Summer 2020 - Hike Pyrenees

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Summer 2020 - Hike Pyrenees
Summer 2020
Summer 2020 - Hike Pyrenees
Guided walking

Welcome to Hike Pyrenees
Welcome to our summer 2020                For early season hiking, our Mar and
brochure, full of ideas for your next     Montaña is perfect. Based in a
walking holiday and adventure in the      wonderful undiscovered part of Spain,
Pyrenees.                                 we’ll have the mountains to ourselves
                                          and there are great after-hike activities
Our Spanish guiding team of Juanma,       too such as a boat trip to an oyster          On our guided walking holidays you’ll be superbly looked after by our team of
David, Pablo and Arkaitz are proving      farm and a BBQ amongst olive groves.          knowledgeable guides who will show you the best the Pyrenees have to offer.
really popular with all of our guests
                                                                                        We organise routes, accommodation, meals and transport leaving you free to
who are learning not just about the       Always popular are our self guided
                                                                                        relax and enjoy your hiking.
mountains and wildlife but all sorts of   hotel to hotel itineraries. We move
things about Spanish culture and          your bags each day, provide maps and
                                                                                        All grades of holiday including dual level
customs.                                  detailed directions.
                                                                                        We have different grades of walking holidays to suit all levels of walkers including
                                          As always, Rosa and Teresa are in the         our popular dual level holidays which offer two walks of different grades each day.
                                          office to help choose and plan your
                                          holiday so if you have any questions at       Local qualified guides
                                          all just drop us an email or give us a call   We have a small team of local Spanish guides that know the area, it’s history and
                                          and we’ll be glad to help.                    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
                                          We’re all looking forward to another          mountains but explain all about the environment that you are walking in.
                                          busy summer of hiking in the Pyrenees
                                          and hope that you will join us,               Small groups
                                          Phil, Anna & the Hike Pyrenees team           Our holidays always are small groups which means that you
                                                                                                                                                          See our full range of
                                                                                        won’t be walking in a long line of hikers. This also gives us
                                                                                                                                                          guided holidays on
                                                                                        the flexibility to tailor the itinerary according to the groups         page 6
                                                                                        needs and is key to us giving you a superb weeks hiking.

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Summer 2020 - Hike Pyrenees
Self-guided walking                                                                    Hotel to hotel itineraries

Perfect if you like to explore the mountains at your own pace. Our self guided         Hiking between small mountain villages, discovering new places each day gives
holidays are designed to you straight to the best hikes in the area and help you       a real sense of journey and our hotel to hotel self guided holidays are amongst
enjoy the Pyrenees on your own with our local knowledge to support you.                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 you’re well
Ordesa National Park or Valle de Tena                                                  supported throughout your stay.
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     Luggage moved each day
- simply choose each morning which hike you’d like to join.                            We move your luggage each day so you just need to walk with a day pack.

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            Detailed, easy to follow route descriptions are provided for every days hiking
chalet and hotels in the Valle de Tena or self catering apartments.                    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         We have itineraries in three areas which have different hiking seasons. The high
information about the wildlife, history and places to visit in the area. One of our    mountains of the Valle de Tena are best during the summer, while our Route of
guides will meet you on arrival and go through all of                                  the Three Kingdoms and Villages of the Guara are
the route options and be around during your stay to Read more about                    perfect during the spring and autumn.                     See our hotel to
                                                             our self guided                                                                      hotel itineraries on
ask further questions.                                     holidays on page 8                                                                            page 9

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Summer 2020 - Hike Pyrenees
Why choose Hike Pyrenees                                                                                                                                               Contents
                                                                                                                                                                       Guided walking holidays             6
                                                                                                                                                                       Self Guided walking holidays        8
Hike Pyrenees are the specialists in
walking holidays in the Spanish                                                                                                                                        Private group holidays             10
Pyrenees.                                                                                                                                                              Family holidays                    11
                                                                                                                                                                       Valle de Tena                      12
The Pyrenees are one of Europe’s best                                                                                                                                  Ordesa National Park               24
kept secrets and combine stunning                                                                                                                                      Spring, autumn, Picos de Europa 34
scenery with great weather. We also                                                                                                                                    The Picos de Europa                42
offer holidays in the Picos de Europa                                                                                                                                  Location                           44
national park.                                                                                                                                                         Accommodation                      46
                                                                                                                                                                       Guided holiday 2020 dates          48
If you’ve been on one of our holidays
                                                                                                                                                                       Booking conditions                 49
before you’ll know the care and                  Friendly personal holidays                              Local, qualified guides
attention we take and the local                  Hike Pyrenees is run by Phil and Anna and our small     All of our guides are fully qualified and hold either
knowledge that we believe makes a                team of guides. We’re a small independent walking       the International Mountain Leader or Spanish
                                                 company that offers friendly and personal holidays.     high mountain guide qualification. We have a            Registered travel agent
Hike Pyrenees holiday so special.
                                                 We’re all passionate about the area and love            team of local Spanish guides, so you learn about        We are a registered, bonded travel agency in Spain
                                                 showing the best the Pyrenees have to offer.            Spanish culture while you are here.                     which means your money is safe when booking
Contacting us                                                                                                                                                    with us and you can book with confidence.
We’re always delighted to answer any questions   Local knowledge                                         Holidays guaranteed to run
that you have about our holidays. We have lots
more information and photos on our website or    Phil and Anna live in the Pyrenees year round, know     Unlike many large tour operators we never cancel        Turismo activo
you can call or email us.                        the area intimately and have sought out the best        holidays due to low numbers so you can reserve          We are also a registered ‘turismo activo’ which
                                                 hotels and villages ensuring you have a superb          your flights with confidence as soon as you book.       means that our insurance, equipment and guides
Website:                                         holiday. We know the region’s history, its legends,                                                             qualifications are checked each year by the
www.hikepyrenees.co.uk                           wildlife and of course all the best walks.              Guests return every year                                government to ensure that everything is up to
                                                                                                                                                                 date and in order.
By phone:                                        Small groups                                            We’re delighted to say many of our guests come
                                                                                                         back to the Pyrenees. We love to see guests again       Along with having qualified guides, this is a legal
UK number: +44 (0)208 123 5049                   We specialise in small group holidays - you won’t be    and it must mean we’re doing something right!           requirement in the Aragonese Pyrenees - make
Spanish number: +34 974 495 401                  trudging along in a long line of people on any of our                                                           sure that any company that you are booking with
                                                 walks.
                                                                                                         Helpful office                                          is a turismo activo.
Email: info@hikepyrenees.co.uk
                                                 Location                                                Our office is always happy to answer any
                                                                                                         questions you have and help with travel
Skype: hikepyrenees                              We’re in the heart of the Pyrenees, surrounded by
                                                                                                         arrangements. We are an official agent for the
                                                 the highest mountains and most spectacular
                                                                                                         train and bus companies and can buy your tickets
                                                 scenery in the range.
                                                                                                         if required.

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Summer 2020 - Hike Pyrenees
Meet the team
Local qualified guides                                   David                                          Juanma
                         We have a small team of         David fell in love the Pyrenees as a           Juanma joined the team last season and
                         local            qualified      teenager and hasn’t stopped exploring          has quickly become a firm favourite
                         experienced guides. You         them since. He’s completed a full traverse     amongst our guests. A former teacher,
                         can be assured that you’ll      of the Pyrenean haute route from the           Juanma learnt his English teaching in
                         be safe on the mountain         Mediterranean to the Atlantic. A qualified     Canada before retraining as a Guia de
                         with them and that their        Guia de Media Montaña, David speaks            Media Montaña. Very knowledgeable
                         experience will enhance         excellent English.                             about the local geology and wildlife.
                         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.
                                                         Phil                                           Arkaitz
                                                         Phil and Anna founded Hike Pyrenees in         A hugely experienced Basque mountain
All of our guides are qualified for the terrain they     2007 and have lived in the Pyrenees since      guide. Arkaitz speaks excellent English and
lead in. This is not only a legal requirement but        then. They’ve two children - Isabel and        joins us on several trips during the season
part of our philosophy of offering a high level of       Christopher - who were both born in            including the Refugio Week. He is a
quality and safety on our holidays.                      Spain. A qualified international mountain      qualified Spanish high mountain guide
                                                         leader, Phil still leads many walks himself    and in the winter works with Curro on the
                                                         and guides cultural trips to Jaca and Ainsa.   Spanish scientific base in Antarctica.
Óscar
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.

                                                         Pablo                                          Rosa & Teresa
                                                         Our expert in the Picos de Europa and the      The ladies who do all the work behind the
                                                         Basque Country. Pablo is not only a            scenes in the office. You’ll speak to Rosa or
                                                         qualified hiking guide but has a wealth of     Teresa while booking your holiday and
                                                         knowledge about the wildlife of Spain -        they are the team who makes sure
                                                         particularly the wonderful bird life of the    everything runs smoothly while we are in
                                                         Iberian peninsular.                            the hills enjoying ourselves!

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Summer 2020 - Hike Pyrenees
Guided holidays                                                                                                                        EARLY SEASON HIKING
Our guided walking holidays make sure you get
                                                          Dual level walking                                                                                   Canyons of Ainsa
the most out of your stay in the Pyrenees. Our
                                                          Our dual level holidays are very popular. On these                                                   Grade
team of qualified guides have a superb knowledge
of the local area. We can take you straight to the        we offer two guided walks each day - a shorter                                                       Explore the eastern side of the Ordesa
most beautiful spots, many of which are off the           option and a longer harder day in the mountains.                                                     National Park hiking in the Pineta
beaten track and often we'll have the mountains                                                                                                                Canyon and Garganta de Escuain. The
                                                          We talk through the walks for the following day in
to ourselves.                                                                                                                                                  beautiful medieval village of Ainsa is
                                                          the evening and each morning you can decide
                                                                                                                                                               our base for this fantastic week.
                                                          which walk you’d like to join.
Small group holidays                                                                                                                                           See page 28
                                                          Dual level holidays are perfect if you’re not sure
Our policy of only taking small groups means you’ll
                                                          which level would suit you best, if you’d like to do
never be in a long line of walkers. It also gives us
                                                          a couple of longer days but don’t want to commit
the flexibility to alter the itinerary according to the
                                                          to a whole week of hard hikes or for couples or
                                                                                                                                                               Mar & Montaña
groups needs and is key to us giving you a fantastic                                                                                                           Grade
                                                          friends that walk at differing levels.
week of walking.
                                                                                                                                                               Perfect early season hiking weather in
                                                          Our Valle de Tena Explorer (page 16), Discover                                                       this undiscovered region of Spain. First
Walking grades                                            Ordesa (page 26) and Picos de Europa (page 40)                                                       we’ll explore the mountains of Beceite
We offer four grades of walking holidays with             holidays offer dual level walking.                                                                   followed by two days coastal hiking
itineraries to suit all levels of walkers.                                                                                                                     along the Mediterranean.
                                                                                                                                                               See page 36

Grade 1: Relaxed                                          Grade 2: Moderate                                      Grade 3: Strenuous                                    Grade 4: Challenging

Walks: 5-7 hours                                          Walks: 6-8 hours                                       Walks: 7-10 hours                                     Walks: 7-10 hours
Ascent: 300-600 metres                                    Ascent: 450-750 metres                                 Ascent: 700-1000 metres                               Ascent: 700-1500 metres
Paths: Good paths, not steep                              Paths: Good paths with some steeper sections           Paths: Rocky, steeper paths                           Paths: Steep!

Walks are at a relaxed pace (we’re big fans of two        Walks are still at a relaxed pace and on good paths    For those that like long days in the high             Tough overnight hikes staying in mountain huts
lunch breaks!) and there’s plenty of time to take in      however we tackle some steeper sections. The           mountains. These routes are steep in places and       (refugios). These routes take you into high
the scenery around you. Paths are good and not            ascents are a bit longer and we’ll take in some        we venture into much rockier and rougher terrain.     mountain terrain on steep rocky paths. Although
too steep.                                                summits.                                               Some routes have sections of easy scrambling.         the days are not much longer than grade 3 we are
                                                                                                                                                                       in more remote terrain for several days at a time.
We’ll pass through areas with superb flora. If            Again this grade of walking should be fine for any     A good level of fitness and some previous hiking
you’re a fairly fit and active person who does a bit      reasonably fit and active person.                      experience is required for these hikes.               A good level of fitness and previous hiking
of hiking these walks should be fine for you.                                                                                                                          experience is essential for these hikes.

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Summer 2020 - Hike Pyrenees
We take care of everything
With our guided walking holidays we look after
everything, meaning that you can just relax and
                                                      DUAL LEVEL HOLIDAYS
enjoy the walking, scenery and your holiday.

The day starts with a choice of cooked or                        Valle de Tena Explorer                    Discover Ordesa
continental breakfast. A generous picnic lunch                   Dual Grade                                Dual Grade
(with delicious cake!) is provided. After each walk              Either explore the beautiful alpine       Discover the spectacular Ordesa
we have a briefing (usually over a cold beer) where              meadows of the Valle de Tena or tackle    National Park and its kilometre deep
we discuss the following days route.                             some of the challenging peaks in the      canyons. Dramatic scenery, the
                                                                 area. Stunning scenery and fantastic      highlight being a walk along the rim of
Transfers are provided to and from Zaragoza
                                                                 hotel with pool and sauna.                the canyon.
airport or train station on Sundays either to meet
the Ryan Air flight from Stansted or the train from              See page 16                               See page 26
Barcelona or Madrid.

 THE PICOS                                            SINGLE LEVEL HOLIDAYS
                                                                 Lakes & Valleys                           Riglos & Alquézar
                                                                 Grade                                     Grade
                                                                 Relaxed walking in the Valle de Tena.     Hike amongst the towering cliffs of
                                                                 Walk through beautiful alpine             Riglos and the canyons of Alquézar. A
                                                                 meadows with peaks towering above.        two centre holiday in the Pre-Pyrenees
                                                                 Perfect for wild flower enthusiasts and   where the weather is perfect for hiking
                                                                 nature lovers.                            in April and May.
                                                                 See page 18                               See page 38

   Picos de Europa
   Grade
                                                                 Peaks & Passes                            Refugio Week
                                                                 Grade                                     Grade
   On the northern coast of Spain the Picos de
   Europa is a stunning limestone massif. This                   Challenging hiking tackling some of the   Hike one of the best sections of the
   two centre, dual level holiday explores                       best trails and peaks in the Pyrenees.    GR11 and summit Monte Perdido in the
   both the southern and northern sides of                       Rugged terrain, tough days but views      centre of the Ordesa National Park.
   the park showing you all of the highlights.                   that make the effort worthwhile! Based    Demanding hiking in rugged high
                                                                 in the Valle de Tena                      mountain terrain.
   See page 42
                                                                 See page 20                               See page 30

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Summer 2020 - Hike Pyrenees
Self guided holidays
Our self guided walking holidays are                   We always give you a briefing on
designed to help you enjoy the                         arrival to talk through the weather,
Pyrenees on your own and get straight                  route options and logistics. During
to the best hikes in the area.                         your stay we are on hand to answer                          For our Village to Village in the Valle de Tena
                                                       any questions you have.                                     we even have our own map printed with the
We’ve both hotel to hotel itineraries                                                                              route marked and elevation profiles
and single centre self guided holidays.

Easy to follow route cards
Our route cards mean you don’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
 Distance, ascent and
                                                                                                                                                                                              map for the valley
 estimated time for the route
 (in km and miles!)

 Elevation profile

 Driving directions to
 start of the route and
 detailed walking
 directions

                                                                                                                                                                     Route clearly marked with markers to help
                                                                                                                                      Contact details in case of
                                                                Optional side trips                                                                                  track where you are
                                                                                                                                      emergencies

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Summer 2020 - Hike Pyrenees
Village to Village - Valle de Tena
Hotel to hotel hiking                                                                                           Grade
                                                                                                                Wonderful hiking between the villages of the Valle de
                                                                                                                Tena. Spectacular scenery, beautiful hotels and a choice
Hiking between small villages,                           Mountain villages                                      of two walks each day - an easier and a harder option.
discovering new places each day gives                    Our routes stay in medieval mountain villages          The highest elevation of our hotel to hotel hikes and the
a real sense of journey and our hotel to                 nestled under the mountains. All are full of           best option for mid summer holidays.
hotel self guided holidays are amongst                   character with lots of stone buildings and winding     See page 14
                                                         alleys to explore.
our most popular.
On our hotel to hotel holidays we take
                                                         Routes for any time of year                            The Passes of Beceite
                                                         Spain is blessed with a climate where there are
care of everything for you so you can                    great hiking locations and weather at any time of
                                                                                                                Grade
concentrate on the hiking and                            year. We’ve a variety of routes that suit different    A circular route hiking through Aragon, Valencia and
                                                                                                                Catalonia in the massif of the Dels Ports Natural Park.
enjoying your time in the mountains.                     times of the year with our Villages of the Guara and
                                                                                                                Mountainous hikes with views down to the sea. As this
                                                         Passes of Beceite holidays fantastic for spring and
                                                         autumn hiking.                                         is itinerary is further south it’s perfect for year round
Luggage moved each day                                                                                          hiking.
We move your luggage each day so you only need           Wonderful hotels                                       See page 40
to walk with a day pack. Pack lunches are provided
every hiking day.                                        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   Villages of the Guara
Briefings and support                                    you can really get away from it all and slightly       Grade
On arrival you’ll have a briefing about the week         bigger medieval villages with bars and restaurants.    Fantastic hotel to hotel hiking amongst the
ahead giving you a chance to ask any questions
                                                         All hotels have lovely rooms and each have en-         undiscovered villages of the Sierra de Guara natural park.
that you have. Our guides are always available
                                                         suite bathrooms and free wi-fi.                        A beautifully remote region criss-crossed by deep
during the week if you need any advice.
                                                                                                                limestone canyons. Luggage transferred each day.
Although self guided, we are always around to                                                                   Superb weather for spring and autumn hiking.
                                                         “We spent a month in Spain and
help if required and you’ll have a local English                                                                See page 41
speaking contact who knows the area and paths            this week of self guided walks
like the back of their hand - you won’t just be given    was our highlight. Phil and the
an anonymous phone number in a head office!                                                                     Single Centre:
                                                         team do a terrific job making
Choice of hikes                                          sure everything is well organised.                     Ordesa or Valle de Tena
Many of our hotel to hotel holidays have a choice        They even arranged perfect                             Stay at a single base for the week taking day hikes in the
of two routes each day - an easier and a harder          weather and new friends along                          area. Choice of bases and hotels in either the Valle de
option. Our Village to Village hike in the Valle de                                                             Tena or Ordesa with hotel or self catering options.
Tena is particularly good for this. On our other         the way.”                                              There’s a huge choice of routes in all of our self guided
holidays there is usually the option of getting a        Phil & Jacqui, Village to Village,                     hiking locations.
taxi/lift at the start of the day to shorten the hike.                                                          See page 22
                                                         September 2019

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Summer 2020 - Hike Pyrenees
Private group holidays
- Tailor made itineraries for                        Tailor made itineraries
  groups from just 6 people                          We’ll put together the perfect holiday for your
                                                     group. Holidays range from gentle walks with a
- Group discounts                                    focus on nature or history to hut to hut routes in
                                                     the high mountains. We cater for groups from just
- Flexible dates                                     six people up to a coach load and all our holidays
                                                     are friendly and personal.
- Hassle free for the organiser
                                                     Leave it to us
                                                     We’ll take all the hassle out of organising your
Organising a holiday for your walking                group holiday leaving the holiday organiser time
club, a group of friends or a corporate              to enjoy themselves too! We arrange your transfers
event? Look no further than our private              and accommodation. Breakfast and three course
group walking holidays. Superb                       evening meals are taken at the hotel and we
                                                     provide generous picnic lunches.
scenery, fantastic hotels and tailor
made itineraries with walking options                Choice of locations
for all levels of energy and experience.             Choose between the high mountains of the
                                                     central Pyrenees, the gorges and cliffs of the Pre-
For groups of six or more we can tailor make an      Pyrenees or routes along the Basque coastline
itinerary that suits you perfectly and offer group   where your group can also enjoy the tapas and
discounts, flexible dates, a choice of hotels and    culture of San Sebastian - Spain’s chicest beach
walking options of all grades.                       resort.                                               Start planning today                                  “Hike Pyrenees provided an
                                                                                                           To begin organising your walking holiday give us a    excellent, good value for money
                                                     Flexible dates                                        call on +44 (0)208 123 5049 or drop us an email       group walking holiday. Phil was
                                                     Choose dates to suit your group - if you’ve only      and we can discuss your requirements.
                                                     time for a long weekend that’s no problem                                                                   an excellent, hard working host
                                                                                                           We just need to have a rough idea of numbers,
                                                     although to properly discover an area as diverse as
                                                                                                           when you’d like to come and the level of hikes that   and he provided many extras
                                                     the Pyrenees a week (or more!) is recommended.
                                                                                                           you are looking for and we’ll put together an         such a wine tasting, historical
                                                                                                           itinerary for your group to consider.
                                                     Private guiding                                                                                             talks, etc. The guides were all
                                                     If you are a couple and would like private guiding                                                          knowledgeable and very
                                                     let us know. A perfect option for more technical                                                            professional.” Derek, Loddon
                                                     peaks or for couples that would like their own
                                                     personalised experience in the Pyrenees.                                                                    Valley Ramblers, June 2018

 10
Family holidays                                                                                                                     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
- Tailor-made family holidays                           Activities                                                                  like. To start planning your trip just email us and let us
                                                        We’ve a huge choice of activities in the area and                           know the ages of your children, the kind of activities
- Walking and activities                                most are adaptable for any age or physical ability.                         you’d like and we’ll put together an itinerary for you.
                                                        These are just some of the activities available - for                       Full details online
- Overnight in a mountain hut                           a full list look online.

- Self catering or 4* hotel with pool                   Canyoning
                                                        Don wetsuit, helmet and harness then jump into
Take your family on a Pyrenean                          rock pools, abseil down waterfalls and slide down
                                                        natural rock slides - all while descending down a
                                                                                                                                    Family Village to Village
adventure. Spend a night in a                           beautiful narrow rocky gorge.                                               A family version of our Village to Village holiday. Self
mountain hut, kayak around a                                                                                                        guided hiking between the villages of the Valle de Tena
mountain lake, go mountain biking or                    Zip line                                                                    with the option to either hike each day or add in a few
                                                        Fly high over a lake, reaching speeds of up to 90km                         activities along the route such as kayaking, canyoning or
make a splash canyoning. We                             an hour on one of the longest double zip lines in                           a night in a mountain hut. Spectacular scenery and
guarantee that everyone will have a                     Europe. Nearly one kilometre long.                                          beautiful hotels.
fun filled time! We can put together                                                                                                Full details online
                                                        Biescas Aventura - high ropes course
the perfect itinerary for your family                   An assault course in the trees. Use zip lines, rope
with hiking, activities or a mix of both.               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      The Valle de Tena has a fantastic network of                                Stay a night high in the mountains in a refugio. A brilliant
and specialist equipment provided. Your safety is       mountain bike trails. Everything from relaxed                               adventure for the kids and one they’ll remember for a
always our primary concern and you can be certain       routes on 4x4 tracks to steep descents along                                lifetime. The hike up passes by beautiful mountain lakes.
that our experienced guides will keep you safe          technical single track. Option to hire electric bikes                       The following day you’ll pass over a high summit before
leaving you to just enjoy yourselves.                   which are a godsend on the uphills!                                         descending. Our guides all have lots of experience
                                                                                                                                    leading children and will give them a great time.
                                                        Kayaking or paddle surf
Tailor made itineraries                                 Take a kayak (singles, doubles or triples available)                        Full details online
We’ll put together the perfect itinerary for your       or paddle board and explore the Lanuza reservoir
family or group of friends with activities pitched at   surrounded by high peaks. Beautifully scenic.
just the right level. You family will be guaranteed a
fun filled adventure! There is a choice of hotel or     Via Ferrata
self catering accommodation. We have beautiful          Scale a high cliff using ladders and metal pitons
rural wooden chalets set in fields with spectacular     hammered into the rock. Follow this by an airy log      VIEW DETAILS OF ALL OUR FAMILY HOLIDAYS ONLINE
views, a pool and plenty of space for the kids to       crossing over the top of a eighty metre high
play.                                                   waterfall. All in all an adrenaline packed day!

                                                                                                                                                                                           11
Valle de Tena
From its alpine meadows to its rocky                   Alpine meadows
three thousand metre peaks the Valle                   Wide flower-filled meadows lie under impressive
de Tena has walks to suit everyone.                    cliffs and are perfect for walkers who prefer gentler
Whether you like valley walks with                     days without forsaking wonderful scenery and
                                                       views.
waterfalls or spiky summits with
scrambles to the top the Valle de Tena                 Great walks follow bubbling mountain streams
                                                       with waterfalls cascading down the sides of the
has it all.                                            valleys, others lead to mountain lakes or through
                                                       wonderful beech and silver fir woods.
Deep wooded valleys with streams
and waterfalls give way to bare rocky                  Challenging peaks
high mountain scenery as you climb                     One of the reasons we love the Valle de Tena is the
towards the summits.                                   huge choice of peaks it offers to day hikers. There
                                                       are dozens of peaks between two and three
The valley stretches twenty kilometres from the        thousand metres all with fantastic views.
cliffs of the Sierra de Partacua and Tendeñera north
to the French border and is flanked by numerous        These hikes range from fairly gentle 5 or 6 hour
peaks on each side. Several deep sided valleys         round trips to some really big ascents up three
mean you’ll discover new views with each corner        thousand metre peaks and into wild high                 Biescas - lively village                                Sallent de Gállego
                                                       mountain scenery.
you turn.                                                                                                      At the southern end of the Valle de Tena, Biescas is    Scenic mountain village
                                                                                                               perfectly positioned to reach several excellent and
Traditional mountain villages with stone houses        The pointy summit of Pico Anayet is one of our                                                                  Nestled under the high peak of Foratata, Sallent de
                                                                                                               diverse walking areas including the Valle de Tena
and winding streets are nestled amongst the            favourites. It looks impossible when you first see it                                                           Gállego is everything you imagine a mountain
                                                                                                               and the Ordesa Valley.
mountains and our Village to Village self guided       but an ingenious path - helped by a chain across                                                                village to be. As you wander through its maze of
holiday stays in some beautiful tranquil spots.        one section - guides you quickly to the top for         Biescas makes a great base if you’d like to do a mix    narrow streets you get constant views of the
                                                       birds eye views across the valley.                      of walking during your week - a few higher peaks        mountains that surround you. With its twelfth
                                                                                                               up the valley, some gentler walks between semi-         century church and old stone houses Sallent de
                                                                                                               abandoned villages with Romanesque churches             Gállego is very picturesque.
                                                                                                               and a day over in the Ordesa Valley. It’s also an
     1                                                                                                         excellent option early or late in the season as there   There are several excellent walks that leave
                                                                                                               are excellent hikes south of Biescas which stay dry     straight from the hotel. Although there are several
                                                                                                               if the weather’s not so great further up the valley.    good shorter walks in the area, Sallent de Gállego
     2                 4
                                                                                                                                                                       comes into its own for walkers who want to
                                                                                                               At the heart of the village is the plaza - the centre   summit some of the higher peaks in the valley with
     3                                                                                                         of every Spanish village. Surrounding the plaza are     lots of superb challenging routes on its doorstep.
                                                                                                               several bars, cafes and restaurants. There are a few
                                                                                                               shops and all of the amenities you’ll need.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                   13
Village to Village
- 7 night self guided holiday                        Two route choices each day
                                                     Each day there are two route choices - a longer
- 2 walking options each day                         and a shorter option. The routes get well out of the
                                                     valley floor and into the mountains - particularly
- Luggage moved every day                            the high level routes where you reach some
                                                     rugged high mountain terrain.
- Mountain hotels and villages
                                                     The walks cover a reasonable distance with 11km
Hotel to hotel walking along the                     to 14km walked each day on the easier options
                                                     and up to 20km on the longer routes. The routes
length of the Valle de Tena, staying at              are on good paths and the only steep ascents are
different villages during the week. We               on the harder options.
transport your luggage each day
meaning you just have to walk with a                 Trail notes and GPS hire
small daypack.                                       Detailed maps and route cards are provided for
                                                     both options each day. On the first evening you’ll
A wonderful route with fantastic views throughout    have a briefing to talk you through the routes,
the week and a real sense of journey as you head     options, weather and answer any questions that
up the valley. You’ll stay at traditional Pyrenean   you have. If you’re worried about navigation you
                                                                                                                                                                   It has wonderful views, an excellent restaurant and
villages with narrow winding streets and stone       can hire a GPS which has all the maps and tracks       Accommodation                                          a spa where you can relax with vistas over the
houses centred around medieval churches.             marked making navigation a breeze.                     Hotels are superb throughout the week, in              mountains (additional charge for use of spa).
                                                                                                            particular the hotels in Sallent de Gállego and
                                                     Spend a night in a refugio                             Sandiniés are full of character. Rooms are en-suite
                                                                                                            throughout the week.
                                                                                                                                                                   Hotel Tierra de Biescas
                                                     Refugio Respomuso is a high mountain hut set                                                                  Your base for the first and final nights. Excellent 4*
                                                     in spectacular scenery. Spend a night high in the                                                             hotel with outdoor pool and sauna. See page 46
                                                     mountains and wake up to wonderful scenery.
                                                                                                            Hotel Almud (Sallent)                                  for more details.
                                                                                                            Charming hotel in the centre of the picturesque
                                                     The hike up to the hut passes by Ibones de Arriel      village of Sallent de Gállego. Fantastically
                                                     - a set of beautiful high mountain lakes. On your      decorated with a lovely lounge and breakfast area
                                                                                                                                                                   Hotel Casa Morlans
                                                     return you can go via the high peak of Musales         and 11 beautifully furnished rooms. Evening meals      Family run hotel in the centre of the village. It’s a
                                                     which at 2654 metres has incredible views from         are taken at restaurant one minute walk from           friendly, comfortable hotel and makes an ideal
                                                     the summit.                                            hotel. See page 46 for more details.                   base for walking holidays. Two star hotel with 25
                                                                                                                                                                   rooms. Rooms at the back of the hotel have
                                                     Add a night in Refugio Respomuso to your                                                                      balconies with mountain views. All rooms have
                                                     Village to Village holiday and enjoy a taste of the    El Privilegio (Tramacastilla)                          en-suite bathrooms.
                                                     high mountains.                                        This beautiful 4* hotel is built using the walls and
                                                                                                            foundations of an old abbey dating back to 1470.

 14
VILLAGE TO VILLAGE
Itinerary                                                                                                                                                              SELF GUIDED
Day 1
                                                                                                                                                                       2020 Dates
                                                                                                                                                                       The Village to Village holiday is available all
Biescas                                                                                                                                                                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,                                                                                                                      Price
going over the route and answering any questions.                                                                                                                      Party size               2 or 3 4 or more
                                                                                                                                                                       24 May - 16 July        1099 € 1049 €
Day 2
                                                                                                                                                                       17 July - 12 Sep        1199 € 1099 €
Biescas to Panticosa                                                                                                                                                   13 Sep - 11 Oct         1099 € 1049 €
Heading north you pass under the cliffs of the                                                                                                                         Prices are per person and based on two sharing
Sierra de Tendeñera and see the valley open up                                                                                                                         Single room supplement: 129 €
before you. The route’s full of history as you pass a                                                                                                                  Junior suite upgrade 2 nights in Biescas 50 € pp
dolmen, the scenic church of Santa Elena and                                                                   Day 6
bunkers built by Franco to defend against invasion
through the Pyrenees. Option of a lift to shortening
                                                        Day 4                                                  Sallent to Tramacastilla                                Accommodation
the day by 7km. Night at Hotel Casa Morlans.            Panticosa to Sallent                                   Cross to the western side of the valley and begin       2 nights Hotel Tierra de Biescas
Distance : 20km, ascent: 750m                                                                                  heading south. Optional side trips to two summits       2 nights Hotel Casa Morlans (Panticosa)
                                                        Continuing into the northern half of the valley you                                                            2 nights Hotel Almud (Sallent de Gállego)
Distance (with lift to Santa Elena): 13km, 600m         have the option of an easier half day’s walk around    including Punta del Pacino (1965m) for panoramic
                                                                                                               views across the valley. Spend the night in the tiny    1 night Hotel El Privilegio (Tramacastilla de Tena)
                                                        the Embalse de Lanuza and spending an afternoon
Day 3                                                                                                          village of Tramacastilla at Hotel El Privilegio.
                                                        in picturesque Sallent. Alternatively climb steeply                                                            Included meals
Day hike from Panticosa                                 to the viewpoint of La Cucuraza for birds eye view     Distance: 16km, ascent: 700m
                                                                                                                                                                       7 x Three course evening meals
                                                        back down to Panticosa and then across the whole       With side trips to summits: 18km, ascent 1000m
Choice of two circular routes. The shorter option                                                                                                                      7 x Breakfasts
passes through lovely woodland into the                 valley. Night at Hotel Almud.
                                                                                                               Day 7                                                   2 x Picnic lunches (on first and final day)
meadows of the Valle la Ripera. Longer option           Shorter option: distance: 11km, ascent: 200m
crosses a 2000 metre col, under the 700 metre           Longer option: distance: 15km, ascent: 800m            Tramacastilla to Piedrafita                             Self Guided Walking
high cliffs of the Tendeñera. Night at Casa Morlans.                                                           One route passes through the woods of Betato            Walking is self guided and detailed route
                                                        Day 5
Shorter option: distance: 12km, ascent: 530m                                                                   before climbing to the lake of Ibón de Piedrafita       descriptions are provided for each day´s walk.
Longer option: distance: 19.5km, ascent: 1100m          Walk from Sallent                                      nestled under the vast cliffs of the Sierra de
                                                        Spectacular hiking along the Rio Aguas Limpias -       Partacua. The longer route takes a longer track         Transfers
“If you are looking for time in nature’s                the river of clean water. Pass waterfalls and gorges   through higher meadows to the lake. Both finish at      Transfers NOT included. Transfers to/from
beauty and be free of all your travel                   to a meadow high in a steep sided valley. The          the village of Piedrafita where you’ll be picked up     Zaragoza airport or train station available:
details – Hike Pyrenees is the company                  harder option continues to a set of high mountain      for a short transfer back to Hotel Tierra de Biescas.   99€ return per person - standard Sunday transfer
                                                        lakes set amongst spectacular mountain scenery.        Shorter option: 14km, ascent 500m                       200€ one way for private transfer on any day
to hire. You will enjoy delicious meals,
                                                        An even harder option takes in the peak of             Longer option: 20km, ascent 650m
friendly hospitality with everything
taken care of for you.”
                                                        Musales. Second night at Hotel Almud.
                                                                                                               Day 8
                                                                                                                                                                       Not included
                                                        Shorter option: distance: 12km, ascent: 450m                                                                   Flights and insurance. Transfers. Drinks with
Barrie & Russ, Village to Village,                                                                             Final morning spent in Biescas before departing for
                                                        Longer option: distance: 21km, ascent: 900m                                                                    evening meal.
                                                                                                               your onward journey.
July 2019                                               Extra hard option: distance: 23km, ascent: 1350m

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     15
Valle de Tena Explorer
- 7 night guided walking holiday         Choice of 2 walks each day
                                         Each day there will be two walks on offer. Simply
- Choice of two walks each day           decide which walk you’d like to join each morning.

- Dual level: grade 1 & grade 3          The easier walks explore the beautiful meadows of
                                         the valley which have spectacular flora. Some
- 4* hotel with pool and sauna           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
With alpine meadows and mountain         relaxed pace with plenty of time to enjoy the
lakes lying beneath spectacular peaks    views. The paths are good and aren’t steep. Each
the Valle de Tena is a perfect walking   day we’ll be walking between 5 to 7 hours.
destination for walkers of all levels.   The higher level hikes reach some of the fantastic
                                         summits in the area. These will be longer days in
Our Valle de Tena Explorer holiday       high mountain terrain which will be rewarded
                                         with spectacular panoramic views. These are
offers two walking options each day -
                                         grade 3 hikes of between 7 to 10 hours. There will
a lower level and a higher level walk.   be up to 1000m of ascent each day on fairly steep
Choose which walk you’d like to join     paths. On some days there will be some short
each morning.                            sections of scrambling.

                                                                                                    4* Hotel Tierra de Biescas
                                         Tiki’s Restaurant                                          Accommodation will be at the lovely 4* Hotel
                                         So that you can try the local dishes, evening              Tierra de Biescas located in the centre of the
                                         meals are taken at village restaurants. They are all       village of Biescas.                                 “Memories are made doing
                                         close to the hotel and have excellent                                                                          amazing things with great
                                                                                                    It makes a perfect place to relax after a day´s
                                         atmosphere and you’ll try two or three different
                                                                                                    walking with an outdoor and indoor swimming         people. Thanks for the wonderful
                                         restaurants during the week - each with different
                                                                                                    pool and sauna.
                                         styles. It’s a great way to mix with the locals and                                                            memories”.
                                         discover more about the Pyrenees.                          Breakfast is served at the hotel´s restaurant.
                                                                                                                                                        Maggie & Scott, Valle de Tena
                                         One of our favourites spots Tiki’s, a lovely               The evening meals will be taken in different
                                         restaurant with great meat and fish dishes. Run            restaurants of the village. On the final evening    Explorer, July 2019
                                         by the ever friendly Miguel who will look after            we’ll have a special meal at El Montañés which is
                                         you splendidly during your stay.                           recognised as the best restaurant in the area.

                                                                                                    See page 46 for more hotel information.

 16
VALLE DE TENA EXPLORER
Itinerary                                                                                                                                                          GUIDED WALKING
This sample itinerary shows the low and high level
                                                                                                                                                                   Dual 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
A beautiful lake nestled in meadows under the
                                                                                                                                                                   Sunday 19 - 26 July
cliffs of the Sierra de Partacua. A gentle climb
                                                                                                                                                                   Sunday 26 July - 2 August
through woodland for views across the valley.
                                                                                                                                                                   Sunday 6 - 13 September
                                                                                                                                                                   Sunday 20 - 27 September
Punta del Pacino (1965m)
A beautiful ascent to the peak of Punta del Pacino.                                                                                                                Price
Its position at the centre of the valley gives                                                                                                                     1299 € per person (based on two sharing)
fabulous panoramic views of the valley.               Montaña del Verde                                      Pic d’Ayous (2288m)                                   99 € Single supplement
                                                      Walking under the cliffs of Sierra de Tendeñera to     First passing the Lacs d'Ayous we then continue to    175 € per person - upgrade to junior suite
Tuesday
                                                      a wonderful summit viewpoint before passing the        climb to the peak of the same name. Spectacular
Valle de Aguas Limpias                                lake of Ibón de Sabocos on the way down.               views down to the lakes below, across to Midi         Accommodation
From the medieval village of Sallent de Gállego we                                                           d’Ossau and                                           7 nights in 4* Hotel Tierra de Biescas
follow the Rio Aguas Limpias (river of clean water)   Thursday
                                                                                                             Saturday                                              Included
through woods and meadows.                            Rest day
                                                      Spend a day in Biescas exploring the village, taking
                                                                                                             Ibones de Anayet                                      3 course evening meals (exc. rest day)
                                                                                                                                                                   Breakfast each day. Picnics on walking days
Ibones de Arriel                                      a short walk or relaxing around the pool. Evening      Ibon de Anayet is beautifully set on a high peat
                                                                                                                                                                   Transfers to and from Zaragoza airport or station
Passing through meadows and woodland we               guided visit to the historical town of Jaca - the      meadow, surrounded by red rocked mountains
climb to a series of beautiful high mountain lakes    original capital of Aragon - for vino and tapas.       and views to the north of Pic du Midi d’Ossau.        Dual level walking
set in a rocky circque and surrounded by steep                                                                                                                     5 days guided walking with 2 options each day.
granite peaks.                                        Friday                                                 Pico Anayet (2545m)                                   Walks: Lower level - 5 to 7 hours each day
Wednesday
                                                      Lacs d'Ayous                                           This steep and exciting peak is reached by a                 Higher level - 6 to 9 hours each day
                                                      Today we head to the French side for a hike to the     scramble and passing over a section of chains - a     Ascents: Lower level - 300m to 600m
Valle la Ripera                                       high mountain Lacs Ayous which have stunning           good head for heights required!                                Higher level - 700m to 1200m
                                                      views of Pic du Midi d’Ossau and great wildflowers.
The meadows of the valley are an excellent place
to spot marmots. The valley ends in a towering
                                                                                                             Sunday                                                Not included
                                                                                                             Free time in Biescas before leaving for Zaragoza,     Flights, insurance, drinks with evening meal,
headwall rising to the peaks above.
                                                                                                             we drop off at either the train station or airport.   lunch and evening meal on rest day.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                17
Lakes & Valleys
- 7 night guided walking holiday         Relaxed walking
                                         This is a week of relaxed walks with the emphasis
- Grade 1 - relaxed walking              on finding quiet beautiful spots with breathtaking
                                         scenery, rather than scaling high peaks. Therefore
- Superb mountain scenery                the walks will not be overly strenuous and suitable
                                         for anyone with a reasonable level of fitness.
- 2* family-run Hotel Almud
                                         Our qualified guides are knowledgeable about the
                                         local area and in particular the flora and birdlife
The Pyrenees are full of beautiful       you’ll see while out in the mountains.
mountain lakes and green valleys. Our
                                         The holiday is ideal for nature lovers with walks
Lakes & Valleys holidays are ideal for   passing through meadows full of orchids, gentians
those that prefer more relaxed days in   and alpine flora - particularly in early summer.
the mountains.                           A number of the walks will pass through sites of
                                         historic interest such as the 10th century
You’ll discover stunning secluded        monastery of San Juan de la Peña. On the rest day
spots and meadows full of flowers as     we’ll visit Jaca, the ancient capital of Aragon, for a
we show you some of the hidden           guided tour and an evening of tapas and vino.
treasures of the Pyrenees.
                                                                                                  Charming mountain hotel
                                                                                                  You’ll stay at Hotel Almud - a wonderful stone
                                         Marmots                                                  building set in the winding streets of Sallent de      “Phil, Juanma and David are
                                         The Pyrenees are a great place to see marmots.           Gállego. María José is your host in this friendly
                                         Marmots became extinct in the Pyrenees around
                                                                                                                                                         excellent guides. Their combined
                                                                                                  family-run hotel with just 11 rooms.
                                         the end of the last ice age about twelve                                                                        knowledge of local flora and
                                         thousand years ago.                                      The hotel is fantastically decorated throughout
                                                                                                  with the bedrooms beautifully converted all with
                                                                                                                                                         fauna,      geography,    history,
                                         They were reintroduced in 1948 as a food source          en-suite bathrooms and mountain views. There is        geology and myths and legends
                                         for golden eagles by French hunters - the eagles         a living room and reading area with sofas and a
                                         were taking too many chamois.
                                                                                                                                                         is highly impressive”.
                                                                                                  stone fireplace where you can relax.
                                         With a lack of natural predators the population          Breakfasts are taken at the hotel. Evening meals are
                                                                                                                                                         Lydia,
                                         has exploded to over 10,000 from an initial              taken at Casa Rural Valle de Tena which is just 150    Lakes &Valleys, September 2019
                                         release of just 400.                                     metres from the hotel and has an excellent menu
                                                                                                  with many local dishes.

 18
LAKES & VALLEYS
Itinerary                                                                                                                                                            GUIDED WALKING
                                                                                                                                                                     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                                                                                                                   2020 Dates
depend on the weather and what the group                                                                                                                             Sunday 30 August - 6 September
would like to achieve.                                                                                                                                               Sunday 27 September - 4 October
Sunday                                                                                                                                                               Price
Biescas                                                                                                                                                              1299 € per person (based on two sharing)
Arrive in Biescas from Zaragoza late evening. Short                                                                                                                  129 € Single supplement
briefing over your evening meal.

Monday                                                                                                                                                               Accommodation
Ibon de Piedrafita                                                                                                                                                   7 nights in Hotel Almud
Nestled in meadows under the cliffs of the Sierra                                                                                                                    Included meals
de Partacua lies the Ibon de Piedrafita. A gentle
                                                                                                                                                                     3 course evening meals (exc. rest day)
climb takes us out of the woodland for superb
                                                                                                                                                                     Breakfast buffet each morning
views across the Valle de Tena.
                                                                                                                                                                     Picnic lunches on walking days
Tuesday
                                                       Thursday                                                Saturday                                              Guided Walking - Grade 1
San Juan de la Peña                                    Rest day                                                Punta del Pacino                                      5 days fully guided walking.
The cliffs around San Juan de la Peña are home to                                                                                                                    Walks are 5 to 7 hours each day.
                                                       Spend a day in Biescas exploring the old town, take     A beautiful ascent through woodland and
colonies of griffon vultures. We get close up views                                                                                                                  Daily ascents are between 350m to 600m on
                                                       a short walk or relax around the hotel’s pool. In the   meadows to the peak of Punta del Pacino. Its
of these huge birds while enjoying superb vistas                                                                                                                     good paths that are not steep.
                                                       evening we’ll visit the local town of Jaca for vino     position at the centre of the valley gives fabulous
across the Pyrenees.                                                                                                                                                 Walks are at a relaxed pace.
                                                       and tapas.                                              panoramic views of the Valle De Tena and
Wednesday                                                                                                      surrounding peaks. On the final evening we’ll go      Included Transfers
                                                       Friday                                                  out for a wonderful meal at El Montañès restaurant.
Valle de Ordesa                                        Villages of the Serrablo
                                                                                                                                                                     To and from Zaragoza airport or train station on
                                                                                                               Sunday                                                Sundays.
The sheer cliffs of the Valle de Ordesa are an
                                                       A walk linking the medieval villages of the             Free morning in Biescas before leaving early
undisputable highlight of the Pyrenees. Following
                                                       Serrablo. These pretty villages are famous for their    afternoon to catch the flight from Zaragoza.
                                                                                                                                                                     Not included
the Río Arazas we pass waterfalls before the                                                                                                                         Flights, insurance, drinks with evening meal,
woodland gives way to spectacular views of the         11th century romanesque churches. Lunch at the
                                                       now abandoned village of Susín whose last                                                                     lunch and evening meal on rest day.
surrounding cliffs.
                                                       inhabitant sadly died recently.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                19
Peaks & Passes
- 7 night guided walking holiday          Strenuous hiking
                                          We visit some superb rocky peaks during the week
- Grade 3: Strenuous hiking               with panoramic views for miles around. If you like
                                          high mountain scenery and long days in the hills
- Spectacular summit hikes                this is the holiday for you.

- Charming mountain hotel                 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
A superb week of challenging hiking       you should be capable of ascents of over one
on some of the best trails and peaks in   thousand metres.
the Pyrenees. We’ll scale fantastic       However we remember you are on holiday and
summits each day with spectacular         one or two days will feature slightly less strenuous
views and venture into the rugged,        hikes.
rocky wilderness of the high Pyrenees.    Paths are generally good but there will be some
                                          exposed sections and some easy scrambling and
The holiday is based at Sallent de        sure-footedness is required. Each day we’ll walk
Gállego - a beautiful village nestled     between seven to ten hours.
amongst the high peaks.                                                                          Charming mountain hotel                                “Hike Pyrenees have all the right
                                                                                                 You’ll stay at Hotel Almud - a wonderful stone         ingredients for a great walking
                                                                                                 building set in the winding streets of Sallent de
                                                                                                                                                        holiday. Their leaders know flora
                                          An ancient volcano                                     Gállego. Marie-Jose is your host in this friendly
                                          Pico Anayet is a spectacular pointy peak and
                                                                                                 family-run hotel with just 11 rooms.                   and fauna, geology and history
                                          initially looks pretty formidable. However with        The hotel is fantastically decorated throughout        as well as the routes up and
                                          the help of some chains and a bit of scrambling        with the bedrooms beautifully converted all with       around the many mountains in
                                          you soon gain the summit for birds-eye views.          en-suite bathrooms and mountain views.
                                                                                                                                                        this area. This is a friendly and
                                          The mountain is an ancient volcano - one of            There is a living room and reading area with sofas     happy outfit that is committed to
                                          several in the area including Pic du Midi d’Ossau.     and a stone fireplace where you can relax.
                                          It doesn’t have a classic volcano conical shape as                                                            promoting this beautiful region.
                                          it’s so old the cone part has been completely          Breakfasts are taken at the hotel. Evening meals are   Keep up the good work guys and
                                          eroded away. All that remains is the lava core         taken at Casa Rural Valle de Tena which is just 150
                                          which has transformed to a rock called andesite.       metres from the hotel and has an excellent menu        hope to see you again soon”.
                                          On the route you can see huge conglomerate             with many local dishes.
                                                                                                                                                        Mike, Peak & Passes,
                                          boulders that were part of the old lava flow.
                                                                                                                                                        September 2019

 20
PEAKS & PASSES
Itinerary                                                                                                                                                            GUIDED WALKING
                                                                                                                                                                     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                                                                                                                             2020 Dates
would like to achieve.                                                                                                                                               Sunday 27 September - 4 October

Sunday                                                                                                                                                               Price
Sallent de Gállego                                                                                                                                                   1299 € per person (based on two sharing)
Arrive in Sallent de Gállego from Zaragoza late                                                                                                                      129 € Single supplement
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                                                                                                                    3 course evening meals (exc. rest day)
with a circular walk through woods and alpine                                                                                                                        Breakfast buffet each day
meadows to the summit of Punta del Pacino for                                                                                                                        Picnic lunches on walking days
fantastic panoramic views across the valley.
                                                                                                                                                                     Guided Walking - Grade 3
Tuesday
                                                                                                                                                                     5 days fully guided walking with small groups
Pic Peyreget (2487m)                                                                                                                                                 of 8 maximum.
Starting at the high border pass we hike in the                                                                                                                      Walks are 7 to 10 hours each day.
French Pyrenees to the superb summit of                                                                                                                              Daily ascents are between 700m and 1200m
Peyreget. We walk through alpine meadows                                                                                                                             Although walks are on paths there are some
before crossing a boulderfield and reaching the        Thursday                                              Saturday                                                steep and exposed sections. Some days have a
                                                                                                                                                                     short scrambles and more difficult terrain.
summit for superb views over the iconic peaks of       Rest day                                              Ibones de Arriel
Pic du Midi d’Ossau, Balaitús and Los Picos del                                                                                                                      Included Transfers
                                                       Spend a day exploring Sallent de Gállego, take a      Some of the most beautiful lake landscapes in the
Infiernos.
                                                       dip in the pool or go on a hike from the village.     Pyrenees can be found at Ibones de Arriel. The          To and from Zaragoza on Sunday evenings to
Wednesday                                              Evening visit to Jaca for vino and tapas.             four lakes, lying at different heights, are             meet Ryan Air flight from Stansted or train from
                                                                                                             surrounded by steep granite peaks.                      Barcelona or Madrid.
Lacs & Pic d’Ayous (2288m)                             Friday
Today we’ll explore the beautiful high mountain        Pico Anayet (2545m)                                   Sunday                                                  Not included
lakes of d’Ayous before a steep climb up to the                                                              Free morning in Sallent before leaving early            Flights, lunch and evening meal on rest day.
                                                       Set on a high plateau of peaty grasslands we find     afternoon for a drop off at Zaragoza train station or
peak of the same name above. Beautiful views           Ibon de Anayet. From here we can tackle the steep
over Pic du Midi d’Ossau.                                                                                    airport.
                                                       and exciting Pico Anayet passing a set of chains to
                                                       reach the summit.

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Self Guided: Valle de Tena
- Get straight to the best hikes            A stress free holiday
                                            We take the hard work out of arranging your
- Easy to follow route cards                holiday by arranging accommodation, providing
                                            detailed route cards, maps, weather forecasts and
- Choice of hotels or apartments            picnic lunches.

- Arrive and depart on any day              Our advice, recommended routes and local
                                            knowledge means you’ll be able to get to the best
The peaks, lakes and meadows of the         hikes from day one.

Valle de Tena make for a walker´s           Our self guided holidays are very flexible - you can
paradise with a huge choice of routes       arrive on whichever day you like and stay for as
                                            many nights as you want (minimum stay 3 nights).
at all levels. There are some spectacular
summits to conquer and flower filled        Although the walking is close by you’ll need a car
                                            to make the most of your time in the Pyrenees.
meadows in which you can relax and          Most of our guests hire cars from Barcelona or
take in the scenery.                        Zaragoza. From the UK taking a couple of days
                                            driving through France or taking the ferry to Bilbao
Our self guided walking holidays get        or Santander are also good options. If you need
you straight to the best hikes with our     any information on travel see page 43 or give us a
                                            call.
easy to follow route cards and advice.                                                             Easy to follow routecards                             Choice of three villages
                                                                                                   We’ve route cards for all of the best walks in the    Choose between three excellent bases for walking,
                                            Pirineos Sur music festival                            valley. There’s a huge choice of walks of all         Biescas, Lárrede and Sallent de Gállego.
                                                                                                   distances ranging from gentle walks in alpine
                                            Acts from around the world perform on a                meadows to long days in the high mountains.           All villages are full of character with old churches,
                                            floating stage during the Pirineos Sur world                                                                 stone houses and winding streets. Biescas is the
                                            music festival which takes place in the last three     As well as easy to follow directions for each walk    slightly bigger and livelier of the three. In Biescas
                                            weeks of July. It’s a great time to visit with lots    we give accurate distances and ascents and let you    you can either stay in the luxurious Hotel Tierra de
                                            going on - particularly in Sallent de Gállego.         know what the ground is like underfoot. We’re         Biescas with a pool and sauna or self catering
                                                                                                   around during the week to offer advice on which       apartments.
                                            It’s a great festival attracting some of the finest    walks would suit you best and answer any of your
                                            artists from Africa, South and Central America.        questions.                                            Sallent de Gállego is an excellent choice if you’re
                                                                                                                                                         looking do tackle some of the higher peaks in the
                                            Monday to Thursday there is a free concert and a       We live in the area year round and walk these         valley as it’s close to all of the longer walks.
                                            lively market each night in Sallent de Gállego         routes regularly with groups so you can be
                                            with the main events taking place at the               confident that our route cards will always be up to   Lárrede is a tiny tranquil village and a wonderful
                                            weekends in the nearby village of Lanuza.              date and accurate.                                    spot to get away from it all.

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4* Hotel Tierra de Biescas
Luxurious hotel set in lovely grounds with an
                                                                                                                VALLE DE TENA SELF GUIDED
outdoor and indoor pool and a sauna. The hotel is
in the heart of the lively village of Biescas.
                                                                                                                2020 Dates                                              Included meals
                                                                                                                Self guided holidays are available throughout           Half board option includes 7 night
Relax by the pool after a day´s hiking or take a drink                                                          the summer.                                             accommodation, buffet breakfast and 3 course
in the gardens. The hotel has an excellent                                                                                                                              evening meals each night. The evening meals
restaurant with 3 course evening meals.                                                                         Prices                                                  will be taken at different restaurants in the
                                                                                                                Hotel Almud (Sallent de Gállego)                        villages (in BIescas and Sallent de Gállego).
4* Hotel Viñas de Lárrede                                                                                                              B&B      Half Board              Picnic lunches can be ordered from the hotel
An exquisite chalet style hotel and the perfect                                                                 31 May - 30 June      689 €        869 €                (at additional cost)
place to get away from it all. 16 individually styled                                                           1 July - 7 Sep        729 €        929 €                B&B option includes 7 night accommodation
rooms - all ensuite. There is a bar, lounge and                                                                                                                         and buffet breakfast – picnic lunches can be
                                                                                                                8 Sep - 1 Oct         689 €        869 €
outdoor terrace to sit and take a drink with great                                                                                                                      ordered from the hotel (at additional cost).
                                                                                                                Single supplement:179 € (7 nights)
views.
                                                                                                                4* Hotel Tierra de Biescas (Biescas)                    Not included
The pool is set in gardens with loungers and a pool                                                                                      B&B      Half Board            Flights, insurance, airport transfers or transport
bar in the summer. The hotel has a spa with                                                                     24 May – 28 June        619 €      789 €                to and from walks.
jacuzzi, sauna and hot/cold contrast showers to                                                                 29 June – 19 July       699 €      869 €
revive you after a days hiking.
                                                                                                                20 July – 23 August     759 €      929 €                See more self catering options on our website.
Breakfast and dine with views of the mountains.          Self Catering Apartments                               24 August – 13 Sep      699 €      869 €
Evening meals are superb with lots of local dishes.                                                             14 Sep – 11 Oct         619 €      789 €
                                                         The spacious Rincon de Andrea self catering
                                                         apartments are based in Biescas. One or two            Single supplement (for 7 nights):
                                                                                                                                                                        Self Catering Prices
Hotel Almud                                              bedroom apartments are available and each has a        99 € 24 May - 19 Jul and 24 Aug - 11 Oct
                                                                                                                                                                        Rincón de Andrea (Biescas)
Friendly, comfortable, family run hotel in the high      lounge/diner, bathroom and great views.                                                                        Season:                   1 room      2 rooms
                                                                                                                129 € high season (20 July to 23 August)
mountain village of Sallent de Gállego and an ideal                                                             175 € per person - upgrade to a junior suite (7         24 May - 26 July          369 €        299 €
                                                         All are well equipped with washing machine, TV,
base for walking holidays.                                                                                      nights)                                                 27 July - 5 September     469 €        359 €
                                                         DVD player, microwave, hob, fridge, kettle, toaster
                                                         and free Wi-Fi internet connection.                    4* Viñas de Lárrede (Lárrede)                           6 Sep - 11 Oct            369 €        299 €
Centred around the 13th century church, Sallent
de Gállego is a picturesque village surrounded by                                                                                      B&B      Half Board
                                                         For food shopping there are two small Spar                                                                     All prices are per person and based on either
high mountain peaks.                                                                                            20 May - 30 June      899 €       1099 €
                                                         supermarkets, butchers and bakers within walking                                                               two or four person occupation.
                                                         distance and a large supermarket just 15 minutes       1 July - 13 Oct       999 €       1199 €
Being in the higher mountains, Hotel Almud                                                                                                                              Up to 2 extra guests can be accommodated on
makes a perfect base for those looking for long          drive away. If you’d like to eat out there is a good   Single supplement: 199 € (7 nights)
                                                                                                                                                                        sofa beds and receive a 50% discount.
days in the higher peaks although there are plenty       choice of restaurants in Biescas.
                                                                                                                                                                        Prices are for a 7 night stay - for longer holidays
of gentler walks nearby too.                                                                                    All prices are per person and based on two
                                                         Prices shown are for one and two bedroom                                                                       prices are pro-rata the weekly rate.
                                                                                                                people sharing a standard room - ask for room
For more details on all of the hotels see page 46 or     apartments. In addition there are several other                                                                Minimum stay three nights.
                                                                                                                upgrade prices
on our website.                                          combinations available including triple rooms,
                                                         sofa beds for additional occupants and extra           Prices are for a 7 night stay - for longer or shorter   Included
                                                         rooms in the same building for larger groups - call    holidays prices are pro-rata the weekly rate.           Prices include gas, electricity, bed linen and
                                                         for prices.                                                                                                    towels (changed midweek).

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