Pyrenees Aragon and Navarra

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1 Pyrenees Aragon and Navarra 20 th May 26 th May th October 3 rd November 2018 The Pyrenees The Pyrenees inhabits stunning scenery, rough landscapes and abandoned villages It is possible to drive all day on the mountain roads and not encounter anyone. A map easily shows the barrier in which the mountains create between France and Spain; it is 250 miles long, and its highest peak reaches 3500m (11,500W). In it resides glaciers, lakes, rivers, woods and deep canyons. We will be travelling through Catalonia, which has its own language and disznct culture, as it is regarded as a country within Spain, rather than a district. Some of the villages within this area have been completely abandoned leaving skeletons of houses, owen overgrown by nature, as well as pots and pans as a reminder of its former inhabitants. Not only the well known structures will we visit however, there are other sites such as bridges and churches in the areas. This tour makes you want to get out of the car and take in the views as well as enjoy the area we are visizng.

2 Day 1 Dover to Poi?ers We will meet at Dover, where we will cross to Calais; we then drive from Calais to PoiZers, at a steady pace (no more than 65mph) so we have a comfortable, unrushed journey. We will stay the night here, before travelling to our starzng point the next day. Day 2 Poi?ers to Bardenas We begin our journey to the Bardenas region, having lunch in the town of Mimizan, which is located on the AtlanZc coast. The remaining road mileage takes us to the hotel in the impressive Bardenas desert region. Day 3-7 We head off the tarmac and into the desert, the kind of place you need to see to believe, and a phenomenon in Europe! The Bardenas Reales is a semi-desert natural region, it takes up 100,000 acres in southeast Navarra bordering Aragon in southern Spain; made up of clay, chalk and sandstone which has been eroded over Zme by water and wind, creazng surprising shapes, canyons, plateaus and isolated hills. Due to the lack of vegetazon and water, there are very few inhabited areas in the Bardenas region. From here we will travel to Castle Loarre, which sits on a mountain guarding the Pyrenees from invaders from the plains, surrounded by the Riglos crags and Santo Domingo range of hills. The next four nights will be spent in this stunning place, with a change to visit the castle itself built into the mountain. For the next four days we will venture from Loarre to a different area, so you can see the huge variazon of landscape that the Pyrenees has to offer

3 The Sierra de Guara is a total contrast to the Bardenas region, as it has a vast amount of water, with river crossings and ancient bridges. When we travel within the Sierras de Loarre and Santo Domingo, the landscapes slowly change, as you are able to see spectacular rock formazons rising high above us. We will visit a famous example of this at the hermitage de Marcuello, these incredible views are called the Mallos de Riglos. Day 8 On this day, we will leave Loarre to travel tracks and trails towards the town of Ainsa. However, before arriving in the town we will visit the Abrigos del Tozal de Mallata, where we are able to see caves, with prehistoric drawings. You will also be able to see the Eagles and Condors as they fly and circle their nests in the steep walls of the canyon. We then stay in Ainsa for the night, and you are able to have supper on the hill in one of the lovely restaurants in the old quarter. Those who are conznuing to the second week of the tour in Andorra will stay with us, however those who are travelling home will begin their journey either through France to Calais or to Bilbao for the ferry to Portsmouth.

4 The Weather The weather condizons can vary, so we advise you to pack appropriate clothing for all types of weather condizons. It will be warmer in the valleys, yet colder in the mountains. What you need: European travel kit (Inc. Hi-vis, Breathalyser, first aid kit, warning triangle, head lamp converters) Euros for tolls on Dover/Calais motorway route and the 1 toll road on the Santander route The tour guides will carry a First Aid kit, recovery gear and tools. If there is anything you are unsure about taking or not, then please feel free to ask. Due to the nature of these treks, this is a guide to your adventure, as the details may be subject to alterazon.

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