Across the Pyrenees
From Pamplona to Barcelona
Trip Details at-a-Glance
| Cost From: | $4795 see pricing |
|---|---|
| Length: | 9 days |
| Arrive: | Pamplona, Spain |
| Depart: | Barcelona, Spain |
| Lodging: | 8 nights small hotels describe |
| Meals: | All meals included except 3 dinners |
| Activity: | Hiking / Trekking, Cultural Adventures |
| Trip Level: |
7 hiking days on moderate to strenuous trails, 3-7 hours a day, altitudes between 4,500-8,000 feet, van support
|
Highlights
- The most comprehensive hiking trip in the Spanish Pyrenees
- Native-born Spanish Trip Leaders who speak Catalan and Basque
- Tiny Andorra and the mountain cirques of Ordesa National Park
- Wonderful gastronomy, from paella to legendary Basque cheeses
We had a wonderful time. Excellent and interesting leaders, great hikes in beautiful locations, excellent food on and off the trail.Marshall F.—Fresno, CA
Choosing the Right Trip
We work hard to help you choose the right trip for you, paying attention to your individual interests, abilities, and needs. If you have questions about the level of comfort or any of the activities described in this itinerary, please contact us.
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References
We are proud to have an exceptionally high rate of repeat travelers. For more information, we would be happy to put you in touch with a client who has traveled with us.
Email Area ManagerDeparture Notes
Once you have signed up on the trip, we send a complete packing list, relevant health information, and required travel documents.
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The Spanish side of the Pyrenees is a breathtaking alpine stronghold of towering snow-capped peaks, dramatic mountain cirques, and crystalline lakes and waterfalls. Here we discover some of the best hiking in Europe amid a delightful diversity of the cultures that make northern Spain so enchanting. Our hikes along shepherds’ paths bring us through green, glacier-carved valleys, beneath towering peaks, and into atmospheric hill villages where ancient traditions flourish. Our last hike brings us along the border of tiny Andorra and across the wildflower-covered Catalan Pyrenees before we head to the Mediterranean and the cultural hub of Barcelona, with its renowned architecture and superb museums dedicated to native sons Picasso and Miró.
Itinerary at a Glance
For a more complete description, Download Full Detailed Itinerary
Day 1
Pamplona / Siresa
We meet in Pamplona and head right to the mountains for our first hike, starting in the remote medieval village of Anso, once so isolated that its inhabitants spoke their own dialect. Our trail leads through the valley of Sierra de lo Vedau to beautiful Siresa, a mountain village of cobbled streets and splendid stone houses with tall, Aragonese-style chimneys. Siresa’s imposing 11th century Monasterio de San Pedro de Siresa has welcomed pilgrims throughout the centuries.
Days 2-3
Ordesa National Park / Torla
Ordesa National Park, a spectacular glacier-carved valley flanked by 10,000-foot mountains, is one of the most magnificent mountain settings in Europe. We enjoy a classic Pyrenees hike below the West Face of Mt. Bisaurin, passing tumbling waterfalls on a trail beneath impressive cliffs. Views of the snow-capped summits are breathtaking. The next day we hike to the Cola de Caballo (“Horse’s Tail”), a waterfall below the face of Monte Perdido (11,000'), where mountain goats scramble beneath vertical cliffs.
Days 4-5
Ainsa / Caldes de Boi
After a day to explore the lovely medieval town of Ainsa, with its stone-built Pyrenean architecture, we head to Taull, a lost village with exquisite Romanesque churches graced by beautiful frescoes. The next day in Aiguestortes National Park, a glaciated landscape of jagged granite peaks and meandering streams, we hike to a crystal-clear mountain pool known as the Ice Fountain. Overnights are in a spa hotel in Caldes de Boi, a mountain town famed since Roman times for its thermal waters.
Days 6-7
Catalan Pyrenees / Andorra
A hike across the Portarro de Espot (8,000'), highest point on our trip, brings us to the stunning glacial lake of Sant Maurici, whose translucent waters are encircled by serrated peaks. The next day in tiny Andorra, a principality nestled between France and Spain, we hike a panoramic mountain trail and descend to medieval Bescaran, famed for its magnificent Romanesque bell tower.
Days 8-9
Barcelona
Our morning hike is in pastoral rolling hills alive with the sound of sheep and cattle bells, and we spend the afternoon in Barcelona, a lively city with a famed artistic and architectural heritage from Art Nouveau to Gaudi. Depart on Day 9.
For a more complete description, Download Full Detailed Itinerary
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 4, Moderate to Strenuous. It features very active hikes and accommodations in small hotels and inns. The hikes range from three to seven hours and take place on trails at altitudes of around 4,500 to 8,000 feet. You carry only a daypack on the hikes. However, there are steep ascents and descents and there are some sections that cross rough or rocky trails. For your own enjoyment, we recommend you make a special effort to be in good physical condition for the trip. Daily brisk walking and/or regular hiking (or using a stair-climbing machine at your gym) are excellent preparatory exercises. You should wear sturdy, well-broken-in hiking boots for maximum comfort on the trail.
On our picnic lunches, we feature cheese, fresh vegetables, salamis, copa, ham, fresh fruit, Spanish chocolate, and the local breads. Our lunches and dinners in local taverns and restaurants give us the opportunity to sample the best local dishes and wines. Please note that in Spain, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 9:00 p.m.
When we transfer from our hotel to the trailhead and back without changing hotels, our average driving time is 15-20 minutes. When we transfer from one valley to another and/or from one hotel to the next, driving time is approximately two hours. The driving distances on these days are no longer than 50 miles, but the mountain roads are narrow and winding, so the driver proceeds slowly as a safety precaution.
Departures & Leaders
Jun 16-24, 2013
Sep 1- 9, 2013 Joserra Combarro
Sep 12-20, 2013 Itziar Zorilla
Jun 15-23, 2014
Jul 20-28, 2014
Aug 31-Sep 8, 2014
Sep 14-22, 2014
Trip Cost
Prices are for 2013
$4795 (12-15 members)
$5195 (6-11 members)
Single supplement: $525
Forced single supplement: $263
more on pricing
Trip Cost Includes:
- Expert leadership of a Wilderness Travel Trip Leader and local guides
- Accommodations
- All meals included except 3 dinners
- Land transportation, airport transfers for passengers on certain designated flights
Trip Cost Does Not Include:
International airfare, internal flights, transfers for independent arrival or departure, any meals not specified after each itinerary day in the Full Trip Brochure, wine at dinner (except at welcome and farewell dinners), airport departure taxes, optional tipping or gratuities to leaders or staff, additional hotel nights that may be necessitated by airline schedule changes or other factors, expenses such as medical immunizations (if any), travel insurance, or passports and visas, and other expenses of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, and so on).Hotel Castillo d’Acher
Day 1 (1 night), Siresa, Spain
This small and simple stone-built hotel is right next to Siresa’s imposing 11th century San Pedro Monastery, a place of pilgrimage for ...
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Villa de Torla
Days 2 to 3 (2 nights), Torla, Spain
A historic stone building in the heart of a traditional village, the Villa de Torla is set on the main square of Torla. It offers cozy rooms with ...
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Hotel Manantial
Days 4 to 5 (2 nights), Caldes de Boi, Spain
Part of the Caldes de Boí Health Spa Resort, which has attracted travelers since the late 18th century, the Hotel Manantial has comfortable ...
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Cal Teixido
Days 6 to 7 (2 nights), Estamariu, Spain
A charming 14-room inn well off the beaten path, the Cal Teixido is tucked into the mountainscapes around Aiguestortes National Park. The rooms are ...
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Hotel Catalonia Berna
Day 8 (1 night), Barcelona, Spain
Housed in a renovated historic building, the Berna has all the comforts of a modern hotel and a superb location in the stylish Eixample district, ...
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Note: Listed above are our signature accommodations for this trip. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
Our Trip Leaders
Here are the Trip Leaders scheduled for this journey (please note that leader assignments are subject to change).
Joserra Combarro, a native of Bilbao, Spain, attended law school but has never practiced as a lawyer, working instead for Bilbao's city council until he decided to become a mountain guide. "I love being a Trip Leader in the land I was so lucky to be born in. Basque country has everything--mountain ...
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Itziar Zorrilla is a native of the Basque country in Spain and considers the mountains of the Pyrenees her home. An expert climber, she has traveled solo in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America pursuing higher summits and exploring new cultures. Itziar loves to share her passion for Basque ...
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Client Comments
We had a wonderful time. Excellent and interesting leaders, great hikes in beautiful locations, excellent food on and off the trail.Marshall F., Fresno, CA
The Pyrenees are imposing, beautiful, inspiring, and a total wonder. I loved the hikes and deeply appreciated the talents of the Trip Leaders.Mary Jean K., Loudonville, NY
This trip ranks up there with my other top WT trips.John L., Highland Park, IL
This was a fine trip. Excellent, varied, challenging hiking. And our fellow travelers were splendid companions.Alice L., Hillsborough, NC
Spectacular scenery, storybook villages, Trip Leaders who made it fun, good food and wine—what more could you want?Dennis M., Evergreen, CO







