Hike Pyrenees 2020 Walking Holiday Brochure by Phillip James

Summer 2020

Guided walking Welcome to Hike Pyrenees Welcome to our summer 2020 brochure, full of ideas for your next walking holiday and adventure in the Pyrenees. Our Spanish guiding team of Juanma, David, Pablo and Arkaitz are proving really popular with all of our guests who are learning not just about the mountains and wildlife but all sorts of things about Spanish culture and customs.

For early season hiking, our Mar and Montaña is perfect. Based in a wonderful undiscovered part of Spain, we’ll have the mountains to ourselves and there are great after-hike activities too such as a boat trip to an oyster farm and a BBQ amongst olive groves. Always popular are our self guided hotel to hotel itineraries. We move your bags each day, provide maps and detailed directions. As always, Rosa and Teresa are in the office to help choose and plan your holiday so if you have any questions at all just drop us an email or give us a call and we’ll be glad to help. We’re all looking forward to another busy summer of hiking in the Pyrenees and hope that you will join us, Phil, Anna & the Hike Pyrenees team

On our guided walking holidays you’ll be superbly looked after by our team of knowledgeable guides who will show you the best the Pyrenees have to offer. We organise routes, accommodation, meals and transport leaving you free to relax and enjoy your hiking.

All grades of holiday including dual level We have different grades of walking holidays to suit all levels of walkers including our popular dual level holidays which offer two walks of different grades each day.

Local qualified guides We have a small team of local Spanish guides that know the area, it’s history and wildlife. All speak excellent English and are fully qualified International Mountain Leaders or Alpine Guides. They’ll not only keep you safe while you are in the mountains but explain all about the environment that you are walking in.

Small groups Our holidays always are small groups which means that you won’t be walking in a long line of hikers. This also gives us the flexibility to tailor the itinerary according to the groups needs and is key to us giving you a superb weeks hiking.

See our full range of guided holidays on page 6

Self-guided walking

Hotel to hotel itineraries

Perfect if you like to explore the mountains at your own pace. Our self guided holidays are designed to you straight to the best hikes in the area and help you enjoy the Pyrenees on your own with our local knowledge to support you.

Hiking between small mountain villages, discovering new places each day gives a real sense of journey and our hotel to hotel self guided holidays are amongst our most popular. We move your luggage each day, provide maps and detailed route directions, give a detailed briefing on your arrival and make sure youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re well supported throughout your stay.

Ordesa National Park or Valle de Tena We have different grades of walking holidays to suit all levels of walkers including our popular dual level holidays which offer two walks of different grades each day - simply choose each morning which hike youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to join.

Luggage moved each day

Choice of hotels or self catering apartments

Easy to follow route cards and maps

We have lovely 4* hotels with pools in Biescas and Torla, charming mountain chalet and hotels in the Valle de Tena or self catering apartments.

Detailed, easy to follow route descriptions are provided for every days hiking along with the best hiking map of the area.

Route cards for all levels plus local information

Routes for any time of year

We provide easy to follow route cards, maps, weather forecasts and a wealth of information about the wildlife, history and places to visit in the area. One of our guides will meet you on arrival and go through all of the route options and be around during your stay to Read more about our self guided ask further questions. holidays on page 8

We have itineraries in three areas which have different hiking seasons. The high mountains of the Valle de Tena are best during the summer, while our Route of the Three Kingdoms and Villages of the Guara are See our hotel to perfect during the spring and autumn.

We move your luggage each day so you just need to walk with a day pack.

hotel itineraries on page 9

Why choose Hike Pyrenees

Contents Guided walking holidays

Self Guided walking holidays

Private group holidays

Family holidays

Valle de Tena

The Pyrenees are one of Europe’s best kept secrets and combine stunning scenery with great weather. We also offer holidays in the Picos de Europa national park.

Ordesa National Park

If you’ve been on one of our holidays before you’ll know the care and attention we take and the local knowledge that we believe makes a Hike Pyrenees holiday so special.

Hike Pyrenees are the specialists in walking holidays in the Spanish Pyrenees.

Contacting us We’re always delighted to answer any questions that you have about our holidays. We have lots more information and photos on our website or you can call or email us.

Website: www.hikepyrenees.co.uk By phone: UK number: +44 (0)208 123 5049 Spanish number: +34 974 495 401

Spring, autumn, Picos de Europa 34

Friendly personal holidays

Local, qualified guides

Hike Pyrenees is run by Phil and Anna and our small team of guides. We’re a small independent walking company that offers friendly and personal holidays. We’re all passionate about the area and love showing the best the Pyrenees have to offer.

All of our guides are fully qualified and hold either the International Mountain Leader or Spanish high mountain guide qualification. We have a team of local Spanish guides, so you learn about Spanish culture while you are here.

Local knowledge

Holidays guaranteed to run

Phil and Anna live in the Pyrenees year round, know the area intimately and have sought out the best hotels and villages ensuring you have a superb holiday. We know the region’s history, its legends, wildlife and of course all the best walks.

Unlike many large tour operators we never cancel holidays due to low numbers so you can reserve your flights with confidence as soon as you book.

Small groups

We’re delighted to say many of our guests come back to the Pyrenees. We love to see guests again and it must mean we’re doing something right!

We specialise in small group holidays - you won’t be trudging along in a long line of people on any of our walks.

Email: info@hikepyrenees.co.uk

Location

Skype: hikepyrenees

We’re in the heart of the Pyrenees, surrounded by the highest mountains and most spectacular scenery in the range.

Guests return every year

Helpful office Our office is always happy to answer any questions you have and help with travel arrangements. We are an official agent for the train and bus companies and can buy your tickets if required.

The Picos de Europa

Location

Accommodation

Guided holiday 2020 dates

Booking conditions

Registered travel agent We are a registered, bonded travel agency in Spain which means your money is safe when booking with us and you can book with confidence.

Turismo activo We are also a registered ‘turismo activo’ which means that our insurance, equipment and guides qualifications are checked each year by the government to ensure that everything is up to date and in order. Along with having qualified guides, this is a legal requirement in the Aragonese Pyrenees - make sure that any company that you are booking with is a turismo activo.

Meet the team Local qualified guides We have a small team of local qualified experienced guides. You can be assured that you’ll be safe on the mountain with them and that their experience will enhance your holiday. Apart from Phil, all of the team is Spanish, so you’ll find all about Spanish culture while you are here. The team all know the Pyrenees like the back of their hand and will tell you all about the area’s history, wildlife and customs during your stay. All of our guides speak excellent English. All of our guides are qualified for the terrain they lead in. This is not only a legal requirement but part of our philosophy of offering a high level of quality and safety on our holidays.

Óscar

David

Juanma

David fell in love the Pyrenees as a teenager and hasn’t stopped exploring them since. He’s completed a full traverse of the Pyrenean haute route from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. A qualified Guia de Media Montaña, David speaks excellent English.

Juanma joined the team last season and has quickly become a firm favourite amongst our guests. A former teacher, Juanma learnt his English teaching in Canada before retraining as a Guia de Media Montaña. Very knowledgeable about the local geology and wildlife.

Phil

Arkaitz

Phil and Anna founded Hike Pyrenees in 2007 and have lived in the Pyrenees since then. They’ve two children - Isabel and Christopher - who were both born in Spain. A qualified international mountain leader, Phil still leads many walks himself and guides cultural trips to Jaca and Ainsa.

A hugely experienced Basque mountain guide. Arkaitz speaks excellent English and joins us on several trips during the season including the Refugio Week. He is a qualified Spanish high mountain guide and in the winter works with Curro on the Spanish scientific base in Antarctica.

Pablo

Rosa & Teresa

Our expert in the Picos de Europa and the Basque Country. Pablo is not only a qualified hiking guide but has a wealth of knowledge about the wildlife of Spain particularly the wonderful bird life of the Iberian peninsular.

The ladies who do all the work behind the scenes in the office. You’ll speak to Rosa or Teresa while booking your holiday and they are the team who makes sure everything runs smoothly while we are in the hills enjoying ourselves!

The ever smiling Óscar is our driver. You’ll meet him if you take our transfers from Zaragoza and he does all the hard work during the season moving the bags on our Village to Village holiday.

Guided holidays Our guided walking holidays make sure you get the most out of your stay in the Pyrenees. Our team of qualified guides have a superb knowledge of the local area. We can take you straight to the most beautiful spots, many of which are off the beaten track and often we'll have the mountains to ourselves.

Small group holidays Our policy of only taking small groups means you’ll never be in a long line of walkers. It also gives us the flexibility to alter the itinerary according to the groups needs and is key to us giving you a fantastic week of walking.

Walking grades We offer four grades of walking holidays with itineraries to suit all levels of walkers.

EARLY SEASON HIKING

Dual level walking

Canyons of Ainsa

Our dual level holidays are very popular. On these we offer two guided walks each day - a shorter option and a longer harder day in the mountains.

Grade Explore the eastern side of the Ordesa National Park hiking in the Pineta Canyon and Garganta de Escuain. The beautiful medieval village of Ainsa is our base for this fantastic week.

We talk through the walks for the following day in the evening and each morning you can decide which walk you’d like to join.

See page 28

Dual level holidays are perfect if you’re not sure which level would suit you best, if you’d like to do a couple of longer days but don’t want to commit to a whole week of hard hikes or for couples or friends that walk at differing levels.

Mar & Montaña Grade Perfect early season hiking weather in this undiscovered region of Spain. First we’ll explore the mountains of Beceite followed by two days coastal hiking along the Mediterranean.

Our Valle de Tena Explorer (page 16), Discover Ordesa (page 26) and Picos de Europa (page 40) holidays offer dual level walking.

See page 36

Grade 1: Relaxed

Grade 2: Moderate

Grade 3: Strenuous

Grade 4: Challenging

Walks: 5-7 hours Ascent: 300-600 metres Paths: Good paths, not steep

Walks: 6-8 hours Ascent: 450-750 metres Paths: Good paths with some steeper sections

Walks: 7-10 hours Ascent: 700-1000 metres Paths: Rocky, steeper paths

Walks: 7-10 hours Ascent: 700-1500 metres Paths: Steep!

Walks are at a relaxed pace (we’re big fans of two lunch breaks!) and there’s plenty of time to take in the scenery around you. Paths are good and not too steep.

Walks are still at a relaxed pace and on good paths however we tackle some steeper sections. The ascents are a bit longer and we’ll take in some summits.

For those that like long days in the high mountains. These routes are steep in places and we venture into much rockier and rougher terrain. Some routes have sections of easy scrambling.

We’ll pass through areas with superb flora. If you’re a fairly fit and active person who does a bit of hiking these walks should be fine for you.

Again this grade of walking should be fine for any reasonably fit and active person.

A good level of fitness and some previous hiking experience is required for these hikes.

Tough overnight hikes staying in mountain huts (refugios). These routes take you into high mountain terrain on steep rocky paths. Although the days are not much longer than grade 3 we are in more remote terrain for several days at a time.

A good level of fitness and previous hiking experience is essential for these hikes.

We take care of everything With our guided walking holidays we look after everything, meaning that you can just relax and enjoy the walking, scenery and your holiday. The day starts with a choice of cooked or continental breakfast. A generous picnic lunch (with delicious cake!) is provided. After each walk we have a briefing (usually over a cold beer) where we discuss the following days route. Transfers are provided to and from Zaragoza airport or train station on Sundays either to meet the Ryan Air flight from Stansted or the train from Barcelona or Madrid.

THE PICOS

Picos de Europa Grade On the northern coast of Spain the Picos de Europa is a stunning limestone massif. This two centre, dual level holiday explores both the southern and northern sides of the park showing you all of the highlights. See page 42

DUAL LEVEL HOLIDAYS Valle de Tena Explorer

Discover Ordesa

Dual Grade

Either explore the beautiful alpine meadows of the Valle de Tena or tackle some of the challenging peaks in the area. Stunning scenery and fantastic hotel with pool and sauna.

Discover the spectacular Ordesa National Park and its kilometre deep canyons. Dramatic scenery, the highlight being a walk along the rim of the canyon.

See page 16

See page 26

SINGLE LEVEL HOLIDAYS Lakes & Valleys

Riglos & AlquĂŠzar

Grade

Relaxed walking in the Valle de Tena. Walk through beautiful alpine meadows with peaks towering above. Perfect for wild flower enthusiasts and nature lovers.

Hike amongst the towering cliffs of Riglos and the canyons of AlquĂŠzar. A two centre holiday in the Pre-Pyrenees where the weather is perfect for hiking in April and May.

See page 18

See page 38

Peaks & Passes

Refugio Week

Grade

Challenging hiking tackling some of the best trails and peaks in the Pyrenees. Rugged terrain, tough days but views that make the effort worthwhile! Based in the Valle de Tena

Hike one of the best sections of the GR11 and summit Monte Perdido in the centre of the Ordesa National Park. Demanding hiking in rugged high mountain terrain.

See page 20

See page 30

Self guided holidays Our self guided walking holidays are designed to help you enjoy the Pyrenees on your own and get straight to the best hikes in the area. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve both hotel to hotel itineraries and single centre self guided holidays.

We always give you a briefing on arrival to talk through the weather, route options and logistics. During your stay we are on hand to answer any questions you have.

For our Village to Village in the Valle de Tena we even have our own map printed with the route marked and elevation profiles

Easy to follow route cards Our route cards mean you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get lost while out in the mountains and can concentrate on enjoying your hike. One side has detailed directions, the length and ascent of the height with the other side having a map of the route. We live locally and constantly update our directions to keep them current.

Notes on wildlife and points of interest

Star rating for quality and difficulty of the hike Scale hiking map that is the same as the hiking map for the valley

Distance, ascent and estimated time for the route (in km and miles!) Elevation profile Driving directions to start of the route and detailed walking directions

Optional side trips

Contact details in case of emergencies

Route clearly marked with markers to help track where you are

Hotel to hotel hiking Hiking between small villages, discovering new places each day gives a real sense of journey and our hotel to hotel self guided holidays are amongst our most popular. On our hotel to hotel holidays we take care of everything for you so you can concentrate on the hiking and enjoying your time in the mountains.

Luggage moved each day We move your luggage each day so you only need to walk with a day pack. Pack lunches are provided every hiking day.

Briefings and support On arrival you’ll have a briefing about the week ahead giving you a chance to ask any questions that you have. Our guides are always available during the week if you need any advice. Although self guided, we are always around to help if required and you’ll have a local English speaking contact who knows the area and paths like the back of their hand - you won’t just be given an anonymous phone number in a head office!

Choice of hikes Many of our hotel to hotel holidays have a choice of two routes each day - an easier and a harder option. Our Village to Village hike in the Valle de Tena is particularly good for this. On our other holidays there is usually the option of getting a taxi/lift at the start of the day to shorten the hike.

Mountain villages Our routes stay in medieval mountain villages nestled under the mountains. All are full of character with lots of stone buildings and winding alleys to explore.

Routes for any time of year Spain is blessed with a climate where there are great hiking locations and weather at any time of year. We’ve a variety of routes that suit different times of the year with our Villages of the Guara and Passes of Beceite holidays fantastic for spring and autumn hiking.

Village to Village - Valle de Tena Grade Wonderful hiking between the villages of the Valle de Tena. Spectacular scenery, beautiful hotels and a choice of two walks each day - an easier and a harder option. The highest elevation of our hotel to hotel hikes and the best option for mid summer holidays. See page 14

The Passes of Beceite Grade A circular route hiking through Aragon, Valencia and Catalonia in the massif of the Dels Ports Natural Park. Mountainous hikes with views down to the sea. As this is itinerary is further south it’s perfect for year round hiking.

Wonderful hotels

See page 40

We carefully select both the villages and hotels that you stay in and each makes a perfect hiking base. There is a mix of tiny tranquil villages where you can really get away from it all and slightly bigger medieval villages with bars and restaurants.

Villages of the Guara

All hotels have lovely rooms and each have ensuite bathrooms and free wi-fi.

“We spent a month in Spain and this week of self guided walks was our highlight. Phil and the team do a terrific job making sure everything is well organised. They even arranged perfect weather and new friends along the way.” Phil & Jacqui, Village to Village, September 2019

Grade Fantastic hotel to hotel hiking amongst the undiscovered villages of the Sierra de Guara natural park. A beautifully remote region criss-crossed by deep limestone canyons. Luggage transferred each day. Superb weather for spring and autumn hiking. See page 41

Single Centre: Ordesa or Valle de Tena Stay at a single base for the week taking day hikes in the area. Choice of bases and hotels in either the Valle de Tena or Ordesa with hotel or self catering options. There’s a huge choice of routes in all of our self guided hiking locations. See page 22

Private group holidays - Tailor made itineraries for groups from just 6 people - Group discounts - Flexible dates - Hassle free for the organiser Organising a holiday for your walking club, a group of friends or a corporate event? Look no further than our private group walking holidays. Superb scenery, fantastic hotels and tailor made itineraries with walking options for all levels of energy and experience. For groups of six or more we can tailor make an itinerary that suits you perfectly and offer group discounts, flexible dates, a choice of hotels and walking options of all grades.

Tailor made itineraries We’ll put together the perfect holiday for your group. Holidays range from gentle walks with a focus on nature or history to hut to hut routes in the high mountains. We cater for groups from just six people up to a coach load and all our holidays are friendly and personal.

Leave it to us We’ll take all the hassle out of organising your group holiday leaving the holiday organiser time to enjoy themselves too! We arrange your transfers and accommodation. Breakfast and three course evening meals are taken at the hotel and we provide generous picnic lunches.

Choice of locations Choose between the high mountains of the central Pyrenees, the gorges and cliffs of the PrePyrenees or routes along the Basque coastline where your group can also enjoy the tapas and culture of San Sebastian - Spain’s chicest beach resort.

Flexible dates Choose dates to suit your group - if you’ve only time for a long weekend that’s no problem although to properly discover an area as diverse as the Pyrenees a week (or more!) is recommended.

Private guiding If you are a couple and would like private guiding let us know. A perfect option for more technical peaks or for couples that would like their own personalised experience in the Pyrenees.

Start planning today To begin organising your walking holiday give us a call on +44 (0)208 123 5049 or drop us an email and we can discuss your requirements. We just need to have a rough idea of numbers, when you’d like to come and the level of hikes that you are looking for and we’ll put together an itinerary for your group to consider.

“Hike Pyrenees provided an excellent, good value for money group walking holiday. Phil was an excellent, hard working host and he provided many extras such a wine tasting, historical talks, etc. The guides were all knowledgeable and very professional.” Derek, Loddon Valley Ramblers, June 2018

Family holidays - Tailor-made family holidays

Activities

- Overnight in a mountain hut

We’ve a huge choice of activities in the area and most are adaptable for any age or physical ability. These are just some of the activities available - for a full list look online.

- Self catering or 4* hotel with pool

Canyoning

- Walking and activities

Take your family on a Pyrenean adventure. Spend a night in a mountain hut, kayak around a mountain lake, go mountain biking or make a splash canyoning. We guarantee that everyone will have a fun filled time! We can put together the perfect itinerary for your family with hiking, activities or a mix of both.

Don wetsuit, helmet and harness then jump into rock pools, abseil down waterfalls and slide down natural rock slides - all while descending down a beautiful narrow rocky gorge.

Zip line Fly high over a lake, reaching speeds of up to 90km an hour on one of the longest double zip lines in Europe. Nearly one kilometre long.

Biescas Aventura - high ropes course

Bespoke family activity holiday Let us put together the perfect adventure for your family. Choice of activities to suit all ages - you can make the holiday as relaxed or as adrenaline filled as you would like. To start planning your trip just email us and let us know the ages of your children, the kind of activities you’d like and we’ll put together an itinerary for you. Full details online

Family Village to Village A family version of our Village to Village holiday. Self guided hiking between the villages of the Valle de Tena with the option to either hike each day or add in a few activities along the route such as kayaking, canyoning or a night in a mountain hut. Spectacular scenery and beautiful hotels. Full details online

An assault course in the trees. Use zip lines, rope swings, scramble nets and log crossings to make your way around the various bases in the woods.

Qualified guides, safety first

Mountain biking - electric bike option

Overnight hut adventure

Activities are led by qualified guides with safety and specialist equipment provided. Your safety is always our primary concern and you can be certain that our experienced guides will keep you safe leaving you to just enjoy yourselves.

The Valle de Tena has a fantastic network of mountain bike trails. Everything from relaxed routes on 4x4 tracks to steep descents along technical single track. Option to hire electric bikes which are a godsend on the uphills!

Tailor made itineraries

Kayaking or paddle surf

Stay a night high in the mountains in a refugio. A brilliant adventure for the kids and one they’ll remember for a lifetime. The hike up passes by beautiful mountain lakes. The following day you’ll pass over a high summit before descending. Our guides all have lots of experience leading children and will give them a great time.

We’ll put together the perfect itinerary for your family or group of friends with activities pitched at just the right level. You family will be guaranteed a fun filled adventure! There is a choice of hotel or self catering accommodation. We have beautiful rural wooden chalets set in fields with spectacular views, a pool and plenty of space for the kids to play.

Take a kayak (singles, doubles or triples available) or paddle board and explore the Lanuza reservoir surrounded by high peaks. Beautifully scenic.

Full details online

Via Ferrata Scale a high cliff using ladders and metal pitons hammered into the rock. Follow this by an airy log crossing over the top of a eighty metre high waterfall. All in all an adrenaline packed day!

VIEW DETAILS OF ALL OUR FAMILY HOLIDAYS ONLINE 11

Valle de Tena From its alpine meadows to its rocky three thousand metre peaks the Valle de Tena has walks to suit everyone. Whether you like valley walks with waterfalls or spiky summits with scrambles to the top the Valle de Tena has it all. Deep wooded valleys with streams and waterfalls give way to bare rocky high mountain scenery as you climb towards the summits. The valley stretches twenty kilometres from the cliffs of the Sierra de Partacua and Tendeñera north to the French border and is flanked by numerous peaks on each side. Several deep sided valleys mean you’ll discover new views with each corner you turn. Traditional mountain villages with stone houses and winding streets are nestled amongst the mountains and our Village to Village self guided holiday stays in some beautiful tranquil spots.

1 2 3

Alpine meadows Wide flower-filled meadows lie under impressive cliffs and are perfect for walkers who prefer gentler days without forsaking wonderful scenery and views. Great walks follow bubbling mountain streams with waterfalls cascading down the sides of the valleys, others lead to mountain lakes or through wonderful beech and silver fir woods.

Challenging peaks One of the reasons we love the Valle de Tena is the huge choice of peaks it offers to day hikers. There are dozens of peaks between two and three thousand metres all with fantastic views. These hikes range from fairly gentle 5 or 6 hour round trips to some really big ascents up three thousand metre peaks and into wild high mountain scenery. The pointy summit of Pico Anayet is one of our favourites. It looks impossible when you first see it but an ingenious path - helped by a chain across one section - guides you quickly to the top for birds eye views across the valley.

Biescas - lively village At the southern end of the Valle de Tena, Biescas is perfectly positioned to reach several excellent and diverse walking areas including the Valle de Tena and the Ordesa Valley. Biescas makes a great base if you’d like to do a mix of walking during your week - a few higher peaks up the valley, some gentler walks between semiabandoned villages with Romanesque churches and a day over in the Ordesa Valley. It’s also an excellent option early or late in the season as there are excellent hikes south of Biescas which stay dry if the weather’s not so great further up the valley. At the heart of the village is the plaza - the centre of every Spanish village. Surrounding the plaza are several bars, cafes and restaurants. There are a few shops and all of the amenities you’ll need.

Sallent de Gállego Scenic mountain village Nestled under the high peak of Foratata, Sallent de Gállego is everything you imagine a mountain village to be. As you wander through its maze of narrow streets you get constant views of the mountains that surround you. With its twelfth century church and old stone houses Sallent de Gállego is very picturesque. There are several excellent walks that leave straight from the hotel. Although there are several good shorter walks in the area, Sallent de Gállego comes into its own for walkers who want to summit some of the higher peaks in the valley with lots of superb challenging routes on its doorstep.

Village to Village - 7 night self guided holiday - 2 walking options each day - Luggage moved every day - Mountain hotels and villages Hotel to hotel walking along the length of the Valle de Tena, staying at different villages during the week. We transport your luggage each day meaning you just have to walk with a small daypack. A wonderful route with fantastic views throughout the week and a real sense of journey as you head up the valley. You’ll stay at traditional Pyrenean villages with narrow winding streets and stone houses centred around medieval churches.

Two route choices each day Each day there are two route choices - a longer and a shorter option. The routes get well out of the valley floor and into the mountains - particularly the high level routes where you reach some rugged high mountain terrain. The walks cover a reasonable distance with 11km to 14km walked each day on the easier options and up to 20km on the longer routes. The routes are on good paths and the only steep ascents are on the harder options.

Trail notes and GPS hire Detailed maps and route cards are provided for both options each day. On the first evening you’ll have a briefing to talk you through the routes, options, weather and answer any questions that you have. If you’re worried about navigation you can hire a GPS which has all the maps and tracks marked making navigation a breeze.

Spend a night in a refugio Refugio Respomuso is a high mountain hut set in spectacular scenery. Spend a night high in the mountains and wake up to wonderful scenery.

Accommodation Hotels are superb throughout the week, in particular the hotels in Sallent de Gállego and Sandiniés are full of character. Rooms are en-suite throughout the week.

Hotel Almud (Sallent)

The hike up to the hut passes by Ibones de Arriel - a set of beautiful high mountain lakes. On your return you can go via the high peak of Musales which at 2654 metres has incredible views from the summit.

Charming hotel in the centre of the picturesque village of Sallent de Gállego. Fantastically decorated with a lovely lounge and breakfast area and 11 beautifully furnished rooms. Evening meals are taken at restaurant one minute walk from hotel. See page 46 for more details.

Add a night in Refugio Respomuso to your Village to Village holiday and enjoy a taste of the high mountains.

El Privilegio (Tramacastilla) This beautiful 4* hotel is built using the walls and foundations of an old abbey dating back to 1470.

It has wonderful views, an excellent restaurant and a spa where you can relax with vistas over the mountains (additional charge for use of spa).

Hotel Tierra de Biescas Your base for the first and final nights. Excellent 4* hotel with outdoor pool and sauna. See page 46 for more details.

Hotel Casa Morlans Family run hotel in the centre of the village. It’s a friendly, comfortable hotel and makes an ideal base for walking holidays. Two star hotel with 25 rooms. Rooms at the back of the hotel have balconies with mountain views. All rooms have en-suite bathrooms.

VILLAGE TO VILLAGE SELF GUIDED

Itinerary

2020 Dates

Day 1

Biescas

The Village to Village holiday is available all summer. Arrive and depart on any day you wish.

Arrive in Biescas spending the night at the 4* Hotel Tierra de Biescas. Briefing about the week ahead, going over the route and answering any questions.

Price Party size 2 or 3 4 or more 24 May - 16 July 1099 € 1049 € 17 July - 12 Sep 1199 € 1099 € 13 Sep - 11 Oct 1099 € 1049 € Prices are per person and based on two sharing Single room supplement: 129 € Junior suite upgrade 2 nights in Biescas 50 € pp

Day 2

Biescas to Panticosa Heading north you pass under the cliffs of the Sierra de Tendeñera and see the valley open up before you. The route’s full of history as you pass a dolmen, the scenic church of Santa Elena and bunkers built by Franco to defend against invasion through the Pyrenees. Option of a lift to shortening the day by 7km. Night at Hotel Casa Morlans. Distance : 20km, ascent: 750m Distance (with lift to Santa Elena): 13km, 600m

Day 3

Day hike from Panticosa Choice of two circular routes. The shorter option passes through lovely woodland into the meadows of the Valle la Ripera. Longer option crosses a 2000 metre col, under the 700 metre high cliffs of the Tendeñera. Night at Casa Morlans. Shorter option: distance: 12km, ascent: 530m Longer option: distance: 19.5km, ascent: 1100m

“If you are looking for time in nature’s beauty and be free of all your travel details – Hike Pyrenees is the company to hire. You will enjoy delicious meals, friendly hospitality with everything taken care of for you.” Barrie & Russ, Village to Village, July 2019

Day 6 Day 4

Panticosa to Sallent Continuing into the northern half of the valley you have the option of an easier half day’s walk around the Embalse de Lanuza and spending an afternoon in picturesque Sallent. Alternatively climb steeply to the viewpoint of La Cucuraza for birds eye view back down to Panticosa and then across the whole valley. Night at Hotel Almud. Shorter option: distance: 11km, ascent: 200m Longer option: distance: 15km, ascent: 800m

Day 5

Walk from Sallent Spectacular hiking along the Rio Aguas Limpias the river of clean water. Pass waterfalls and gorges to a meadow high in a steep sided valley. The harder option continues to a set of high mountain lakes set amongst spectacular mountain scenery. An even harder option takes in the peak of Musales. Second night at Hotel Almud. Shorter option: distance: 12km, ascent: 450m Longer option: distance: 21km, ascent: 900m Extra hard option: distance: 23km, ascent: 1350m

Sallent to Tramacastilla

Accommodation

Cross to the western side of the valley and begin heading south. Optional side trips to two summits including Punta del Pacino (1965m) for panoramic views across the valley. Spend the night in the tiny village of Tramacastilla at Hotel El Privilegio. Distance: 16km, ascent: 700m With side trips to summits: 18km, ascent 1000m

2 nights Hotel Tierra de Biescas 2 nights Hotel Casa Morlans (Panticosa) 2 nights Hotel Almud (Sallent de Gállego) 1 night Hotel El Privilegio (Tramacastilla de Tena)

Included meals

Day 7

7 x Three course evening meals 7 x Breakfasts 2 x Picnic lunches (on first and final day)

Tramacastilla to Piedrafita

Self Guided Walking

One route passes through the woods of Betato before climbing to the lake of Ibón de Piedrafita nestled under the vast cliffs of the Sierra de Partacua. The longer route takes a longer track through higher meadows to the lake. Both finish at the village of Piedrafita where you’ll be picked up for a short transfer back to Hotel Tierra de Biescas. Shorter option: 14km, ascent 500m Longer option: 20km, ascent 650m

Walking is self guided and detailed route descriptions are provided for each day´s walk.

Day 8 Final morning spent in Biescas before departing for your onward journey.

Transfers Transfers NOT included. Transfers to/from Zaragoza airport or train station available: 99€ return per person - standard Sunday transfer 200€ one way for private transfer on any day

Not included Flights and insurance. Transfers. Drinks with evening meal.

Valle de Tena Explorer - 7 night guided walking holiday

Choice of 2 walks each day

- Choice of two walks each day

Each day there will be two walks on offer. Simply decide which walk you’d like to join each morning.

- Dual level: grade 1 & grade 3 - 4* hotel with pool and sauna With alpine meadows and mountain lakes lying beneath spectacular peaks the Valle de Tena is a perfect walking destination for walkers of all levels. Our Valle de Tena Explorer holiday offers two walking options each day a lower level and a higher level walk. Choose which walk you’d like to join each morning.

The easier walks explore the beautiful meadows of the valley which have spectacular flora. Some hikes will also visit cultural and historical sites such as the 10th century monastery of San Juan de la Peña. These walks will be grade 1 or 2 and at a relaxed pace with plenty of time to enjoy the views. The paths are good and aren’t steep. Each day we’ll be walking between 5 to 7 hours. The higher level hikes reach some of the fantastic summits in the area. These will be longer days in high mountain terrain which will be rewarded with spectacular panoramic views. These are grade 3 hikes of between 7 to 10 hours. There will be up to 1000m of ascent each day on fairly steep paths. On some days there will be some short sections of scrambling.

Tiki’s Restaurant So that you can try the local dishes, evening meals are taken at village restaurants. They are all close to the hotel and have excellent atmosphere and you’ll try two or three different restaurants during the week - each with different styles. It’s a great way to mix with the locals and discover more about the Pyrenees. One of our favourites spots Tiki’s, a lovely restaurant with great meat and fish dishes. Run by the ever friendly Miguel who will look after you splendidly during your stay.

4* Hotel Tierra de Biescas Accommodation will be at the lovely 4* Hotel Tierra de Biescas located in the centre of the village of Biescas. It makes a perfect place to relax after a day´s walking with an outdoor and indoor swimming pool and sauna. Breakfast is served at the hotel´s restaurant. The evening meals will be taken in different restaurants of the village. On the final evening we’ll have a special meal at El Montañés which is recognised as the best restaurant in the area. See page 46 for more hotel information.

“Memories are made doing amazing things with great people. Thanks for the wonderful memories”. Maggie & Scott, Valle de Tena Explorer, July 2019

VALLE DE TENA EXPLORER GUIDED WALKING

Itinerary

Dual level

This sample itinerary shows the low and high level route options offered each day. The exact routes will depend on conditions.

Sunday Arrive in Biescas from Zaragoza late evening. Short briefing over your evening meal.

Monday

2020 Dates

Ibón de Piedrafita

Sunday 31 May - 7 June Sunday 28 June - 5 July Sunday 19 - 26 July Sunday 26 July - 2 August Sunday 6 - 13 September Sunday 20 - 27 September

A beautiful lake nestled in meadows under the cliffs of the Sierra de Partacua. A gentle climb through woodland for views across the valley.

Punta del Pacino (1965m) A beautiful ascent to the peak of Punta del Pacino. Its position at the centre of the valley gives fabulous panoramic views of the valley.

Tuesday

Valle de Aguas Limpias From the medieval village of Sallent de Gállego we follow the Rio Aguas Limpias (river of clean water) through woods and meadows.

Ibones de Arriel Passing through meadows and woodland we climb to a series of beautiful high mountain lakes set in a rocky circque and surrounded by steep granite peaks.

Wednesday

Valle la Ripera The meadows of the valley are an excellent place to spot marmots. The valley ends in a towering headwall rising to the peaks above.

Price Montaña del Verde

Pic d’Ayous (2288m)

Walking under the cliffs of Sierra de Tendeñera to a wonderful summit viewpoint before passing the lake of Ibón de Sabocos on the way down.

First passing the Lacs d'Ayous we then continue to climb to the peak of the same name. Spectacular views down to the lakes below, across to Midi d’Ossau and

Thursday

Rest day Spend a day in Biescas exploring the village, taking a short walk or relaxing around the pool. Evening guided visit to the historical town of Jaca - the original capital of Aragon - for vino and tapas.

Friday

Lacs d'Ayous Today we head to the French side for a hike to the high mountain Lacs Ayous which have stunning views of Pic du Midi d’Ossau and great wildflowers.

1299 € per person (based on two sharing) 99 € Single supplement 175 € per person - upgrade to junior suite

Accommodation 7 nights in 4* Hotel Tierra de Biescas

Saturday

Included

Ibones de Anayet

3 course evening meals (exc. rest day) Breakfast each day. Picnics on walking days Transfers to and from Zaragoza airport or station

Ibon de Anayet is beautifully set on a high peat

meadow, surrounded by red rocked mountains and views to the north of Pic du Midi d’Ossau.

Dual level walking

This steep and exciting peak is reached by a scramble and passing over a section of chains - a good head for heights required!

5 days guided walking with 2 options each day. Walks: Lower level - 5 to 7 hours each day Higher level - 6 to 9 hours each day Ascents: Lower level - 300m to 600m Higher level - 700m to 1200m

Sunday

Not included

Free time in Biescas before leaving for Zaragoza, we drop off at either the train station or airport.

Flights, insurance, drinks with evening meal, lunch and evening meal on rest day.

Pico Anayet (2545m)

Lakes & Valleys - 7 night guided walking holiday - Grade 1 - relaxed walking - Superb mountain scenery - 2* family-run Hotel Almud The Pyrenees are full of beautiful mountain lakes and green valleys. Our Lakes & Valleys holidays are ideal for those that prefer more relaxed days in the mountains. You’ll discover stunning secluded spots and meadows full of flowers as we show you some of the hidden treasures of the Pyrenees.

Relaxed walking This is a week of relaxed walks with the emphasis on finding quiet beautiful spots with breathtaking scenery, rather than scaling high peaks. Therefore the walks will not be overly strenuous and suitable for anyone with a reasonable level of fitness. Our qualified guides are knowledgeable about the local area and in particular the flora and birdlife you’ll see while out in the mountains. The holiday is ideal for nature lovers with walks passing through meadows full of orchids, gentians and alpine flora - particularly in early summer. A number of the walks will pass through sites of historic interest such as the 10th century monastery of San Juan de la Peña. On the rest day we’ll visit Jaca, the ancient capital of Aragon, for a guided tour and an evening of tapas and vino.

Charming mountain hotel Marmots The Pyrenees are a great place to see marmots. Marmots became extinct in the Pyrenees around the end of the last ice age about twelve thousand years ago. They were reintroduced in 1948 as a food source for golden eagles by French hunters - the eagles were taking too many chamois. With a lack of natural predators the population has exploded to over 10,000 from an initial release of just 400.

You’ll stay at Hotel Almud - a wonderful stone building set in the winding streets of Sallent de Gállego. María José is your host in this friendly family-run hotel with just 11 rooms. The hotel is fantastically decorated throughout with the bedrooms beautifully converted all with en-suite bathrooms and mountain views. There is a living room and reading area with sofas and a stone fireplace where you can relax. Breakfasts are taken at the hotel. Evening meals are taken at Casa Rural Valle de Tena which is just 150 metres from the hotel and has an excellent menu with many local dishes.

“Phil, Juanma and David are excellent guides. Their combined knowledge of local flora and fauna, geography, history, geology and myths and legends is highly impressive”. Lydia, Lakes &Valleys, September 2019

LAKES & VALLEYS GUIDED WALKING

Itinerary

Grade: Relaxed

During the week we visit several of the most beautiful areas in the region. One day will be spent exploring the dramatic scenery of the Ordesa National Park. This is a sample itinerary - the exact routes will depend on the weather and what the group would like to achieve.

2020 Dates

Sunday

Price

Sunday 30 August - 6 September Sunday 27 September - 4 October

Biescas

1299 € per person (based on two sharing) 129 € Single supplement

Arrive in Biescas from Zaragoza late evening. Short briefing over your evening meal.

Monday

Accommodation

Ibon de Piedrafita

7 nights in Hotel Almud

Nestled in meadows under the cliffs of the Sierra de Partacua lies the Ibon de Piedrafita. A gentle climb takes us out of the woodland for superb views across the Valle de Tena.

Included meals

Tuesday

San Juan de la Peña The cliffs around San Juan de la Peña are home to colonies of griffon vultures. We get close up views of these huge birds while enjoying superb vistas across the Pyrenees.

Wednesday

Valle de Ordesa The sheer cliffs of the Valle de Ordesa are an undisputable highlight of the Pyrenees. Following the Río Arazas we pass waterfalls before the woodland gives way to spectacular views of the surrounding cliffs.

3 course evening meals (exc. rest day) Breakfast buffet each morning Picnic lunches on walking days

Thursday

Saturday

Guided Walking - Grade 1

Rest day

Punta del Pacino

Spend a day in Biescas exploring the old town, take a short walk or relax around the hotel’s pool. In the evening we’ll visit the local town of Jaca for vino and tapas.

Friday

A beautiful ascent through woodland and meadows to the peak of Punta del Pacino. Its position at the centre of the valley gives fabulous panoramic views of the Valle De Tena and surrounding peaks. On the final evening we’ll go out for a wonderful meal at El Montañès restaurant.

5 days fully guided walking. Walks are 5 to 7 hours each day. Daily ascents are between 350m to 600m on good paths that are not steep. Walks are at a relaxed pace.

Villages of the Serrablo

Sunday

A walk linking the medieval villages of the Serrablo. These pretty villages are famous for their 11th century romanesque churches. Lunch at the now abandoned village of Susín whose last inhabitant sadly died recently.

Free morning in Biescas before leaving early afternoon to catch the flight from Zaragoza.

Included Transfers To and from Zaragoza airport or train station on Sundays.

Not included Flights, insurance, drinks with evening meal, lunch and evening meal on rest day.

Peaks & Passes - 7 night guided walking holiday - Grade 3: Strenuous hiking - Spectacular summit hikes - Charming mountain hotel A superb week of challenging hiking on some of the best trails and peaks in the Pyrenees. We’ll scale fantastic summits each day with spectacular views and venture into the rugged, rocky wilderness of the high Pyrenees. The holiday is based at Sallent de Gállego - a beautiful village nestled amongst the high peaks.

Strenuous hiking We visit some superb rocky peaks during the week with panoramic views for miles around. If you like high mountain scenery and long days in the hills this is the holiday for you. It’s a fairly strenuous week´s hiking with some long days and a good level of fitness is required. The Pyrenees are renowned for steep climbs and you should be capable of ascents of over one thousand metres. However we remember you are on holiday and one or two days will feature slightly less strenuous hikes. Paths are generally good but there will be some exposed sections and some easy scrambling and sure-footedness is required. Each day we’ll walk between seven to ten hours.

Charming mountain hotel An ancient volcano Pico Anayet is a spectacular pointy peak and initially looks pretty formidable. However with the help of some chains and a bit of scrambling you soon gain the summit for birds-eye views. The mountain is an ancient volcano - one of several in the area including Pic du Midi d’Ossau. It doesn’t have a classic volcano conical shape as it’s so old the cone part has been completely eroded away. All that remains is the lava core which has transformed to a rock called andesite. On the route you can see huge conglomerate boulders that were part of the old lava flow.

You’ll stay at Hotel Almud - a wonderful stone building set in the winding streets of Sallent de Gállego. Marie-Jose is your host in this friendly family-run hotel with just 11 rooms. The hotel is fantastically decorated throughout with the bedrooms beautifully converted all with en-suite bathrooms and mountain views. There is a living room and reading area with sofas and a stone fireplace where you can relax. Breakfasts are taken at the hotel. Evening meals are taken at Casa Rural Valle de Tena which is just 150 metres from the hotel and has an excellent menu with many local dishes.

“Hike Pyrenees have all the right ingredients for a great walking holiday. Their leaders know flora and fauna, geology and history as well as the routes up and around the many mountains in this area. This is a friendly and happy outfit that is committed to promoting this beautiful region. Keep up the good work guys and hope to see you again soon”. Mike, Peak & Passes, September 2019

PEAKS & PASSES GUIDED WALKING

Itinerary

Grade: Strenuous

Walks will explore the Valle de Tena which has a great variety of fantastic hiking. This is a sample itinerary and the exact routes will depend on the weather and what the group would like to achieve.

2020 Dates

Sunday

Price

Sallent de Gállego

1299 € per person (based on two sharing) 129 € Single supplement

Sunday 27 September - 4 October

Arrive in Sallent de Gállego from Zaragoza late evening. Short briefing over your evening meal.

Accommodation

Monday

7 nights in 2* Hotel Almud

Punta del Pacino (1965m)

Included meals

Walking straight from the hotel we begin the week with a circular walk through woods and alpine meadows to the summit of Punta del Pacino for fantastic panoramic views across the valley.

3 course evening meals (exc. rest day) Breakfast buffet each day Picnic lunches on walking days

Guided Walking - Grade 3

Tuesday

Pic Peyreget (2487m) Starting at the high border pass we hike in the French Pyrenees to the superb summit of Peyreget. We walk through alpine meadows before crossing a boulderfield and reaching the summit for superb views over the iconic peaks of Pic du Midi d’Ossau, Balaitús and Los Picos del Infiernos.

Thursday

Saturday

Rest day

Ibones de Arriel

Wednesday

Spend a day exploring Sallent de Gállego, take a dip in the pool or go on a hike from the village. Evening visit to Jaca for vino and tapas.

Lacs & Pic d’Ayous (2288m)

Friday

Some of the most beautiful lake landscapes in the Pyrenees can be found at Ibones de Arriel. The four lakes, lying at different heights, are surrounded by steep granite peaks.

Today we’ll explore the beautiful high mountain lakes of d’Ayous before a steep climb up to the peak of the same name above. Beautiful views over Pic du Midi d’Ossau.

Pico Anayet (2545m) Set on a high plateau of peaty grasslands we find Ibon de Anayet. From here we can tackle the steep and exciting Pico Anayet passing a set of chains to reach the summit.

Sunday Free morning in Sallent before leaving early afternoon for a drop off at Zaragoza train station or airport.

5 days fully guided walking with small groups of 8 maximum. Walks are 7 to 10 hours each day. Daily ascents are between 700m and 1200m Although walks are on paths there are some steep and exposed sections. Some days have a short scrambles and more difficult terrain.

Included Transfers To and from Zaragoza on Sunday evenings to meet Ryan Air flight from Stansted or train from Barcelona or Madrid.

Not included Flights, lunch and evening meal on rest day.

Self Guided: Valle de Tena - Get straight to the best hikes - Easy to follow route cards - Choice of hotels or apartments - Arrive and depart on any day The peaks, lakes and meadows of the Valle de Tena make for a walker´s paradise with a huge choice of routes at all levels. There are some spectacular summits to conquer and flower filled meadows in which you can relax and take in the scenery. Our self guided walking holidays get you straight to the best hikes with our easy to follow route cards and advice.

A stress free holiday We take the hard work out of arranging your holiday by arranging accommodation, providing detailed route cards, maps, weather forecasts and picnic lunches. Our advice, recommended routes and local knowledge means you’ll be able to get to the best hikes from day one. Our self guided holidays are very flexible - you can arrive on whichever day you like and stay for as many nights as you want (minimum stay 3 nights). Although the walking is close by you’ll need a car to make the most of your time in the Pyrenees. Most of our guests hire cars from Barcelona or Zaragoza. From the UK taking a couple of days driving through France or taking the ferry to Bilbao or Santander are also good options. If you need any information on travel see page 43 or give us a call.

Pirineos Sur music festival Acts from around the world perform on a floating stage during the Pirineos Sur world music festival which takes place in the last three weeks of July. It’s a great time to visit with lots going on - particularly in Sallent de Gállego.

Easy to follow routecards

Choice of three villages

We’ve route cards for all of the best walks in the valley. There’s a huge choice of walks of all distances ranging from gentle walks in alpine meadows to long days in the high mountains.

Choose between three excellent bases for walking, Biescas, Lárrede and Sallent de Gállego.

It’s a great festival attracting some of the finest artists from Africa, South and Central America.

As well as easy to follow directions for each walk we give accurate distances and ascents and let you know what the ground is like underfoot. We’re around during the week to offer advice on which walks would suit you best and answer any of your questions.

Monday to Thursday there is a free concert and a lively market each night in Sallent de Gállego with the main events taking place at the weekends in the nearby village of Lanuza.

We live in the area year round and walk these routes regularly with groups so you can be confident that our route cards will always be up to date and accurate.

All villages are full of character with old churches, stone houses and winding streets. Biescas is the slightly bigger and livelier of the three. In Biescas you can either stay in the luxurious Hotel Tierra de Biescas with a pool and sauna or self catering apartments. Sallent de Gállego is an excellent choice if you’re looking do tackle some of the higher peaks in the valley as it’s close to all of the longer walks. Lárrede is a tiny tranquil village and a wonderful spot to get away from it all.

VALLE DE TENA SELF GUIDED

4* Hotel Tierra de Biescas Luxurious hotel set in lovely grounds with an outdoor and indoor pool and a sauna. The hotel is in the heart of the lively village of Biescas. Relax by the pool after a day´s hiking or take a drink in the gardens. The hotel has an excellent restaurant with 3 course evening meals.

Centred around the 13th century church, Sallent de Gállego is a picturesque village surrounded by high mountain peaks. Being in the higher mountains, Hotel Almud makes a perfect base for those looking for long days in the higher peaks although there are plenty of gentler walks nearby too. For more details on all of the hotels see page 46 or on our website.

Half board option includes 7 night accommodation, buffet breakfast and 3 course evening meals each night. The evening meals will be taken at different restaurants in the villages (in BIescas and Sallent de Gállego). Picnic lunches can be ordered from the hotel (at additional cost) B&B option includes 7 night accommodation and buffet breakfast – picnic lunches can be ordered from the hotel (at additional cost).

B&B Half Board 31 May - 30 June 689 € 869 € 1 July - 7 Sep 729 € 929 € 8 Sep - 1 Oct 689 € 869 € Single supplement:179 € (7 nights)

4* Hotel Tierra de Biescas (Biescas)

The pool is set in gardens with loungers and a pool bar in the summer. The hotel has a spa with jacuzzi, sauna and hot/cold contrast showers to revive you after a days hiking.

Friendly, comfortable, family run hotel in the high mountain village of Sallent de Gállego and an ideal base for walking holidays.

Self guided holidays are available throughout the summer.

Hotel Almud (Sallent de Gállego)

An exquisite chalet style hotel and the perfect place to get away from it all. 16 individually styled rooms - all ensuite. There is a bar, lounge and outdoor terrace to sit and take a drink with great views.

Hotel Almud

Included meals

Prices

4* Hotel Viñas de Lárrede

Breakfast and dine with views of the mountains. Evening meals are superb with lots of local dishes.

2020 Dates

Self Catering Apartments The spacious Rincon de Andrea self catering apartments are based in Biescas. One or two bedroom apartments are available and each has a lounge/diner, bathroom and great views. All are well equipped with washing machine, TV, DVD player, microwave, hob, fridge, kettle, toaster and free Wi-Fi internet connection. For food shopping there are two small Spar supermarkets, butchers and bakers within walking distance and a large supermarket just 15 minutes drive away. If you’d like to eat out there is a good choice of restaurants in Biescas. Prices shown are for one and two bedroom apartments. In addition there are several other combinations available including triple rooms, sofa beds for additional occupants and extra rooms in the same building for larger groups - call for prices.

B&B Half Board 24 May – 28 June 619 € 789 € 29 June – 19 July 699 € 869 € 20 July – 23 August 759 € 929 € 24 August – 13 Sep 699 € 869 € 14 Sep – 11 Oct 619 € 789 € Single supplement (for 7 nights): 99 € 24 May - 19 Jul and 24 Aug - 11 Oct 129 € high season (20 July to 23 August) 175 € per person - upgrade to a junior suite (7 nights)

4* Viñas de Lárrede (Lárrede) B&B Half Board 20 May - 30 June 899 € 1099 € 1 July - 13 Oct 999 € 1199 € Single supplement: 199 € (7 nights) All prices are per person and based on two people sharing a standard room - ask for room upgrade prices Prices are for a 7 night stay - for longer or shorter holidays prices are pro-rata the weekly rate.

Not included Flights, insurance, airport transfers or transport to and from walks. See more self catering options on our website.

Self Catering Prices Rincón de Andrea (Biescas) Season: 24 May - 26 July 27 July - 5 September 6 Sep - 11 Oct

1 room 369 € 469 € 369 €

2 rooms 299 € 359 € 299 €

All prices are per person and based on either two or four person occupation. Up to 2 extra guests can be accommodated on sofa beds and receive a 50% discount. Prices are for a 7 night stay - for longer holidays prices are pro-rata the weekly rate. Minimum stay three nights.

Included Prices include gas, electricity, bed linen and towels (changed midweek).

The Ordesa National Park Established in 1918 the Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido is one of Spain’s first national parks and an undisputed highlight of the Pyrenees with some of the most magnificent scenery in Europe Kilometre deep canyons are carved into the limestone and lie beneath snowcapped peaks. At the centre of the park lies Monte Perdido - the third highest summit in the Pyrenees. Another dozen three thousand metre summits are strung along the French border along with the famous pass of Breche de Roland. In 1997 the park was made a UNESCO world heritage site for its incredible diversity of flora and fauna. If you’re a nature lover you’ll love the park which is famous for its birds of prey and one of the few remaining homes of the lammergeier - one of the largest vultures in Europe. Our nature guide to the area will help you identify what you’re seeing and let you know what to keep an eye out for.

1 2 3

Dramatic Canyon Walking The four deep canyons of the park offer dramatic walking and each canyon has trails of all lengths and difficulties. You can walk in the beautiful beech woods admiring the cliffs above or climb up to the dramatic ‘faja’ paths - narrow ledges that wind around the cliff faces. We offer guided and self guided holidays from Hotel Ordesa just outside Torla. It’s in a perfect position to explore the Ordesa Valley and the western side of the park. There’s a wonderful variety of hiking from walks at the bottom of the canyon to the alpine meadows surrounding Bujaruelo. Several walks leave directly from the hotel. The Añisclo Canyon also lies within the park. Even deeper than Ordesa this canyon is river formed rather than glacial and has a very different character.

Torla and Ainsa Torla, known as the gateway to Ordesa, makes an ideal base to explore the western side of the National Park in particularly the walking in the magnificent Ordesa Valley. Our base there, Hotel Ordesa is in a lovely, quiet location 20 minutes walk from the village centre. Ainsa lies on the eastern side on the park and is perfect for visiting the Pineta Valley and Garguanta de Escuain. Ainsa is a beautiful medieval village and is regularly voted as one of the prettiest in Spain. Hotel Los Arcos sits right on the 12th century plaza and is a wonderful place to stay.

“We had a wonderful time with Hike Pyrenees and the guides were some of the best we have ever had, the office staff answered questions promptly and gave us the information we needed. The hotel was super to stay in – not too fussy and a good base.” Ros & Dave, Discover Ordesa, September 2019.

Discover Ordesa - 7 night guided walking holiday

Choice of 2 walks each day

- Choice of two walks each day

There will be a choice of two guided walks each day and you can decide each morning which walk you’d like to join.

- Dual level: grade 1 & grade 3 - 4* hotel with pool The spectacular Ordesa National Park is a highlight of the Pyrenees and a fantastic walking location. Choose from two guided walks each day - a lower level and a higher level option. A perfect holiday if you fancy doing a couple of longer days but don’t want to commit to a whole week of long hikes or for couples where one partner likes to walk farther than the other.

One option will be a grade 1 or 2 walk at a relaxed pace with plenty of time to soak up the views. These walks will be on good well graded paths and visit the alpine meadows and valleys of the park. Walks will be between five to seven hours with three to five hundred metres of ascent. The second option will be a grade 3 or 4 hike on one of the spectacular high level paths the park is famous for. A good head for heights will be needed for some routes and there will be steep sections on most days. These hikes will be six to nine hours with six hundred to a thousand metres of ascent so a good level of fitness is required.

Butterflies The quantity of wild flowers in the Pyrenees means plenty of butterflies too. Swallowtails, Red Admirals and Camberwell Beauties are among the bigger and more spectacular species that we see. Often dozens of small but brightly coloured blues rise up as we pass through puddles in which they are feeding. The Apollo (pictured) has delicate nearly translucent wings. The Ordesa authorities are worried about the parks population but it thrives in several areas of the Valle de Tena. It’s one of our favourites.

Hotel Ordesa Accommodation is at the 4* Hotel Ordesa. Fantastically situated with views of the Ordesa valley the hotel has excellent facilities including an outdoor pool (mid June to mid Sep), bar, restaurant, lounge and fantastic spa facilities with steam room and jacuzzi. Three course evening meals are served in the restaurant each evening (apart from the rest day when we’ll visit the nearby town of Ainsa). The pretty village of Torla has a range of shops, bars and all of the amenities you’ll need and is less than 20 minutes walk away.

“Thank you for great leadership, good information, helpful, cheerful, motivation, thoughtful… A wonderful week well above my expectations” David, Discover Ordesa, July 2019

DISCOVER ORDESA GUIDED WALKING

Itinerary

Dual level

This sample itinerary shows the low and high level route options offered each day. The exact routes will depend on conditions.

Sunday

Torla Arrive in Torla from Zaragoza. On arrival there will be a short briefing before the evening meal.

2020 Dates

Monday

Sunday 12 - 19 July Sunday 13 - 20 September

Camino de Turieto

Price

A superb introduction to Ordesa along an beautiful path from the hotel into the Ordesa Valley.

1299 € per person (based on two sharing) Single supplement: 180 €

Faja Racon Climb into the Circo de Corrieta and then follow a stunning path around the base of the cliffs of Ordesa.

Accommodation The Faja de Pelay

Ordesa & Añisclo

7 nights in 4* Hotel Ordesa

Valle de Otal

Thursday

Catching a 4x4 for over 1200m of ascent allows us to first walk above the Ordesa valley before crossing over and walking along the rim of the Añisclo canyon too. Bird’s eye views throughout!

Included meals

Tuesday

A steep start leads to a path high on Ordesa’s south cliffs. Great views over the valley and Monte Perdido.

A hanging valley containing flower filled alpine meadows and a great place to spot marmots.

Rest Day

Saturday

Dual level walking

Ordiso/Otal Circuit This wonderful circular walk takes in two hanging valleys linked by a high pass. Great views north to Vignemale and east to the peaks of Gabieto.

Wednesday

The Ordesa Valley Follow the valley floor through ancient beech woods, past waterfalls under the valley´s sheer cliffs.

Today we’ll take a visit to the medieval town of Ainsa which is regularly voted as one of the prettiest villages in Spain. We’ll take a tour of this historical town followed by lunch in its beautiful 12th century plaza. Evening free to explore Ainsa or relax in the pool or spa.

Friday

The Rim of Ordesa A 4x4 carries us high into the meadows above the Ordesa canyon. From there we walk along the rim of the canyon for spectacular views before catching the 4x4 back down to the hotel.

The Añisclo Canyon

3 course evening meals (exc. rest day) Breakfast buffet each morning Picnic lunches on walking days

Another of the park’s spectacular valleys. Waterfalls cascade down the steep cliffs that tower above you.

5 days guided walking with 2 options each day. Walks: Lower level - 5 to 7 hours each day Higher level - 6 to 9 hours each day Ascents: Lower level - 300m to 600m Higher level - 600m to 1000m

Plana Cuasta

Included Transfers

Walking from the hotel we climb into alpine meadows and onwards to a peak with superb views along the length of the Ordesa valley.

To/from Zaragoza airport or train station.

Sunday Free time in Torla before your transfer to Zaragoza airport or train station.

Not included Flights, insurance, drinks with evening meal, lunch and evening meal on rest day

The Canyons of Ainsa - 7 night guided walking holiday - Explore the eastern side of the NP - Mid level hiking - Stay in the beautiful plaza Explore the eastern side of the Ordesa National Park, hiking in the Pineta Valley and the Garganta de Escuain. Your base is the beautiful medieval village of Ainsa, which is regularly voted one of the prettiest villages in Spain. You’ll stay in the heart of the old town on the 12th century plaza. Each evening you’ll eat at one of the excellent restaurants in the village.

Eat at local restaurants The area is well known for its local honey, cheeses, jams and the Somotano wine region is close by. We’ll eat out each evening at restaurants in the plaza and the village. All have lots of character and specialise in the regions delicacies - the meals are excellent.

Mid level guided hiking The routes reach beautiful spots with moderate ascents but not too steep. Distances will be 8 km to 14 km each day with between 400 and 700 metres of ascent. Paths are good during the week. All hikes will be led by a qualified guide who knows the history, wildlife and geology of Ainsa and the National Park. They’ll explain what you are seeing during your hikes, the local cuisine and culture and make your experience much more than just a hiking holiday.

Bearded vulture conservation program Lammergeier or bearded vultures are the rarest vulture in Europe and are the only bird to survive nearly exclusively on a diet of bones. Ainsa is the headquarters of the bearded vulture conservation program. Hike Pyrenees plays it’s part and has adopted Asterix - a nine year old vulture that usually flies locally. We cover the costs of the satellite tagging and the tracking allows the scientists to better understand the movements of the birds to better protect them.

Hotel Los Arcos In a lovely stone building in the arches of the main square of Aínsa. Hotel los Arcos is a comfortable and cozy hotel with lovely rooms. Three rooms overlook the plaza and the other three the mountains behind. All the rooms are en-suite with spa baths. Los Arcos offers a buffet breakfast, which includes a local homemade specialities as is served in the stone medieval bodega in the basement of the hotel. The ground floor has a lounge with free tea and coffee making facilities and an honesty bar. There is wi-fi throughout the hotel.

“My hiking trips with Hike Pyrenees have been stellar – the best of the best. Guides, hotels, food and hiking routes are out of this world. We will be back!” Cathy & Phil, Ainsa

CANYONS OF AINSA GUIDED WALKING

Itinerary

Grade: moderate

This sample itinerary shows the routes for each day. The exact routes will depend on weather conditions and we keep out itineraries flexible.

Sunday

2020 Dates

Ainsa

Sunday 24 - 31 May

Pick up from Zaragoza airport or train station and transfer to Ainsa. On arrival we’ll have a briefing about the week ahead followed by our meal.

Price 1349 € per person (based on two sharing) Single supplement: 180 €

Monday

Accommodation

Pineta Valley

7 nights in Hotel Los Arcos

One of the deepest in the National Park, the Pineta Valley is a spectacular kilometre deep glacial canyon. Our hike takes us to the pretty hanging valley of Llanos de Larri with magnificent views of the north face of Monte Perdido.

Included meals 3 course evening meals every night Breakfast buffet each morning Picnic lunches on walking days

Tuesday

Low to mid level walking

Miradors of Revilla & Tella

Thursday

Saturday

In the morning our route gives us spectacular views into the Garganta Escuain from the Miradors of Revilla. This is an excellent place to spot the rare bone eating Bearded Vulture. In the afternoon we’ll do a circular route around the hermitages of Tella all of which have wonderful viewpoints.

Rest and cultural day

Under Peña Montañesa

In the morning we’ll visit the Eco Museo to learn more about the wildlife of the area, have a talk on the bearded vulture conservation program and visit the raptor rescue centre. This will be followed by a guided tour of the old town and the 11th century church along with free time to rest and relax.

Our final hike takes us beneath the high cliffs of Peña Montañesa. We get wonderful views down to Ainsa as well as the cliffs towering above us.

Wednesday

Above the Añisclo Canyon The deepest canyon in the National Park is an incredible sight from above. A remote 4x4 track gives us easy access to the canyons rim where we get dizzying views of the canyon floor over a kilometre below.

Friday

Samitier and Entremón

Sunday

Ainsa and departure Free morning in Ainsa before dearting for your transfer back to Zaragoza airport or train station.

5 days guided walking. Walks are 5 to 7 hours each day. Daily ascents are 400m to 600m. Walks are at a relaxed pace with plenty of time to take in the superb wildlife and views.

Included Transfers To/from Zaragoza airport or train station.

Not included Flights, insurance, drinks with evening meal, and lunch on rest day.

The exquisite Romanesque church of Samitier perches high above the gorge of Entremón. We gradually descend to the narrow gorge which we pass through gazing up to the church above where we were a few hours ago.

Refugio Week - 7 night guided walking holiday - Grade 4: Challenging hiking - Climb Monte Perdido (3355m) - 4 nights in mountain huts Staying in a mountain hut or ‘refugio’ allows you to reach the wildest areas of the Pyrenees. Following the GR11 you’ll explore trails out of the reach of day hikers and make the classic ascent of Monte Perdido. Staying at three of the best situated refugios in the Pyrenees, we’ll explore both the Valle de Tena and Ordesa National Park.

Challenging hiking This is a week of demanding hiking with long days and steep ascents. A good level of fitness and some hiking experience is essential. Trails will vary with a mixture of good paths interspersed with scree and boulderfields. There are several exposed sections. The highlight of the trek is an ascent of the ‘lost mountain’ - Monte Perdido. At 3355m this is the third highest peak in the Pyrenees. The ascents are not technical and do not require technical experience. Crampons may be required (however probably not in September) but you will be instructed on all the necessary techniques during the holiday. We’ll send you a detailed kit list before arrival and can provide crampons and ice axes if required.

Ramond & Monte Perdido

Accommodation

Ramond de Carbonnieres made Monte Perdido famous when he exclaimed: “When you've seen the the most beautiful of the granite mountains (Mont Blanc), You must see the most beautiful limestone mountain: Monte Perdido”

For the hike in the Valley de Tena we will stay at Refugio Respomuso & Refugio Bachimaña. In the Ordesa National Park, Refugio Goriz will be our base. Both serve three course evening meals as well as snacks and drinks. We’ll sleep in large mixed dorms. The facilities at Goriz are fairly basic but Respomuso and Bachimaña are more modern with hot showers.

Ramond is widely credited with the first ascent of the summit in 1802 but in fact the two guides he sent ahead to scout the route reached the peak four days earlier. They in turn were shown the way by a shepherd from the Valle de Pineta who is thought to have known the route from a previous ascent.

When not in the mountains we stay at 4* Hotel Tierra de Biescas for a bit of luxury. Its sauna and pool are a perfect way to end a great week´s hiking.

“We had a fabulous week, obviously the location is superb, but also Arkaitz was a wonderful guide and you made everything so easy. A great experience , I can see that having a guide gives you an enhanced experience. And I loved that we had a small group.” Rosemary, Refugio Week, September 2019

REFUGIO WEEK GUIDED WALKING

Itinerary

Grade: challenging

A two and a half day hike in the Valle de Tena followed by a 3 day hike in Ordesa walking the length of the Añisclo and Ordesa canyons.

Sunday

2020 Dates

Arrive in Biescas from Zaragoza late afternoon. Short briefing and kit check before the evening meal.

Sunday 5 - 12 July Sunday 6 - 13 September

Monday

Price

Refugio Respomuso

1299 € per person (based on two sharing) 49 € Single supplement

We set off along the famous GR11 Pyrenean longdistance trail. The path takes us to Refugio Respomuso, situated among 3000-metre peaks. On the way we have the option of a side trip to the spectacular Ibones de Arriel. Distance: 14.5 km, ascent: 990 m

Accommodation 4 nights in mountain huts (in dormitories) 3 night in 4* Hotel Tierra de Biescas

Included meals

Tuesday

Circo de Piedrafita We set off early into the wild landscape of Circo de Piedrafita. Our route takes us past mountain lakes and we have the option to climb Tebarrai (2916m). We head down past the Ibones Azules to Refugio Bachimaña where we spend the night. Distance: 11.5 km, ascent: 1070 m

Wednesday

Baños de Panticosa A short morning hike down to Baños de Panticosa where we’ll be picked up and taken back to Hotel Tierra de Biescas. Spend the afternoon relaxing in the hotel pool and sauna and exploring the village of Biescas. Distance: 3.2 km, descent: 550 m

Saturday

3 course evening meals each night Breakfast each day Picnic lunches on walking days

Añisclo Canyon

Guided Walking - Grade 4

We pass over the ridge of the Sierra de Custodia with the Añisclo Canyon on one side and Ordesa on the other. Hiking over the plateau between the canyons we reach a spectacular viewpoint with dizzying views down into the Añisclo Canyon. We descend to the village of Nerin where we get picked up and taken back to Hotel Tierra de Biescas with its spa and pool for a bit of well earned luxury. Distance: 17km, ascent: 300m, descent: 1000 m

5 days fully guided walking with a group size of 6 maximum. Walks are 7 to 10 hours each day. Daily ascents are between 800m and 1500m High mountain paths that may require the use of crampons. There are steep, rocky and exposed sections. Previous hiking experience and a good level of fitness are essential.

Thursday

The Ordesa Valley The Faja de Pelay is the start of our three-day hike. After an initial steep climb we follow a wide ledge in the sheer cliffs of the Ordesa valley giving breathtaking views across the valley and of the border peaks. Spend the night at Refugio Goriz. Distance: 12 km, ascent: 1000 m

Friday

Monte Perdido Our objective today is the classic ascent of Monte Perdido (3335m), the highest peak in the area. The summit views over the Ordesa, Pineta and Anisclo canyons are stunning. Steep in places, the route crosses a snow field that may require the use of crampons. Return to Refugio Goriz for the night. Distance: 9 km, ascent: 1150 m

Sunday

Biescas Free time in Biescas before transfer to either Zaragoza airport or train station.

Included Transfers To and from Zaragoza on Sunday evenings to meet Ryan Air flight from Stansted or train from Barcelona or Madrid.

Not included Flights, insurance, drinks with evening meal, lunch on rest day.

Self Guided: Ordesa - Discover the best of Ordesa

Superb walking base

- Easy to follow route cards

Torla is on the west side of the park and is ideally placed to reach the walking in the Ordesa Valley, the Añisclo Canyon and the road head of Bujaruelo.

- Arrive and depart on any day Discover the best of the Ordesa National Park - one of the highlights of the Pyrenees. Make sure you get the most of out your time in the park with our self guided Ordesa holidays. We get you straight to the best hikes and know not just the famous walks but many beautiful quiet paths often overlooked by many visitors.

In summer a shuttle bus service runs between Torla and the Ordesa Valley which stops at Hotel Ordesa.

Fantastic choice of routes There is one thing you won’t be short of in Ordesa and that is hiking routes! The park offers something for everyone with easy walks along the valley floor as well as steep climbs up to the balcony or ‘faja’ paths. Wild flower and nature lovers are in for a treat. With the big differences in altitude giving lots of different ecosystems the park is famous for its wide variety of flora and birdlife - especially raptors and the elusive bone-eating bearded vulture.

The ‘faja’ paths of Ordesa Ordesa is famous for its fajas. The cliffs of the valley are limestone and as it’s eroded, natural ledges have been carved into the cliffs creating spectacular paths.

Easy to follow routecards

World Heritage Site

We’ve route cards for all of the best walks in the valley. There’s a huge choice of walks of all distances ranging from gentle walks in alpine meadows to long days in the high mountains.

Ordesa was made a UNESCO world heritage site in 1997 mainly due to its bio-diversity. The steep cliffs lead to an altitude change of two kilometres between the valley meadows and the peaks high above.

The infamous Faja de las Flores is a vertiginous metre wide ledge a kilometre up that’s only for those with an excellent head for heights.

Other paths are less intimidating and the Faja de Pelay on the southern cliffs and the little walked but highly recommended Faja Racon are two of our favourites.

We live in the area year round and walk these routes regularly with groups so you can be confident that our route cards will always be up to date and accurate.

These differences mean a huge variety of flowers, birds and mammals can find their niche and flourish. Humans have made little impact on the inhospitable higher plateaus. The UNESCO site is jointly managed with the French Parc National de Pyrenees.

ORDESA SELF GUIDED 2020 Dates Self guided holidays are available throughout the summer.

Hotel Ordesa Prices B&B Half Board 24 May - 28 June 519€ 689€ 29 June - 19 July 599€ 769€ 20 July - 23 Aug 659€ 829€ 24 Aug - 13 Sep 599€ 769€ 14 Sep - 11 Oct 519€ 689€ Single supplement: 230 € high season (20 July - 23 Aug) 180 € rest of the season Prices are per person and based on two people sharing. Prices are for a 7 night stay - for longer or shorter stays ask for prices.

Accommodation

“Everything was perfect – amazing hikes, spectacular scenery, lovely hotel and even the weather played along. Would definitely book with Hike Pyrenees again. Henri, Ordesa Self Guided, September 2019

4* Hotel Ordesa (Torla)

Two centre holidays

The 4* Hotel Ordesa is ideally situated for walkers with views into the Ordesa Valley and hikes straight from the hotel door.

A popular option is to split a week´s stay between Ordesa and the Valle de Tena allowing you to see both areas.

The hotel has excellent facilities including an outdoor pool (open mid-June to mid September), bar, lounge area and a spa (additional fees apply for use of the spa).

Hotel Almud in Sallent works well combined with Hotel Ordesa. It’s a scenic one hour drive between the hotels when you change venues midweek which means you still have time to do a hike that day.

You start each morning with a cooked or continental buffet breakfast. With our full board option picnic lunches are provided each day and three course evening meals are taken at the hotel. The village of Torla is just a short walk away. There you’ll find the National Park visitors centre, shops, bars, cafes and restaurants

You can split the week however as you like and prices are pro-rata the weekly rates.

4* Hotel Ordesa near the village of Torla

Included meals Half board option includes 3 course evening meals, cooked and continental buffet breakfast each day. B&B option includes a buffet breakfast. Picnic lunches can be ordered from the hotel (at additional cost).

Self Guided Walking Walking is self guided and there is a good choice of routes of all lengths and difficulties. We’ve detailed descriptions for all the best trails.

Not included Flights, insurance, airport transfers or transport to and from walks.

Spring, autumn & the Picos de Europa If you are looking to hike outside of high summer, Spain has so much to offer. The Sierra de Guara in the PrePyrenees are just south of the main range and has fantastic weather for spring hiking, while heading further south to Els Ports gives you hiking options throughout the year.

Sierra de Guara The deep gorges and towering cliffs of the Sierra de Guara and Riglos in the pre-Pyrenees have a completely different feel from the main range although they are just forty kilometres south. Quiet and unpopulated, a traditional way of life continues in the area, with small farms producing cheese, wine, olive oil and almonds - all delicious!

Els Ports Natural Park

On our Villages of the Guara self guided holiday you hike deep into the park staying at several tiny, tranquil villages with beautiful views.

Lying on the borders of Aragon, Valencia and Catalonia the Els Ports Natural Park is where our ‘Passes of Beceite’ holiday is based. The region boasts really varied hiking with some hikes being deep in the canyons and others high on the peaks with views inland and to the coast.

Our Riglos and Alquézar guided holiday explores two areas - the Sierra de Guara Park and Mallos de Riglos. One is characterised by towering conglomerate cliffs and the other deep limestone canyons which makes for very diverse hiking.

Although the peaks here only reach 1400 metres and you are close to the sea, the hiking and scenery is surprisingly wild and rugged. The terrain changes from limestone to conglomerate as you hike around the massif. The region has excellent year round hiking apart from mid summer and makes an excellent option if you are looking to get away very early or late in the season. 1 2 3

The climate here is quite Mediterranean with olive and almond groves and temperatures are perfect for early season hiking in April and May or later on in October or November.

Picos de Europa This national park in northern Spain is a compact but spectacular hiking area. It’s sharp limestone peaks rise from beautiful alpine meadows. The famous Cares gorge splits the massif in two and makes for an incredible hike. At times it appears like a land that time forgot with shepherds still spending summers in the high pastures taking care of their herds making cheese. Beautiful stone villages dot the landscape. Our holidays here are dual centre which allows us to access both the northern and southern sides of the park and lets us show you the best the region has to offer.

“As returning customers I thought the level of service and the standard of local guides was excellent. David and Pablo were very enthusiastic and this carried over into the group as a whole. We will return again.” Steve Picos de Europa, July 2019.

Mar & Montaña - 7 night guided walking holiday - Grade 2 - moderate hiking - Mix of mountains and coast - 2 centre holiday A two centre itinerary exploring the undiscovered mountains of ‘Puertos del Beceite’ and the coastline around the Ebro Delta. An excellent mix of both mountainous and coastal hiking along with great food and cultural activities. On the coast we’ll dine at the restaurants that surround the port each evening which needless to say serve fantastic seafood.

Moderate walking The hikes will be mid level and each day we expect to walk around 8 to 12 kilometres with 200-650 metres of ascent. The paths are generally good although there are a few steeper and rockier sections.

Charming hotels Our base in Beceite is an old paper mill that has been converted to the lovely Hotel La Fábrica de Solfa. It lies right on the Río Matarrañas which used to power the mill. The views over the river from the bedroom windows are lovely. The breakfasts and evening meals are excellent. On the coast we’ll stay in L’Ampolla at the 4* Hotel Flamingo with an outdoor and indoor pool, sea views and a lovely bar on the terrace. The rooms have balconies overlooking the sea. We’ll take breakfast on the hotels terrace and evening meals in restaurants around the fishing port.

Oyster and mussel farms The delta is full of oyster and mussel farms where the shellfish feed on the algae washed down the long Ebro river One evening we’ll take a boat tour of the farms. Our guides will explain the farming techniques and then we’ll have an oyster and mussels tasting on a little restaurant on stilts in the middle of the oyster fields.

Puertos del Beceite

Ebro Delta

The sierra of Puertos del Beceite – the passes of Beceite – rises up to 1400 metres and lies just 30 kilometres from the coast. Despite its relatively low altitude the area is surprisingly mountainous and wild with both limestone and conglomerate canyons and cliffs. The range passes through Aragon, Catalonia and Valencia.

The Ebro, at 928 km, is the second longest river on the Iberian peninsula with its source in Cantabria just south of the Picos de Europa. Where it reached the Mediterranean it forms the huge Ebro Delta – a 320 km2 wetland with one of the largest natural bays in Europe.

It’s a real undiscovered gem and very few hikers visit the range. In addition to excellent hiking the inland side of the sierra has a lots to see and do including the Picasso museum in Horta de San Joan which is where he lived during the period he developed cubism. On the rest/transfer day we’ll take a visit to the superb Diezdedos olive oil farm where we’ll have a BBQ in the olive groves as well as a guided tour of the castle in Valderobres.

The delta is covered by rice paddies and the wetlands are one of Spain’s most important areas for birdlife. The shallow bay is perfect for mussel and oyster farms and also for salt pans. We’ll take a boat trip out to a mussel farm and have a glass of cava with fresh mussels out on the ocean – a fantastic trip. Along the coastline north of the delta there is excellent hiking along the GR-92, a long distance footpath that follows the Mediterranean.

MAR Y MONTAÑA GUIDED WALKING

Itinerary

Grade: Moderate

The hikes will be judged to suit the group and will be between 8-12 km with 200-650 metres ascent.

Sunday

Beceite

2020 Dates

Arrive in Beceite – pick up from L’Aldea – Amposta – Tortosa train station, which has direct trains from both Barcelona and Valencia.

Sunday 19 - 26 April

Price 1349 € per person (based on two sharing) 180 € Single supplement

Monday

Parrissal Gorge

Accommodation

Hike the limestone gorge of Parrisal which has ‘pasarelas’ (a boardwalk along the gorge) enabling you to get deep into the canyon. The canyon section is there and back and we then return to Beceite by climbing up to the ermita of San Miguel.

4 nights in Hotel Fábrica de Solfa 3 nights in Hotel Flamingo

Included meals 3 course evening meals Breakfast each morning Picnic lunches on walking days

Tuesday

Penyaglera Saturday

Guided Walking - Grade 2

Foradada

5 days fully guided walking. Walks are 6 to 7 hours each day (12-16km). Daily ascents are between 400m to 650m on good paths with some steep sections. Walks are at a relaxed pace.

Wednesday

At lunchtime, we’ll have a guided tour and tasting at the olive farm Diezdedos. A barbeque lunch will be taken among the olive groves. We’ll then head to Ampolla and we’ll take a boat tour of the mussel farms, having an oyster and mussels tasting on a little restaurant on stilts in the middle of the oyster fields.

The Els Estrets Canyon

Friday

Today we hike in the range called Montsía just behind the coast to the peak of Foradada which at 655 metres has magnificent views over the delta. It is famous for having a distinctive hole in the rock on the top which you can look through. Fantastic views and a fitting finale to the week.

The coast on the GR-92

Sunday

Hike to the summit of Penyaglera (1029m) a great table top peak just outside of Beceite with brilliant views across the plains. We take a dramatic descent through the cliffs to the river below where we cross beside beautiful rock pools.

A hike through the conglomerate area of the range with the highlight being the section through the Els Estrets – a beautiful canyon with high cliffs above.

Thursday

Cultural – transfer day We’ll begin by a guided tour of the Valderrobres and it’s 12th-century castle, church and museum.

We’ll take a train from Ampolla in the morning one stop north and then hike back along the coast on the GR-92. It’s an undeveloped stretch of coastline and we’ll pass by lots of small bays where we can swim and a couple of larger beaches with ‘chiringuitos’ (beach bars/restaurants). The route is approx 13km with 400 metres of ascent so there is a bit of up and down during the day.

Departure L’Ampolla Morning departure and drop off at train station L’Aldea – Amposta – Tortossa for trains to Barcelona or Valencia.

Included Transfers To and from L’Aldea – Amposta – Tortosa train station on Sundays as well as all transport during the week.

Not included Flights, insurance and drinks with evening meals.

Riglos & Alquézar - 7 night guided walking holiday

Moderate walking

- Grade 2 - moderate hiking

The hikes will be mid level and each day we expect to walk around 10 to 12 kilometres with 400-650 metres of ascent.

- Spectacular gorges and cliffs - 2 centre holiday Wonderful hiking amongst the canyons of the Sierra de Guara and the amazing cliffs of Mallos de Riglos. Two areas that have an amazing contrast with one being dominated by canyons and the other towring cliffs. The warm weather of the pre-Pyrenees makes this the perfect place to hike early or late in the season.

The paths are generally good although there are a few steeper sections. Although both areas are famed for cliffs and gorges none of the hiking is on exposed narrow paths.

History and nature The history of the area stretches back thousands of years with Neolithic cave paintings around Alquézar. The Moors and Christians fought over the area in the middle ages and the castles and churches of the area have many Moorish influences. On the rest day we take a tour of Bodega Sommos.

Charming hotels Visit to Bodega Sommos Alquézar is in the Somontano wine region which produces some excellent white and red wines. During the Riglos & Alquézar holiday we’ll visit the vineyard of Sommos for a tour followed by a wine tasting and lunch. Sommos is a spectacular vineyard with Guggenheim style architecture. When it was opened it was the most technologically advanced vineyard in the world. The wine making areas are all underground and they use gravity to move the wine between the various stages of fermentation.

You’ll stay in two charming hotels during the week. Both are small and friendly in great locations. The bedrooms are beautifully decorated and have fantastic views. Hotel Real Posada de Liena is our base in Murillo de Gállego where you can watch the cliffs of Riglos glow red in the setting sun from your window. In Alquézar we’ll stay at Hotel Castillo which once again has wonderful views. Alquezar has fantastic restaurants and we’ll eat out in three of the best restaurants in the village. On the final night we’ll try the tasting menu at Casa La Pardina. Here we’ll start with local cheeses and varieties of olive oils and you can try locally hunted wild boar or venison stew.

“A wonderful week of spectacular walks made all the more worthwhile by the knowledgeable guides who provided insights into wildlife and local history as well as expert and friendly guidance. Hotels and food were excellent. Thoroughly recommended.”. Anthony Riglos & Alquezar, May 2019.

RIGLOS & ALQUEZAR GUIDED WALKING

Itinerary

Grade: Moderate

During the week we’ll hike in two areas - the Sierra de Guara and the cliffs around Riglos. This is a sample itinerary - the exact routes will depend on the weather and what the group would like to achieve.

2020 Dates Sunday 10 - 17 May

Sunday

Price

Murillo de Gállego Arrive in Murillo de Gállego from Zaragoza late afternoon. Briefing followed by the evening meal.

1299 € per person (based on two sharing) 180 € Single supplement

Monday

Accommodation

Mallos de Agüero

4 nights in Hotel Real Posada de Liena 3 nights in Hotel Castillo

The cliffs of Mallos de Agüero tower above the village. This circular route takes us on a complete circuit of these fascinating rock formations.

Included meals 3 course evening meals Breakfast each morning Picnic lunches on walking days

Tuesday

Mallos de Riglos Even bigger than yesterday`s cliffs the Mallos of Riglos are the most famous of the area. A wonderful trail winds us up through the cliffs and then along a ridge above them. Our return route takes us underneath the cliffs and we’ll get sore necks as we gaze up at vultures and climbers!

Thursday

Vineyard tour - Sommos

Wednesday

Today we leave Murillo de Gállego and head to Alquézar which lies in the centre of the Somontano wine region. We’ll visit the spectacular vineyard of Sommos where we’ll have a tour around the vineyard, wine tasting and lunch before heading onto to Alquézar. (Wine tasting is 10€ and lunch is not included in price)

Salinas Viejo

Friday

Our hike today takes us through the narrow rocky valley of Foz de Salinas to the abandoned village of Salinas which once produced salt for the region. Past the village we head to the pass of La Osqueta from which we have tremendous views both south and north.

Vero Canyon We take a taxi out to the viewpoint of Portiacha which has wonderful views down into the Vero canyon and across the high Pyrenees. From here we hike back to Alquézar passing caves with neolithic cave art. We drop down to the idyllic

Puente de Villacantal across the Rio Vero. Depending on the water level we either hike along the river in the depths of the canyon or cross the bridge and climbing the eastern flanks of the canyon. Back to Alquézar.

Guided Walking - Grade 2

Saturday

5 days fully guided walking. Walks are 6 to 7 hours each day (12-16km). Daily ascents are between 400m to 650m on good paths with some steep sections. Walks are at a relaxed pace.

Mascún canyon

Included Transfers

Today we explore the wonderful rock formations of the Mascún canyon where the the river has carved spires and arches. We hike to the abandoned village of Otin before returning via a separate branch of the canyon.

To and from Zaragoza airport or train station on Sundays as well as all transport during the week.

Sunday

Not included Flights, insurance, drinks with evening meal, wine tasting (approx 10€) and lunch at the vineyard.

Free morning in Alquézar before leaving for the transfer back to Zaragoza train station or airport.

PASSES OF BECEITE SELF GUIDED

The Passes of Beceite - 7 night self guided holiday

2020 Dates The Passes of Beceite is available throughout the autumn and spring when the weather is perfect in this area. Arrive and depart on any day you wish.

Price Party size 2 or 3 4 or more 13 January - 30 June 1099 € 1049 € 1 October - 15 Dec 1099 € 1049 € Single supplement: 129 € Prices are per person and based on two sharing Minimum party size is 2 people. 7 nights accommodation: 3 nights Hotel La Fábrica de Solfa (Beceite) 1 night Casa Nuri (Fredes) 1 night Pous de la Neu (Caro) 1 night Ca Les Barberes (Paüls) 1 night Hotel Hort De Fortunyo (Arnes)

Included meals

- Good year round hiking weather - Luggage moved every day Explore an undiscovered area of Spain with this circular route in the Dels Ports Natural Park passing through Aragon, Valencia and Catalonia. Remote hiking in a surprisingly mountainous area. The weather here is perfect for hiking nearly year round. In six days you make a complete circuit of the massif. The hiking is really diverse with one side of the range being conglomerate and the other limestone.

Medium to strenuous hikes

Self Guided Walking

The hikes cover a reasonable distance each day and the accumulated ascent adds up. However, each of the days have several ups and downs rather than one big ascent which makes ascent more manageable.

Walking is self guided and detailed route descriptions will be provided for each day´s walk including any optional side trips.

The terrain varies considerably from gentle paths through woods to some fairly rocky sections underfoot.

3 course evening meals every night Breakfast and picnic lunches each day

Not included Flights and insurance. Wine, coffee and drinks with evening meal. Additional charge for two optional transfers at the start of day 3 and 4. Transfers to/from Beceite.

Itinerary Day 1 - Arrive Beceite Arrive in Beceite - on the first evening you will have a briefing about your week ahead. Night in Hotel La Fábrica de Solfa.

Day 2 - Parrisal Gorge

Day 5 - Caro to Paüls

Follow this beautiful high sided gorge using pasarelas - a walkway just above the river level. Eventually the gorge narrows to the point you can’t hike any further and you return back to Beceite climbing up out of canyon. Second night at Hotel La Fábrica de Solfa. Distance: 12.3km, ascent 310m

Today you follow the high ridge along the centre of the range - a wonderful hike spending most of the day above one thousand metres. Descend to the village of Paüls which lies in fields looking up to the rocky cirque that you’ve just descended from. Night at Ca Les Barberes. Distance: 22.2km, ascent 1030m, descent 1750m Option to reduce distance (and ascent) at both start and end of day with lifts.

Day 3 - Beceite to Fredes Short transfer in the morning. Hike up a broad ridge passing the church and farmhouse of San Miguel. Optional side trip to the Pico de Los Tres Reyes at 1351m (Peak of the 3 Kings) - the border between the three regions. Night at Casa Nuri. Distance:13.7km, asc. 765m, des. 350m 16.3km, asc. 940m, des. 525m with side trip to peak

Day 4 - Fredes to Caro Today you head north east flanking a ridge with fantastic views down to the coast and the Ebro delta. There is a short side trip to Pic Negrell (1345m) for more panoramic views before you arrive in the hidden valley and woods where you spend the night at Pous de la Neu. Distance: 20.5km, ascent: 962m, dsecent 1032m Option to reduce distance 3km more with lift.

Day 6 - Paüls to Arnes Great hike passing right underneath the cliffs of Roques de Benet and then finishing off by passing through the Estrets d’Arnes. Night at the beautiful Hotel Hort De Fortunyo. Distance: 19.6km, ascent 950m Option of pick up shortening day by 3km

Day 7 - Arnes to Beceite The final days hike and one final thousand metre peak to scale - the wonderful Penyagalera with views over the inland plains. Night at Hotel La Fábrica de Solfa. Shorter option: 15.8km, ascent 930m

Day 8 - Depart Depart for your onward journey.

Villages of the Guara

Day 4 - Bárcabo to Paules de Sarsa Heading into the heart of the Sierra de Guara your route today passes through a wild landscape not often visited. A choice of two routes, the longer passes over the peak of Asba (1438m) for panoramic views of the high peaks of the Pyrenees. Night at El Condor. Short option: Distance: 14km, ascent: 350m Long option: distance: 15.2km, ascent 700m

Day 5 - Paules de Sarsa to Rodellar Hike above the Mascún canyon along a path that skirts above the canyon with magnificent views down onto it’s rock spires. Optional taxi at stat to shorten the day (included). Night at Aparthotel Valle de Rodellar. Shorter option: distance: 19km, ascent: 1100m Longer option: distance: 28km, ascent: 1350m

- 7 night self guided holiday - Great early/late season weather - Luggage moved every day Hike between the remote villages of the Sierra de Guara an area full of limestone and conglomerate canyons. Spring and autumn have perfect weather for hiking.

Itinerary

6 days hiking taking you to the heart of this undiscovered area. Wonderful scenery with deep canyons, rocky limestone spires and abandoned villages.

Day 2 - Circular hike from Alquézar

Medium to strenuous hikes There are two hiking options each day - an easier and a harder route. On a couple of the days even the easier options are still fairly challenging. The longest day on the easier option is 19km with 1000 metres of ascent this day isn’t to be taken lightly. For the fit, there are longer options and side trips taking in extra peaks and viewpoints. The terrain varies from gentle paths through woods to some fairly rocky sections underfoot even on the easier routes.

Day 1 - Alquézar Arrive in Alquézar spending the night at the beautiful Hotel Villa de Alquézar (with pool and spa). Briefing about the week ahead, going over the route and answering any questions you have. First descend into the canyon of the Rio Vero before climbing to the charming villages of Asque and Colungo. Return, crossing the Rio Vero again with an option to walk the famous ‘pasarelas’ - a walkway above the river along a narrow and spectacular section of the canyon. Second night at Hotel Villa de Alquézar. 13.8km, asc. 680m (17.8km, 850m with extension)

Day 3 - Alquézar to Lecina Head deep into the Vero canyon crossing the medieval bridge of Villacantal. Pass caves with neolithic paintings dating from 5000 to 1500 BC. Climbing again you get fantastic views of the area. Option of extending the route by 8km to take you to the viewpoint of Barfaluy. Night in Lecina. 10.5km, asc. 630m (18.5km, 830m with extension)

Day 6 - Circular hike from Rodellar Wonderful hike in the Mascún canyon combining both superb views of the rock arches and spires of the canyon and the abandoned village of Otín. A longer option takes you to Nasarre another abandoned village. Pass a neolithic dolmen before descending to Rodellar. Second night at Aparthotel Valle de Alquézar. Shorter option: 15.3km, ascent 640m Longer option: 20km, ascent 860m

VILLAGES OF THE GUARA SELF GUIDED 2020 Dates The Villages of the Guara holiday is available spring, early summer and autumn when the weather is perfect in this area. Arrive and depart on any day you wish.

Price Party size 2 or 3 4 or more 1 March - 31 May 1099 € 1049 € 1 October - 30 Nov 1099 € 1049 € Single supplement: 185 € Single room in each hotel apart from Rodellar where two share a two bedroom apartment. Prices are per person and based on two sharing. Minimum party size is 2 people. Supplement applies for Easter - email for details 3 nights Hotel Villa de Alquézar (Alquézar) 1 night Hotel La Choca (Lecina) 1 night El Condor (Les Paules) 2 nights Aparthotel Valle de Rodellar

Included meals 3 course evening meals every night Breakfast and picnic lunches each day

Day 7 - Rodellar to Alquézar

Self Guided Walking

Today’s hike takes you along the conglomerate canyon of Balced with fantastic views over the plains before descending to Alquézar. Option of taxi ride at start to shorten the distance. Night at Hotel Villa de Alquézar. Shorter option: 14km, ascent 400m Longer option: 20km, ascent 806m

Walking is self guided and detailed route descriptions will be provided for each day´s walk including any optional side trips.

Day 8 - Depart Final morning spent in Alquézar before departing for your onward journey.

GPS hire GPS hire for the week available. The GPS will have all of the hiking tracks, maps and waypoints. Weekly GPS rental 35 €.

Not included Flights and insurance. Wine, coffee and drinks with evening meal. Transfers to/from Alquézar.

Picos de Europa - 7 night guided walking holiday

Choice of 2 walks each day

- Choice of two walks each day

Each morning we’ll meet and describe both walks in detail simply chose which of the two hikes on offer you would like to do that day.

- Dual level: grade 1 & grade 3 - Stay in two traditional villages With high limestone peaks, alpine meadows and the deep and famous Cares gorge, the Picos de Europa has a superb range of hikes. Choose between two hikes each day – a higher harder and lower easier hike. It’s a great way for you to set your own pace for the week.

The easier hike has a more relaxed pace, giving you the opportunity to study the flora and fauna of the area as well as take in the views. There will also be an opportunity to visit some cultural and historical sites such as the historical and famous Covadonga Basilica. These hikes will be grade 1 or 2 on good paths and 5 – 6 hours in length. The harder hikes will take 7 – 9 hours to and will take us into the heart of the Picos massif and to the top of some rewarding summits with inspiring views. These hikes are grade 3 and the terrain will be more rugged and rocky underfoot. Although you may need to use your hands at points for balance, these days do not require a rope.

Fuente De cable car The Fuente de cable car is a fantastic way to get up high in the Picos. In only 5 minutes you leave the green meadows of the valley behind and travel 750 metres up into the Picos massif. Built in 1903 it was used as a means of transporting minerals mined in the area back down to the valley. In June 1966 cabins were attached to these cables with the intentions of transporting tourists. The first commercial journey in the Fuente De cable cars took place on the 21st August of the same year.

3* Picos de Europa Hotel

3* Hotel del Oso

The first 4 nights will be in Hotel Picos de Europa ideally located in the centre of Arenas de Cabrales on the northern side of the Picos.

An absolutely wonderful country hotel a short drive from Fuente De in the pretty village of Cosgaya on the southern side of the Picos.

A lovely place to relax after your hikes with an outdoor swimming pool and seating area with great views. The village has a nice plaza with nice bars to try the traditional cider which the region is famous for.

With a lovely terrace to take an after hike beer, an outdoor swimming pool, beautiful grounds and scenery it is a perfect place to relax.

Breakfast and a delicious three course evening meal will be served at the hotel. On our final night in Arenas we’ll eat out in one of the local restaurants which will be within easy walking distance.

The hotel is part of the Cantabria ‘Club de Calidad’ and the food here is just superb with a fantastic choice of local dishes . The breakfast buffet is the biggest we’ve seen - perfect to set you up for a big day in the mountains!

PICOS DE EUROPA GUIDED WALKING

Itinerary

Dual level

This sample itinerary shows the low and high level route options offered each day. The exact routes will depend on conditions.

Sunday Arrive in Arenas from Bilbao. We’ll have a briefing about the week and enjoy our evening meal.

2020 Dates

Monday

Cares gorge Today both hiking options will explore the famous 1.5 kilometre deep Cares gorge. Hike along a spectacular path which contours around the valley 200 metres above the river bed. The gorge is pretty long so the shorter hike will walk roughly two thirds of the gorge before turning back while the longer option will hike all of the way to Cain at the end of the gorge.

Tuesday

Covadonga lakes A circular route around the Covadonga lakes, Pico Mosquital and Mirador del Rey for superb views over the western Picos. Afterwards we’ll visit the famous Covadonga basilica.

Sunday 5 - 12 July

Price 1349 € per person (based on two sharing) 180 € Single supplement

Accommodation Refugio de la Vega Urriellu A hike to Refugio de la Vega Urriellu that sits at 1960 metres right under the Naranjo de Bulnes the most famous mountain in the Picos. Magnificent views of the highest peaks in the Picos.

Torre de los Horcados Rojos (2562m)

Thursday

From the cable car we head to the peak of Torre de los Horcados Rojos as well as the tiny Refuge Cabana Veronica, which was originally a gun turret off an old battle ship.

Rest day

4 nights in 3* Hotel Picos de Europa (Arenas) 3 nights in 3* Hotel del Oso (Cosgaya)

Included meals 3 course evening meals every night Breakfast buffet each morning Picnic lunches on walking days

Saturday

Dual level walking

Mogrovejo circuit

Starting at the beautiful Covadonga lakes we wind fairly steeply uphill through the alpine pastures and into the hills above to reach Refugio de Ario.

The morning will be spent in Arenas where there is an option of taking a tour of the caves where the famous Cabrales blue cheese is made. We’ll then make the very scenic drive round to Cosgaya stopping off in the beautiful town of Potes for lunch.

5 days guided walking with 2 options each day. Walks: Lower level - 4 to 7 hours each day Higher level - 6 to 10 hours each day Ascents: Lower level - 300m to 600m Higher level - 700m to 1200m Lower level walks are at a relaxed pace.

Wednesday

Friday

Poncebos to Bulnes

Fuente De & Refugio Aliva

Hike up to Bulnes in the heart of the massif. Bulnes is a pretty village nestled amongst the mountains. After lunch we’ll descend via the funicular.

After an exhilarating cable car journey we do a circular hike along easy paths but through wonderful high mountainous scenery to Refugio de Aliva.

Today we hike up to the high plateau but this time without the cable car! A steep 900 metres ascent to the gorgeous Vega de Liordes.

Refugio Vega de Ario

A circular hike from the pretty village of Mogrovejo which takes us right under the cliffs of the western massif of the Picos.

Vega de Liordes

Sunday Free morning before transfer back to Bilbao.

Included transfers To/from Bilbao airport or train station

Not included Flights, insurance, drinks with evening meal, lunch on Thursday, Fuente De cable car and Bulnes funicular tickets.

Location Cabrales

Cosgaya

Sallent de Gállego Biescas

Torla Ainsa

Riglos

Where are we? We’re based in the Aragonese Pyrenees. The Aragonese Pyrenees are pretty in the centre of the range with some of the highest and most spectacular mountains in the Spain.

Alquézar

The Valle de Tena and Ordesa are roughly two hours north of Zaragoza (our pick up point) which has excellent rail links with Barcelona and Madrid and flights from London Stansted. If you’re renting a car you can drive from Barcelona in four hours. Transfers for our Riglos & Alquézar holiday are also from Zaragoza and are around one and a half hours. For the Picos de Europa our transfers are from Bilbao airport or train station. The Passes of Beceite are roughly half way between Barcelona and Valencia and can be reached from both by a regular train service.

The Passes of Beceite

Getting to the Pyrenees For our holidays in the Pyrenees the easiest access points are Zaragoza or Barcelona and the details here relate to our Pyrenees holidays.

Flying from the UK Stansted to Zaragoza

To get to our holidays in other areas you can find all of the information on our website. Our Picos de Europa holidays include transfers from Bilbao.

From the UK the simplest way to get to Zaragoza is on the Ryan Air flight from London Stansted. There are flights year round.

Zaragoza transfers

Flights start from under £100 (including taxes) and are generally cheaper the earlier you book.

Transfers from/to Zaragoza airport or train station are included on all of our guided walking holidays in the Valle de Tena and Ordesa. You can also choose to add transfers to our Village to Village self guided holiday (Sundays only).

There are flights on Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Our transfers meet the Sunday flights. Sunday flight times are:

Sunday transfers are at the following times:

London Stansted - Zaragoza

Pick up times 4 pm from Zaragoza train station 4:40 pm from Zaragoza airport

Outbound FR2634

Drop off times 12 midday or 3 pm at Zaragoza train station 3.05 pm at Zaragoza airport Airport transfers are timed to meet the Ryan Air flight from London Stansted. From Zaragoza it is around two hours to the Pyrenees.

Private transfers We can provide private transfers from Zaragoza at any time or day for 200€ per journey. We can also organise transfers from Barcelona or other cities email us for a quote.

Depart Stansted (STN)

13.30

Arrive Zaragoza (ZAZ)

16.45

Inbound FR2635 Depart Zaragoza (ZAZ)

17.10

Arrive Stansted (STN)

18.20

Please note these times were correct at the time of printing - occasionally flight times change please check flight times on the Ryan Air website.

Flying to Barcelona/Madrid If Stansted isn’t convenient for you there are flights from many UK airports to Barcelona and Madrid. The AVE fast train links either of these cities to Zaragoza where we’ll meet you at the train station.

From outside Europe Barcelona and Madrid are the two biggest international airports in Spain and if you’re arriving from outside Europe they are the best airports to fly to. There are excellent rail links from both Barcelona and Madrid to Zaragoza where we’ll meet you at the train station. Alternatively hire a car from Barcelona and drive to the Pyrenees. The major car hire companies have offices at the airport and the drive is 3 ½ hours.

Zaragoza rail links Zaragoza has excellent rail connections with both Madrid and Barcelona on the AVE high speed train. Travelling at over 200 km/h the journey takes only 1 ½ hours from either Barcelona-Sants or Madrid Puerta de Atocha stations with a return ticket costing around 70 euros. There are trains roughly every hour and they are very comfortable. For more information and train times give us a call or visit www.renfe.com - click on ‘welcome’ for the English version of the site. We are an official agent for RENFE and can buy your train tickets and email then to you. We charge a small commission of 1€ per ticket for this service.

Bus connections The bus network in Spain is excellent and tickets are cheap. Biescas is the easiest of our bases to reach by bus - the nearest bus station is Sabiñanigo and from there you can catch a cab to Biescas. If you’re coming from Barcelona change at Huesca. If you’re coming from the west (Pamplona or Bilbao) change at Jaca. You can see routes and timetables at www.alosa.es

“Rosa bought our train tickets, helped us with transport arrangements and made everything so easy for us.” Wendy, June 2018

Travel advice If you need any help with your travel arrangements just drop us an email or give us a call and we’ll be glad to help. We’re official agents for RENFE, Alosa and Sixt hire car and can buy train and bus tickets for you and organise hire cars.

Renting a car There are a number of airports that are within driving distance. Barcelona is the airport most commonly used as there are flights from many UK airports as well as lots of international flights from the USA, Canada and the rest of the world. Barcelona is about a four and a half hour drive from us. All of the major hire car companies have offices at the airport. Other airports that people use are Zaragoza, Toulouse, Pau, Tarbes (Lourdes) and Bilbao. We are official agents for Sixt - just email us for a no obligation quote.

Driving through France Driving through France is a great way of coming in your own car. Allow about 15 hours driving from the northern ports.

Ferries from the UK Brittany Ferries have three routes from the UK to Spain: Portsmouth-Bilbao, Portsmouth-Santander and Plymouth-Santander. The ferries have private cabins, restaurants, bars and viewing decks. You to take your own car and crossings take around 24 hours. Visit www.brittany-ferries.co.uk for timetables and prices.

Accommodation Valle de Tena Hotel Tierra de Biescas The four star Hotel Tierra de Biescas is in the heart of the old village, set in lovely grounds with an indoor and outdoor pool. Each of its 42 stylishly furnished rooms have an en-suite bathroom. It has a bar, comfortable lounge area with sofas, a restaurant and gardens with loungers. Each morning a breakfast buffet is served with cooked and continental options. Three course evening meals are taken in the hotel restaurant with a choice of starters, main courses and dessert. Guests can relax in the hotel’s spa facilities which include a small indoor swimming pool and sauna. A full range of massage treatments are available. The outdoor pool is open between mid June and mid September. Free wi-fi for guests.

Hotel Almud Hotel Almud is a wonderful stone building set in the winding streets of Sallent de Gállego. MarieJose is your host in this friendly family-run hotel with just 11 rooms. The hotel is fantastically decorated throughout with the bedrooms beautifully converted all with en-suite bathrooms and mountain views. There is a living room and reading area with sofas and a stone fireplace where you can have a coffee and relax. The hotel has free wi-fi for guests. Meals are taken at Casa Rural Valle de Tena restaurant which is just 150 metres away and has an excellent menu.

“The welcome we received on arrival at the hotel was superb, and all the staff were really friendly and helpful throughout our stay” Marilyn & Anthony

Rincon del Andrea (Biescas) Self Catering Apartments Excellently located and furnished self catering apartments in the village of Biescas. One and two bedroom apartments are available each with a bathroom and a good sized kitchen/diner with a sofa, tv and dvd player. All apartments are well equipped with washing machine, fridge, microwave, hob, kettle and toaster. Free wi-fi internet connection is included in each apartment. Double, twin and triple rooms are available and additional occupants can be accommodated on the sofa bed or in an additional room with en-suite bathroom in the same building.

Hotel Ordesa

Extend your stay

Our Discover Ordesa holidays are based in the Hotel Ordesa just outside of Torla - a superb location on the borders of the national park with views into the valley.

If you’d like to discover more of Spain we’ve put together a great selection of towns and hotels for you to visit. We can book hotels for you, provide directions and guidebooks and suggest itineraries to show you the best of what Spain has to offer. Below is a small selection of the hotels and towns that we offer - you can find more suggestions online.

The four star hotel has excellent facilities including an outdoor pool (open mid June to mid September), restaurant, bar, reading room and a comfortable lounge with card tables and a log fire. There is a mixture of twins, doubles and family rooms all with en-suite bathrooms. The Hotel Ordesa has a spa with a steam room, jacuzzi and an on-site masseuse with a full range of treatments available (there is a charge for use of the spa facilities).

Zaragoza - Hotel Sauce Three course meals are served in the restaurant each evening and you have a choice of starters, main course and dessert. The hotel is 20 minute walk from the village of Torla which has banks, shops and all the amenities you’ll need.

As the Roman and Moorish capital of northern Spain, Zaragoza is a city full of history with lots to see and it’s well worth adding a couple of nights here. The Roman period is well documented with several museums including the remains of the amphitheatre. As the home of Goya there is an excellent Goya museum and the Basílica of the Pilar is a must see. Many of our guests travel through Zaragoza as our transfers are there. Room prices from 76€ per night - see website for details

Alquézar - Hotel Castillo Alquézar is a perfect stopover for a night or two - especially if you are driving from Barcelona. The village is regularly voted one of the prettiest in Spain . It’s winding streets are overlooked by the church of Santa Maria - an old Moorish castle. Hike direct from the hotel or spend time sampling the local honey, cheeses and olives in the excellent restaurants - try La Pardina our favourite! Hotel Castillo is perfect with luxurious bedrooms. See website for details

Barcelona Airport Hotel Perfect if you’ve an early morning flight from Barcelona airport. Large, clean rooms all with en-suite bathrooms. The hotel has free wi-fi, business facilities, gym and outdoor pool in summer. There is a choice of a more formal restaurant or a lounge bar with excellent bar food. Free shuttle buses to/from the airport. See website for details

2020 Guided holiday dates Holiday

Price

Mar y Montaña

1349 €

Riglos & Alquezar The Canyons of Ainsa

1299 € 1349 €

Valle de Tena Explorer Valle de Tena Explorer

1299 € 1299 €

April

19 - 26 April May

10 - 17 May 24 – 31 May June

31 May - 7 June 28 June – 5 July

Middle June fully booked with private groups/walking clubs July

5 – 12 July 5 – 12 July 12 – 19 July 19 – 26 July 26 July - 2 August

Refugio Week Picos de Europa Discover Ordesa Valle de Tena Explorer Valle de Tena Explorer

1299 € 1349 € 1299 € 1299 € 1299 €

Lakes & Valleys

1299 €

Valle de Tena Explorer Refugio Week Discover Ordesa Valle de Tena Explorer Lakes & Valleys Peaks & Passes

1299 € 1299 € 1299 € 1299 € 1299 € 1299 €

August

30 Aug – 6 Sep September

6 - 13 Sep 6 - 13 Sep 13 – 20 Sep 20 – 27 Sep 27 Sep – 4 Oct 27 Sep – 4 Oct

HOW TO BOOK

Booking conditions A full list of our terms and conditions can be found on the back of the booking form or on our website.

Insurance It is a condition of your booking with us that you and all other members of your party are adequately insured for all of the activities that they will be undertaking and any person who is under 18 years old is accompanied by an adult. We will ask for details of your insurance prior to departure. It is each guest`s responsibility to ensure they are insured for health care in case of accident or illness while in Spain. For UK residents: The E111 form has been replaced by the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). We advise all guests to obtain an EHIC before travelling (this is not a substitute for travel insurance).

Health and fitness Our holidays are active and guests should have the appropriate level of fitness. If you are pregnant, we advise you to seek the advice of your doctor before booking with us. For your own safety, you must advise us of any health conditions, allergies and regularly taken medicines such as asthma, diabetes, pregnancy, food allergies, allergies to aspirin, penicillin, etc.

No binding contract is made between Hike Pyrenees S.L. and the persons booking the holiday until the booking has been confirmed in writing by Hike Pyrenees S.L. You can make payments by credit or debit card or a bank transfer in euros (to our Spanish bank account). Bank details will be provided upon request.

Cancellations If you wish to change or cancel your holiday you must advise us immediately by email to info@hikepyrenees.co.uk. If you want to change any details of your booking (such as changing dates or changing an activity), we will do our best to help, however please be aware that we may not be able to accommodate your change. If you want to cancel all or part of your booking, to cover the cost of processing your cancellation and to compensate us for any other costs we have incurred, we make a cancellation charge dependent on when we receive your cancellation notice as shown on the scale below. No. of days notice given Cancellation charge 42 days or more

Loss of deposit

Between 21 and 42 days 50% of total price

Paying for your holiday A non-refundable deposit of 125 € per person is required; when we have received this we will confirm your booking. The balance is due 8 weeks before departure and we will contact you at that time. If you book less than 8 weeks before departure, you will pay for the entire amount at the time of booking.

Less than 21 days

100% of total price

Dietary requirements We can cater for vegetarians, vegans and coeliacs but require at least 14 days’ prior notice. Please notify us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking.

Booking your Hike Pyrenees holiday is straightforward.

Alterations All prices that we advertise in our brochure and on our website are accurate at the date published but we reserve the right to change our prices at any time. We will be able to tell you the up-to-date price of your chosen accommodation advertised by us before confirming your booking. We reserve the right to make alterations to the itineraries for reasons beyond our reasonable control such as bad weather, or failure by any of our third party suppliers.

Call charges Calls to our +44 (0)208 123 5049 phone number are charged at standard UK landline rate. Your call may be redirected to us in Spain but this will be at no cost to yourself.

Data protection We take data protection seriously and guard all your details securely. You can unsubscribe from email communications at any time. If you would like to request a list of any personal details we hold about you please contact us.

Offices Hike Pyrenees S.L. CIF: B22379200 Travel agent number: CAA305 Turismo Activo: TA-HU-0308 UK Office: 97 Sylvia Avenue Pinner HA5 4QN Spain office: Rambla San Pedro 3 Biescas, Huesca, 22630, SPAIN

Registered office: Calle Cantarranas 70 Biescas Huesca 22630 SPAIN

To check the availability of any of our holidays drop us an email at info@hikepyrenees.co.uk, call us on +44 (0)208 123 5049 or go to our website.

If you’d like any advice on which holiday would suit you best then please give us a call and we’d be glad to help.

Complete the booking form online at : www.hikepyrenees.co.uk/booking

We require a 125 € deposit per person which can be paid by credit/debit card.

We’ll send you a booking confirmation straight away. The balance of your holiday is due eight weeks before departure - we’ll send you a reminder and your holiday information pack at this time.

All payments for your holiday can be made by credit/debit card and there is no charge for paying by card.

Contact us: www.hikepyrenees.co.uk tel: +44 (0)208 123 5049 or +34 974 495 401 info@hikepyrenees.co.uk skype: hikepyrenees

hikepyrenees.co.uk Tel: UK +44 (0)20 8123 5049, Spain +34 974 495 401 info@hikepyrenees.co.uk