Wild Bielsa
Guided adventures: bivouac, 4x4, e-bike and hiking in the Spanish Pyrenees
Wild Bielsa is nature at its finest. It’s history and tradition. It’s culture and roots. This journey into the valley of Bielsa, high in the Pyrenees, combines hiking, e-biking, 4x4 and bivouac adventures. Find out about the Battle of Bielsa Pocket, the mines of Liena and the conquest of Monte Perdido.
TU VIAJE, AL DETALLE
You’ll see the emblematic Puerto Viejo, a border crossing which played host to the finale of the Battle of Bielsa Pocket in the Spanish Civil War. To round off the day, we’ll visit the Bielsa Museum, where you’ll learn all about this tale of exile, as well as the culture of this mountain village, including its legendary carnival celebrations.
You’ll discover the valley’s remarkable industrial past with an e-bike ride that’ll take you up to over 2500m, and the gates of the Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park. You’ll enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of all the valleys of Bielsa, and find out all about its recent history. Then we’ll turn our attention to the western end of the valley, cranking up the 4×4 and heading for the remote lake of Urdiceto, where we’ll peep over into the neighbouring valleys of Chistau and Rioumajou.
To round off your adventure in the Spanish Pyrenees, we’ll head off on a bivouac hike near the Monte Perdido massif, in the shadow of the peaks that make it up, which stretch to more than 3000m. This is the perfect place to learn about the history of the glaciers, and the first (registered) conquest of the third giant of the Pyrenees, two centuries ago. A night spent under a starry sky is the perfect way to end an epic adventure.
Highlights
- Hiking, bivouac, e-bike & 4x4 routes.
- Visit to Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park.
- Guided visit to the Bielsa Museum.
- Local mountain guide.
Program
Day 1: Welcome and briefing
Your Bielsa adventure starts here!
We’ll meet at the Caserón Baruca apartment at the agreed time for a quick brefing, to talk about the excursions we’ll be doing, and review the necessary equipment. We’ll then enjoy a delicious group dinner to get to know each other better.
♦ You can book a transfer from any nearby airport (Barcelona, Zaragoza, Bilbao, Tarbes, or Toulouse) or train station straight to the valley. Just let us know in the contact form if you need it.
Day 2: Your first taste of hiking in the Spanish Pyrenees
Puerto Viejo and the Bielsa Pocket
12 km | + 1050 m | – 1050 m
Having picked you up at the hotel, we’ll take a short drive to the southern end of the Bielsa tunnel, where our adventure begins. From there, we’ll take the path that will lead us to the small but perfectly formed Pinarra Valley, and the border crossing of Puerto Viejo, which saw the exile of thousands of people during the frosty spring of 1938. We’ll pause on the Puerto Viejo peak to admire the majestic Munia massif, its fierce appearance contrasting with the deep serenity of the Géla valley below. We’ll round off the day with a visit to the Bielsa Museum, where we’ll learn more about what took place here during the Civil War, as well as local traditions and culture.
Day 3: e-bike and 4×4 adventure
The industrial past of Liena and Urdiceto
20 km | + 1000 m | – 1000 m
After a well-deserved rest, it’s time to head to the factory. Luckily, you’re on holiday, and no one’s going to put you to work. But you will get to discover two spectacular spots, fantastic examples of what industry in the Pyrenees achieved at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. With the help of the latest e-bikes, we’ll climb Spain’s highest mountain track to discover the mines of the Pyrenees’ past. The abysses of the Circo de Barrosa glacier will welcome us with open arms. The afternoon involves just as much adventure, but less physical exertion: an exciting 4x4 ride will take us to one of the country’s first hydroelectric plants, no longer in use, and the mountain lake above it. You’ll love discovering the glorious industrial past of this valley, and the views towards the neighbouring Val de Chistau and the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park are something you’ll never forget.
Day 4: mini-trek with bivouac
Glacial landscapes
7 km | + 1400 m | – 0 m
Don’t skimp on breakfast today, as we’ve got a long hike in the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park ahead of us. The climb up to the Balcón de Pineta can feel relentless, but you’ll be rewarded by stunning views of the valley below. At the top, the immense, peaceful Plana de Marmorés unfurls before us, below the glacier and peak of Monte Perdido. We’ll find the best spot to set up camp for the night, and enjoy a hot dinner whilst we talk about the Pyrenean glaciers and the intrepid explorers who traversed these barren landscapes. All that, with the backdrop of a million stars in an inky black sky.
Day 5: Descent to the Bielsa Valley
Gavarnie, the cradle of Pyreneism
13 km | + 400 m | – 1700 m
Opening your eyes and seeing the Pineta Valley at first light is nothing short of spectacular. And enjoying a coffee whilst you marvel at the view? Well, that’s priceless. Before heading back down the valley, we’ll top off this hike in the Spanish Pyrenees with a short circular route. We’ll circle the turquoise waters of the Ibon de Marboré, and head up to the Collado de los Astazus, from where we’ll peek into the breathtaking neighbouring valley of Gavernie. Then we’ll head down into the valley again and, if time allows, we’ll give you tips for the best local restaurants, so you leave Bielsa with a full stomach and a full heart.
♦ If you want to extend your stay for a few days to explore the local villages or nearby valleys, please indicate this in the contact form.
- 40-50 L backpack with rain cover.
- Trekking poles (rental available).
- Sleeping bag (comfort rating between -5ºC and 0ºC). (rental available).
- Sleeping bag liner.
- Sleeping pad (rental available).
- 1.5 L water bottle.
- Energy bars, nuts or similar snacks, and lunch meals for all days (packed lunches available upon request).
- Headlamp and spare batteries (rental available).
- Trekking boots.
- Long pants, thermal shirt, thermal leggings, and short-sleeve technical shirt.
- Insulated jacket (down or Primaloft).
- Waterproof jacket and pants (GORE‑TEX or similar).
- Passport and federation membership card (if applicable).
♦ You’ll receive a detailed gear list after confirming your reservation.
- Local mountain guide.
- MTB guide.
- Enduro e-bike rental with full safety gear included.
- Route planning and preparation.
- Personalised pre-trip guidance.
- Initial briefing.
- Welcome pack.
- 4x4 transfers within the area.
- Accommodation in a fully equipped apartment (3 nights).
- Dinner, breakfast, and cooking gear for the bivouac (1 night).
- Civil liability and accident insurance for mountain activities.
- Civil liability and surety insurance for package travel.
- Group safety equipment.
- Transport to/from the meeting point.*
- Packed lunches, drinks, meals not specified in the ‘What’s Included’ section, and other extras during the activity.*
- Travel insurance (optional).
- Cancellation insurance (optional).
- Expenses caused by abandoning the route.
- Bivouac gear (rental available).
- Anything not included in the ‘What’s included’ section.
If you require transportation to the Pyrenees, please specify it in the contact form.
Booking
- Booking request: submit a booking request through the contact form.
- Pre-contractual information: We’ll email you all the pre-contract information you need to review and sign, along with the trip terms and conditions and your traveller rights.
- Package travel contract and deposit: We’ll send you the official package travel contract to review and sign, plus the general terms and conditions and payment method. To secure your spot, you’ll need to pay a deposit of 20% of the trip price (unless your package travel contract specifies otherwise).
- Trip confirmation: When we reach the minimum number of participants, your trip will be confirmed.
- If we don’t reach the minimum number of people needed, we’ll let you know at least 7 days before departure and refund all payments made in full.
- Final payment: The remaining balance is due no later than 7 days before departure, unless your package travel contract specifies otherwise.
Package Travel General Conditions
You can check out our general conditions for package travel here.
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