25 ans de canyoning, spéléologie et activités nature dans les Pyrénées

Cette année, Chlorophyll Adventure célèbre un cap important : 25 ans d’activités outdoor en Vallée d’Ossau, au cœur des Atlantic Pyrenees. Depuis un quart de siècle, nous partageons avec vous notre passion pour la nature, l’aventure et les sports de plein air à travers le canyoning, la spéléologie, la via ferrata et l’escalade.

Installé en vallée d’Ossau à proximité de Laruns depuis toujours, notre bureau a vu défiler des milliers d’aventuriers, de familles, de groupes d’amis et d’entreprises venus vivre des expériences uniques dans les paysages exceptionnels du Béarn.

🌿 Une aventure humaine avant tout

Depuis 25 ans, Aventure Chlorophylle, c’est bien plus qu’un prestataire d’activités : c’est une histoire de rencontres, de partage et de transmission.

Notre équipe de guides diplômés et locaux  accompagne chaque sortie avec la même philosophie :

• rendre les activités accessibles à tous
• faire découvrir la richesse de notre belle vallée d’Ossau
• transmettre le respect de la nature 
• faire vivre des émotions fortes dans un cadre convivial

Que ce soit pour une première expérience en canyoning en vallée d’Ossau, une exploration en caving ou une sortie en via ferrata, chaque aventure est unique.

💦 25 ans de canyoning dans les Pyrénées

Le canyoning est au cœur de notre ADN. Depuis nos débuts, nous avons fait découvrir les plus beaux canyons de la vallée d’Ossau :

• Bious, idéal pour débuter en douceur
• Soussouéou, ludique et très aquatique
• Canceigt, plus encaissé et technique
• Bitet, pour les amateurs de sensations fortes

Ces parcours, sculptés par l’eau, offrent un terrain de jeu exceptionnel pour pratiquer le canyoning dans les Pyrénées Atlantiques, entre sauts, toboggans naturels et descentes en rappel.

🧗‍♂️ Une expertise multi-activités en pleine nature

Au fil des années, Aventure Chlorophylle a élargi son offre pour proposer une expérience complète de la montagne :

• Caving : exploration de grottes et rivières souterraines
• Via ferrata : parcours verticaux accessibles et panoramiques
• Climbing : initiation et perfectionnement sur falaises naturelles

Ces activités permettent de découvrir la vallée d’Ossau sous toutes ses facettes : aquatique, verticale et souterraine.

🏞️ Une implantation au cœur de la vallée d’Ossau

Située dans les Atlantic Pyrenees, la vallée d’Ossau est un véritable paradis pour les activités outdoor. Facilement accessible depuis Pau, la côte Atlantique ou même l’Espagne, elle attire chaque année les amateurs de nature et d’aventure.

Depuis Laruns, vous accédez rapidement à des sites exceptionnels, dans un environnement préservé entre montagnes, forêts et rivières.

🎯 25 ans d’expériences et toujours la même passion

Fêter 25 ans, c’est aussi regarder le chemin parcouru :

• des milliers de sorties canyoning et spéléo
• des générations de clients fidélisés
• une connaissance fine du terrain et des conditions
• une passion intacte pour la nature et la transmission

Mais c’est surtout continuer à vous proposer des expériences toujours plus qualitatives, adaptées à tous les niveaux, dans le respect de l’environnement.

🎉 Un anniversaire à partager avec vous !

Pour célébrer ces 25 ans d’aventure en vallée d’Ossau, nous avons envie de remercier tous ceux qui nous ont fait confiance : clients, partenaires, amis et passionnés de montagne.

👉 Que vous soyez débutant ou sportif confirmé, venez vivre (ou revivre) une expérience avec nous !

C’est le moment idéal pour découvrir le canyoning dans les Pyrénées, explorer une grotte ou prendre de la hauteur en via ferrata.

🌟 Prêt pour l’aventure ?

Chlorophyll Adventure, c’est 25 ans d’expertise au service de vos émotions.

👉 Réservez votre activité dès maintenant et venez fêter cet anniversaire avec nous au cœur de la Ossau valley !

VTT à assistance électrique: l’allié idéal pour explorer la montagne sans effort !

The Electrically assisted mountain bikes (VAE) révolutionne la manière de découvrir la montagne. Fini le temps où seules les jambes les plus musclées pouvaient profiter des sentiers escarpés et des panoramas d’altitude : désormais, l’exploration des paysages grandioses des Pyrenees devient accessible à tous. Que vous soyez sportif aguerri ou simple amateur de balades en plein air, cette activité vous ouvre les portes de la nature… sans vous épuiser.

🏔️ Explorer la montagne autrement

Dans les Atlantic Pyrenees, et en particulier en Ossau valley, les itinéraires ne manquent pas : sentiers forestiers, pistes pastorales, crêtes panoramiques… Grâce au Electric mountain bike, vous accédez facilement à des lieux spectaculaires comme le plateau du Bénouon port de Castet ou encore les balcons du Pène de Béon.

C’est l’occasion de découvrir une nature préservée, de croiser peut-être des troupeaux en estive, et d’en apprendre plus sur le pastoralisme pyrénéen, typique de la région.

🌿 Respect de la nature et plaisir durable

Avec le VTT électrique, on roule plus loin, plus haut, mais sans bruit ni pollution. L’assistance électrique favorise une approche douce de l’environnement, tout en permettant une immersion profonde dans les paysages montagnards.

🎯 Pourquoi choisir le VTT AE avec Aventure Chlorophylle ?

• ✔️ Des parcours variés, adaptés à tous les niveaux

• ✔️ Des guides passionnés et locaux

• ✔️ Du matériel récent et entretenu

• ✔️ Des conseils techniques pour progresser en pilotage

• ✔️ Une découverte authentique de la Ossau valley

👉 Prêt à enfourcher un VTT électrique et partir à l’aventure ?

Rejoignez-nous pour une half day  de VTT AE dans les Pyrénées. Que vous soyez débutant ou confirmé, vous vivrez une expérience inoubliable au cœur d’une des plus belles vallées de la région.

Contactez-nous pour réserver votre sortie !

Envie de vivre l’hiver autrement que sur les pistes de ski ? La Vallée d’Ossau, nichée au cœur des Pyrénées béarnaises, est un terrain de jeu idéal pour les amateurs de raquettes. Entre Gouretteon Aubisque Pass and the Col du Pourtalet, vous trouverez une multitude d’itinéraires adaptés à tous les niveaux, du promeneur curieux au randonneur aguerri.

Idées de balades et randonnées en raquettes selon votre niveau

Pour les débutants et les familles

Si vous cherchez une sortie douce, privilégiez les petites boucles autour de Gourette, notre guide saura vous conseiller. Ce sont des itinéraires courts, parfaits pour une première découverte ou pour une sortie avec des enfants.

Pour les intermédiaires

Envie d’un peu plus d’effort ? Essayez la montée vers le Col d’Aubisque en raquettes. L’itinéraire offre de beaux panoramas sans être trop technique. Avec notre accompagnateur en montagne, vous pouvez aussi découvrir les crêtes de l’Aubisque ou les forêts au-dessus de Gourette. Ces sorties durent en moyenne 2 à 4 heures, avec un dénivelé modéré.

Pour les randonneurs confirmés

Les plus sportifs trouveront leur bonheur en partant pour une journée complète du côté du Col du Pourtalet. Par beau temps, vous pouvez rejoindre les lacs d’Arrémoulit ou d’autres itinéraires plus sauvages, toujours en fonction de l’enneigement. Ici, la montagne se mérite : comptez plusieurs heures de marche et un bon dénivelé.

Quelque soit le niveau, vous profiterez de l’expérience de notre guide et de ses connaissances sur le milieu montagnard hivernal.

La raquette en Vallée d’Ossau, entre Gourette, Aubisque et Pourtalet, est une activité accessible et dépaysante qui permet de découvrir les Pyrénées autrement. Que vous soyez débutant, sportif ou simplement en quête de paysages enneigés, vous trouverez une sortie à votre mesure.

Respirez, marchez au rythme de vos pas et laissez-vous séduire par la magie de l’hiver en Ossau !

The Ossau valley, just 1 hour from Pau in the Pyrénées Atlantiques and 3 hours from Bordeaux and Toulouse, boasts some of the most spectacular canyons in south-west France.

Le Bitet, the great race of the Ossau valley

The lower Bitet is an exceptional canyoning adventure located in the Ossau valley, in the heart of Béarn in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques region of France. This canyoning descent offers a thrilling experience for thrill-seekers. It's renowned for its unique features, including a 35-metre spider-wire abseil, as well as an impressive ejector slide, where you can slide up to 10 metres before plunging into the crystal-clear waters of the Bitet.

This canyoning trip offers exciting challenges for experienced canyoneers, testing their skills along the way. The steep walls, impressive rock formations and spectacular waterfalls create a breathtaking natural backdrop.

A day or half-day in the lower Bitet canyon guarantees an unforgettable adventure in the heart of the wilderness of the Atlantic Pyrenees. It's an ideal experience for those looking to push their limits and experience the excitement of canyoning in a beautiful and challenging environment. Prepare to be amazed by the raw beauty of this canyon as you take on some exciting challenges.

Cap de Pount, a jewel in the heart of the national park

In the heart of the Pyrenees National Park, this wild canyon is a treasure nestling at the foot of the Pic du Midi d'Ossau. Just half an hour from Laruns and an hour from Pau, access is from a car park that provides an ideal starting point for this captivating adventure. Although Cap de Pount is only 400 metres long, the challenging outing involves walks to and from the summit, adding 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes to the total time. Features of Cap de Pount include a majestic 12-metre waterfall and a final 7-metre jump, with the depth of the basins checked annually.

The hike to the canyon, from the Bious-Artigues or Bious-Oumettes car parks depending on the number of visitors, offers some enchanting scenery. The forest, the turquoise lake and the high pastures on the Bious plateau are pleasant stops on the way to the gorge. The surrounding area is home to herds of cows, mares and sheep, offering a pastoral spectacle. Cap dePount lies at an altitude of 1,600 metres and offers refreshing waters, hidden behind a line of hooked pines. This canyoning descent features a series of jumps, sculpted potholes and other geological wonders. The walls are overhung by hooked pines, trees endogenous to the Pyrenees, while the geology of the canyon reveals Hercynian folds. A fascinating exploration in an exceptional natural setting.

Equipment required for canyoning

• Swimming costume: wear it under the neoprene wetsuit supplied.
• Change of clothes: for after the activity.
• Towel: to dry off after canyoning.
• Closed-toe sports shoes: make sure they are suitable for wet and rocky conditions.
• Sunglasses with safety cord.
• Energy snacks: to replenish your strength during the activity.
• Enough water: to keep you hydrated.

Equipment provided by the guide:

• Neoprene wetsuit: to keep you dry and warm.
• Neoprene socks: to protect your feet.
• Harnesses, helmets, ropes, karabiners, etc.
• Waterproof rucksack: for carrying food, water, a change of clothes and other personal belongings.

Getting started canyoning it's the kind of activity where you put on ultra-tight wetsuits to jump into the water and no, there are no boats!

The definition of canyoning:

This is a outdoor activity which consists of go to a canyon, gorge or river using a variety of techniques including walkthe swimmingon jumpthe slidethe abseiling and theclimbing. This activity allows you to discover breathtaking natural landscapes while facing physical and mental challenges. It requires specialist equipment, including a neoprene wetsuit, helmet, harness, ropes and special shoes for river walking. Canyoning is practised throughout the world and is suitable for people from all levels of experiencefrom beginners to the most experienced. It's an ideal activity for thrill-seekers strong and nature lovers.

The origins of canyoning

Check out this funny video about the early days of canyoning: Alluvium for canyoning time 

From daring fishermen have always explored narrow gorges on every inhabited continent, while the cavers and explorers (Edouard-Alfred Martel, Armand Jamet and Lucien Briet) were the first to discover sites that are more difficult to access.

Between the years 1950 and 1980At the same time, the first canyoning descents began to proliferate, with the discovery of massifs such as the Sierra de Guara in Spain. In the 1980s, canyoning emerged from the shadows to become an increasingly popular outdoor sport recognised by the general public.

Booking mountain and white-water activities

Aventure Chlorophylle was created 20 years ago with the aim of centralize reservations through a single secretariat. This solution has made it possible to better respond to calls and meet the demands even when the guides were active.

Both the permanent guides and the collaborating guides of Aventure Chlorophylle have agreed to leave a commission on their output to cover the costs of running the office (secretaries' salaries, office rent, insurance). This has enabled the establishment of a efficient secretariatwhich offers a real advantage by having a single contact for book a variety of activities during your stay.

In the face of increasing demand for all-inclusives, having a single secretariat is a real strength for Aventure Chlorophylle. This solution was set up 20 years ago to facilitate bookings and satisfy customers by offering a wide choice of activities through a single contact.

The permanent guides of Aventure Chlorophylle are self-employed and have their own websites:

Pascal CARCENAC, climbing and canyoning guide, Escarando

Johan FONTVIEILLE, climbing and canyoning guide, Arké

Lionel AUBRIOT, canyoning guide, Kathaayatraa

Candice PIECHAUD, canyoning and climbing guide, Nature spirit

Vincent FOURNIER, rafting guide, Yes we raft

Alexandre GUMY, climbing and canyoning guide, A day in the mountains

Jonathan DOREZ, canyoning and caving guide, Nature addicts

Yann BERNIER, climbing and canyoning guide, Watery Pyrenees

Félix CHEVET, climbing and canyoning guide

Millan IBANEZ, canyoning and caving guide, Caminam

Equipment required for canyoning

Swimming costume and towel (to dry off when returning to the vehicle)           Water and cereal bars and the picnic if you have booked a full day of canyoning.

Shoes for canyoning:    A pair of lace-up sports shoes (tennis shoes, trainers, hiking shoes)           Beware of old shoes from the back of the cupboard that come unstuck when they come into contact with water. With the dried glue of the shoe, the sole can come off during the course and we let you imagine what happens next ...

Shoes to avoid when canyoning: water shoes, sneakers, city shoes, fivefingers, heels (we're not kidding, you never know!))

If you don't have suitable footwearyou can contact us apply for €5/person or you can hire them from LOCASKI in Laruns, but you have to book them in advance!

Canyoning equipment provided by the guide: helmet, neoprene wetsuit, neoprene socks (to be slipped into your shoes), harness, ropes, rucksack, waterproof water bottle .

Accountability and the environment

– Remove the label from the water bottle to avoid finding the labels in the water later on

- Follow the guide's route and don't trample everywhere to keep the canyon's flora and fauna intact!

– No peeing in combis even though they are cleaned every day, we wash them by hand... thank you in advance for your understanding!

- For picnics, if you are on a 2 canyons adventure day, i.e. with a meal break between the 2 canyons, Your picnic will remain in your vehicle, so don't forget to leave any waste and packaging in it after your meal..

If you have chosen a day with a picnic in the canyon (1-day Oxygen canyon, 1-day Adventure canyon and 1-day Envergure canyon), remember to bring food that can be easily transported in a watertight container that your guide will lend you. Take a bag to keep your empty packaging during the descent and dispose of it in a bin at the end of the day..

What's my level of canyoning?

The difficulty of canyoning is the evolution on slippery ground with obstacles to cross.

Oxygen (all audiences) = be able to walk for 2 hours on chaotic ground.

Adventure (resourceful) = have good physical stamina and be able to do 3m jumps without apprehension.

Span (experienced) = have experience in canyoning, be comfortable on small jumps requiring aiming, be comfortable with height for abseiling.

Canyoning, even in the "all public" formula, remains a physical and sporting activity.

It is imperative to know how to swim!

Received ideas:  1 canyon + it's hard + it's fun = wrong

 The difficulty of descending a canyon is linked to the technicality of the canyon, or the difficulty of the jumps, not their heightThe number and complexity of rope obstacles (abseils, handrails). We offer packages for all levels, whether you're a beginner, a seasoned veteran or an expert.

The Bearnaise Pyrenees are composed of 3 valleys: the Aspe valley, the Barétous valley and the valley d'Ossau.

The Ossau valley is ideally surrounded by Spain, the Basque Country and the Hautes-Pyrénées, and is only a 3-hour drive from Bordeaux and Toulouse. The Ossau valley stretches from Rébénacq (15km from Pau) to the Pourtalet pass (on the Spanish border).

Pastoralism

"Populated by hunter-gatherer tribes then of breeders Since prehistoric times (numerous tumuli, cromlechs and other protohistoric remains are present in the area), Laruns and the upper Ossau valley has undergone a long period of development, essentially based on the development of theagro-pastoral economy. "

Around 1187, " a local and pioneering mode of governance "(from Laruns.fr) appears: it is the Jurade d'Ossau. Composed of 8 representatives of the communes of Haut-Ossauelected by the heads of the Ossalois families, the Jurade met in a small room called the Segrari, next to the church in Bielle. Its role was to to safeguard the interests of its inhabitants, ensure compliance with the treaties pastoral and justice in local matters.

"It was around this time that the Pont-Long, a vast area of wet moorland to the north of Pau, was used by the Ossau breeders during the winter. This area will gradually become owned by the valley's inhabitantsnow represented by the Syndicat du Haut-Ossau. Still owned by the communes of Haut-Ossau, the Pont-Long is today the largest farm in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques and, with its companies located in a business park, one of the major economic centres of Bearn.he long bridge farm, exploitation agricultural land of almost 800ha of the Commission Syndicale du Haut-Ossau at the gates of Pau. The main crops are maize, meadows and barley. The farm supplies 650 tonnes of hay, 365 tonnes of regain, 160 tonnes of straw, 988 tonnes of grain maize and 70 tonnes of barley every year. Extract from Lehautossau.fr

An independent valley

"Traditions are strong here! Historically, the Béarn only joined France in the 17th century. Consequently, the Béarn and thus the Ossau Valley They retain their own traditions and culture.

On 15 October 1620 LOUIS XIII invaded Bearn and entered Pau. Five days later, he published an edict to "unite and incorporate Bearn and Navarre into the crown of France". Béarn then lost its independence (claimed by Gaston Febus in 1347)... but the people of Béarn did not lose their culture and their unique identity.

from gourette.com

The cow is the emblem of the Ossau valley

"The present coat of arms has existed since 1817. According to Dr. Vastel, it owes its origin to a "famous" fight between a bear and a cow on the Beost mountains. We notice on the coat of arms the appearance of the fleur-de-lis (symbol of French royalty), the words "BEARN" and "VIVE LA VACA" (long live the cow, the war cry of the Bearnais). The two cows represent the coat of arms of Béarn. One could then assume that: the cow is Béarn, the bear is the valley and the tree represents justice. The fierce fight between these two animals could evoke the age-old struggle of the Ossalois against the Béarnais for the safeguarding of its lands of the Pont Long! Ot vallée d'ossau pyrénees    

Resource exploitation

The Pyrenean subsoil is a large, rich and varied mineral resources.

From the 17th century onwards, the mining industry in the Ossau valley is developing with iron (in the commune of Louvie-Soubiron in the Ouzom valley) and copper in the upper part of the valley and then with the white marble quarries in the sector of Arudy. Remains of these mining operations can be seen in particular near the lake of Anglas in Gourette.

Laruns, village in the Upper Osseous at a area of 250 Km2which makes it the third largest commune in metropolitan France in terms of surface area. Laruns, has many hamlets and communes but also a large forest resource. In the 18th century, logging allowed the construction of masts for the ships of the Royal Navy of Louis XIV. Passages dug into the side of the cliffs will allow the wood to be pulled by oxen, like the paths of the mast in the Aspe valley.

Thermalism

At the origin of the development of thermalism, Napoleon III and his wife Eugenie attracted all the aristocracy to discover the hot springs in the villages of Eaux-Bonnes and Eaux-Chaudes.

The 19th century was the golden century for these spas but also for the whole valley with new constructions like the Laruns station, sumptuous buildings in the Second Empire style.

The development of the spa also led to a wealthy and curious population wanting to explore the mountains and climb the peaks, which was the beginning of the fame of some local mountain guides.

Economic and tourism development

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Compagnie des chemins de fer du Midi provides for the construction ofhydroelectric plants to electrify its Pyrenean railway network. In 1920, in the Ossau valley, the company laid a 314-metre long railway line at Sagette to facilitate the construction of the dam. The Artouste train, which was first a construction train before becoming a small tourist train, carried men and material for 8 years. Many dams and pipelines are still in operation today.

At the same time, the ski resorts of Gourette and Artouste were developed. Thanks to its reputation and its frequentation, the thermal resort of Eaux-Bonnes hosted in 1908 the first international ski contest of the Pyrenees. A ski slope and an ice rink were even created in Eaux-Bonnes. But it is in the 1930s that the ski resort of Gourette appeared and what was only pastures and mining centre will see its physiognomy evolve with the arrival of skiers from the local and Bordeaux bourgeoisie.

Today, local economic activity is still based on the pastoralism, l'forestrys, the hydroelectric plants (SHEM), the thermal baths and the ski resorts of Gourette and Artouste.

Pyreneanism

Pyreneanism: "climbing, writing and feeling" Henri BERALDI at the origin of the word in his book hundred years in the Pyrenees.

"The ideal of the Pyreneanist is to be able to ascend, write and feel. If he writes without going up, he can do nothing. If he goes up without writing, he leaves nothing. If, while climbing, he relates dryly, he leaves nothing but a document, which may be of great interest. If - a rare thing - he climbs, writes and feels, if in a word he is the painter of a special nature, the painter of the mountain, he leaves a true and admirable book.

What to do for an EVG or EVJF?

You are the best man, the best friend or the brother/sister of the groom or the bride, you are in charge of the organisation of his stag or hen party, we have activities for all sporty profiles !

Special rate for EVG/EVJF

It is a privileged moment where the guide will accompany your group and only your group in the canyon, in rafting or in the via ferrata, but you don't have an unlimited budget!

The place of the groom/groom-to-be offered! (à partir de 8 personnes inscrites) !!

In great shape!

You come to the Ossau valley in the Atlantic Pyrenees to spend a convivial moment for mark the end of the celibacy of your friend and we do everything we can to make sure you have a great time. unforgettable moment.

But be careful, it is about outdoor sports and therefore it is imperative to arrive in full possession of his physical and intellectual means. You wouldn't want to be turned away because of a sleepless night or because your alcohol level was still too high, and then there are already enough sensations!

Need advice?

A desire to combine several activities but you need personalized advice for your group?

We can advise you on where to stay in the Ossau valley where you can party in complete peace of mind! Bars and/or restaurants with a friendly atmosphere ?