Day
1 - Saturday 18th May 2009 - Hospederia de Roda, Roda de Isábena
Fly from Manchester or London Heathrow to Barcelona. Met on arrival by
our guides and transferred by minibus (3-4 hours) to our hotel in the
village of Roda de Isábena. We stay at the Hospederia de Roda,
a beautifully reconstructed house next to the cathedral. The village is
dominated by its magnificent Romanesque cathedral. Welcome reception in
the hotel, followed by dinner in the cathedral refectory. D
Day
2 - Sunday 19th May 2009 - Hospederia de Roda, Roda de Isábena
A circular walk starting with a stunning ridge walk connecting two little
Ermitas high up on the beautiful Sierra de Sis which dominates the Isábena
and Nogura Valleys. Expect to see wonderful views all round. The return
to the starting point is through oak woods and pastureland. The walk is
in a remote area and we are unlikely to be sharing it with any other walkers.
12km. 350m height gain and loss. BLD
Day
3 - Monday 20th May 2009 - Hospederia de Roda, Roda de Isábena
Drive north (one hour) to an isolated area of alpine pastures and forests
dotted with lovely villages. Here the tallest peaks of the Pyrenees are
in sight and the flowers and vegetation are more alpine in character.
The huge mass of Turbón (2500m) dominates today's walk. This is
an idyllic day with little climbing and good paths rarely trodden by other
walkers. We drive back via a shorter, different route, along the upper
Isábena valley. 12km. 200m height gain. BLD
Day
4 - Tuesday 21st May 2009 - Hotel Villa de Torla, Torla
After a leisurely breakfast, we check out of the hotel and enjoy a picturesque drive to the village of Torla (1¾ hours) where we spend the second part of the holiday. On the way we stop to explore the medieval mountain village of Ainsa in the Ara Valley. The village has an attractive arcaded square, narrow streets and some decent restaurants in the square for anyone tempted to have lunch. Continue on to Torla and our hotel is located in the village square. Above Torla you can see the 3000 foot walls of the Ordesa Canyon - one of Europe's most amazing glacial canyons and a magnet for walkers and climbers. BD
Day
5 - Wednesday 22nd May 2009 - Hotel Villa de Torla, Torla
A challenging start to the day as we climb up through beech and fir forest
up to the Circo (Cirque) de Carriatta following the dramatic Faja de Racún
(a Faja is a cliffside path) above the canyon and descending the Cirque
de Cotatuero. This is a dramatic and little frequented route in the Ordesa
Canyon. 10km. 500m climb, 800m descent. BLD
Day
6 - Thursday 23rd May 2009 - Hotel Villa de Torla, Torla
We head to the Añisclo Canyon where we walk to a tiny village abandoned
since the civil war, before descending by a stunning path down into the
Canyon itself. The raging waters of the River Bellos have carved the limestone
to create a stunning landscape of soaring cliffs, waterfalls, forest and
deep blue pools. On the way out of the canyon we pass a hermitage built
by the miracle working San Urbéz. A superb day's walk. 12km. 300m
climb, 500m descent. BLD
Day
7 - Friday 24th May 2009 - Hotel Villa de Torla, Torla
A classic walking circuit of the Ordesa Canyon following old hunters'
paths 3000ft above the valley floor along the Faja de Pelay to the head
of the Valley below Monte Perdido. Follow the river with its waterfalls
back down into the valley through alpine meadows and shady beech forest.
Flowers and rare birds of prey are plentiful here in Europe's oldest national
park. This is an unmissable highlight of the Pyrenees. 18km. 700m climb
and descent. BLD
Day
8 - Saturday 25th May 2009 - Transfer to Barcelona
Transfer to Barcelona for the return flight to UK, 4-5 hours. B
B
= Breakfast L = Lunch D = Dinner |
