Gîtes d'étapes in the Ariège Pyrenees

More convivial than a hotel, more flexible than a house or apartment rental, gîtes d'étapes are a nice option for visitors who like meeting others who enjoy exploring the mountains on foot, on horseback or by bicycle. They accommodate more people than most B&B's in private homes, and offer an evening meal. Classic gîtes d'étape situated along hiking trails have a dormitory plus one or two private rooms and communal bathrooms. A warden on site may offer an evening meal. Gîtes d'étape with the label "Rando'plume" are more luxurious, generally recently renovated with several private rooms with their own bathrooms, and meals prepared by the full-time caretakers are served every evening. Some allow guests to use the cooking facilities. For serious, high mountain walking, see the mountain refuges.

Name	Commune / PAYS	Sleeps	Description
Gîte de la ferme Esbintz	Seix (GR10) / COUSERANS	8-10 in a dormitory. Meals served to GR10 walkers only.	A simple gîte at 860m in an isolated valley, about 1h30 walk from the high mountains. English and German spoken
Etape Etoile	St Girons / COUSERANS	5 in 2 rooms	A very modestly prices hostel for walkers, cylists and pilgrims (St James Way 1.5 kms away) in the centre of St Girons. Shared bedrooms and kitchen, with use of communal kitchen. Caretaker also offers a vegetarian evening meal by reservation.
Gîte de Rouze	Couflens (GR10) / COUSERANS	16 in 1 bedroom & dormitory meals served	On a mountain farm whose principal activity is goat cheese making, situated at 1000 m altitude. Spectacular view of Mt Valier from gîte doorway. Lots of animals on site (sheep, goats, donkeys, dogs and cats). German spoken.
Gîte d'Eylie	Sentein (GR10) / COUSERANS	20 in 2 dormitories Meals available	A simple, convivial gîte at 1000m in an especially beautiful valley with excellent access to high mountain trails. English spoken.
Gîte La Comté	Ercé (Cominac) / COUSERANS	29 in rooms and a dormitory meals served	At 750m in a listed site (famous for its stone barns) with many walking trails around. Beautiful view of the Mont Valier. English spoken
La Maison du Valier	Bordes-sur-Lez / COUSERANS	29 in rooms and a dormitory meals served	Opened in June 2009, the gîte-auberge is located within the Mont Valier natural reserve at the point of departure for climbing to the summit. It's accessible by car and the restaurant is open to the general public by reservation.
Gîte La Colline Verte Rando'Plume, Gîtes de France 2 épis	St Lizier (vallée d'Ustou) COUSERANS	25 in private rooms & a dormitory; meals served	Located on the edge of a very small village in the beautiful high Ustou valley, near the cirque de Cagateille and the GR10 transpyrenean walking trail.
Gîte d'étape La Goulue	Aulus-les-Bains / COUSERANS	16, 2 to 4 pers. / room	The gîte occupies what was once a Belle Epoque casino, located across the road from the thermal spa. In their renovations the owners have maintained some of the feel of that era.
Gîte "Centre de Montagne"	Couflens (Salau) / COUSERANS	16 in 1 bedroom and dormitory	Self-catering accommodations at 850 m elevation at the start of several trails.