Key Features
• One-week of walking in the heart of the Pyrenees
• Trek through verdant forests & ancient villages
• Explore the stunning Aigues Tortes National Park
Included
3nts at the simple yet comfortable Inn Vall d'Aneau in Esterri; 4nts at the comfortable, historic and family-run Hotel Roya in Espot; 7 breakfasts included.
Transport
Bus/Jeep.
Group Size
Approx. 12 to 16.
Tour Staff
Explore Tour Leader plus driver(s).
Ancient forests & medieval villages
Visitors to the region of Pallars Sobirà benefit from its previous isolation: it has seen little development and subsequently retained much of its charm. Home to the dramatic scenery of the Vall d'Aneu, Vall d'Cardos and Vall d'Ferrera and also to the Mata de Valencia - one of the largest fir forests in Europe - this area also offers the best conditions for white water sports in Europe (for beginner and the more experienced alike). We first base ourselves in Esterri d'Aneu, the main point of access into nearby valleys, following pathways leading to 12th century Romanesque churches during the day, and trying out the local cuisine in the evening.
Aigues Tortes NP - Jewel of the Pyrenees
The oldest of all National Parks in Spain, Aigues Tortes is one of Spain's finest and is luckily little known to foreign visitors. Set deep in the heart of the Pyrenees the park boasts dozens of peaks reaching up to 3000m and numerous mountain lakes, formed during glacial activity over 20,000 years ago. The resulting landscape is simply stunning: more than one hundred lakes, numerous rivers and creeks wind their way through Aigues Tortes NP - giving it its name, 'winding waters'.
Hikes in the National Park
We move our base up to Espot from where we can explore the park. Our first hike is to the San Maurici Lake with the unmistakable silhouette of the two Encantats peaks. Later we ascend to the pass beneath the peak of Portarro (2728m). This magnificent viewpoint is the only one in the centre of the Park and offers superb vistas across the whole cirque of mountains. Another trail leads directly from Espot, the gateway to Aigues Tortes, up to the Black Lake, stunningly located at 2000m. This walk is the most challenging but is well worth the effort.
Comment
This trip is graded moderate with an average of between 5-6 hours walking per day. Two days are left free to relax or take further walks. We avoid the hottest and most crowded periods of the year.