Azun Nature

Azun Nature is in Aucun, a village in the Val d’Azun, in the Hautes-Pyrénées, at the gateway to the Pyrenees National Park and the Gavarnie valleys. The National Park is a quarter of an hour by road, and Arrens-Marsous, where the managing family also rents out the Lacure gîte, is 1 km away. From Argelès-Gazost, you reach it by taking the direction of the Col d’Aubisque and the Col du Soulor.

Open since 1 July 2001 and run by Joëlle, Yves and Fabien, this small mountain campsite has 23 open-air pitches, 24 chalets and 3 cabins without washroom facilities, spread over four areas blended into the landscape. It is rated 4 stars, holds the Esprit Parc National brand, the Camping Qualité label since 2004 and the Clef Verte since 2016.

As for opening, the distinction is clear: the chalets and cabins can be rented all year round, for a weekend, a week or more, whereas the open-air pitches open from 1 May (2026 season) and close in autumn. The chalets for two people have been given new insulation designed for comfort in every season, and the website highlights cross-country skiing, ski touring, snowshoeing and sledging in the valley.

One-night stays are possible in a cabin and on a pitch; in a chalet, the minimum is two nights, except between 11 July and 28 August.

Cross-country skiing, ski touring, snowshoeing and sledging in the Val d’Azun, snowshoe hire at the campsite and a private spa after the day’s skiing.

Azun Nature has no restaurant, but reception makes up for it: fresh bread and pastries every morning, breakfast brought to the chalet or served on the terrace, hot or cold drinks, artisan ice cream and a shop of local and organic produce.

The campsite’s highlight is the Cabana’Spa, a wooden relaxation area inspired by Pyrenean mills, facing one of the great panoramas of the range. It includes a 6-seat sauna in a glass cabin, a 6-seat infinity spa on the terrace, a 6-seat wooden Nordic bath and a sunny rest corner. The area is private for each use, reserved for adults and for children over 12 accompanied by their parents; the website links it to après-ski as well as après-hike. No swimming pool is presented on the campsite’s website: for water, guests rely on the spa and on the spa centres of the Gavarnie valleys, including Argelès-Gazost.

On the practical side, the laundry is open 24 hours a day, wifi is available, a bike room is secure and the campsite rents electric-assist bikes as well as snowshoes. Children have play areas and the Le Refuge games room, and reception also offers a self-catering kitchen for groups. The Nature & Bois chalets are a recent range built in timber, alongside the original chalets (Duo+, Prélude, Iliade and Family). Pets are accepted under conditions, except in the Nature & Bois chalets and the cabins.

From the campsite, you set off on foot: family or sporty hikes, guided or independent, climbing, trail walking among forests, lakes and peaks. The Val d’Azun is also a renowned paragliding site, and the Tour de France passes as well as the marked trails attract cyclists and mountain bikers. The Pyrenees National Park is 15 minutes away by car, and the campsite rents electric bikes to make the panoramas accessible to everyone.

On site, entertainment stays low-key: vinyasa yoga sessions take place in July and August, on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am to 10:15am facing the Pics du Midi d’Arrens, and the managers offer birdwatching and offbeat outings. For children, there are outdoor games and a games room.

Around the valley, fun activities (tree-top adventure, white water, mountain luge, zip line) round out the programme, as do the major sites: the Pic du Midi de Bigorre, a viewpoint at 2,800 m, the Cirque de Gavarnie, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Cauterets with the Pont d’Espagne and the Lac de Gaube, or Lourdes.

In winter, the resorts of the Gavarnie valleys offer downhill and cross-country skiing, the Val d’Azun has a Nordic area, and the campsite mentions ski touring, snowshoeing and sledging. The Jardin des Bains in Argelès-Gazost lets you relax after the day.