Unspoilt Chistau
Guided hike & 4x4 trip in the Chistau valley
Unspolit Chistau is about discovering our essence. About reconnecting with our roots, in a way that’s just as authentic as the valley itself: taking in remote corners of the mountains, savouring the flavours of the land, and experiencing ancient traditions that are still alive and kicking.
TU VIAJE, AL DETALLE
Discover the hidden beauty of the valle de la Comuna, and its hamlets of Sin, Señes and Serveto. Feel like a true chizardo (mountain goat) when you reach the peak of Punta Suelza, an iconic mountain that grazes 3000m and offers incredible panoramic views of the Pyrenees.
Marvel at the unique landscape that characterises the Cotiella massif , and the idyllic Ibón de Plan, where legend has it a Moorish princess dances over the water’s surface at midsummer, and history tells us tales of Maquis and trenches.
See the spectacular Viadós mountain hut with its breathtaking views towards the Tuca de Lardana (Posets Peak), one of the most magical spots in the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park, where the comings and goings of mountaineers and shepherds blend perfectly with their surroundings.
And after all the incredible adventures that make up your Pyrenean walking holiday, you’ll enjoy the best food Chistau has to offer, tasting local produce, digging into mountain-style lunches and savouring delicious dinners in local eateries.
Highlights
- Hiking & 4x4 routes.
- Visit to the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park.
- Hotel accommodation and local gastronomy.
- Local mountain guide.
Program
Day 1: Welcome and briefing
Your Chistau adventure starts here!
We’ll meet at the hotel at the agreed time for a quick brefing, where we’ll go over the adventures in store and review the necessary equipment. Then you’ll enjoy a delicious, 100% chistabín dinner.
♦ 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: La Comuna and Punta Suelza
Dancing with chizardos
7 km | + 900 m | – 900 m
The first adventure of your walking holiday in the Pyrenees takes us to the small valley of La Comuna. We’ll pick you up bright and early in our 4x4 and take a spectacular drive to the Collado de la Cruz de Guardia, the mountain pass that connects Chistau with the neighbouring valley of Bielsa. From there, we’ll strike out on foot for the beautiful lakes of Barleto, and the peak of Punta Suelza. It’ll just be us and the occasional family of chamois (or chizardos, as we call them) and the local cattle. Don’t forget to listen out for the alarm call of the marmots. After our hike, we’ll set a course for Chistén (Gistaín) to discover its streets, houses and bordas, all steeped in history.
Day 3: Saravillo and the Cotiella massif
An oasis nestled among giants carved from rock
10 km | + 800 m | – 800 m
Coming to the halfway point of your walking holiday, we’ll discover the Cotiella limestone massif, renowned for its fascinating geology. We’ll start the day with a 4x4 drive through the incredibly diverse landscapes in the area. Then, we’ll follow an easy trail through this lunar landscape, ending at an oasis: the stunning Ibón de Plan, a peaceful lake encircled by soaring walls of rock and forests of conifers.
Day 4: Viadós and the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park
Where land is life
10 km | + 850 m | – 850 m
There’s only one way to round off your time in the Chistau Valley: a hike in our favourite place, Viadós. After a hearty breakfast (you’ll need it today), we’ll pile into our trusty 4x4 and head up the banks of the Cinqueta again, to start our hike at the feet of the Bachimala Peak. With the hypnotic rock formations of Espadas-Lardana above us, we’ll take a circular route and enjoy views of the most iconic mountains in the valley: Culfredas, Punta Suelza, Cotiella, los Eristes and Lardana (Posets Peak). We’ll round off the trip with a proper mountain lunch in the cosy Refugio de Viadós, which has played host to countless mountaineers since the 1950s.
♦ 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.
- 20-30L backpack with rain cover.
- Trekking poles (rental available).
- 1 L water bottle.
- Energy bars, nuts or similar snacks, and lunch meals for all days (packed lunches available upon request).
- Trekking boots.
- Long pants, thermal shirt, thermal leggings, and short-sleeve technical shirt.
- Insulated jacket (down or Primaloft).
- Waterproof jacket (GORE‑TEX or similar).
- NIE or Passport.
♦ 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 at Casa Anita hotel with breakfast included (3 nights).
- Welcome dinner at Casa Anita hotel.
- Farewell lunch at Viadós mountain hut.
- 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.
- Anything not included in the ‘What’s included’ section.
If you require transportation to the Pyrenees or packed lunches, 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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