Famous route

Pyrenees: the Tour de France Cols

The Aubisque and Tourmalet link the Ossau, Gave de Pau and Campan valleys on roads known from the Tour de France. Both are high mountain roads with seasonal closures.

Region: Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Hautes-Pyrénées (France)
Passes: Aubisque, Soulor, Tourmalet
Top elevation: 2,115 m (Tourmalet)
Start / end: Laruns – Sainte-Marie-de-Campan
Best season: Summer to early autumn; Aubisque closed in winter

What should you know before visiting Pyrenees: the Tour de France Cols?

Tolls and vignettes for a car: about €9 (France).

The Col d'Aubisque (1,709 m) is crossed by the D918 between Laruns and Argelès-Gazost. The road is closed in winter, roughly from November to late May or early June.
Between Aubisque and Soulor, vehicles over 3.5 t or 3.60 m high are banned and campers have one-way time windows. The cliff road has two short, narrow tunnels. Check signs.
Camping, including with camping-cars and parking areas, is prohibited in the core zone of the Pyrenees National Park. Use campsites or aires and ask the municipality.

The drive

From Laruns in the Ossau valley the D918 climbs over the Col d'Aubisque (1,709 m) and the Col du Soulor (1,474 m) to Argelès-Gazost in the Gave de Pau valley. From Luz-Saint-Sauveur the Col du Tourmalet (2,115 m) leads east to Sainte-Marie-de-Campan; the western climb is about 19 km, the eastern about 17 km, and La Mongie ski resort lies on the eastern side. The Tourmalet has been a Tour de France climb many times.

Planning

Mountain roads in the Hautes-Pyrénées usually reopen in late spring after snow clearing; the Tourmalet often around May, depending on snow. The Aubisque, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, is closed in winter. Both départements publish road conditions, so check before leaving. Fuel stations are reportedly absent between Laruns and Argelès-Gazost, so fill up first. Overnight, use campsites or aires outside the park core zone.

FAQs

When is the Col d'Aubisque open?

The road is closed in winter, roughly from mid-November to late May or early June. The exact reopening depends on snow, so check with the département before driving rather than relying on a calendar date.

Is the Aubisque suitable for large motorhomes?

Take care. Between the Aubisque and the Soulor, vehicles over 3.5 t or 3.60 m high are banned, and campers have one-way time windows by direction. The road runs along cliffs with two short, narrow tunnels. Check signs and the département's road information.

Can I camp near the passes?

Not inside the core zone of the Pyrenees National Park, where camping with vehicles and parking areas is prohibited. Outside it, local rules apply, so use campsites or aires and ask the municipality.

How much are the tolls on Pyrenees: the Tour de France Cols?

Tolls and vignettes for a car: about €9 (France). Estimate with typical rates; motorhomes pay more, and vehicles over 3.5 t often pay by distance.