An Insider’s Journey From Pamplona to Barcelona
Hiking the Spanish Pyrenees
Overview
Snow-dusted peaks, plunging valleys, and centuries-old alpine villages make the Spanish Pyrenees irresistible. We explore from majestic Ordesa National Park, with its jagged limestone peaks along the French border, to the verdant, lake-dotted valleys of the Catalan Pyrenees. We’ll hike to craggy ridges where mountain goats scramble, explore hidden valleys where the ancient Aragonese dialect is still heard, ramble the back lanes of stone-built Pyrenean towns, and even hike in the tiny principality of Andorra. Along the way, our expert Trip Leaders introduce us to Basque, Aragonese, and Catalan culinary specialties, and we finish in the renowned cultural hub of Barcelona.
Arrive: Pamplona
Depart: Barcelona
Highlights
- Enjoy an insider’s journey through the Basque, Aragonese, and Catalan Pyrenees
- Hike in magnificent Ordesa National Park, with its sheer limestone canyons
- Explore the wild alpine beauty of Aigüestortes National Park
- Discover ancient stone-built towns where mountain traditions thrive
- Stay in charming and historic inns, hike in tiny Andorra
- Savor northern Spain’s culinary treats, from jamón serrano to grilled Pyrenees lamb
Itinerary
From the famous Basque city of Pamplona, we head out to the idyllic Ansó Valley in the Pyrenees for a hike from the medieval village of Ansó to tiny Siresa, whose imposing 11th century monastery has welcomed pilgrims throughout the centuries. In Ordesa National Park, crown jewel of the Aragonese Pyrenees, we’ll discover a spectacular world of 10,000-foot peaks festooned with waterfalls. Our last hike in Ordesa brings us 360-degree panoramas as we reach the Cola de Caballo, a cascade just below the sheer face of 11,000-foot Monte Perdido.
We hike along the Ara River, then enjoy an afternoon in medieval Aínsa, whose old quarter preserves Pyrenean traditions in its clock towers and stone houses. In Aigüestortes National Park, we explore a glacial landscape named for its meandering streams (aigües tortes means “twisting waters”). We’ll hike across the park from west to east over the Portarró d’Espot (7,326'), the highest point on our trip, with a descent to the glacial lake of Sant Maurici. Two nights are in a spa-hotel in Caldes de Boi, a mountain town famed since Roman times for its thermal waters.
From the ancient city of La Seu d’Urgell, we’ll take a day hike in Andorra, the tiny principality nestled between France and Spain, heading to the crystalline lakes in the glacial Cirque des Pessons for a picnic lunch. We descend to Barcelona by way of Llívia, a tiny enclave of Spain within France, for a visit to its castle and a local winery. Depart on Day 9 or extend your stay in Barcelona.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 4, Moderate to Strenuous, according to our trip grading system. You will need to be comfortable hiking 12 miles a day and being on your feet for up to 7 hours a day. While no climbing or mountaineering experience is necessary, you will need to be able to keep up with the moderate but steady pace of the group as there are no alternative hiking options available. Trail conditions, weather, and the group's level of fitness can affect hiking times and pacing.
Average Hiking Day
Review Trip Level Details
Average Hiking Day
- 7 miles
- 4-5 hours
- 1,200 feet gain/loss
- Day 3 - 12 miles, 7 hours, and 1,600 feet gain/loss
The terrain can be rugged with steep ascents and descents and rough, rocky trails with uneven surfaces including downhill over loose scree. While we are not rock climbing, there are sections where you will need to use your hands to traverse over large stones, so good balance and prior hiking experience are necessary.
We strongly urge you to train for your trip, as your enjoyment will be highly dependent on your level of fitness. The best training for a hike is to hike, especially over hills or rough terrain. Next best are running, swimming, bicycling, or other cardiovascular exercise. Stair climbing machines are excellent preparation for hiking uphill. Your feet should also be well prepared-make sure your hiking boots are sturdy, comfortable, and thoroughly broken-in.
Altitude is generally not a problem on these trips. The itineraries are designed to take you gently to higher altitude, giving you plenty of time to acclimatize. However, some people still experience a few problems when they first reach high altitude. Slight headache and sleeplessness are the most common symptoms.
Altitude is generally not a problem on these trips. The itineraries are designed to take you gently to higher altitude, giving you plenty of time to acclimatize. However, some people still experience a few problems when they first reach high altitude. Slight headache and sleeplessness are the most common symptoms.
Temperatures are likely to be in the 70s°F during the day, with cool breezes and occasional rain. At night the temperature will drop quite a bit, depending on the altitude. In general, we expect mild conditions, but cold weather and rain can occur at any time, so it is necessary to bring raingear and warm layers with you on every hike.
We’ll stay in a collection of charming and historic mountain inns and hotels. Since they are often in historic buildings, the rooms are not always of uniform or international size. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Single rooms can be requested but are not always available, due to the limited space in the hotels. If you prefer a single room, please make your request as early as possible.
Lunches will be at local taverns and restaurants or picnic-style along the trail, with cheese, fresh vegetables, salami, copa, ham, fresh fruit, Spanish chocolate, and local breads. Dinners will be in taverns and restaurants which offer plenty of 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 8:30 pm.
Our van will transport the group's luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack for items you need for the day (rain gear, sweater, camera, water bottle, etc.). Trip members are always free to skip a day's hike and travel to the next destination in the support vehicle (or remain at the hotel if we are not transferring that day).
Client Testimonials
"This was a fine trip. Excellent, varied, challenging hiking. And our fellow travelers were splendid companions."
Alice L.
Hillsborough, NC
"I loved this trip. Great food! And great hikes to justify indulging."
Ann T.
Chesterfield, MO
"The pace of the itinerary was excellent and each day's walk offered something different."
Cornelia F.
Brooktondale, NY
"Spectacular scenery, storybook villages, Trip Leaders who made it fun, good food and wine—what more could you want?"
Dennis M.
Evergreen, CO
"Our leaders, Joserra and Itzira, were extraordinary, and their intelligence and expertise of the region enriched the trip experience!"
Jane C.
Canterbury, NH
"This is my 4th trip with Wilderness and I have to say my best. I loved the whole itinerary, the challenge of the hikes, the quality of hotels, and outstanding food!"
Jean S.
Lakeside, MI
"The trip was a perfect combination of natural and man-made wonders—of environment, history, culture, and dining experiences. The hikes were amazing and varied, and took us to places and sites that I'll remember always."
Johanna S.
Sunnyvale, CA
"This trip ranks up there with my other top WT trips."
John L.
Highland Park, IL
"Totally fun all around, a great mix of culture, cuisine, and scenery."
Kate F.
Santa Monica, CA
"I loved this trip, from the guides to the hikes, to the food and wine, all among beautiful landscapes and an enriching culture. A spectacular trip!"
Leela H.
Woodstock, NY
"The hiking and scenery were magnificent, the towns were precious, the group bonded in an amazing way (I am not surprised, as we all love to hike and travel), the leadership was the best, and the pacing was perfect. Thank you for a wonderful experience."
Linda L.
Berkeley, CA
"This was a fantastic trip! We loved the opportunity to hike in so many beautiful national parks, and it was great to have all the logistics taken care of. It was our first time on any sort of tour, and we were very impressed with how smoothly everything went."
Lisa R.
Voorhees, NJ
"Overall a fantastic trip. The Pyrenees are beautiful, and the hikes offered a great variety of terrain and scenery. The food was wonderful, and our guides really helped make the trip special."
Loran Y.
Portland, OR
"Joserra and Florencia were a dream team. We felt very fortunate to be under their guidance and their support. Their willingness to always go the extra mile made all the difference on this trip."
Maria W.
Winchester, MA
"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 hikes were beautiful and a lot of thought went into the design of each one to allow us to experience a variety of landscapes. Thank you for a fantastic trip across the Pyrenees!"
Mary Beth W.
Fayetteville, NY
"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
"The hikes were stunningly beautiful, with lots of variety. And the trip was paced well in terms of rest days and mixing more challenging terrain with slightly easier hikes. The food was also very good, with a chance to try many local dishes. And the accommodations were lovely. I enjoyed staying in small hotels in tiny towns in the mountains."
Michelle B.
Washington , DC
"This was a greatly rewarding trip, full of visual, sensory, and gastronomic delights."
Pamela G.
Omaha, NE
"Not only was the natural beauty of the Pyrenees mesmerizing, but the camaraderie among the guests and leaders alike was fantastic. Simply put this is the best group trip I have ever taken."
Ray C.
Essex, CT
"This was an excellent trip in a very beautiful area of Europe—and with excellent trip leaders. We really enjoyed the hikes."
Richard P.
Washington, DC
"The scenery just got better with each day."
Shirley G.
Ashland, OR
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.