Pyrenees Les to Andorra 12 th May to 20 th May 2018 13 th October to 21 st October 2018 The Pyrenees Those of you who have already been to the Pyrenees will agree that it is one of the most fascinating mountain ranges in Europe. Those who go for the first time will discover stunning scenery, rough landscapes, abandoned villages and vast emptiness. It is quite possible to drive all day, over all sorts of mountain roads and encounter no one. A glance at a map of Europe shows the barrier the Pyrenees mountains create between France and Spain; the range is 250 miles long, and the highest peak reaches 3500m (11,500ft). Within the region lie glaciers, lakes, rivers, woods and deep canyons. Besides its impressive nature, there are many stunning villages and interesting towns. As so often in the remote parts of Southern Europe, some of the villages have been abandoned, leaving skeletons of houses, often overgrown by trees and plants. Pots and pans remain as remnants of their former inhabitants. Our route includes mountains, hillsides and dense forest. We cross from valley to valley using ancient tracks to traverse the cols, often ascending through ski resorts which, out of season, are an unusual site. Alongside the natural beauty there are many historic towns, bridges and churches, particularly when we follow the ancient pilgrim routes. We re always sure to stop and take time to admire all we see to get out of the car and enjoy the scenery.
Day 1 Saturday. Ferry from the UK to Spain We meet at Portsmouth for the 8:15am Ferry to Santander a chance to spend the day relaxing at the beginning of the tour and avoid the drive down through France. The Ferry and cabins are included in the price there are options to upgrade to Luxury suites which you can book through us in advance. Day 2 Sunday. Arrival in Spain and travel to Les The ferry docks in Santander at around 2pm. After disembarking we travel along the coast past Bilbao and towards the French boarder where we turn away from the main roads and head up into the foothills of the Pyrenees. Our destination is Les, which is 300 miles (5 hours) drive from Santander. Your guide for the week will meet you in Les with a restaurant table booked for your evening meal. Day 3 Monday. Exploring the countryside around Les The first tracks of the day start just outside Les and we spend the morning working our way up the mountainside which is the back-drop to the town. The area is dense woodland until we arrive at a viewing area 1000 metres which offers spectacular views of the valley. Lunch is taken at a small tapas bar in the centre of the Bosost, a pretty little tourist town, after which the tracks take us upwards through the forest and above the treeline to 2300 meters. The panoramic views of the Pyrenees are breath taking. We end the day dropping down into the village of Vilamos, for the short journey back to Les for the evening, where we eat at the locals restaurant in the village. There is also and opportunity to do some shopping at the duty-free style shops on the main road in Les where people cross from France into Spain to save money!
Day 4 Tuesday. Les to Rialp We leave Les, but not before calling in the local bakery and butchers as we will be having lunch in the mountains. As we head for the Col de Varrados at 2000 meters it is still possible for some snow to be around for the May tour dates which has been known to block the trails. After passing through the Ski resort of Bagerque we visit the famous church at Montgarri which was refuge to many escaping from France into Spain during the second world war. We are only a short distance from the border but the journey those survivors took would have been very hard and dangerous, and church must have been a welcome sight. From Motgarri we follow a beautiful valley which is home to many cattle and wild horses down towards the d Aran valley and Rialp which will be our base for the next 3 nights. Day 5 Wednesday. Cap del Port, Espot and the Col de L Exoil A day of ascents and descents! We first head up the 30 hairpins towards Cap de Port to take in the view down into the next valley. After a quick stop we descend and are quickly climbing up towards Espot where we stop to take on provisions for a picnic lunch. We ascend through the ski resort of Super Espot and up to the Col de L Exoil where you can take in the panoramic views as you eat your lunch. Looking down on the ski resort we are above even the highest lifts! The afternoon follows tracks with spectacular views before we descend through the town of Sport towards Rialp.
Day 6 Thursday. La Seu d Urgell This is the longest trail of the week but well worth it! We pass through ski resorts and above ski resorts before corssing into the next valley. The route takes close to Andorra, skirting La Seu d Urgell. The views from the track are spectacular and there are regular stops for photographs. We stop for lunch in at a refuge in the middle of a forest which serves simple, good food. After lunch we continue through high passes and forest as we work round to the pretty village of Burg where we descend into Tirva and back round to Rialp. Day 7 Friday. The Smuggler s Route The Smuggler s Route is one of the most famous trails in Europe and takes us from Spain into Andorra the highlight of the week! We leave Rialp and head up through ever narrowing valleys before reaching the village of Tor. The village is unoccupied during the winter months, but when we pass through there is always the opportunity to stop for a snack and a cup of coffee before heading onto the Smuggler s Route. The trail takes us through picturesque valleys before ascending through the trees and onto the mountainside. As the views expand you can see down into neighbouring valleys and spectacular scenery. The trail ends at a viewing point with a panoramic vista over Andorra. The final day is a short day to allow for time to explore the unique town of Andorra and the unique shopping opportunities before spending our last night of the tour at the Hotel Pyrenees which is in the centre of town.
Day 8 Saturday. Heading Home An early start for those heading home with us via the ferry from Santander as we have over 400 miles to cover before the sailing at 8:30 pm that evening. We ll stop for breaks and lunch as time allows. The sailing arrives in Portsmouth at 7:45 pm the following day. The Weather The weather conditions can vary, so we advise you to pack appropriate clothing for all types of weather conditions. It will be warmer in the valleys, yet colder in the mountains. What you need: The accommodation is bed and breakfast we usually use local restaurants for evening meals and either stop at a restaurant for lunch, or call in at local shops to buy provisions for a picnic. We ll tell you the plans each day. We advise you to bring a European travel kit which includes a hi-vis jacket, breathalyser, first aid kit, warning triangle and head lamp converters. You ll need Euros for the motorway on the road from Santander. The tour guides will carry a First Aid kit, recovery gear and tools. While not essential, we do advise having your vehicle serviced before the tour. Due to the nature of these treks, this is a guide to your adventure, as the details may be subject to alteration.