Carros de Foc Trek in the Pyrenees
Experience the "Haute Route" of the Pyrenees on our guided Carros de Foc trek. Spend 5 days hiking hut-to-hut through the stunning lakes and peaks of Aigüestortes National Park. Book your open group adventure today!
Group
Pyrenees
5 Days
Jul - Sep
High
Intermediate
Highlights
- The most classic and sought-after hut-to-hut trek in the Pyrenees.
- A spectacular high-mountain alpine landscape featuring over 200 lake
- Enjoy the comfort of staying in a well-managed network of staffed mountain refuges.
Description
Step into history on the "Carros de Foc," a classic hut-to-hut journey through Spain’s stunning Aigüestortes National Park!
Inspired by the legendary Alpine high routes, this multi-day trek leads you through a breathtaking landscape defined by water; crystal-clear lakes, rushing waterfalls, and stunning peaks over 3,000 meters.
Wander through lush forests and discover the park’s network of cozy, guarded refuges, all while surrounded by the wild beauty of the Catalan Pyrenees.
Along the way, you'll also glimpse the region’s rich heritage, including the UNESCO-recognized Romanesque churches of the Boí Valley.
Ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Join an open group and discover the magic of the Pyrenees on this iconic high route!
Price includes
Price details
- Included:
- * Mountain guide service for the entire trek.
- * 4 nights in mountain refuges on a halfboard basis (dinner and breakfast).
- * Accident and rescue insurance.
- * Ski pass card to stamp at refuges, a topographic map, and a small gift.
- Not Included:
- * Transport: Getting to and from the start point (though they offer help coordinating ridesharing).
- * Lunches: You need to bring your own (sandwich/picnic), but you can buy food at the refuges.
- * Drinks & Extras: Drinks at dinner, paid showers.
- * PreTrip Accommodation: The night before the trek starts (a hostel is recommended).
- * Cancellation/Travel Insurance: Not included but highly recommended.
Itinerary
Day 1: Estany de Cavallers (1,800m) → Colomers Refuge (2,135m)
Transfer from the valley to the dam. Hike through the Cavallers valley, past lakes, over the Port de Caldes pass, and down into the Colomers glacial cirque.
Distance: 12 km | Ascent: +750m | Descent: -550m
Day 2: Colomers Refuge (2,135m) → Amitges Refuge (2,378m)
Head towards the Port de Ratera. Optional summit of Tuc de Ratera (2,862m). Descend to the Amitges refuge with iconic views of the Els Encantats peaks. An alternative route visits the Saboredo valley.Distance: 12.3 km | Ascent: +820m | Descent: -400m
Day 3: Refugio d'Amitges (2,378m) → Refugio Colomina (2,420m)
Descend to the famous Estany de Sant Maurici, then ascend to the Peguera pass (2,718m). Descend past several lakes (Saburó, Mar) to the Colomina refuge.
Distance: 16 km | Ascent: +1,150m | Descent: -1,050m (The longest/most demanding day)
Day 4: Colomina Refuge (2,420m) → Estany Llong Shelter (1,985m)
Travel along the old "Carrilet" path through a lake-filled plateau, then cross the Dellui pass before descending to the Estany Llong refuge.
Distance: 12 km | Ascent: +500m | Descent: -800m | Time: 5-6 hours
Day 5: Estany Llong Shelter (1,985m) → Estany de Cavallers (1,800m)
Option A (Standard): Ascend the Contraix pass (2,743m) for incredible views, then descend through the Colieto valley, passing the Ventosa and Calvell refuge before returning to the Cavallers dam. (Ends 4-5 PM).
Distance: 14.5 km | Ascent: +900m | Descent: -1,200m
Option B (Easier/Weather): Descend a well-marked path directly to a bus pickup point.
Distance: 4.5 km
Details
Disclaimer
The itinerary may be adjusted depending on weather conditions, the group’s fitness level, or refuge availability. For safety reasons, the guide has the final decision regarding any route or schedule changes.
The included accident and rescue insurance is valid within Spain, Portugal, and the French Pyrenees. Participants are responsible for paying any medical expenses upfront and can later request reimbursement through the insurance.
Any additional costs resulting from itinerary changes—such as those caused by weather or unforeseen circumstances—must be covered by the participants.
Equipment you will need to bring
For this trip, it’s important to keep your backpack light, ideally 6–8 kg (13–17 lbs). A 25–35L backpack is recommended to carry your essentials comfortably. Wear sturdy trekking boots rather than running shoes for proper support on mountain terrain. Bring layered clothing including a thermal base layer, fleece mid-layer, light down or Primaloft jacket, and a waterproof Gore-Tex jacket, along with trekking shorts or pants, socks, and a sun cap.
Essential equipment should include a headlamp with spare batteries, a water bottle or hydration bladder (minimum 1L), telescopic trekking poles, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a small first-aid kit.
For the mountain refuges, pack a lightweight silk or cotton sheet bag since blankets are provided and a sleeping bag is not necessary. A small towel and flip-flops or camp shoes are optional but useful for comfort at the huts.
About the guide
Muntania
Languages
English | Spanish
Certificates
AEGM
What people are saying about Explore-Share
Man
Climbing with guide Guillaume was absolutely a highlight of my 2-week Europe vacation. Originally, we were planning on climbing in the Calanques, but the park was closed due to wind and fire danger. Guillaume chose another amazing location (Pic de Bretagne) based on my climbing abilities and preferences and kindly offered train station pick-up and hotel drop off, which I appreciated very much. The multi-pitch route we did was not only fun but also the right amount of challenge, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The communication from the team (Gauthier) was prompt and clear—highly recommend!
Maxine
Luis Silva was a great climbing guide and belayer! He taught me how to do moves that were difficult and encouraged me to try routes that were challenging for me! Because of his encouragement, I managed to complete these routes! I really enjoyed the climbs and completed 8 routes in the Sesimbra/Azoia area. The weather was perfect, no direct sun and cool enough to enjoy the climbs. Explore-Share made booking an outdoor climbing experience in Lisbon extremely easy. Luis, our guide, was fantastic, and the platform’s organization was flawless.
Valeriya
You’re simply the best!!! :))) Explore-Share made everything easy and stress-free. Will definitely use again.
Joshua
We had Léo as a guide for our day climb in Fonty. We were blessed with a knowledgeable, warm, and instructive guide. Communication with Léo and Ivan was smooth and swift. Explore-Share was excellent in arranging everything for our day climb. The communication was quick, and the platform was easy to use, making our adventure stress-free.
Cami
Patrick was a great guide. He took us on an intermediate Via Ferrata at Passo Sella. Renato was quick to respond with any outreach on the Explore-Share platform. The booking process was straightforward, and once Patrick was confirmed, all went well. It was a wonderful experience, and I’d highly recommend the platform.
4.8
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