Wilderness-Travel-2017-Catalog

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FOR MORE DETAILS ON OUR EUROPEAN TRIPS, VISIT 40
The peaks of the Spanish Pyrenees soar above
a realm of ancient oak and fir forests, stone
bridges, and villages linked
by shepherds’ paths. Our
hiking journey traces an
arc across the best trails in
northern Spain, exploring
verdant valleys where the
ancient Aragonese dialect
is still spoken, heading up
to craggy alpine heights
where mountain goats
scramble, and rambling
along the back lanes of
stone-built Pyrenean towns. Along the way,
we enjoy fantastic local cuisine (both on and
off the trail!) and meet the welcoming Basque,
Aragonese, and Catalan people who make
northern Spain so intriguing.
Days 1-3 Pamplona / Ordesa National Park
From Pamplona, we head into the Aragonese
Pyrenees for a hike to Siresa, a mountain
village of cobbled streets and splendid old
stone houses. In Ordesa National Park, one of
the most spectacular mountain settings in all
Europe, we savor 360-degree mountain
splendor on our hike up to the Cola de Caballo,
a waterfall just below the sheer face of Monte
Perdido (11,000').
Days 4-6 Aiguestortes We find a serene
landscape of jagged granite peaks, meandering
streams, and crystalline tarns in Catalonia’s
Aiguestortes National Park. One of our hikes leads
us up a riverside trail amid granite rock formations
to stunning Sant Maurici, where craggy peaks
are mirrored in blue-green waters, and we enjoy a
delicious lunch in a high mountain refuge.
Days 7-9 Andorra / Barcelona In Andorra, the
tiny principality nestled in the peaks between
France and Spain, our ridge trail brings us to
medieval Bescaran, graced by a Romanesque bell
tower. After a pastoral hike in Catalonia’s green
hills amid the sound of sheep and cattle bells,
we head to beautiful Barcelona to explore its Old
Quarter and Gaudi’s fanciful architecture. Depart
on Day 9.
Our hikes bring us to the best settings in the Pyrenees, including magnificent
Ordesa National Park. PHOTO: MIKEL BILBAO
SIMON REDDY
“The hikes were
beautiful—each one
was beautifully
designed to allow us
to experience a
variety of landscapes.
Thank you for a
fantastic trip across
the Pyrenees!”
Mary Beth W.,
Fayetteville NY
DAN HELLER
HIGHLIGHTS
• Hike in breathtaking Ordesa National
Park, with its sheer limestone canyons
and network of dramatic fajas (trails)
• Discover hidden stone-built villages
and high trails all across the Spanish
Pyrenees
• Stay in charming and historic
mountain inns
• Savor northern Spain’s wonderful
gastronomy, from jamón serrano to
grilled Pyrenees lamb
• Enjoy Barcelona’s exceptional artistic
and architectural heritage
DETAILS
• 9-day trip begins in Pamplona and ends
in Barcelona
• 8 nights hotels
• All meals included except 3 dinners
DATES
Jun 11-19, 2017
Jul 16-24
Sep 5-13
Sep 24-Oct 2
TRIP COST
$4995 (11-15 members)
$5395 (6-10 members)
Single supplement: $480
TRIP LEVEL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
7 hiking days on moderate to strenuous
trails, 3-7 hours a day, altitudes between
4,500-8,000 feet, van support