Col du Portet (2,215 m)
The Col du Portet is one of the highest road passes in the Pyrenees and a legendary Tour de France summit finish — but in summer you can reach the top by chairlift from Pla d'Adet without turning a single pedal. The 360-degree view from the col takes in the Néouvielle massif, the Spanish Aragonese peaks and, on a clear day, the distant white dome of the Pic du Midi observatory.
The View
Standing at the col marker, the valley of the Neste d'Aure unspools 1,400 metres below you to the north, a green ribbon threading between forested slopes. To the south the terrain becomes immediately more arid and Spanish in character, with ochre scree and the serrated ridge of the Posets massif visible across the border.
In July and August, when the Tour de France is running, this spot attracts cycling pilgrims who camp for days on the col to cheer the riders. The chalk graffiti left by fans — giant names and arrows — fades slowly through the summer and gives the tarmac a festive, outsider-art quality.
Getting There & Timing
The chairlift from Pla d'Adet to the Col du Portet runs daily in July and August (check the resort website for exact dates). Alternatively, the col is accessible on foot via a well-marked 3-hour trail from the Pla d'Adet plateau — a moderate climb on a clear path with no technical difficulty.
Aim for early morning: by 10 am clouds frequently build against the Spanish side of the ridge and obscure the southern panorama. Bring a windproof jacket regardless of the valley temperature — the col sits in a natural wind funnel and it is rarely still.
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