Itinerary Expand all Fly to Barcelona; transfer to Rialp (approx. 3 hours) Fly to Barcelona; transfer to Rialp (approx. 3 hours). Rialp is a small village set at 725m altitude, with only 629 full time residents. Hotel Victor or similar Meals included: Dinner Day 1 Start Rialp. If you are unable to meet the group at the airport, the trip will begin in Rialp, a small village set at 725m altitude, with only 629 full time residents. Hotel Victor or similar Meals included: Dinner Day 2 Snowshoe the Santa Magdalena valley; informative afternoon session about the Pyrenees. A 10 minute transfer takes us to our start point, where Roní and Port-Ainé ski resort are linked, for a day exploring the Santa Magdalena Valley. Crossing deep forests and ridges we admire some of the highest peaks of Catalonia. The day finishes with a transfer back to our hotel (approx 20 mins), where our guide will provide you with more information about the Pyrenees area. For instance you will hear about Tírvia – a village destroyed during the Spanish Civil War, where the last Cathar was arrested. There will be time to explore this village on the following day. Distance: 6km/ Elevation gain: 450m/ Duration: 5 hours including breaks.Hotel Victor or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 3 Explore the La Coma Valley, crossing remote villages and through the deep forests of Les Bordes de Burg; visit local cheese producer. The scenic village of Farrera is just a 30 minute transfer and is a great location to begin our walk. Today our route takes us through the La Coma Valley. Here we find numerous 'bordes' or shepherd's huts, used to keep cattle and store feed. Traversing first deep forests, we pass through two small villages - Farrera and Burg, both of which have fewer than 100 inhabitants. This insight into a traditional way of life in the remote countryside is what makes this walk memorable. After the walk we transfer back to the Hotel. We will have time for a shower and a deserved rest before visiting a cheese producer, located in Rialp. We will have the opportunity to hear stories about how their products are made and of course try some of them, accompanied with traditional wines of Catalonia. Distance: 8km/ Elevation gain: 550m/ Duration: 6 hours including breaks.Hotel Victor or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 4 Walk in the Espot mountains, wine tasting at the hotel. For the third snowshoe walk of the week we will be in the Espot mountains. Our aim is to reach the Rossell peak (2007m) located on the ridge between the Espot and the Escart valleys. The views from the summit are certainly worth the effort! Our path takes us through El Forcall, a forest of an outstanding beauty, where dwarf mountain pines and silver birches will lead our way. On the ground we can see alpenrose and common bearberry, along with juniper in the sunniest parts. The day finishes with a transfer back to our hotel (approx 20 mins) where we will have the opportunity to taste some of the local produce, including cheese and sausages from the Pallars Sobirà region, accompanied with wine from the south of Catalonia. Distance: 12km/ Elevation gain: 500m/ Duration: 5-6 hours including breaks.Hotel Victor or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 5 Free day for relaxation or optional activities such as skiing, visiting the Romanesque village of Son or taking a local bus to surrounding villages of Esterri d’Àneu or Sort. After breakfast the rest of the day is free to relax, explore Rialp, visit Son, a village home of a remarkable Romanesque church, or head to the nearby ski resort. Rialp is well connected to Sort and Esterri d’Àneu thanks to local bus lines. in Esterri d’Àneu you can find an interesting eco museum, set up in 1994 to promote the ecoconservation in the area while in Sort you have the opportunity to visit a museum called The Freedom Trail. It illustrates the story of thousands of people (Jewish, British airplane pilots for instance) who escaped from the Fascist regime during the World War II by crossing the Pyrenees. Your leader will be able to advise you of your options of how best to spend your free day. Hotel Victor or similar Meals included: Breakfast Day 6 Transfer to Planes de Son, on to Aiguestortes National park, pass Pla de la Font hut to Fogueruix Pass (2110m). After breakfast we head off to Planes de Son, our starting point today, passing by Son, a nearby village at 1390m famous for its Romanesque bell tower. On our way to the Fogueruix Pass at 2110m, we get into the Aigüestortes National park and can stop at the Pla de la Font mountain hut and crane our necks at some of the highest peaks in the area that tower above us. The pass itself lies between the Son Valley and the Espot valley. We descend via another route back down to the Planes de Son. Distance: 11.5km/ Elevation gain: 690m/ Duration: 7 hours including breaks.Hotel Victor or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 7 Circular walk across Port-Ainé forest and Orri peak summit (2439m). Today, our circular walk will take us to the summit of Torreta de l’Orri (2439m), a peak located at the top of the Port-Ainé ski resort. It represents the highest point we will reach during the week and from here we will be rewarded by breathtaking views of Catalonia, and of the other peaks of the Pyrenees. After having taken some moments to admire the beauty of the area we will follow a crest line to then continue into a dwarf-mountain pine forest called Duc. NOTE: Depending on weather and snow conditions this loop can be shortened to 9km and the elevation gain will be 371m. Distance: 14.5km/ Elevation gain: 480m/ Duration: 7 hours including breaksHotel Victor or similar Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Transfer to Barcelona; fly to London. Transfer to Barcelona; fly to London. Meals included: Breakfast Day 8 End Rialp Our trip finishes today in Rialp. Meals included: Breakfast
Spain No visa required for British passport holders. For further Brexit travel advice please visit https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/brexit-advice-for-travellers
Mountain hotels Hotel Victor Our accommodation for the week is Hotel Victor in Rialp. This family‐run charming hotel was founded in 1903 and has been recently restored. All rooms are en suite and very comfortable. There is free Wi‐Fi access in the hotel. Meals are prepared using local produce giving a great insight into the traditions of the area. Victor's cuisine is very popular, so much that it has become the main reason for many people to come and visit the area. Single supplements are available on request.
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Reviewed March 2020 Simon Reading Trip: Snowshoeing in the Catalan Pyrenees Great insight into Catalonia A week snowshoeing in the Catalan Pyrenees, with good snow and a great guide. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Great views on our last days when the skies fully cleared. What did you think of your group leader? Miguel was particularly good and gave a detailed and very personal insight into Catalonia and the Pyrenees. He give evening talks on Bears, the geography of the Pyrenees and even local cheese sampling with very good wine provided to ensure an authentic experience. He was clearly well informed about the region and picked each days walk with a critical eye on the weather and where we would experience the best snow conditions and weather. He has a wealth of experience and was open to sharing his views on the region, its politics and its challenges which gave a more in depth view adding to the overall experience. He is someone I would be delighted to meet up with again.
Reviewed February 2020 Alan Reimer Trip: Snowshoeing in the Catalan Pyrenees Snowshoeing in the Catalan Pyrenees Excellent trip & a great hotel. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Cathar grave stones,Tírv, Aigüestortes National Park, Espot mountains What did you think of your group leader? Miguel is a very competent mountain leader. He is also a walking encycopedia on Catalan history.
Reviewed February 2020 Geoff Culver Trip: Snowshoeing in the Catalan Pyrenees Snowshoeing in the Catalan Pyrenees A pleasant weeks snow shoe walking in the Catalan Pyrenees, although it was unseasonably warm so we had to go quite high to get decent snow. It's a beautifiul range of mountains with lots of traditional villages which are much nicer than the overdeveloped skiing centres in the Alps. The hotel in Rialp was fine, with a comfortable bed and powerful shower. Overall the food in the hotel was very good, although my bathroom could have done with a bit of TLC and the rooms are short of sitting space for couples, although there is always the bar area. Our tour leader was Miguel Ibanez, who's company deliver the tour as a package for Exodus. He has a deep love of Catalan and delighted in showing us the mountains and the local produce from the region. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The final days walk above Espot, where we carried on abve the refuge into a bowl with a frozen lake and mountains all around. I also enjoyed the visit to the little museum in Sort on our rest day where we were told about the WWII refugees and Allied pilots who escaped via the Pyrenees.
Reviewed March 2019 Nina Whidby Trip: Snowshoeing in the Catalan Pyrenees Snowshoeing in the Catalan Pyrenees The holiday had everything, the sunny beautiful weather with snow and without snow, walking and snowshoeing,with rich history of the Catalan Pyrenees (and Pallars Sobira) from ancient time to modern days, with its culture, celebrations and suffering, with its nature and, of course, with people. Walking and snowshoeing, as it was already said in previous reviews, were with beautiful and stunning views over the mountains, on different altitudes. Passing through different villages, so different in their style and architecture to British ones, we were introduced to its history by our guide Miguel, and this was a great addition to our holiday. I like these villages and towns which looked so organic with nature, they were like a continuation of the mountains – the same colour and so close to nature! Snowshoeing was very enjoyable, at higher altitude and more strenuous than walking. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? I like all the walks as they all were different and all had their own charm. I liked the Bordes – Burg walk. In spite of the fact it did not have snow, it was very interesting from the point of view of the history of this area and picturesque views of Burg. Visiting a small 13th century church in Tirvia and seeing the still remaining traces of shrapnel on the walls of buildings, as a reminder of the atrocities committed by General Franco's troops, was an important learning point in this trip. I liked all the snowshoeing walks, and it is difficult to say which day was better, as all of them were excellent! What did you think of your group leader? Thanks to Miguel all our trips were very well organised. He is very dedicated to his job and knowledgeable of the area and its history. Even on our free day, he took us to the Prison Museum in Sort – another eye-opener revealing the not very well known history of the Pallars Sobira area. In addition, he organised a very interesting excursion to a local cheese maker with cheese tasting. Wine tasting with his knowledge of local wines was also very good. Every evening he managed to introduce something new to us, even some Catalan language. A lot of humour and fun! Great job! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? My advice as already was mentioned in other reviews. Also, you should be fit as some snowshoeing is quite physically demanding and at times quite brisk. Is there anything else you would like to add? The cuisine at the Hotel Victor was very good with a choice of fish, meat and vegetables. Portions were quite big, sometimes difficult to finish. Fish dishes were wonderful, very well prepared. For lovers of coffee – this part of the world has delicious coffee, very well prepared. My only dissatisfaction – as not a lover of pizza, I did not much enjoy our meal in the pizzeria. I would rather had more proper local tapas. Finally, my husband and I did not got lost going from Sort to Rialp!!
Reviewed March 2019 Richard Anderson Trip: Snowshoeing in the Catalan Pyrenees Excellent active and cultural holiday This is a great addition to exodus' portfolio, with cheese, wine and local food as well as superb walking and snowshoeing. A visit to a mountain hut in the Aiguestortes National Park, not currently in the trip notes but very much in Miguel's area of walking knowledge, was stunning. MIguel is a gentleman, a true Catalan and boasts a fine Scottish hat as well as some surprising Hebridean anecdotes. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Doing the conga with the villagers in Rialp during Carnival. What did you think of your group leader? As above Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Best to bring a rucksack either with plastic straps/clips down the sides, or one with enough space under the top to wedge snowshoes under. Just that it's a nuisance to have to tie the snowshoes on and then undo them again. Is there anything else you would like to add? Don't get lost on the path between Sort and Rialp on the day off....
Reviewed March 2019 Peter I'Anson Trip: Snowshoeing in the Catalan Pyrenees Snowshoeing in Catalan The recent weather meant that snow was only present at the higher altitudes, but, there was only minimal disappointment as the Pyrenees is a beautiful place to visit at any time of the year. Miguel used his local knowledge to ensure we had good walks every day, even when we were not snowshoeing. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Seeing the peaks of the Aiguestortes National Park. What did you think of your group leader? Miguel's enthusiasm for Catalan stood out both during the walks and the early evening events he arranged. He does that little extra to enable you to have a good time. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be prepared to be flexible, the weather can be fickle.
Reviewed March 2019 Katy Smith Trip: Snowshoeing in the Catalan Pyrenees Snowshoeing in the Catalan Pyrenees Having read the trip reviews from the previous trip in February we did not expect to be doing much snowshoeing. We had an email from Exodus explaining that the unusually warm weather this year in February had brought spring early and to come prepared for more of a walking holiday. However Miguel changed the itinerary round and adapted some of the walks and we actually had plenty of snow! The first couple of days were as expected- beautiful spring walking in the mountains although we did walk in snow on the second day but without snowshoes. It actually snowed above 2000m mid week so we even had fresh snow one day. Miguel took us high in search of snow for the last 3 days and we were not disappointed- there really was plenty of snow and we had 3 great days of snowshoeing. The great days out in the mountains combined with plenty of beers, coffees, cheese and wine tasting and Miguel’s great knowledge of the Catalan history and area all made for a wonderful holiday. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Every day had its own inspirational moment so it’s hard to pick out one. But I think the day we started walking from the ski resort was my favourite day. There had been fresh snow fall overnight and it was very cold. When we came out of the forest we were above the clouds. All the trees were heavily frosted and it looked like fairy land! The snow was deep and crisp, the sun was strong, the sky deep blue and it was truly magical! Walking in the National Park was also truly memorable- the snow was really deep and the views of the mountain ranges all around us were magnificent! What did you think of your group leader? Miguel truly loves his job and it shows in the way he leads the trip! He is so enthusiastic and really went out if his way each day to ensure we had a great day and made the most of the weather and snow conditions. He is passionate about Catalan history and the area and we really enjoyed our evenings and the talks he gave. We also really appreciated the his knowledge of local wines!! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Go prepared for all walking conditions! Take plenty of layers! We wore everything from T shirts and summer walking trousers to full ski gear with gaiters, hats and gloves!! Is there anything else you would like to add? You can never predict weather and snow conditions when booking snowshoeing holidays - but rest assured that Miguel will do his utmost best to ensure you have a great holiday regardless. If there is snow ... he’ll find it!!
Reviewed February 2019 Tim Shaw Trip: Snowshoeing in the Catalan Pyrenees Snowshoeing in the sun The amazing weather meant that snow was fast disappearing, but our leader, Miguel, still found some excellent routes. There were some enjoyable snowshoeing challenges, and outstanding views of distant peaks. Miguel also shared his passion for Catalonia and its history,food and wine. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The reward of fabulous views after a hard traverse uphill to Creu de l’Eixol. What did you think of your group leader? Very good. Flexible in choosing appropriate routes for the group members.
Reviewed February 2019 Richard Christian Trip: Snowshoeing in the Catalan Pyrenees Not as expected Having previously been on trips snowshoeing in winter in Finland and trekking in the French Pyrenees during the summer months, I had an expectation of a snow filled adventure on this holiday. Unfortunately we were unlucky to have no snow! On another trip, blue sky and sunshine would have been great but it was not what we were expecting. To be fair, Miguel our guide did take the group snowshoeing on some ski resort pistes during the week and on the final day, after a bit of a drive, led us on a memorable trek through pine forests up to spectacular mountain views. The Hotel Victor was nice, clean , comfortable with very friendly staff. The breakfasts were very good and there was a good choice of three courses for dinner in the evening. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The best part of the trip was on the final day when we trekked through pine forests to a mountain refuge and the onwards up to a view point to see magnificent views on the distant peaks. The trip to the village of Sort to visit the jail where Allied Pilots etc escaped over the Pyrenees from France during WW2 was a moment for reflection. What did you think of your group leader? Miguel is a very enthusiastic, knowledgeable guide. He was very organised and we always felt that we were safe and in good hands. He is very passionate about the Catalan people and his evening talks about the history of the region, way of life and flora and fauna were very interesting. He has a great sense of humour and the evening routine of translating the menu for the next days dinner from Catalan to English was always a good laugh. There is no doubt that his humour made up for the lack of snow. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Do check a reliable site for the weather forecast for your trip and take the appropriate gear. Miguel will asses the fitness of the group on the first day and he will adapt the following hikes accordingly. Be honest with him if you find the first day hard. Our group of 8 were all experienced hikers and our treks were in the challenging range. Is there anything else you would like to add? Exodus can't control the weather so do check and be prepared for unexpected conditions. The area is full of trails with beautiful views.
Reviewed February 2019 Peter Sumpter Trip: Snowshoeing in the Catalan Pyrenees Snowshoeing versus global warming, perhaps?! To state the obvious, snow is very much necessary on a trip such as this. So when the quantity is rather lacking and the quality is rather poor, the trip has the potential to disappoint. The departure date unfortunately coincided with a period of un-seasonably warm weather, such that the snow that had been present only a week or two before (see other reviews) had retreated well up the mountains. Although the group leader tried his best to find routes to make good use of our snowshoes, there was no way to produce the walks that I had anticipated. For me, the setting at the edge of the Pyrenees, the nice family run hotel, an enthusiastic and entertaining group leader, the cheese and wine tasting, and a very agreeable group of eight of us couldn’t compensate for that lack of snow. There was probably some great walking that could be done under the circumstances, but understandably the group leader was keen to find opportunities for us to use our snowshoes, even where that involved the edges of ski runs and rather thin and icy snow. From previous reviews, it’s clear that this trip usually delivers the expected experience. But my week in the Catalan Pyrenees was not usual – a week of full-on sunshine (great) that meant daytime temperatures in Dialp of up to 16C (not so great). And that was a pity. My rating of the trip is therefore primarily based on the snow conditions. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Seeing the snowy peaks throughout the week would be the highlight. If pushed, then I’d say reaching the summit of the Espot mountains on day 4 was the most inspirational, with the views that were presented all around. What did you think of your group leader? Miguel is friendly, keen for all in the group to have a good experience and works hard, and that included accompanying us for much of our free day. He looks to adapt the activities to the weather / snow conditions and to the abilities of the group. He was perhaps a little too keen to push us, recognising that we were a reasonably fit group. That pushing did have its rewards, but it would have been good to be more involved in the decision making. Miguel is very passionate about Catalonia and imparts information on a variety of topics in the evenings (a little too detailed for me, at times!). Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Glorious quantities of snow are not guaranteed. Pack those layers – although in my case plenty of the winter clothing wasn’t required. You might wish to consider bringing more than the recommended 1 litre water bottle, given the time you'll be out and active - have both a flask and a bottle, perhaps. Take note of the activities detailed in the Trip Notes rather more than the general grading of a 3 (Moderate) activity level. There can be a significant amount of walking in snow and of elevation gain while doing so. Is there anything else you would like to add? Nope.
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