Walking In The Pyrenees

Our trip begins at Barcelona-El Prat Josep Tarradellas Airport (BCN) at 3.30pm, the latest your flight can arrive is 3pm. Please note that depending on which terminal you arrive into you may have to take the airport shuttle bus to terminal 2 which is where we'll be meeting. We will travel together as a group to the small alpine village of Soldeu in the heart of the Andorran Pyrenees, a three-and-a-half hour drive. A popular ski resort, lying 1,710 metres above sea level, Soldeu is an engaging mix of traditional rural inns, converted farmhouses and lively bars, providing us with an ideal base for our Pyrenean adventure. After settling into our hotel depending on traffic we'll hopefully have time for a short orientation walk around the village before dinner. Our base for the week is Hotel Soldeu Maistre, centrally located in Soldeu. This family-run hotel is furnished in local Catalan style. Built to replicate the mountain lodge look with a stone and wood panelled exterior the hotel is in keeping with its surroundings. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you may have time to wait ahead of our group transfer to Soldeu. You can make the most of this time by exploring Barcelona with its many attractions such as 'La Boqueria' food market, Las Ramblas boulevard lined with bars and restaurants and not to mention the many incredible architectural works of Antoni Gaudi. The Barcelona metro line L9 Sud connects terminals T1 and T2 with the city of Barcelona every 7 minutes and takes 32 minutes. Bags can be stored at the airports left luggage for around Euro 10 per piece of luggage.

This morning we walk from the hotel along the ancient Cami del Gall trail, marked by the symbol of a red cockerel and which got its name from the capercaillies once living in large numbers in the forests of the area. Gradually descending we pass through mixed woods, cross streams and view waterfalls following the valley of the Valira River which crosses Andorra from east to west. The walk ends in Meritxell, the religious centre of Andorra where the patron saint Meritxell is worshipped at a dedicated sanctuary. We'll travel back to hotel by public bus. Today's 10.5 kilometre walk is expected to take around four hours with 200 metres of ascent and 600 metres of descent. There are sections equipped with wooden walkways, steps and handrails.

Today we explore the untouched wilderness of Andorra's only UNESCO World Heritage Site, the beautiful and remote Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley. Covering nearly 50 square kilometres this pristine setting is the country's spiritual and cultural heart, as well as being a haven for wildlife that includes marmot, bearded vulture and ptarmigan. Driving to the small hamlet of Saint Miquel d'Engolasers, we then hike up to the refuge at Fontverd, where we stop to enjoy a picnic lunch before heading back to Soldeu by bus. Today's 12 kilometre walk is expected to take around four-and-a-half hours with 900 metres of ascent and 400 metres of descent.