GUIDED HIKING IN ORDESA AND MONTE PERDIDO NATIONAL PARK

HIKING

Day hikes returning to sleep in a hotel in the valley each right

TRIP DURATION

5 days, 4 nights. We can easily arrange longer or shorter versio

GRADE

3 - moderate with challenging optiones availeable

DATES

Start any day of the week from end of May to end of October

GUIDED ITINERARY

This trip is designed for those who prefer to explorer in the company of a local guide

PRICE

Please ask us for a custom quote for your specific dates and group!

TRANSPORT INCLUDED

This trip is designed for those who prefer all transport during the itinerary to be included. We'll come to pick you up at the airport (or any location you specify) at the start of the trip, take you to and from hikes and then take you to whatever location you desire at the end of the trip (an airport, another city, etc.)

TRIP DESCRIPTION

Come with us to explore the ancient trails and superb hiking terrain in Spain’s second oldest national park —Parque Nacional de Cañones de Ordesa y Monte Perdido—part of a larger area designated by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage site spanning the border between France and Spain, centered around Europe’s highest limestone mountain – Monte Perdido – and including two of the continent’s largest and deepest canyons and three major cirque walls. France’s Pyrenees National Park is just across the main ridge.

Enjoy fine cuisine based on fresh produce from the region’s agriculture, and if you enjoy wine, although not well-known internationally, the nearby Somontano and Cinca areas produce excellent wines.

There’ll be daily opportunities for observation of fauna & flora, with likely sightings of various raptors including the Lammergeier or Bearded Vulture, one of Europe’s rarest birds of prey, as well as marmots and perhaps even the nimble sarrio or chamoix. In spring and summer, there are wildflowers galore. Autumn brings spectacular riots of color to the mixed forest.

Day 1 Arrival in Torla

Arrival to the beautiful medieval village of Torla. Check into your charming hotel and explore the cobblestone streets. If time allows, go out for a short afternoon hike.

Overnight for next 3 nights – 3* family-run hotel in Torla

Days 2, 3 & 4 Hikes in Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido

Choose from various hikes on either the eastern or western sectors of the National Park. Options include:

“Fajas” – the classic Ordesa experience – 2 different options for circular hikes along “fajas” – the typical ledge-like trails along the Ordesa Canyon walls, offering amazing views and an unforgettable experience. Shorter and longer options are available.

Waterfalls – visit some of the many beautiful waterfalls in Ordesa Canyon that are among the highlights of Spain’s most famous Pyrenean national park.

Pineta Cirque – explore the impressive walls and hanging valleys of this glacial bowl below the north face of Monte Perdido.

GR-11 – hike a section of this famous long-distance footpath that runs the length of the Spanish Pyrenees

Smugglers trails – follow an ancient path up to the France-Spain border. No passport required!

Añisclo Canyon – one of the national park’s major canyons, this huge gash in the earth’s crust can be experienced on trails either down inside or up above.

Day 5 Depart Torla

Tour ends with breakfast. From Torla you travel onwards.

ITINERARY

ACCOMMODATION & GETTING THERE

Accommodations

A 3* charming family-run hotel in Torla, an attractive stone-built village in a superb setting at the mouth of the Ordesa Canyon, gateway to the national park.

How to get there

For self-drive itineraries: Torla is approximately 4 hrs. drive from Barcelona and 2 hours from Zaragoza. There are high-speed AVE trains from Madrid to Zaragoza, taking less than 2 hours. The National Park can also be easily reached by car from locations of interest in northeast Spain such as Pamplona, Bilbao or San Sebastian.

For transport-included itineraries: We can arrange a private taxi transfer from Zaragoza train station, Lleida train station, Barcelona airport or Madrid airport. Transfers can also be arranged to other areas of interest in northeast Spain such as Pamplona, Bilbao or San Sebastian.

Car Hire/Rental

Car rental with major agencies such as Enterprise, Avis and Sixt is available at the airports in Barcelona and Madrid and the train station in Zaragoza.

HIKE DETAILS

Hike difficulty: each day our guided trips offer an easier/shorter option B + to C (easy to moderate), and a longer, more challenging option (C to D).
Hike distances: range from 7.3 km/4.5 mi to 19 km/11.9 mi depending on route choice
Hike elevation gain: from +305m / +1001 ft to +810 / + 2657ft, depending on route choice
Hike time: from 2.5 to 7 hours, depending on route choice
Hike terrain: mostly hilly terrain throughout with occasional steep and/or rocky ascents/descents (scrambling/use of hands not required!). Typical walking surfaces include medieval “paved” paths and sheep drovers’ trails, dirt/rock forestry tracks, grassy meadows & paths and rocky mountain trails. The challenging/longer options may involve occasional easy trackless sections marked with cairns.
Transfer times from hotel to trailhead: ranging from 0 to 90 minutes depending on hike choice. There are many choices within a 20 minute range.

FEATURES OF THIS GUIDED TRIP

You’ll be accompanied by a certified mountain or specialist nature guide on all hiking days

All routes are designed to be safe but having a private local mountain guide adds special value to your experience. A guide provides in-depth insight to local nature, fauna, flora, geology, customs and culture as well as adding an extra measure of safety.

A range of flexible and safe hike choices

We provide 2 levels of of hike difficulty most days. Choose from among a variety of points of interest and differing levels of difficulty (time, distance and elevation gain). We also provide you with a color topographic map of the area.

Additional info to help you experience the best of the local area

We’ll provide recommendations for local points of natural, cultural, historic and artistic interest as well as local restaurants for when meals are not included in your trip package.