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5-day snowshoeing tour in the Catalan Pyrenees

Pyrenees
Snowshoeing in the Aiguestortes National Park
Snowshoeing in the Aiguestortes National Park
Local cheese tasting

These upcoming holidays join Miguel, a UIMLA-certified Mountain Leader, on this amazing 5-day snowshoeing trip in the Catalan Pyrenees.

Group

Pyrenees

5 Days

Jan - Mar, Dec

Fit

Intermediate


Description

If you want to spend your next holidays in a remote and beautiful place, away from crowded cities and more frequented routes, you cannot miss this amazing 5-day snowshoeing program!

The Catalan Pyrenees offer the perfect setting for an unforgettable snowshoeing holiday, a unique off-the-beaten-path experience. We will immerse ourselves in this quiet and magical paradise while we go hiking on the snow**,** admiring a stunning landscape and spectacular snow covered high peaks.

The pretty small village of Rialp, just 146 km from Barcelona, will be our base during these 5 days, our departure poing for our wonderful snowshoe hikes in the Alt Pirineu Natural Park and in the majestic Aigüestortes National Park.

We will experience the beauty, tranquility and cultural heritage of this Catalan village, in the Pallars Sobira region, a region of extraordinary natural beauty and magical winter scenery in the highest Catalan Pyrenees.

Our snowshoeing tours will take us on unique hikes through ancient and silent forests, crossing valleys and discovering tiny hidden villages, visiting local producers of wool and cheese, suurrounded by spectacular mountains and breathtaking views.

If you want to enjoy a unique experience in the middle of spectacular mountains, listening only to the sound of crunching snow as you walk, then this is the trip for you. Check the dates below and book your trip! Come join me on an amazing snowshoe trip in the Catalan Pyrenees!

Price includes

- Accommodation included

- Guiding fee

- Breakfast

- Lunch

- Dinner

- Transport during the trip

- Personal insurance

Price details

Some Included services, such as accommodation and transportation, might be required to be paid in advance and will be non-refundable, in accordance with the conditions set by the external providers.

For groups of 4 or less, we will send an e-mail with the price.

The price includes: Full-board en-suite accommodation: 4 nights in Hotel Victor-

Meals: 4 picnic lunches, 4 breakfasts and 4 dinners- Wine is included with the dinner-

Snowshoes and poles-

Park fees as appropriate-

All road transfers in country-

Accident insurance while in the wilderness-

Qualified English-speaking local mountain guide-

All scheduled non-walking activities except Obrador Xisqueta // THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE: Flights-

Personal equipment-

Travel insurance-

Meals and drinks not indicated in ‘Included’.


Itinerary

Day 1: Santa Magdalena Valley

I will pick you up in Barcelona at 9 am. If you are unable to meet the group in Barcelona, these snowshoeing holidays will begin in Rialp, a small village in the Alt Pirineu Natural Park, set at 730m altitude, with only 670 full time residents.

After a 4.5-hour drive, we arrive at the hotel in Rialp where we leave our luggage. Then, we drive to Roni, a small village set at 1080m altitude, with only 50 full time residents. The nearest evidence of visitors here is the Port Ainé ski resort about 14km away.

Starting at Roni, we make a continuous ascent across deep forests to the ridge of the Serra del Llus range. Once there we will visit some bunkers built and used during the Spanish Civil War.

Distance: 8km ‐ Elevation gain: 405m ‐ Duration: 4 hours, including breaks

Day 2: La Coma Valley - Tirvia - Assua Valley - Visit local cheese producer

The scenic village of Farrera is just a 25 minute transfer and is a great location to begin our walk. Today our route takes us through the La Coma Valley. Here we find numerous ‘bordes’, or shepherd’s huts, used to keep cattle and store feed.

Traversing first deep forests, we pass through two small villages ‐ Farrera and Burg, both of which have fewer than 100 inhabitants. This insight into a traditional way of life in the remote countryside is what makes this walk memorable.

Distance: 7.6km ‐ Elevation gain: 566m ‐ Duration: 5.75 hours, including breaks.

After the walk we transfer to the village of Tirvia to visit the rhomboidal gravestones built around the time that the Cathar Perfect Bélibaste was arrested in the 14th century. To read more about Catharism, click here.

We also visit houses in Tirvia, including one with shrapnel marks on its façade, and another one where injured soldiers were treated. Tirvia was in the front line during the Spanish Civil War. It was completelly destroyed, and then rebuilt.

After our visit to Tirvia we transfer to Surp in the Assua Valley and visit cheese producer Clara Ferrando, who left her home near Barcelona to set up this sustainable and traditional cheese production in 2007. We will of course have the opportunity to try some of her award‐winning produce, accompanied with traditional wines of Catalonia. We end the day with a 15 minute transfer back to Rialp.

Day 3: Pla de Nequa - Rialp

For the third snowshoe walk of the week we explore the Cardós Valley, half an hour drive away. Again, an area not well known among tourists. We enjoy dramatic landscapes on our way to _Pla de Nequa_at 1978m. The trail crosses forests of birch, scots pines and dwarf mountain pines until we reach the Pla itself and enjoy the panoramic views over the whole valley and its surrounds.

Local folklore has it that this was the site of sabbath celebrations by witches during the Middle Ages. As such a well known Catalan writer based his novel ‘The witches of Pla Negua’ here.

Distance: 12.3km ‐ Elevation gain: 782m ‐ Duration: 6.8 hours including breaks.

After our walk we transfer to Rialp (30 mins) and visit a local not‐for‐profit association (Obrador Xisqueta) trying to maintain the local tradition of woolwork and thus guarantee extra revenue for the local shepherds who sell it, as well as the craftspeople who produce the woolwork itself. We haven’t included this visit in the price, because sometimes Obrador Xisqueta has no staff available to lead a visit.

We finish with a transfer back for our Hotel in Rialp.

Day 4: Aiguestortes National Park: Son valley and Fogueruix pass - Wine tasting

After breakfast we head off to Planes de Son, our starting point today, passing by Son, a village at 1390m famous for its Romanesque bell tower.

On our way to the Fogueruix Pass at 2110m, we get into the Aiguestortes national park and can stop at the Pla de la Font mountain hut and crane our necks at some of the highest peaks in the area that tower above us. The pass itself lies between the Son Valley and the Espot valley. We descend via another route back down to the Planes de Son

Distance: 11.5km ‐ Elevation gain: 695m ‐ Duration: 7 hours including breaks.

The day finishes at Rialp, where our guide Miguel will give the group the chance to try some of the local produce, including cheese and sausages from the Pallars Sobira region, all washed down with wine from the south of Catalonia.

Day 5: Circular walk across Port-Ainé forest and Orri peak summit (2439m)

Today, our circular walk will take us to the summit of Torreta de l’Orri (2439m), a peak located at the top of the Port-Ainé ski resort. It represents the highest point we will reach during the tour and from here we will be rewarded by breathtaking views of Catalonia, and of the other peaks of the Pyrenees.

After having taken some moments to admire the beauty of the area we will follow a crest line to then continue into a dwarf-mountain pine forest called Duc.

Distance: 14.5km/ Elevation gain: 480m/ Duration: 7 hours including breaks

After the walk we transfer back to Barcelona where we arrive in the evening.

 

Details

More info

Walking gear & equipment: I will send you a list when you book the trip.

Meeting point

We will meet at 9am in Barcelona. But if you can drive with your own vehicle, contact us in advance and we can arrange a meeting in Rialp. You will also get a discount.

About the guide

Guide profile image

Miguel

4.70

(9)

Mountain Leader

As professional mountain guide (UIMLA and AEGM-certified), I am passionate about helping you discover the majestic Pyrenees range that are off the beaten track. From small towns, valleys and mountain ranges to the GR 11 Pyrenees trekking route.

Through my programmes of walking and snowshoeing holidays, I’ll reveal all I know about these awe-inspiring mountains. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced hiker, I can offer a tailor-made mountain experience to suit your requirements. I also have tours for solo travellers or large corporate groups.

Certificates

UIMLA

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What people are saying about Miguel

Joanna

5.00

We had the most wonderful two days of hiking in Andorra with our guide Daniel. I cannot recommend him enough plus the areas he took us to. Our favourite was the Sortney National Park.

John

5.00

Our hike was wonderful and surpassed our expectations. Our guide, Dani, was excellent, organized each day's hike perfectly with respect to our abilities and preferences and the weather. He gave interesting explanations about flora & fauna, geology, geography and local lore along the way. The landscape was spectacular. The hotel was comfortable, with good meals and they even provided lunch packs for our daily hikes. Everything was perfect!


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