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Albi and Tarn Valley
H33

Daily walks 10 - 15 km

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Light walks, 6 - 11 days, short stages with bags transfer. You can add extra nights in any of the hotels you stay.
From Albi you walk up-stream in Tarn valley. At the end you will get a transfer to get back in Albi. In the 10 and 11 days trips you'll walk all the way through to Millau.

Light hiking from hotel to hotel on wooded hills and along mellow villages in Tarn Valley. Characteristic houses, castles and the "menus du terroir". Start and end in nice old pink city: Albi.

In the walks that start in Albi, and end in Albi you'll get a transfer back to Albi. If you walk all the way to Millau transfer back to Albi is not included (No busses back to Albi on Sundays!).



 On the same tracks you can walk longer stages of daily 18-23 km (H35). Surf here to the H35-page for longer walks up to 23 km a day. and walk all the way to Millau through the valley of the Tarn.

Tracks short walks H33, all details

Pictures of the valley of the Tarn

The landscape of the Tarn is Mediterranean in character. The beautiful small city of Albi nestles on the River Tarn's banks, dominated by its magnificent cathedral whose fortifications are testimony to more turbulent times during which Albi and surrounding settlements such as Ambialet were attacked first as part of the crusades to suppress the Cathar heresy and later in the Wars of Religion. As you follow the course of the river eastwards, you pass villages of mellow stone-work, and discover the valley unspoiled and full of cultural interest. Staying in comfortable hotels, you will discover the distinctive, rich cuisine of the region, and its excellent wines, such as the flinty Gaillac whites.Tarn valley between Brousse-le-Chateau and Broquies

Terrain: riverside tracks and woodland paths
Hotels: 2**- and 3*** hotels
Meals: most dinners & breakfast included.
 
Climate: this southern region enjoys a lovely Mediterranean climate, with a hot summer and warm spring and autumn. Temperatures average 19°C in May and October, 25°C in June and September, and 27°C in the height of summer.

Starting point: Hotel Saint Claire (B&B **), Albi. This family-run hotel is located in centre of town, just one minute walking from the main sights. Enjoy soignée cuisine in the smart restaurant.


ALBI is a beautiful, Southern town along the Tarn river. With its beautiful lively orange-red brick old streets, alike Toulouse, from which it is only 75 kms away, its cathedral, of the times of the Cathares and its Museum Toulouse Lautrec it is a perfect start and end for a cultural, gastronomic and active (walking as well as cycling) vacation. Restaurants and hotels in this trip are of excellent quality. You will be walking through the Vallée de l'Amitiee (friendly valley) of the Tarn. On the last day you will get a transfer back to Albi.  You will be walking along the slopes of the meandering Tarn River at Ambialet. Then walking to the little village of Villeneuve sur Tarn in a scenery much alike the Lot valley. Lovely villages on your way like Plaisance, Coupiac with 13th century castle and Brousse-le-Chateau at Tarn river with 9th and 12th century castle. You will enjoy the views over the Cevennes mountains, the Monts de Lacaune and even the Pyrenées if the weather is right.
Altitude: 200 - 600m
95 % walking on footpaths.
 

 

Brousse-le-Château

 

This walk is available in two levels: both are easy walking trips in mellow hills but only the daily walking distance differ:

Tracks and rates of the short walks (H33)

All details of the longer walks (H35).

 

Schedule of the H33, short stages
Day stages with light and short walks (max 12 km); Walking grade 2 (out of 7).
 Hotels H33
 short walks		 6 days 7 days  8 days  9 days  10 days  11 days
Albi ** B&B  d 1  d 1  d 1  d 1  d 1  d 1
Ambialet ** DBB  pool  d 2  d 2  d 2  d 2  d 2  d 2
Villeneuve sur Tarn ** DBB pool  d 3  d 3  d 3  d 3  d 3  d 3
Plaisance DBB *** free pool in village  d 4  d 4  d 4  d 4  d 4  d 4
Brousse-le-Château **  DBB    d 5  d 5  d 5  d 5  d 5
Broquiès **  DBB pool      d 6  d 6  d 6  d 6
Ayssènes **  DBB        d 7 (*)  d 7 (*)  d 7 (*)
St.Rome-de-Tarn ***  DBB pool            d 8 (*)
Castelnau Pégayrols ***
pool;   DBB		          d 8 (*)  d 9 (*)
Albi **  or  Millau **  B&B  d 5  d 6  d 7  d 8  d 9  d 10
Transfer back to Albi  d 6  d 7  d 8  d 9 N.A. N.A.
Leave after breakfast  d 6  d 7  d 8  d 9  d 10  d 11
  • On your last day transfers back to Albi are included in 6-9 days packages.
  • Picnics / lunches can be ordered by yourself at the reception desk. (Price 8 - 12 EURO)
  • Rest or extra walking days can be added with or without walking program in all places.
  • DBB means Dinner, Bed & Breakfast.
  • (*) the walks from Broquies to Millau are somewhat longer than 15 kms but with a transfer these walks can be reduced to max 15 km or less.

 
H33 short walks rates 2008
Bags transfer and transfer back to Albi included		 B&B's Dinners Lunches Basic rate p.p.:
2p sharing
room		 Supplement
1-person
room 		Solo
all-in
  6 days   standard package  5  3  0  € 499  € 133  € 718
  7 days   standard package  6  4  0  € 608  € 143  € 884
  8 days   standard package  7  5  0  € 698  € 156  € 1017
  9 days   standard package  8  6  0  € 807  € 174  € 1175
  10 days   standard package  9  8  0  € 881  € 190  € 1258
  11 days   standard package  10  9  0  € 973  € 227  € 1375

You can book this trip here
Extra nights B&B Dinner Lunch Rate p.p. 
2 p sharing room
Without route descriptions
and maps		 Rate p.p. 
2 p sharing room
With route descriptions
and maps		 Suppl.
1-person
room
Extra night in Albi B&B **  yes  no  no  € 45  € 50  € 30
Extra night in Ambialet ** pool  yes  yes  no  € 58  € 63  € 11
Extra night in Villeneuve sur Tarn
pool **		  yes  yes  no  € 62  € 67  € 23
Extra night in Plaisance *** pool  yes  yes  no  € 72  € 75  € 26
Extra night in Brousse-le-Château **  yes  yes  no  € 48  € 53  € 11
Extra night Broquiès pool **  yes  yes  no  € 51  € 57  € 11
Extra night in St. Rome-de-Tarn ***
pool		  yes  yes  no  € 77  € 5  € 30
Extra nacht in Castelnau Pégayrols
Chambre & table d'hôtes met zwembad		  yes  yes  no  € 55  € 5  € 20
Extra night Ayssènes **
Vegetarian and non-vegetarian menu's		  yes  yes  no  € 55  € 60  € 17
Extra night in Millau ** B&B  yes  yes  no  € 47  € 52  € 22
Extra night in Château de Creissels *** DBB (Millau)  yes  yes  no  € 68  € 74  € 28


Discount p.p. for groups and families.
H33 short stages 
See terms and conditions of group discounts

Currency converter © Textor Webmasters Ltd

 
Parties of  3 persons : 10 % p.p.
Parties of  4 persons : 14 % p.p.
Parties of  5 persons : 16 % p.p.
Parties of  6 persons : 18 % p.p.
Parties of  7 persons : 20 % p.p.
Parties of  8 persons : 21 % p.p.

 

 

The walks Distance
Albi > Marsal > Ambialet
The day starts with a short transfer out of the city. The route then leads along the south bank of the river, through hamlets and woodland along tracks and country lanes that echo the twists and turns of the river. After a short but quite stiff ascent towards the end of the day, you are rewarded with superb views of the river.
Elevation gains: 3 times 200m+ and 200m-.

Accommodation: Hotel du Pont (2*), Ambialet. Located by the bridge into the village, with gardens leading down to the water's edge, this friendly, comfortable hotel has been run by the same family for over two centuries.

10 or 16 km
Ambialet loops (If you book an extra night here)
there are a couple of circular routes around Ambialet, including a walk along quiet country lanes and tracks to the north-east of Ambialet, which affords good views. Alternatively, enjoy a short stroll to the village's 11th century priory before relaxing by the hotel's outdoor pool or on the terrace overlooking the river.
Elevation gains: 50+/-, 200+/- and 300+/-		 3, 5 and 12 km
Ambialet > Villeneuve-sur-Tarn
like the first day's route, this walk keeps south of the river, echoing its course as it leads through woodland and farmland as well as occasional hamlets. During the course of the day, you reach one of the highest points of the walk, with great views of the river as it meanders through the valley.
Elevation gains: 2 times 200+ and 200-

Accommodation: Hostellerie des Lauriers (2*), Villeneuve. A small auberge converted from a handsome 18th century stone building, with indoor pool and terrace overlooking the river.		 15 km
Villeneuve-sur-Tarn > Plaisance
Today you will leave the Tarn Valley and walk along the Rance river to the highlands of Plaisance
Elevation gains:  200m+.

Accommodation: Hostellerie des Magnolias (3*), Plaisance. A 14th century mansion. Excellent cuisine		 10 km
Plaisance > Coupiac > Brousse-le-Château (transfer to Coupiac included)
Walk/transfer to the 14th century village of Coupiac with its beautiful castle. Stone crosses will remind you of crusaders who were very active in this area in 12th century. Coupiac is a pretty village with a Brocante market begin  August.
Walk onto the plateau where you get panoramic views at Cevennes mountains. The route leads across rolling countryside of open fields and woodland. There are lovely views of the château as you approach your destination, the delightful village of Brousse-le-Château, and reach the Tarn once more.

Accommodation: Relays du Chasteau (2*), Brousse-le-Château. This pretty auberge has been run by the same family for several generations and its restaurant is popular with the locals.
Elevation gains 200+ and 400m-		 11 km
Brousse-le-Château > Broquiès
On the North bank with splendid panaoramas on the Grands Causses Nature park and the Cevennes Mountains.
Elevation gains: 200m+ and 200m-

Accommodation: 2** hotel with a pool.
Possibility of canoe trip in July and August at La Jourdanie.

 11 km
Broquiès > Ayssènes 
On the North bank with splendid panaoramas on the Grands Causses Nature park and the Cevennes Mountains.
Elevation gains: 400m+ and 100m-

Accommodation: 2** hotel-guesthouse with restaurant.

 19 km
Ayssènes > Albi
Walking back to La Jourdanie(16 km), Transfer to Albi
Elevation gains: 200m+ and 250m-
Possibility of canoe trip in July and August at La Jourdanie..

Accommodation: 2* hotel-guesthouse with restaurant.

 11 km
Last day back to Albi or to Millau 15 km

More walks in
Tarn Valley

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Pays de Roquefort

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Canyons & Causses
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