Hiking in the Pyrenees

You can reach Barruera by taking a bus from Barcelona to El Pont de Suert (4hrs – 5½hrs). A taxi can be pre-arranged to take you from there to your hotel in Barruera.

This small mountain town has a very pleasant historic centre and a beautiful Romanesque church; Sant Feliu. Depending on your arrival time, you can relax in one of the local bars or buy some provisions for tomorrow’s lunch picnic.

Dinner is included tonight; a set menu of typical Catalan dishes in the small restaurant of Farré d’Avall.

Overnight: Barruera. Dinner included.

Distance: 8.2 km | Ascent: 740 m | Descent: 360 m | Walking time: 4½ hrs approx.

OR: with extra loop walk from Durro

Distance: 14 km | Ascent: 965 m | Descent: 5700 m | Walking time: 6½ hrs approx.

You begin your first hiking day by ascending from the valley to the higher mountain village of Durro. Here you have the option of doing an extra 6km loop walk high above the valley. You will pass the beautifully situated chapel of Sant Quirc de Durro, where bonfires are held every year during the traditional Fallas festivities.

You continue your hike across the panoramic Camí del Pago to the village of Boí, where you can stop and visit the Romanesque church of Sant Joan plus the National park Visitors’ centre. A short final ascent then takes you to the village of Taüll. Here, you will find the most beautiful of the Vall de Boí’s Romanesque churches: the church of Sant Climent. Its famous bell tower is particularly impressive. It once contained magnificent frescos, but these were removed in the last century and taken to the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC) in Barcelona for safekeeping. You can see a superb video presentation at the church in which the frescos are recreated in front of your eyes.

Overnight: Taüll. Dinner not included but plenty of restaurant options in the village.

Distance: 6 km | Ascent: 400 m | Descent: 400 m | Walking time: 3 hrs approx.

OR

Distance: 11 km | Ascent: 850 m | Descent: 850 m | Walking time: 5½-6 hrs approx.

Today’s walk takes you across the high mountain ridge above the village of Taüll. You will climb to the peak of the Tossalet de Creutes (elevation: 1921 m), from where you will have stunning views over the Vall de Boí. You have the option of turning back here if you prefer a shorter walk or wish to visit the churches of Taüll. Otherwise, continue following the path along the ridge. Further along, you will pass through an alpine forest with many flowers and birds.

Finally, you reach the Casesnoves mountain pasture. Here, you will enjoy magnificent views across the Aigüestortes valley with its glacial lakes Estany Llebreta and Estany Llong.

You return to Taüll via the same path and once again enjoy the exuberant alpine flora and views over the villages.

Overnight: Taüll. Dinner not included but plenty of restaurant options in the village.

Distance: 13.6 km | Ascent: 675 m | Descent: 675 m | Walking time: 5½ hrs approx.

After breakfast you will be transferred to the entrance of the National Park, where a meandering river (Aigüestortes) cuts its way through a bucolic alpine valley. Here, you begin a steep (but shaded) climb through a pine forest. You will reach a series of glacial lakes (known as Dellui) at an elevation of 2360 m, surrounded by the impressive high peaks of the Pyrenees. This makes a beautiful spot for a picnic lunch – you may even encounter some friendly marmots as you relax in these idyllic surroundings!

Beginning your descent, you will first traverse a scree slope with huge boulders. This is a little challenging, but thereafter you have an easy gradual descent through pine woods and open hillside with many alpine roses (Rhododendron ferrugineum). You will reach the Estany Llong mountain refuge, where you can stop for a refreshing drink before following a wide gravel track back to your start point.

A pre-arranged taxi transfer will then take you to your accommodation at the Hotel**** & SPA Manantial in Caldes de Boí, where you can relax in the outdoor pools or indoor SPA. Dinner is included tonight and is a menu with different choices.

Overnight: Caldes de Boí. Dinner included

Your hiking trip in the Pyrennees comes to an end after breakfast this morning.

We can arrange a taxi to take you to El Pont de Suert, from where you can catch a bus to Barcelona.

If you are travelling by car and need to pick it up from Barruera, you can walk there via a beautiful riverside path (9 km, 3 hrs approx.) or we can arrange a taxi.

You can reach Barruera by taking a bus from Barcelona to El Pont de Suert (4hrs – 5½hrs). A taxi can be pre-arranged to take you from there to your hotel in Barruera.

This small mountain town has a very pleasant historic centre and a beautiful Romanesque church; Sant Feliu. Depending on your arrival time, you can relax in one of the local bars or buy some provisions for tomorrow’s lunch picnic.

Dinner is included tonight; a set menu of typical Catalan dishes in the small restaurant of Farré d’Avall.

Overnight: Barruera. Dinner included.

Distance: 8.2 km | Ascent: 740 m | Descent: 360 m | Walking time: 4½ hrs approx.

OR: with extra loop walk from Durro

Distance: 14 km | Ascent: 965 m | Descent: 5700 m | Walking time: 6½ hrs approx.

You begin your first hiking day by ascending from the valley to the higher mountain village of Durro. Here you have the option of doing an extra 6km loop walk high above the valley. You will pass the beautifully situated chapel of Sant Quirc de Durro, where bonfires are held every year during the traditional Fallas festivities.

You continue your hike across the panoramic Camí del Pago to the village of Boí, where you can stop and visit the Romanesque church of Sant Joan plus the National park Visitors’ centre. A short final ascent then takes you to the village of Taüll. Here, you will find the most beautiful of the Vall de Boí’s Romanesque churches: the church of Sant Climent. Its famous bell tower is particularly impressive. It once contained magnificent frescos, but these were removed in the last century and taken to the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC) in Barcelona for safekeeping. You can see a superb video presentation at the church in which the frescos are recreated in front of your eyes.

Overnight: Täull. Dinner not included but plenty of restaurant options in the village.

Distance: 6 km | Ascent: 400 m | Descent: 400 m | Walking time: 3 hrs approx.

OR

Distance: 11 km | Ascent: 850 m | Descent: 850 m | Walking time: 5½-6 hrs approx.

Today’s walk takes you across the high mountain ridge above the village of Taüll. You will climb to the peak of the Tossalet de Creutes (elevation: 1921 m), from where you will have stunning views over the Vall de Boí. You have the option of turning back here if you prefer a shorter walk or wish to visit the churches of Taüll. Otherwise, continue following the path along the ridge. Further along, you will pass through an alpine forest with many flowers and birds.

Finally, you reach the Casesnoves mountain pasture. Here, you will enjoy magnificent views across the Aigüestortes valley with its glacial lakes Estany Llebreta and Estany Llong.

You return to Taüll via the same path and once again enjoy the exuberant alpine flora and views over the villages.

Overnight: Täull. Dinner not included but plenty of restaurant options in the village.

Distance: 13.6 km | Ascent: 675 m | Descent: 675 m | Walking time: 5½ hrs approx.

After breakfast you will be transferred to the entrance of the National Park, where a meandering river (Aigüestortes) cuts its way through a bucolic alpine valley. Here, you begin a steep (but shaded) climb through a pine forest. You will reach a series of glacial lakes (known as Dellui) at an elevation of 2360 m, surrounded by the impressive high peaks of the Pyrenees. This makes a beautiful spot for a picnic lunch – you may even encounter some friendly marmots as you relax in these idyllic surroundings!

Beginning your descent, you will first traverse a scree slope with huge boulders. This is a little challenging, but thereafter you have an easy gradual descent through pine woods and open hillside with many alpine roses (Rhododendron ferrugineum). You will reach the Estany Llong mountain refuge, where you can stop for a refreshing drink before following a wide gravel track back to your start point.

A pre-arranged taxi transfer will then take you to your accommodation at the Hotel**** & SPA Manantial in Caldes de Boí, where you can relax in the outdoor pools or indoor SPA. Dinner is included tonight and is a menu with different choices.

Overnight: Caldes de Boí. Dinner included.

Distance: 5.5 km | Ascent: 580 m | Descent: 135 m | Walking time: 3 hrs approx.

Tonight, you will have the opportunity to experience an overnight stay in a typical Spanish mountain hut. You will leave your main luggage in the hotel in Caldes de Boí, where you will return tomorrow.

After breakfast, you will be transferred (20 mins drive) to the Cavallers dam, situated at the end of the Caldes valley. Carrying just what you need for the night, you begin a beautiful hike, first along the Cavallers reservoir and then gradually ascending through an increasingly rocky and barren mountain landscape to the Ventosa i Calvell hut, where you will spend the night at 2215 m altitude.

From the hut you can walk a little further, to the glacial lake Estany Gran de Colieto or to the rocky wasteland at the foot of the Coll de Contraix. You can continue as far as you want, because you will return to the refuge via the same route. Before dinner you have time to take a hot (or cold) shower and prepare your ‘bed’ for tonight: a bunkbed as wide as the rooftop, where people sleep side to side – remember to take a sheet/sleeping bag liner with you and some ear plugs!

Dinner is included tonight. You will be seated at large tables and will enjoy the same set menu as all other guests.

Overnight: Refugio Ventosa i Calvell mountain hut. Dinner included.

Aigüestortes loop walk

Distance: 8.5 km | Ascent: 655 m | Descent: 655 m | Walking time: 4 hrs approx.

Descent to Erill la Vall

Distance: 14 km | Ascent: 250 m | Descent: 1,215 m | Walking time: 5 hrs approx.

After breakfast at the refuge, you will be given a prepared picnic lunch to take with you. We recommend doing a hike through the impressive mountain world of Aigüestortes, before descending to Erill la Vall. You will walk through a rugged granite landscape among the glacial lakes of Travessani and Estany de Monges to the mountain pass Port de Rius (2475 m) and then along the Estany de Mangades to the Port de Colomèrs, from where you look out over the beautiful Cirque de Colomers on the north side of the National park.

You then descend via yesterday’s path to the reservoir of Cavallers and continue down through the valley to Erill la Vall

Overnight: Erill la Vall. Dinner included.

Distance: 9 km | Ascent: 240 m | Descent: 240 m | Walking time: 3 hrs approx.

Your last walking day follows a pleasant route, visiting Romanesque churches along the River Noguera valley and passing back through villages you have visited before: Barruera and Boí. You can stop for a relaxing lunch or a drink in one of the villages along the route.

Overnight: Erill la Vall. Dinner included.

Your hiking trip in the Pyrennees comes to an end after breakfast this morning.

We can arrange a taxi to take you to El Pont de Suert, from where you can catch a bus to Barcelona.

If you are travelling by car and need to pick it up from Barruera, we can also arrange a taxi to take you back there. Please request this at the time of booking.