Photography Weekend
with Cat Lawton
Duration
4 days, 3 nights
Activities
Photography, tourism
Level
All levels
Group
5 people
Escape to the French Pyrénées for a long weekend of photography and fun in the Vallée d'Ossau.
Join photographer Cat Lawton for four days of shooting in one of France's hidden gems — mountain views, centuries-old stone villages, and a 14th-century château as your home base. We've put together an itinerary of some of the valley's most photogenic locations so you come home with images (and skills) you're proud of.
Whether you're picking up a camera seriously for the first time or looking to sharpen your eye, Cat's expert guidance is built around real practice in real places. Between shoots, settle into family-style dinners, local cuisine, and the quiet rhythm of a village where sheep outnumber people two to one.
Come for the photography. Stay for the stunning scenery and cultural experience.
Dates
-
27 - 30 August 2026
Prices (per person)
- Single occupancy room with shared bathroom (2 places) - €685
- Double occupancy room with private bathroom (4 places) - €625
Arrival/Departure
A single group pickup and drop-off at Lourdes/Tarbes airport is offered. Once the minimum number of 4 people is confirmed, we will confirm pickup and drop-off times. If you're unable to travel at the recommended times, please get in touch.
What's included
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3 nights accommodation
-
All meals
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Photography instruction
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E-bike rental
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Artouste train ticket
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Vineyard visit
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Group transfers to activities and Lourdes/Tarbes airport
What's not included
-
Travel (flights, trains, car)
-
Transportation outside of group transfers
-
Activities outside of what is planned
-
Alcohol, lunch, food outside of planned meals
-
Miscellaneous expenses
-
Travel insurance
Weekend at a glance
Day 1
Group pick-up at Lourdes/Tarbes airport
E-bike ride through the valley with plenty of stops for photos
Day 2
Browse a weekly open-air market
Enjoy a vineyard visit with lunch
Explore charming villages, including an old thermal spa village often referred to as a ghost town
Day 3
Take in the views of the 2000 meter high Artouste Train on an excursion to a mountaintop lake
Cross into Spain to explore the village of Sallent de Gállego
Day 4
Free time for one last round of photos
Group drop-off at Lourdes/Tarbes airport
Meet your photography instructor
Cat Lawton is a brand and travel photographer based in Surrey, England, with over 10 years of travel photography experience and an eye honed across locations worldwide — from the markets of Rajasthan to the streets of Europe.
Her documentary style means she captures people and places as they actually are: real light, real moments, nothing manufactured. It's an approach that translates beautifully to travel photography, where the story of a place is always found in the quiet details, the unexpected light, and the moments between the obvious shots.
This Pyrénées weekend is built around that philosophy. You won't be posed in front of landmarks. You'll be guided to see the valley the way Cat sees it, the textures, the shadows, the farmer's market at 7am, the way the mountains change colour as the light moves. You'll come home with images that feel genuinely yours.
Whether you're picking up a camera seriously for the first time or looking to develop your eye further, Cat's instruction is patient, practical, and rooted in real locations doing real photography.
Find out more about Cat's work at catlawtonphotography.com
What to expect
*If you wish to join us but your travel plans don't permit you to arrive/depart Pau at the suggested times, please get in touch.
Reserve my place!
If you'd like to join us, please submit the form below and we'll follow up with additional details and payment instructions for a €100 deposit to secure your place. Your remaining balance will be due by 10 August 2026.