Pic du Midi off-piste skiing with an IFMGA mountain guide
Guided off-piste descent of the Pic du Midi de Bigorre (2,877 m) on skis or snowboard: a 1,400 to 1,500 m vertical drop with an IFMGA/UIAGM mountain guide, starting from La Mongie in the French Pyrenees.
Pic du Midi off-piste skiing at a glance
The Pic du Midi descent starts from the summit of the Pic du Midi de Bigorre (2,877 m), reached by cable car from La Mongie, and follows one of the two classic off-piste routes of the massif. It is led in English, French or Spanish by Olivier Pambrun, a state-certified IFMGA/UIAGM mountain guide and former PGHM mountain rescuer, with full avalanche safety equipment provided.
| Starting point | La Mongie (Hautes-Pyrénées, France), Pic du Midi cable car bottom station |
|---|---|
| Summit | Pic du Midi de Bigorre, 2,877 m |
| Vertical drop | 1,400 m (Classique Sud to Barèges) or 1,500 m (Coume du Pic to Artigues) |
| Duration | Half day of 3 to 3.5 hours, or full day |
| Group | 1 to 6 people |
| Level required | Very good skier or snowboarder, comfortable on black runs and off-piste |
| Your guide | Olivier Pambrun, IFMGA/UIAGM mountain guide, former PGHM mountain rescuer, Météo-France snow and avalanche observer (professional card) |
| Languages | English, French, Spanish |
| Equipment provided | Avalanche airbag backpack, transceiver, shovel, probe, crampons depending on conditions |
| Price (per group) | Half day: €250 to €300 (€50 per person in a group of 6). Full day: €420 for 1 to 3 people, then €95 per additional person |
| Not included | Grand Tourmalet lift pass with Pic du Midi cable car access, ski rental |
| Season | December to April, depending on snow cover |
| Booking | +33 7 52 65 55 26 or contact@guidespyrenees.fr |
Information updated on 2 November 2026 by Olivier Pambrun.
In pictures: the Pic du Midi freeride descent via the Classique Sud
How the Pic du Midi freeride descent works
How the half day runs
1. Welcome and equipment (30 min). Your guide meets you and equips you with an avalanche airbag backpack, transceiver, shovel and probe, and shows you how to use them before the first run.
2. Level check (45 min). Warm-up and technical check on the Taoulet off-piste runs (green, yellow or purple). Your guide then adapts the route to your level.
3. Cable car to the Pic du Midi (20 min). Ride to the summit, with views over the Pyrenean 3,000 m peaks and down to the plains.
4. The descent (1.5 to 2 h). If snow conditions and your level allow, you follow your guide down one of the two routes below.
The two descent routes
Classique Sud: Lac d’Oncet to Barèges
The most popular route, facing the Néouvielle and Ardiden massifs.
Coume du Pic: Arizes valley to Artigues and La Mongie
The route with the biggest vertical drop, depending on snow cover and on the shuttle back to La Mongie running.
Who it is for
Technical level
Fitness
Group
Off-piste skiing equipment at the Pic du Midi: provided and to bring
Safety equipment provided and included in the price
Avalanche safety kit
- Avalanche airbag backpack
- Avalanche transceiver (beacon)
- Snow shovel
- Avalanche probe
Additional equipment
- Crampons, depending on the day’s conditions
Your ski or snowboard gear
- Skis and poles, or snowboard
- Ski or snowboard boots
- Helmet (compulsory)
Clothing
- Ski jacket and trousers
- Warm base layers
- Warm gloves and a spare pair
- Hat and neck warmer
Sun protection
- SPF 50+ sunscreen
- UV lip balm
- Ski goggles or spare sunglasses
Food and water
- Energy or cereal bars
- Dried fruit, chocolate
- Water bottle or flask of at least 1 litre
The price includes
- Guiding by a state-certified IFMGA/UIAGM mountain guide
- Loan of individual safety equipment: transceiver, shovel, probe, airbag backpack, crampons
- Training in how to use the safety equipment
- Photos of your descent
- The guide’s professional liability insurance
The price does not include
- The Grand Tourmalet lift pass with Pic du Midi cable car access
- Ski and boot rental
- Transport to the meeting point
- Meals and drinks
- Personal accident insurance (recommended)
Insurance
Liability: all our guides hold professional liability insurance.
Personal insurance (strongly recommended): make sure you are covered for off-piste skiing, including search, rescue and repatriation costs. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC or UK GHIC) does not cover mountain search and rescue. Check your travel insurance or credit card, or take out day insurance for off-piste skiing.
Olivier Pambrun, your Pic du Midi freeride guide
Olivier Pambrun, IFMGA/UIAGM mountain guide
Olivier Pambrun is a French state-certified mountain guide and a member of the IFMGA/UIAGM, the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations. Based in Pouzac in the Adour valley, he guides the Pic du Midi descent from La Mongie.
- Former mountain rescuer with the PGHM (French Gendarmerie High Mountain Rescue)
- First aid instructor: he trains people in first aid himself
- Météo-France certified snow and avalanche observer: he records and analyses the snowpack data used to assess avalanche risk
- Languages: English, French, Spanish
His professional sports educator card (no. 00912ED0001) can be checked on the official register of the French Ministry of Sport.
Why ski the Pic du Midi with an IFMGA mountain guide?
An international qualification
Local knowledge
Safety
The best snow
Changes and cancellations
Your guide may change the route if:
- the group’s technical level is not sufficient for the planned route;
- the weather does not allow a safe descent;
- the snow or the avalanche risk is dangerous;
- the Pic du Midi cable car is closed (strong wind, technical reasons).
If the Pic du Midi descent is not possible, your guide offers alternative off-piste routes in the Grand Tourmalet ski area.
2026-2027 prices for Pic du Midi off-piste skiing with a guide
Prices below are per group, not per person. Safety equipment is included; the lift pass is not.
Half day (3 to 3.5 hours)
Full day
Good to know about prices
- Lift pass not included: the Grand Tourmalet lift pass with Pic du Midi cable car access is compulsory and must be bought before the outing.
- Rental: ski and boot rental is not included.
- Availability: contact us before your trip to book a date.
- Season: December to April, depending on snow cover.
- Safety: your guide may change the route or cancel for safety reasons.
Give a Pic du Midi descent as a gift
For a birthday, Christmas or any other occasion, contact us for a personalised gift voucher.
Getting to the Pic du Midi off-piste area from abroad
La Mongie is a ski resort in the Hautes-Pyrénées (Occitanie, south-west France), part of the Grand Tourmalet ski area with Barèges. The Pic du Midi cable car leaves from the centre of the resort.
By plane
By train and bus
Where to stay
Book your Pic du Midi freeride descent
Contact us to check availability and book your date. Booking and guiding in English, French or Spanish.
How booking works
- Contact us by phone, text or email to check availability.
- Confirm the date and the number of participants.
- Receive the meeting details and our advice by email or text.
- The day before, your guide calls you to confirm based on the weather and snow conditions.
- On the day, meet at the agreed place with your lift pass and equipment.
Practical information
Meeting point
La Mongie, Pic du Midi cable car bottom station. Time confirmed the day before.
Times
Depending on conditions. Usual start at 9 am or 1 pm.
Season
December to April, depending on snow cover and snowpack conditions.
Lift pass required
Grand Tourmalet pass with Pic du Midi cable car access, to be bought before the outing.
Pic du Midi off-piste skiing FAQ
What level of skiing do I need to ski down the Pic du Midi?
You need to be a very good skier or snowboarder, completely comfortable on black runs and off-piste. Before the descent, your guide assesses your level on the Taoulet off-piste runs (green, yellow or purple).
Do I need a guide to ski the Pic du Midi?
No, a guide is not compulsory: the Pic du Midi freeride area is open to skiers without a guide. However, it is unmarked, unpatrolled and unsecured high-mountain terrain, with avalanche risk and an upper section that is often icy. If you do not know the Pic du Midi, skiing it with a qualified professional is strongly recommended.
Mountain guide or ski instructor: who should I choose for the Pic du Midi?
In France, both ski instructors and mountain guides can lead lift-accessed off-piste descents such as the Pic du Midi. An IFMGA/UIAGM mountain guide holds the highest qualification, which also covers ski mountaineering, glaciers and terrain requiring crampons or rope techniques. Your guide, Olivier Pambrun, is an IFMGA mountain guide, a former PGHM mountain rescuer and a Météo-France snow and avalanche observer.
What is the vertical drop of the Pic du Midi descent?
Between 1,400 and 1,500 metres depending on the route: 1,400 m for the Classique Sud via Lac d’Oncet to Barèges, and 1,500 m for the Coume du Pic to Artigues and La Mongie.
Is safety equipment provided?
Yes. An avalanche airbag backpack, an avalanche transceiver, a shovel, a probe and, depending on conditions, crampons are provided and included in the price. Your guide shows you how to use them before the descent.
How long does the guided Pic du Midi descent take?
A half day lasts 3 to 3.5 hours: welcome and equipment (30 min), level check at the Taoulet (45 min), cable car to the summit (20 min), then 1.5 to 2 hours of descent.
How much does it cost to ski the Pic du Midi with a guide?
Prices are per group, not per person. Half day: €250 for 1 to 3 people, €280 for 4 to 5 people and €300 for 6 people, i.e. €83 per person in a group of 3 and €50 per person in a group of 6. Full day: €420 for 1 to 3 people, plus €95 per additional person up to 6. The lift pass is not included.
Who leads the descent and which languages does the guide speak?
The descent is led by Olivier Pambrun, a state-certified IFMGA/UIAGM mountain guide, former mountain rescuer with the PGHM (French Gendarmerie High Mountain Rescue), first aid instructor and Météo-France snow and avalanche observer. He guides in English, French and Spanish.
Can I do the Pic du Midi descent on a snowboard?
Yes. The descent is open to confident snowboarders who are comfortable off-piste. Safety equipment is provided in the same way as for skiers.
Where is the meeting point?
At La Mongie, at the bottom station of the Pic du Midi cable car. The exact time is confirmed the day before; departure is usually at 9 am or 1 pm.
What happens if conditions do not allow the descent?
Your guide may change the route if the group’s level, the weather, the snow, the avalanche risk or a cable car closure requires it. He then offers alternative off-piste routes in the Grand Tourmalet ski area.
Do I need specific insurance?
We strongly recommend insurance that covers off-piste skiing, including search, rescue and repatriation costs. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC or UK GHIC) does not cover mountain search and rescue costs. Check your travel insurance or credit card, or take out day insurance for off-piste skiing.
Is the lift pass included?
No. You need to buy the Grand Tourmalet lift pass including access to the Pic du Midi cable car before the outing.
Is this the Pic du Midi de Bigorre or the Aiguille du Midi?
This descent starts from the summit of the Pic du Midi de Bigorre (2,877 m) in the central French Pyrenees, reached by cable car from La Mongie. It should not be confused with the Aiguille du Midi in Chamonix (French Alps) or with the Pic du Midi d’Ossau, another Pyrenean peak with no cable car.
Can I give a Pic du Midi descent as a gift?
Yes. Contact us for a personalised gift voucher, for a birthday, Christmas or any other occasion.
Pic du Midi freeride in figures
From the summit of the Pic du Midi de Bigorre, 1,400 to 1,500 metres of off-piste vertical drop with a mountain guide.
Bookings: +33 7 52 65 55 26 · contact@guidespyrenees.fr
Guides Pyrénées, Pouzac, near Bagnères-de-Bigorre (Hautes-Pyrénées, Occitanie, France)