Pyrenean expedition
The definitive trekking adventure
Hold onto your hats, it’s going to be a wild ride. Experience a full week of nomadic life in the Pyrenees, discovering untamed landscapes, empty trails, and otherworldly skies. This trekking adventure isn’t just a jaunt, it’s a chance to connect with the wildest, most rugged side of the mountains.
TU VIAJE, AL DETALLE
You’ll experience a unique adventure in the Pyrenees. We’ll link up the massifs of Cotiella, Posets, Suelza and Monte Perdido, sleeping in guarded or unguarded huts, or under the stars. What’s more, with the support of our 4x4, we’ll reach the heights necessary to make this odyssey a reality.
Specially designed to avoid the crowds, this trekking adventure takes us into the wildest part of the mountain range. The valleys of Bielsa, Chistau and Rioumajou, with their towering peaks, high passes, ancient trails and remote huts will delight anyone who loves a challenge in the mountains.
Completing this expedition is a real feat, as you have to be in good physical shape, and some nights you’ll have to forgo certain luxuries, like a hot shower or a bed. We’ll take care of the plan and the logistics, and provide a local mountain guide. All you have to do is walk, and enjoy this epic trekking adventure.
Highlights
- Trek with 4x4 support.
- Local mountain guide.
- Remote, little-known trails.
- Guarded and unguarded huts, and bivouac.
Program
Welcome and briefing
The adventure begins in Chistau
19:30. Briefing en la localidad de San Juan de Plan (Chistau, Spain) para comentar la travesía, ver el itinerario, comprobar el material y, por supuesto, conocernos mejor. Es importante realizar este briefing, ya que comentaremos in situ la travesía y guardaremos parte del material de vivac para no tener que cargar con él hasta la mitad del trekking.
♦ If you need accommodation for this day or a transfer from a nearby train station or airport (Barcelona, Zaragoza, Bilbao, Tarbes, or Toulouse), please let us know in the contact form.
Stage 1: the Cotiella massif
Little Canada
+ 1100 m | – 870 m | 12,5 km
This trekking adventure begins with a bang, as we’ll head for the Cotiella massif to enjoy one of the most special corners of the Pyrenees. From ridges and sharp needles that will make you think of the Dolomites, to lakes that look like something straight out of the Canadian Rockies, Cotiella’s mountains are spectacular and will take you by surprise. Tonight, we’ll sleep at the stunning, cosy Marradetas hut (guarded).
Stage 2: Posets-Maladeta Nature Park
A thousand ibones and one forqueta
+ 930 m | – 1200 m | 17 km
Once we’re up and have had a fortifying breakfast, we’ll head into the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park. A spectacular, isolated and demanding route that will take us to one of the highest lakes in the Pyrenees, and transport us to the heart of the Val de Chistau, through the Porteta l’Infierno. This route, featuring lakes galore and high mountain terrain, is a favourite among locals, so we won’t tell you much more, as we want you to see it with your own two eyes. Tonight, we’ll stay at the idyllic Viadós mountain hut (guarded).
Stage 3: Chistau and Rioumajou
M’en voy ta Francia (I’m off to France)
+ 1240 m | – 620 m | 14 km
A history marked by shepherds, war, guerrillas, exile, smuggling, and, these days, even MTB races. The border passes of the Pyrenees are living history. During this spectacular stage, we’ll hike along the border itself, through otherworldly terrain. We’ll finish up next to a huge lake for our first night at an unguarded hut. Don’t worry about your dinner, sleeping mat, or sleeping bag: a Lardana Expeditions 4x4 will appear, as if by magic, bearing all the provisions.
Stage 4: Punta Suelza
A viewpoint over the Valle Verde from 3000 metres
+ 574 m | – 1500 m | 8 km
We’ll polish off all the provisions at breakfast to get our strength up: this stage involves a nearly-three-thousander (just 20 metres shy, perfect for having it to ourselves). This peak is one of the best viewpoints in the Central Pyrenees. With a mindblowing 360º view, we’ll take in all the giants of the Pyrenees: Posets, Monte Perdido, Aneto, Vignemale, Pic Long, etc. We’ll retrace our steps back past a few ibones before being picked up by our 4x4, waiting to take us to Pineta, to the start of the last section of this epic trekking adventure. Tonight, you get a hot shower and soft mattress at the Pineta hut (guarded). (guarded).
Stage 5: Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park
One glacier, a million stars
+ 1380 m | – 0 m | 8 km
On this awesome but tough day, we’ll discover a place that enchanted the most famous Pyrenees mountaineers of the 19th century. As we’re in a National Park, there are more people, so we’ll have to do a bit of juggling to make sure we can do the best activities (we love a bit of improvisation). What we do know is that we’ll spend the night in bivouacs up high with views towards the northern face of Monte Perdido, the cherry on top of our adventure.
Stage 6: Circo de Gavarnie
In the footsteps of giants
+ 400 m | – 1700 m | 12 km
To round off this trekking adventure, we’ll head for the abysses of the Circo de Gavarnie (France). Marboré, la Brecha de Roland, el Taillón, el Vignemale… Today, it’s all about heights, and the legends of the Pyrenees won’t let you down. We’ll then head back to the Valle de Pineta, and the civilisation we left behind a few days hence.
♦ 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 7 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.
- Route planning and preparation.
- Personalised pre-trip guidance.
- Initial briefing.
- Welcome pack.
- 4x4 transfers within the area.
- Accommodation in mountain huts, half board (3 nights).
- Dinner, breakfast, and cooking gear for the unguarded hut and bivouac (2 nights).
- Civil liability and accident insurance for mountain activities.
- Civil liability and surety insurance for package travel.
- Group safety equipment.
- First night accommodation.*
- Transport to/from the meeting point.*
- Picnics, drinks, meals not specified in the ‘What’s Included’ section, showers, 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, accommodation for the first night, or picnics (to book at the guarded huts), 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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