Col d’Aubisque
Laruns, France
A 1,709 m pass on the D918 with giant painted bicycles and grazing horses. The road east to the Col du Soulor runs along the cliff of the Cirque du Litor; it is closed in winter.
The Col d’Aubisque (1,709 m) carries the D918 from the Ossau valley at Laruns, via Eaux-Bonnes, toward Argelès-Gazost; to the east the Col du Soulor (1,474 m) follows. The Tour de France first crossed the pass in 1910; in 1951 the Dutchman Wim van Est, in the yellow jersey, plunged into a ravine here and is said to have been hauled back up on a rope of knotted inner tubes.
The most striking stretch is the cliff road of just over 10 km between the Aubisque and the Soulor: it hugs the walls of the Cirque du Litor and passes through two short, narrow tunnels. Sheep often graze beside the roadway. With few turnouts, motorhomes and wide vehicles are best driven early in the morning or in the late afternoon; parking at the pass is limited. On a clear day the view reaches the Pic du Midi d’Ossau; in fog, only a few meters.
The road is closed in winter, usually from about December until May or June (as of October 2026). Check the situation beforehand and fill up first, as there is no gas station between Laruns and Argelès-Gazost.
- Nearest town
- Laruns, France
- Category
- Scenic viewpoints
- GPS
- 42.9763, -0.3386
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and August–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, July and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- France: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autoroutes; the limit drops to 110 km/h in rain. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
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Campsites nearby
- Camping du Pont LauguèreCampsite7 km from Col d’Aubisque · 120 pitchesTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Aire Laruns, Le BourgMotorhome stopover8 km from Col d’Aubisque · 46 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Arrens-MarsousMotorhome stopover11 km from Col d’Aubisque · 19 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Aire de camping-cars d'ArtousteMotorhome stopover12 km from Col d’AubisqueMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalDogs allowedFree
- Aire IzesteMotorhome stopover14 km from Col d’Aubisque · 39 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Camping de BuzyMotorhome stopover19 km from Col d’Aubisque · 35 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowed
All campsites in France · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Col d’Aubisque?
Col d’Aubisque is in Laruns, France, at GPS 42.9763, -0.3386. It is about 20 km from Argelès-Gazost.
Can you camp near Col d’Aubisque?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Camping Iscoo, about 4 km away; within 25 km there are 93 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Col d’Aubisque?
Col d’Aubisque is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Béarn and Bigorre: Aubisque to the Pic du Midi and Rock amphitheatres, hairpin passes and Cathar castles – by motorhome through the French Pyrenees from Pau to Ax-les-Thermes.
What is there to see near Col d’Aubisque?
Places worth a stop nearby: Pont d’Espagne (21 km), Cirque de Gavarnie (38 km), Pic du Midi de Bigorre (39 km) and Col du Tourmalet (40 km).
When is the best time to visit Col d’Aubisque?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and August–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, July and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)