Village-to-Village Pyrenees Walking Holiday

Price
from £1195
Enquire Book Now
1 June 2024 – 1 October 2024
Experience the stunning high mountains of the Spanish Pyrenees
Grade
Moderate
Duration
7 Nights
Style
Self-Guided
Type
Village-to-Village
Price
from £1195
Country
Spain
Explore the length of the Valle de Tena, high in the Spanish Pyrenees

The Pyrenees offers some of the most remote and wild walking of any of our destinations and on this holiday you will enjoy some of the best medium and high level walks in the area. This is a wonderful route – with fantastic views throughout – plenty of variety and a real sense of journey as you progress up the Valle de Tena.

Your route doesn’t just “stay low” but gets up into the higher mountains. You’ll stay at small traditional Pyrenean villages with narrow winding streets and stone houses centred around medieval churches. This holiday has been designed with intermediate walkers in mind – but each day you will be able to choose between either a shorter or longer option. You’ll cover a reasonable distance each day – between 10 km (6 miles) and 14 km (9 miles) (and up to 20 km (12 miles) on the longer options).

On a Collett’s village-to-village holiday, you do the walking – and we take care of all the rest. Our comprehensive maps and route notes make for effortless navigation, while your baggage is transported daily to the next carefully-selected overnight stop. Each evening you’ll be welcomed into the comfort of traditional accommodation, in charmed surroundings. You decide your dates, and we’ll ensure everything else is organised to perfection.

At a glance

Dates

1 June to 1 October 2024
You can start any day but Airport Transfers (£90 pp return) are available on Sundays only. Private transfers are also available any day (£240 per taxi each way).

Price

12th July to 14th Sept – £1295
All other dates – £1195
Single supplement – £165

Grade

Moderate

What’s included

7 Nights Accommodation – in handpicked 2, 3 and 4* hotels
Dinner – each evening either in your hotel, or a local restaurant 
Packed Lunches – on Days 2 & 7
Baggage Transfers – from hotel to hotel
Welcome Briefing – on arrival
Detailed Route Cards – including maps, route descriptions, GPX tracks etc.
24/7 Telephone Support – provided by our local partner, based in Biescas

Travel

This holiday starts and ends in Biescas. We recommend that you fly into Zaragoza Airport and join our transfer (2hrs, £90pp return), which meets the inbound Ryanair flight from Stansted Airport which lands at 1705.

If however you plan to be in Zaragoza already, or to arrive by fast train from either Madrid (1 hr 20 mins, approx €80 return) or Barcelona, you can also join a transfer at the ‘Delicias’ rail station at 1200.

If you would prefer to take advantage of cheaper weekday flights, private transfers are also available any day of the week to/from Zaragoza or Lourdes Airport (2 hrs, approx. £240 each way for up to 8 people).

Itinerary

hotel-tierra-de-biescas-pool(2)

Day 1 - Arrive

Arrive in Biescas and settle in. Briefing in the evening about the week ahead, going over the route and giving you a chance to ask any questions.

Meals – Dinner

Overnight – 4* Hotel Tierra de Biescas

Santa Elena Hermitage, Biescas in Tena Valley, Pyrenees, Huesca Province, Aragon, Spain

Day 2 - Biesca to Panticosa

Shorter Option: Santa Elena – Panticosa: 13km, ascent: 700m
Longer Option: Biescas – Panticosa: 18km, ascent 860m

In the morning, you can either head out straight from the hotel, or we can give you a short lift to the area known as Santa Elena to cut the distance down for the first day. The route passes under the high cliffs of the Sierra de Tendeñera where you see the valley open up before you. Roughly halfway along the route you reach the pretty village of Hoz de Jaca where there is a kilometre long zip-line which you can ride across the lake. It’s great fun and makes for a nice break in the days hiking.

The hike’s full of history as you pass a neolithic dolmen, the scenic church of Santa Elena and bunkers built by Franco to defend against invasion through the Pyrenees.

Meals – Breakfast, Packed Lunch & Dinner

Overnight – 3* Hotel Sabocos, Panticosa

IMG_4465(1)

Day 3 - Choice of Circular Walks

Shorter Option: 12km, ascent: 530m
Medium Option:
14km, ascent: 500m, descent 1050m 
Longer Option:
19.5km, ascent: 1100m

Today, you have a choice of two circular routes. The shorter option passes through lovely woodland into the meadows of the Valle la Ripera. At the head of the valley, you get to the area known as Rincon del Verde, where 700-metre vertical cliffs rise up from the meadows.

The longer option heads up the Valle La Ripera, continuing over a 2000 metre (6560ft) col where you have the option of a side trip to the peak of Montaña del Verde (2288m, 7500 ft) which has wonderful views over the area. As you descend you pass the glacial tarn of Ibón de Sabacos before descending down to Panticosa.

There is an excellent mid-length option from mid-July to late August when the ski gondola is running. This takes you up 700 metres into the high mountains from where you can take a fantastic hike back down to Panticosa – highly recommended.

Meals – Breakfast & Dinner

Overnight – 3* Hotel Sabocos, Panticosa

View of the town of Lanuza in the Pyrenees of Aragon in Spain

Day 4 - Panticosa to Sallent de Gallego

Shorter Option: 10.5km, ascent: 200m
Longer Option:
15km, ascent: 800m

Continuing your journey you head into the northern half of the Valle de Tena. Either have an easy half day’s walk around the lake of Embalse de Lanuza, spending an afternoon in picturesque Sallent.

Alternatively, climb steeply to the viewpoint of La Cucuraza for bird’s eye views back down to Panticosa and the Valle La Ripera where you hiked the day before. As you continue you get great views into the northern part of the valley and the border peaks before you descend steeply down to the very pretty village of Sallent.

Meals – Breakfast & Dinner

Overnight – Hotel Almud, Sallent de Gallego

aguas-limpias-and-embalse-respomuso

Day 5 - Aguas Limpias

Shorter Option: 13km, ascent: 300m 
Longer Option:
21km, ascent: 900m

Hike along the beautiful Rio Aguas Limpias – the river of clean water. You can have a leisurely day walking to a lovely picnic spot. Alternatively, head higher to a series of lakes set amongst spectacular mountain scenery or the peak of Musales (2654m) (8707ft). Second night at Hotel Almud.

Meals – Breakfast & Dinner

Overnight – Hotel Almud, Sallent de Gallego

looking-across-the valle-de-tena

Day 6 - Sallent to Tramacastilla

Route – 16km, ascent: 700m 
Including optional side trips:
18km, ascent: 1000m

Today you cross over to the western side of the valley and head south. The route passes through lovely alpine meadows which are covered in orchids during early summer. The views are great throughout the day. There are two optional side trips to two summits. One to Punta del Pacino (1965m) for panoramic views across the valley – you can see nearly the whole weeks hiking route from the summit.

The other side trip is to Punta de la Cochata (1911m) which is a short and sharp ascent involving a bit of scrambling. You descend past the tiny village of Sandinies to Tramacastilla.

Meals – Breakfast and Dinner

Overnight –Hotel Mariana, Tramacastilla

pyrenees-hiking-holiday

Day 7 - Tramacastilla to Piedrafita

Shorter Option: 14km, ascent: 500m 
Longer Option:
20km, ascent: 650m
Bike Option:
40km; ascent: 630m

Today, one route option passes through the woods of Betato before climbing through meadows to the lake of Ibon de Piedrafita nestled under the vast cliffs of the Sierra de Partacua. The longer route takes a longer track through higher meadows to the lake. Both routes finish at the village of Piedrafita where you’ll be picked up for a short transfer to Biescas where you’ll spend your final night at Hotel Tierra de Biescas.

There is also the option to do today’s route by mountain bike. We’ll arrange for the bikes to be delivered to your hotel either the evening before. The route is mainly on 4*4 track and passes through lovely meadows. You can cycle right back to the hotel in Biescas. There is a choice of either standard or electric bikes – if you don’t cycle regularly choose the electric bike – there’s a lot of up!

Meals – Breakfast, Packed Lunch & Dinner

Overnight –4* Hotel Tierra de Biescas

hotel-tierra-de-biescas-night(2)

Day 8 - Depart

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and time to pack. Our transfers are designed to get you to the airport in good time for the return Ryanair flight to London Stansted which departs at 1740. We also offer an earlier transfer which drops off at the rail station at 1145. 

Need to Knows

Provider – this holiday is organised by us in association with a trusted local partner, based in the Valle de Tena.

Terrain – most of this walking holiday is off-road on rugged terrain so you will need proper walking shoes with cushioning and support.  There is little shade so adequate weather protection is also vital. We strongly recommend the use of walking poles. A reasonable level of fitness is essential.

Maximum altitude – the maximum altitude on this holiday is 2653m above sea level.

Accommodation – the itinerary is based on half board in handpicked 2*, 3* & 4* hotels.

Lunch – packed lunches are included from your overnight accommodation on two of your walking days. Additionally, you can generally pick up supplies from local bakers or mini markets before you set off each day.

Party size – please note that the minimum party size is 2. For groups of 2 or more where a single room is needed, the single supplement is £165.

Booking Conditions – be sure to read our full terms and conditions here before booking.

At Your Own Risk – please read the important notes here.

Travel Advice – check your government’s travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination. For UK citizens, check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advice here.

Passport & Visa –  any questions should be directed to the relevant embassy of your destination country; find out more here. It is your responsibility to be in possession of a full passport, valid for your chosen destination.

Travel Insurance – having adequate and valid travel insurance is a condition of booking with us. Details of our insurance partner, Campbell Irvine, are here.

Health Information – You should carry either an European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)  Neither is an alternative to adequate travel insurance. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice and https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/

ABTA – Independent travel advice and help is always available from ABTA by calling 020 3117 0599 or visiting www.abta.com.

Join our mailing list