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The Hidden Spanish Pyrenees: Sierra de Guara

The Meridian Way: Self-Guided Hike in the French Pyrenees

Peaks and Valleys: Self-Guided Hike in the French Pyrenees

A World Heritage Site Hike: The French and Spanish Pyrenees

Private Guided Departures Available June through September

Trip Overview

This World Heritage Site hiking trip brings us to both sides of this rugged and remote mountain area, a land full of legends and reported curing powers.  The Pyrenees are one of last remaining wilderness areas in Europe.  The range along the border between France and Spain is not as high as the Alps but is nonetheless dramatically beautiful and less developed than other areas.  Similar to the way locals have moved freely across the mountain border for hundreds of years, we too will experience both sides of this beautiful area of dramatic cirques, quaint stone villages, mountain lakes, wild flowers and charming hotels. 

We will spend the first part of our trip in the French Pyrenees in the town of Gavarnie where we’ll be based in a friendly, family-run hotel while we explore the Pyrenees National Park.  Gavarnie is the birthplace of mountaineering in the Pyrenees and the location of Europe’s highest waterfalls.  From here we’ll enjoy a series of hikes to remote valleys, which culminate in cirques.  On one of our hikes, we’ll cross over the same pass used by Spanish cows every July in literal search of greener pastures on the French side, as they have done for over 600 years through a treaty that exists between Spain and France. 

The second part of our Pyrenees adventure will take place on the Spanish side where we’ll explore the Ordesa National Park.  First we’ll be based in a mountain hotel, one of the famous Paradors, built in the traditional architecture of the area in local stone on the western slopes of Monte Perdido (Lost Mountain) in Bielsa.  We will follow this with a stay in Torla, a charming village whose houses are built from slate. 

This part of the Pyrenees is noted for its pure air and the clear waters of its streams and rivers, and the mountain cuisine of the Aragon region.

Highlights

• Remote, historic trails, long used by farmers, pilgrims and smugglers
• Remote valleys with dramatic cirques
• Quaint stone villages
• Charming hotels with wonderful regional cuisine
• A chance to experience Spanish and French culture

Rating

Moderate to high energy.  Participants must be comfortable walking on trails that are sometimes rocky.  You must be able to walk 6 to 8 miles both up and downhill in mountainous terrain.  You will spend approximately 6 hours a day hiking.

Sample Itinerary

Day 1:  Pau and Gavarnie

Your guide will greet you at the Pau (France) Airport and drive you to Gavarnie by private van or car. The winding road up into the mountains will give you an immediate sense that your adventure has already begun.

Today we hike right from the door of our hotel and south down the valley to the grand Cirque de Gavarnie with its majestic waterfalls and stone amphitheater.  The Cirque de Gavarnie is deservedly the most famous feature of the Pyrenees and has been attracting travelers for hundreds of years.  We’ll return via a dramatic balcony path that will provide us views of some of the other hikes we’ll experience in Garvarnie.  After our first hike we’ll toast the trip with welcome drinks (compliments of Bredeson Outdoor Adventures), and enjoy the first of our tasty, multi-course dinners at our Gavarnie hotel.  The family who runs our hotel will charm you with their friendliness and joie de vivre.

Overnight in Garvarnie

Day 2 :  Lac des Gloriettes and the Estaube Cirque

We’ll travel by mini-van to Lac des Gloriettes and the remote Estaube Cirque via the village of Gedre and take the winding mountain road up to the Lac.  We walk across a huge dam and climb up a grassy plateau and on foot back to Gavarnie over high meadows past ancient stone settlements, sheep, cows and horses, all festooned with traditional bells, and views of rugged peaks.  As we come over the Hourquette d’Alans (pass) we’ll enjoy great views of the Breche de Roland, the huge gap in the top of the Cirque’s wall.  According to legend, Roland, Charlemagne’s nephew, tried to break his sword on the rock rather than have it fall into the hands of the Saracen army in 788.  Instead of breaking the sword, the rock wall split and Roland was able to escape.  Today’s hike is in a quiet and untouched area that beautifully highlights the remoteness of the Pyrenees.

Overnight in Gavarnie

Day 3 :  Col de la Bernatoire

We enjoy a real sense of history and tradition today as we walk up to Col de la Bernatoire and step into Spain on the same path that cows have used every July for the past 600 years as they walk from Spain to France in search of greener pastures.  As you climb up the last steep stretch to the Spanish border you’ll be impressed by the hiking feat (and feet) of those Spanish cows!  The approach and return offer fine views of the Vignemale massif - the French Pyrenees' highest point at 3298m which hosts the last real glacier of the range.  And as a bonus, the perfectly symmetrical circular lac de Bernatoire sits just inside Spain. It's also possible to take in the Pic de Bernatoire, a modest summit at 2516m but with great views.

Overnight in Gavarnie

Day 4 :  Col de Tourmalet and on to Spain

Today we say good-bye to Garvarnie and travel three hours by van to Bielsa, Spain via "la Route des Cols" taking in the famous Col de Tourmalet below the Pic du Midi de Bigorre and the lower Col d'Aspin, both world famous due to Le Tour de France cycle race.  We’ll shorten the drive by stopping en route for a fine four hour hike around the Col de Tourmalet (2130m) below Le Pic de Midi with its astronomic observatory. There is a splendid moderate circuit here to the Col de la Bonida with fantastic views over the central Pyrenees including Monte Perdido and the Breche de Roland in the distance.  We’ll return via le Lac d'Oncet at the foot of the Pic du Midi.

Overnight in Bielsa

Day 5 :  Pineta Cirque

We hike right from the door of our hotel situated at the base of the Pineta Cirque up the face of the cirque on a well-graded and dramatic trail that we may share with mountain goats.  The Pineta Valley ends in a cirque with impressive waterfalls descending from Monte Perdido (Mont Perdu) at 3355 meters.  The summit of Monte Perdido is the great lost mountain of the Pyrenees.  It lies hidden from France and is also difficult to get to from Spain.  It is the centerpiece of the Spanish Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido and is the highest limestone peak in Europe.

An easier and extremely enjoyable alternative would be circuit up into the Larri valley to the north and up northeast to the lip of the valley at La Estiva on the GR11 trail with incredible views of Pineta and Monte Perdido, marmots, Izards (Pyrenean Chamois, which are actually a sort of antelope, the last mountain goats or Ibex having been extinct here for fifteen years). 

Overnight in Bielsa

Day 6:   Bridge of Navarros and the Cascade of Tamboroterra

We transfer to the beautiful village of Torla in the Province of Aragon, stopping first for a visit in the historic town of Ainsa.  Today’s hike leaves directly from Torla.  We walk along a narrow footpath that crosses the Bridge of Navarros past fir trees to the Cascade of Tamboroterra.  We’ll return with the municipal shuttle service.

Overnight in Torla

Day 7 :  Cola de Cabello

We hike today up to the Cola de Caballo, or Horse’s Tail, waterfall below the 11,000 foot Monte Perdido.  After a long but well-graded climb up "El camino de los Cazadores" or Hunter's Trail, we are rewarded with the long easy ledge path of Faja de Pelay  and its stunning views of the Ordesa canyon, Breche de Roland and summits. The high trail takes us gradually down to the head of the valley at the Circo de Soasa.  We’ll return via the waterfall trail.  This hike is a classic and a wonderful way to finish the hiking trip.  We’ll toast our accomplishments tonight during our last dinner together.

Overnight in Torla

Day 8 :  Pau

Today we transfer from Torla back to the Pau Airport and say good-bye to this beautiful region.  (Please refer to the note on trip extensions below.)

Please bear in mind that this is a typical itinerary, and the actual walks and sites may vary due to season, special events, weather or the group’s experience level. We may alter the itinerary to improve the tour and your experience, and to customize it to your group’s needs.

Transportation

A private van or car will pick you up at the Pau Airport, transport you to and from daily hikes, and return you to the Pau Airport at the end of the trip.

Meeting Point and Time

11:00 a.m. on Day 1 at Pau Airport.

Departure

After breakfast on Day 8 we will return to the Pau Airport.

Included in Price

• Double room accommodations in charming family run inns/hotels and a famous and dramatically sited Parador.  Single rooms available with a supplement.  If you would like, we can try to identify a roommate for you.
• Welcome drinks on the first night
• Private van transportation to and from daily hikes; transportation to/from the Pau airport
• Breakfast and multi-course dinners
• Trilingual, expert guide services by a certified European Mountain Leader
• Cultural and historical information shared informally during walks

Pre- and Post-Trip Extension

If you wish to arrive before Day 1or stay after Day 8, please let us know.  We would be happy to plan an extension for you to Barcelona, Pamplona or Bilbao.

Questions or to Design Your Group's Trip

Please contact Deborah Lewis at 866-533-4361 (toll free in the U.S.), 203-840-0295 or dlewis@bredeson.com.

We hope you'll join us on this grand adventure!

Contact us toll free (U.S.) at 866-533-4361 or

+203-840-0295 (outside the U.S.)

info@bredeson.com