Ziplining in Laruns, France (September 11, 2025)
Violet and I have enjoyed ziplining in some incredible places in the world including Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic, but we agreed that the ziplines located at Laruns Adventures were the most fun we’ve had connected to a cable. Sure, there could be some recency bias here, but when you see the pictures I’m about to share you might agree. (Nana, you might want to skip this post if you’re vicariously afraid of heights on our behalf ;-)
I know, the pictures don’t really do this trip justice. It’s a 60 to 90 minute journey across a ravine over waterfalls. As you can see, Violet and I are clipped onto a cable and are billy goating around massive boulders high above the fast moving water below us.
It felt like a cross between light (“easy”) rock climbing and ziplining. That is, you’re always on a see through platform overlooking a drop down what appears to be about several hundred feet below (i.e. 150 meters or so). There are 22 ziplines that take you deep into the ravine as you explore the cavernous twists and turns of the mountain and waterfalls all the while criss-crossing over the river below.
Something about the combination of the height, the navigation around the boulders, the see through platforms and the swinging cable bridges that felt like a bit of a high ropes course directly connected to this incredible nature park. Violet and I agreed this was the most fun zipline adventure we’d done and that was not what we had anticipated when we signed up to participate this day.
To really get a feel for the Pyrenees mountains, Claudia Mundi drove Violet and I up to get a closer look. Wow. Just wow. Breathtaking. You know that experience of forest bathing when you take a long walk in a forest? Your heart slows down as you breathe in the clean, crisp air? You feel lighter and more connected to nature as you ground yourself in all her beauty? If there’s another name for this in the mountains, I’m not aware of what it’s called, but it’s a similar sensation.
As Claudia, Violet and I traversed the trails in these incredible mountains, the awe continued to grow inside me. The pictures only hint at the true beauty surrounding us. Each peak brought a 360 view of all the other peaks with the combination of greens of the grass, browns of the dirt and grey colors of the impressive outcrops of the rock. Wow. The eyes simply can’t take in the immense beauty surrounding us, but the heart feels full and the lungs are so pleased to be connected and plugged into these mountains. All is right and feels peaceful up here.
I should also mention all the bikers inspired by the Tour de France and the fun landmark that Violet and I enjoyed climbing on and posing for pictures. The mountain climbs are impressive and even the downhill takes some incredible skills to navigate. The average age of the bikers we saw were well into their 70s with a few in their mid to late 80s. Way to stay young!
For our last night in Gan (yes, our visit was way too short), Jag fired up the hot tub - literally. He and Claudia have a wood-burning hot tub. How cool is that? You start a fire and wait a few hours (usually about 3 from a cold fill-up) and you have a piping hot tub ready to soak as long as you wish. A single log will keep the water piping hot once your desired temperature has been reached.
Besides, who doesn’t love playing with fire? Starting and stoking a fire while soaking in a hot tub is like a double bonus. Claudia and I had our first meeting in Gan’s “Conference Room C” (since my hot tub is lovingly referred to as “Conference Room B”) and envisioned what it would be like hosting events in this beautiful space. I can so see this possibility and why anyone who visits would feel energetically changed by the time they spend in Gan, France.
For dinner, we enjoyed home made pizza including fresh vegetables from Claudia’s garden. Nothing tastes as good as freshly picked vegetables, especially when you’re eating outside, watching the sun set with friends. When the deer sauntered by the lawn it almost felt “too perfect” if you know what I mean. Like, really? Who just released those guys on cue? Then the owls began singing and a bat flew by. Okay, that felt a bit less staged.
Violet and I agreed that we could have stayed a lot longer here. Claudia has created a magical place in her Mont Jolly space. No wonder so many people join her from all over the world. I’m sure glad we did and I look forward to finding our way back here in the near future. Friends, food, and a fabulous place to be.
