architecture, the Château de Puilaurens (optional), perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Vallée de la Boulzane. At the Gorges du Rébenty, we leave behind the Mediterranean climate for green meadows and mountains. Night in Quirbajou.
Day 7
From Quirbajou to Quillan.
- Distance : 20 km
- Duration : 5h30
- Elevation gain : 520 m
- Negative gradient : 320 m
Having crossed the forest of the Chalets de Carach, and following the River Aux, you arrive at your final destination, Quillan, capital of the Haute Vallée de l’Aude.
End of trip.
End of trip

Travel conditions

Food
This is not the time to go on a diet! Instead, it is an opportunity to taste local cuisine and specialities. The quality of your food is paramount and we take great care to ensure a good dietary balance, sufficient calorie intake and that each meal includes local specialities.You will eat in the hotel.
Picnics (for lunch) are not included.
Luggage
Carrying is limited to business of the day and picnic. Luggage is carried by vehicle. Please allow 1 bag per person, maximum 15kg/bag.
Attendees
From 2 people.
Formalities
- Valid identity card.
- Repatriation insurance recommended.
Key information and support
On your own :

You go on your own, as a couple, with family or friends. We take care of your accommodation, meals, luggage transfer and group.
You have good hiking experience and can find your way with a map and compass. From one stage to the next, you'll follow our My LaRébenne app on your phone, where you'll find your complete file with maps, tracks, accommodation and transporters, as well as all the information you need for your stay. If you don't want the digital folder, but prefer the paper version with the classic navigation tools such as maps, map holder, topo-guide and printed information, please let us know.

If you wish to receive both the digital and paper versions of your file, please allow for a supplement.

Freedom means hiking lightly, at your own pace, and enjoying the pleasures of nature to the full, without worrying about the logistics of your stay. It also means being free to interpret and imagine what the Pyrenees have to say.
Accommodation
As our accommodation is small, please book as early as possible.
Half-board (dinner, overnight stay and breakfast included)
Accommodation options to choose from :
Gîte d'étape: selected for the quality of their welcome, these gîtes offer a friendly atmosphere. In most cases, you'll share 4/6-person dormitories. Sheets and towels are not provided.
Double room option (subject to availability): you sleep in comfortable 2-person rooms in hotels, B&Bs and sometimes gîtes. Sheets and towels are provided.
DEPARTURE AND MEETING POINT
DEPARTURE AND MEETING POINT for the first leg or the two weeks: Meet on Day 1 at Port la Nouvelle SNCF train station
How to get there:
By car : A9 motorway
By train: Port-la-Nouvelle SNCF train station.
By plane: Toulouse or Perpignan Airports then bus to Port-la-Nouvelle SNCF train station

DEPARTURE AND MEETING POINT for the second leg: Meet on Day 1 at Quillan SNCF train station.
How to get there:
By car: Motorway to Carcassonne then D118 to Quillan.
By train : Carcassonne SNCF train station, then TER bus to Quillan.
By plane : Carcassonne then shuttle bus to Quillan bus station.
Difficulty level
From 4 to 7 hours walking per day. No technical difficulties. 850m maximum ascent. You must be in good physical condition and be prepared to hike for several days. Know how to find your way with a map, compass and topo-guide. Good mountain experience.
Options
We've developed our digital navigation application for you to download onto your phone, where you'll find your complete file with maps, tracks, accommodation and transporters, as well as all the information you need for your stay. If you don't want the digital folder, but prefer the paper version with classic navigation tools such as maps, map holders, topo-guides and printed information, please let us know.

If you would like both the digital and paper versions of your file, please allow for a supplement of 40€.
Accommodation in a gite or hotel for the night before departure.
Picnics for
Single bedroom.
Return transfer to departure point.

Dates and price

Information

Free departure dates: you choose your own departure dates according to your availability.
For groups, we adapt the level, duration, price and program on request.

Free departure from

Price TTC per person

Freedom package with luggage carried by cabs - stopover gîte
Registration at 2 people	690€
Registration at 3 people	610€
Registration at 4 people	580€
Registration at 6 people	540€

Freedom package with luggage transfer by cab - double room
Registration at 2 people	740€
Registration at 3 people	690€
Registration at 4 people	630€
Registration at 6 people	595€

Options

Single room option: +110€.

The price includes

Half-board accommodation
Luggage transportation
Return transfer to departure point.
Digital roadbook
Maps with marked tracks

The price does not include

Drinks.
Picnics.
Insurance.
Personal expenses and visits to monuments.
The return transfer.

The destination

Pyrénées
The Pyrenees! To summarize their beauty and diversity in a few lines would be vain ... From the green mountains of the Basque Country, to the wild lands of Ariège to the Catalan mountains with the scent of the Mediterranean, the Pyrenees are an invitation to travel.
See more trips

The Cathar Trail on foot

From Port-la-Nouvelle to Quillan

Presentation of your trip

The Cathar Trail

Possible periods for this trip

Trip details

Highlights

Complementary informations

Program

From Port la Nouvelle to Durban-Corbières.

From Durban to Tuchan

From Tuchan to Duilhac sous Peyrepertuse

From Peyrepertuse to Labastide

From Labastide to Aigues Bonnes - Château de Puilaurens

From Aigues Bonnes Château de Puilaurens to Quirbajou (or Labau)

From Quirbajou to Quillan.

Travel conditions

Food

Luggage

Attendees

Formalities

Key information and support

Accommodation

DEPARTURE AND MEETING POINT

Difficulty level

Options

Dates and price

Information

Free departure from

Options

The price includes

The price does not include

The destination

Pyrénées

See also

The Cathar trail - Selection version

The entire Cathar Trail on foot - From the mountains to the sea

The entire Cathar Trail on foot - From mountains to sea - 2nd part

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