Cirque d'Estaubé

Cirque Ibos, Occitanie, France

What to expect

The Cirque d'Estaubé is a cirque in the central Pyrenees, forming the frontier between France and Spain. It lies at the head of the next valley east from Gavarnie, separated by a high and dramatic craggy ridge. A fine hike takes you up a gorge, then across lovely meadows to the rocky bowl below the sheer, elementally torn cliffs of the eponymous cirque. This is a smaller theatre of cliffs than next-door Gavarnie, but by any standards magnificent. The cirque is home to several principal summits, including Pic Rouge de Pailla, Grand Astazou, and Pic de Tuquerouye. The Gave d'Estaubé descends north from the cirque, first flowing into a small reservoir, the Barrage des Gloriettes, then into the main Héas valley

Plan your family visit to the Cirque d'Estaubé with these blog insights 👇

Pyrenees Cirques with the family: 5 hikes and walks

This family's experience:

Activities: We hiked from the lac-barrage des Gloriettes and followed a path through a green meadow with rocks. We saw a group of isards

Highlights: We enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere and the chance to see isards, which is rare in the crowded Cirque de Gavarnie ✨

Pyrenees hikes with the family: 14 most beautiful walks

This family's experience:

Activities: We walked towards the cirque d’Estaubé, a less frequented area of the Pyrenees, with a beautiful view of the cascade d’Agudes

Highlights: The family enjoyed the easy walk and the beautiful view ✨

Cirque d’Estaubé: easy family hike

This family's experience:

Activities: We hiked in the Cirque d'Estaubé with our 2 children of 3 and 5 years old. We did a very easy hike, 6km, and had a beautiful view of the cirque from afar

Highlights: We enjoyed the beautiful view, the wild landscape, and the fact that there were fewer hikers than in Gavarnie ✨

Pyrenees road trip in a camper van: circuit and photos

This family's experience:

Activities: We hiked to the cirque d'Estaubé, a less touristy but equally spectacular cirque

Highlights: We enjoyed the wild and peaceful atmosphere of the cirque d'Estaubé ✨