The Crown Jewels of the Spanish Pyrenees

A single trip visiting the iconic 3: Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, Posets-Maladeta Natural Park and Aigüestortes I Estany de Sant Maurici National Park!

Dates

From Mid-May to end of September

Level

3 - moderate

(see levels)

Guided

Accompanied by a local mountain guide

Accommodations

Day hikes sleeping in a hotel each night

7 Days/6 Nights

Can be longer or shorter

INTRODUCTION

This tour explores the 3 most spectacular regions of the Spanish Pyrenees, all located in the central sector, home to the biggest mountains, the deepest canyons and some of the most beautiful valleys in the entire range.

Our first objective is Parque Nacional de Cañones de Ordesa y Monte Perdido, part of a larger area now designated by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage site—an “outstanding mountain landscape”—spanning the contemporary national borders of France and Spain, centered around the highest limestone mountain in all of Europe - Monte Perdido.

Next we explore the Parque Natural de Posets-Maladeta, home to the greatest concentration of 3,000 meter peaks in the entire Pyrenees, including the 2 highest of all - Aneto and Posets. Sandwiched between the more well-known national parks, this is perhaps the brightest jewel in the Pyrenean crown.

Our final hikes are in the Parque Nacional de Aigüestortes I Estany de Sant Maurici, crown jewel of Catalonia and the only national park within its territory, a wonderland of shapely granite peaks and hundreds of glacial lakes.

We end our journey in Barcelona, the vibrant capital of Spain’s dynamic Catalonia region.

As always on our trips, you'll have great food, excellent wine and comfortable accommodations, in combination with superb hikes in some of the most spectacular terrain in Europe!

DAY 1: SAN SEBASTIAN / SAN JUAN DE LA PEÑA & THE HOLY GRAIL / TORLA

Morning pickup in the elegant Basque coastal city of San Sebastian and drive eastward towards the ancient kingdom of Aragón and the central Pyrenees. En-route we’ll stop for our first hike, an easy stroll through beech forest to visit a true highlight of Pyrenean history and culture – the Monastery of San Juan de la Peña. One of the most important religious complexes in the Kingdom of Aragón during the Middle Ages, this impressive structure is partially carved into the conglomerate stone of a great overhanging cliff. According to legend, the Holy Grail was kept here for 300 years for protection from the Muslim Invaders of the Iberian Peninsula. During our hike we’ll have great views of the main ridgeline of the Central Pyrenees.

After a delicious “tapas” lunch in the nearby town of Jaca, the bustling former capital of the small Pyrenean Kingdom of Jacetania, we continue driving east through the mountains to our overnight base in Torla, gateway to Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park.

Overnight: Torla

DAY 2: HIKE IN PARQUE NACIONAL DE ORDESA Y MONTE PERDIDO.

Today’s hike is a true classic, along a ledge-like trail along the Ordesa Canyon walls on our way to the pretty Cola de Caballo(“horsetail”) waterfall at the head of the canyon, at the foot of Europe’s highest limestone mountain – Monte Perdido – at 3355 meters (11,007 ft), the 3rd highest mountain in the Pyrenees.

This route has everything a hiker could ask for, with superb views of the legendary canyon and of the national park’s most famous mountains – the Monte Perdido massif, known as “Las Tres Sorores” or 3 sisters. A beautiful beech forest and a succession of lovely waterfalls accompany our descent along the valley floor.

Overnight: Torla

DAY 3: TORLA TO BENASQUE VIA AÍNSA EN-ROUTE. HIKE IN POSETS-MALADETA NATURAL PARK.

We’ll transfer northwards through spectacular scenery of mountain views and canyons to Benasque, with its fabulous setting in the remote Benás Valley. En-route we’ll stop to visit the fortified town of Aínsa, one of Spain’s medieval jewels. On arrival in Benasque, a light tapas lunch is followed by an easy hike to visit 3 waterfalls in the lower region of the valley.

Overnight in Benasque

DAY 4: THE HIGH PASSES & SMUGGLER’S ROUTES TO FRANCE

The Benasque valley has more hike options than anywhere in the Pyrenees and we’ll choose a hike to suit the group. One of our favorites is to follow an ancient trail used by smugglers, bandits and travelers over the centuries to cross the range via Puerto Viejo de Benasque, a high pass (2,445 m /8,021 ft) to France offering fantastic views of the Maladeta Massif and its glaciers. Depending on conditions, there will be an option to summit Pico Salvaguardia - an easy, non-technical peak right on the France-Spain border, a superb viewpoint of the highest peaks in all the Pyrenees. Easier hike options are also available.

Overnight in Benasque

DAY 5: FREE MORNING IN BENASQUE. AFTERNOON TRANSFER TO VALL DE BOÍ & AIGÜESTORTES NATIONAL PARK.

Today, take the morning off to explore the winding streets of the medieval old town of Benasque. There are some excellent outdoor gear shops, book shops and boutiques offering local specialties. After lunch we’ll transfer to our final overnight base in the picturesque stone-built village of Taüll in Catalonia’s Vall de Boí.

After arrival, we’ll visit the village’s superb 16th century Romanesque St. Climent church to see an award-winning visual display of the its magnificent frescoes. The rest of the day is up to you: either explore the village on your own or join your guide for a hike on trails among vegetable patches, orchards and lush mixed forest to visit other quaint villages of the valley and the visitor’s center of the National Park to learn about the park’s flora, fauna and geology. This evening we’ll dine on fine local cuisine with a magnificent view over the valley.

Overnight: Taüll.

DAY 6: AIGUËSTORTES I ESTANY DE SANT MAURICI NATIONAL PARK – ESTANY NEGRE OR ESTANY LLONG

Short transfer to and from trailhead in 4x4 taxi. Today’s hike is an introduction to the granite and aquatic treasures of Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park. The area’s glacial origin is evident in the labyrinth of meandering streams and over 200 lakes giving rise to its name Aigüestortes meaning “twisted waters” in the local dialect. We’ll hike to a spectacularly alpine lake surrounded by 3000 meter summits.

Overnight: Taüll.

DAY 7: TRANSFER TO BARCELONA

Morning transfer to Barcelona’s international airport or to a hotel of your choice in the city to stay extra day(s) to explore Barcelona on your own.

TORLA - Days 1 & 2: a 3* charming family-run hotel. An attractive stone-built medieval village with winding cobblestone streets, Torla has a superb setting on the pristine Ara river, with views of the lower reaches of Ordesa Canyon. It is the principal gateway to the the Western sector of the national park.

BENASQUE - Days 3 & 4: our favourite lodgings are in a 3* comfortable and characterful family-run hotel in the old quarter. A historic stone-built village with a fabulous setting in the heart of the Benas Valley, Benasque is home to the headquarters of the Spanish Mountaineering School and is the hub of a dynamic local tourism industry centered around outdoor adventure sports, nature and culture; many refer to it as the Spanish Pyrenees version of Chamonix in the French Alps!

TAÜLL - Days 5 & 6: A comfortable 2* family-run hotel with great views over the valley. One of the highest villages in the Pyrenees,Taüll is located in the Vall de Boí, a narrow, steep-sided valley that was once so remote that the Moorish Conquest of Spain did not reach it. A main entry point to Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, the valley is also famed for its medicinal waters and its 9 Early Romanesque churches are designated as a World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

We will be happy to provide specific details of our accommodations upon request.

Overall Level: 3 or "Moderate". Each day there are easier, shorter hikes and longer, more challenging ones. You’ll discuss the options with our guide to decide the best plan!

Distances: from 5 to 19 km (3.1 to 11.8 mi) depending on route

Elevation gain: from +200 to 1000 meters (+656 ft to +3281 ft), depending on route

Time: from 2 to 7 hours, depending on route choice

Terrain: Mostly hilly with occasional steep and/or rocky ascents/descents (use of hands not required!). Typical walking surfaces include medieval “paved” paths and sheep drovers' trails, forestry tracks, grassy meadows & paths and rocky mountain trails.

This trip is based on the idea that you will spend a night or more in San Sebastián on the Basque coast (one of Spain's most beautiful cities) before starting our itinerary. On the morning of Day 1 of our itinerary, we pick you up there.

San Sebastián can be easily reached from several airports - for example it is a 20 minute drive from Biarritz (France) airport and about 1 hour from Bilbao (Spain) airport. Bordeaux (France) is about 90 minutes drive. We can help arrange airport transfers and even accommodations in San Sebastián.

At the end of the trip, Taüll is approximately 3 hours 45 minutes drive from Barcelona.

We can arrange a private transfer between Benasque and Zaragoza or Barcelona. Transfers can also be arranged to & from other areas of interest in northeast Spain such as Pamplona, Bilbao or San Sebastian.

We can also easily arrange a transfer between Taüll across the Spain-France border to Toulouse (3 hours), which has a major international airport.

Medieval mountain villages – all 3 overnight bases are stone-built cradles of authentic Pyrenean mountain culture. You’ll be able to observe traditional lifestyles, architecture and customs.

Glorious views, exuberant flora and abundant fauna – these are great locations for seeing alpine flowers, including the famed Eidelweiss. Marmots and chamoix observe us from hidden perches and a plethora of birds and other creatures inhabit the valley forests, upper pasturelands and rocky heights.

Start in San Sebastián and end in Barcelona – explore the architectural, culinary and cultural jewels of 2 of Spain's most beautiful and dynamic cities.

You'll be accompanied by a local mountain guide on all hiking days - having a private local guide adds special value to your experience. A guide provides in-depth insight to local nature, fauna, flora, geology, customs and culture as well as adding an extra measure of safety if you want to do something a bit more adventurous!

BOOK, CUSTOMIZE OR CREATE

This sample itinerary has been designed to showcase just some of the main highlights of these 3 incredible protected areas. It can be booked just as described above, but it’s also 100% customizable and can be used as the foundation around which we can build a personalized trip just for you Make it shorter or longer. Add rest days or mix hiking days with other adventure or cultural interest activities. We operate in a variety of areas on both the Spanish and French sides of the Pyrenees as well as northern Spain in general, so we can easily craft a completely personalized trip, combining differing activities and experiences in various locations. We want to create a memorable travel experience just for you! No itinerary is too complicated for us to arrange…any number of days, at any time of year, for any size group. Pick this or another of our suggested itineraries and we'll customize it to meet your party’s criteria...or…let’s work together with you to craft a personalized, tailor-made itinerary to suit your interests, level of physical challenge or technical difficulty, and other criteria. Just send us an email or send in our contact form describing your idea in as much detail as possible and we’ll get back to you…and together we’ll start making your dream become reality!

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Hiking in Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park