Picos de Europa Circular Trek Guided Week Circuit

Experience the full Picos de Europa in one week with a certified guide! A challenging guided circuit through limestone peaks, high passes, and deep valleys, staying in refuges along the way. Join an open group this season.

Group

7 Days

Aug, Sep

Very high

Advanced

Description

This seven-day guided trek takes you across all three massifs of the Picos de Europa—Central, Western, and Eastern—in a complete circular route that reveals the full character of the range!

Starting at Source Dé in Cantabria, the itinerary moves counterclockwise through the Urrieles, Cornión, and Andara, spanning the provinces of Asturias, Cantabria, and Castilla y León as you cross high mountain passes, traverse ridgelines, and descend into the deep jous that define this limestone landscape.

Each day brings a new sector of the park, with nights spent in mountain refuges positioned along the route:

Walk below the Torre de Cerredo, the highest summit in the range, and pass in view of the Naranjo de Bulnes, its west face a landmark of Spanish mountaineering. The terrain shifts between alpine passes and the greener valleys shaped by the Atlantic climate, where conditions can change quickly and the light moves across the limestone in a way that makes sense of why this place has drawn walkers for generations.

The trek is demanding and best suited to those with solid mountain experience, but the reward is a complete traverse of the Picos in a single week—linking the three massifs step by step and ending with the satisfaction of having circled the whole of this remarkable national park.

Check the scheduled dates and book your place—we look forward to welcoming you to the mountains!

Price includes

Meeting point

The trek begins by taking the Fuente Dé cable car.

Itinerary

Day 1: Estany de Cavallers (1,800 m) to Colomers Refuge (2,135 m)

Meet the group in Pont de Suert or Barruera and transfer to the Cavallers dam. The trek begins by entering the national park through the Cavallers Valley, skirting the shores of Estany de Cavallers before gradually gaining elevation toward Ventosa i Calvell Refuge. Along the way, you’ll hike through a stunning landscape of glacial lakes before reaching the Port de Caldes. From there, descend into the beautiful Colomers glacial cirque and arrive at Colomers Refuge for the first overnight stay. Distance: 12 km | Elevation gain: +750 m | Elevation loss: -550 m

Day 2: Colomers Refuge (2,135 m) to Amitges Refuge (2,378 m)

Leave the refuge heading southeast toward the Port de Ratera. If conditions and energy levels allow, there is the option to summit Tuc de Ratera (2,862 m) before descending to Amitges Refuge, set in a spectacular location beneath the striking spires of Els Encantats and the peaks of Amitges. An alternative route via Saboredo Refuge offers a longer itinerary and passes through another beautiful glacial valley with a classic U-shaped profile. Distance: 12.3 km | Elevation gain: +820 m | Elevation loss: -400 m

Day 3: Amitges Refuge (2,378 m) to Colomina Refuge (2,420 m)

Descend toward the iconic Estany de Sant Maurici, with impressive views of Els Encantats. The trail then climbs steadily to Coll de Peguera (2,718 m) before descending past Estany de Saburó and Estany de Mar. The day ends at Colomina Refuge, beautifully located beside Estany de Colomina. Distance: 16 km | Elevation gain: +1,150 m | Elevation loss: -1,050 m

Day 4: Colomina Refuge (2,420 m) to Estany Llong Refuge (1,985 m)

From Colomina, follow a section of the historic “Carrilet,” an old construction route that traverses a relatively gentle landscape dotted with lakes. The trail then climbs to the Dellui Pass before descending to Estany Llong Refuge, where you will spend the night. Distance: 12 km | Elevation gain: +500 m | Elevation loss: -800 m | Time: 5–6 hours

Day 5: Estany Llong Refuge (1,985 m) to Estany de Cavallers (1,800 m)

Option A: Complete the final stage by ascending to the highest pass of the trek, the Contraix Pass (2,743 m). From there, descend through the Colieto Valley past Ventosa i Calvell Refuge and continue downhill to Estany de Cavallers, finishing the circular route. Distance: 14.5 km | Elevation gain: +900 m | Elevation loss: -1,200 m

Option B: If weather conditions are poor or a participant prefers a shorter day, it is possible to descend along a well-marked trail to a bus pickup point, ending the trek earlier. Distance: 4.5 km | Elevation gain: +30 m | Elevation loss: -250 m

Details

Accommodation

During the trip, you will spend 6 nights in mountain refuges on a half-board basis (dinner and breakfast included). Refuges provide blankets, so it is mandatory to bring a sleep sheet but not a sleeping bag.

Disclaimer

This is a strenuous trek that requires good physical preparation to handle long days of 9–11 hours of hiking with significant elevation gain and loss. Some sections may also require using your hands for balance or short scrambles, so a solid level of fitness is essential. Proper trekking gear is strongly recommended for a route of this nature.

More info

There is no need to carry large amounts of food, as meals and supplies can be purchased at the refuges; however, bringing a few personal snacks such as energy bars or nuts is recommended for the trail.

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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