Holiday Overview:
Why choose a Catalan High Pyrenees Self Guided Walking Holiday?
The Catalan Pyrenees are dramatic and unspoiled, dotted with stone villages clustered around Romanesque churches. This is magnificent walking country, enjoying the warmest climate of all the Pyrenean range, and our route continues to delight walkers with its combination of superb walking through unspoiled mountains and welcoming accommodations. Watch short-toed and booted eagles soar above as you walk along ancient paths, and look out too for griffon vultures, choughs, wild boar, chamois and fire salamanders.
Our route takes you into one of the loveliest regions of the Spanish Catalan Pyrenees, an area largely unknown to outsiders that nevertheless boasts great scenic beauty, handsome villages and age-old traditions. This is the heart of Catalonia, where the red and yellow Catalan flag flies proudly. As you walk from village to village, you discover two distinct landscapes – the final mighty peaks of the Pyrenees, with spectacular views of the range from Puigmal to Mount Canigou, and the warm, wooded hills of the Garrotxa towards the Mediterranean. Discover, too, Catalan food and wine, with delicious sausages and cured meats, trout from the rivers, and robust wines from the coastal plains.
This walking route is well defined and easy to follow with our walking notes, we believe this is one of the best areas in the Pyrenees to walk and we’re sure with the spectacular mountain scenery, great mountain walks, fantastic accommodation and delicious Catalan cuisine, you will have a fantastic mountain adventure!
Itinerary:
Catalan High Pyrenees Walking Holiday (7 Nights)
“A beautiful self-guided walking holiday through stunning valleys in the Catalan Pyrenees”
Nights: 7
Grade: Moderate (Grade 2) (click here to see our walking grades)
Terrain: farm tracks and mountain trails
Day 1 (Arrival)
Arrive at Ripoll by train from Barcelona or by bus from Girona, you will then be transferred by one of our guides to the charming mountain village of Camprodon which lies at the confluence of the rivers Ter and Ritort, Camprodon has a lovely centre with a beautiful 12th century footbridge. Once there you will have a welcome meeting. Take your time exploring the alleys and squares and enjoying the local produce such as delicious sausages and cured cheese from the local shops.
Day 2
Start your trip with a fairly easy but great walk into the high Garrotxa, initially taking you up through lush pastureland. You will then make a descent through woodland and valleys passing abandoned and sometimes renovated farmhouses and finally arriving at the village of Molló with a beautiful Romanesque church from the XII century. There is also a wild park you can visit in the afternoon. 8.7 km (5.5 miles), 3 hrs walking time
Day 3
Today you have a spectacular walk over two mountain passes with impressive panoramic views: to the West, the dramatic Pyrenean peaks, and to the East, the warm, wooded hills of the Garrotxa. You start with a long, moderate climb up the Fembra Morte Pass (1.728m), you will remain high up as you continue to the Lliens pass (1.864m) (a good picnic spot). You will continue across the northern flank of the Puig de les Agudes before descending through some beautiful scenery to the village of Setcases. 12.8 km (8 miles) 4 hrs 30 mins walking time
Day 4
Free day, today you can spend some time in the village and the surrounding area or to explore the area in more depth on a longer hike up the valley. Why not climb one of the mountain passes or even the Bastiments peak (2.883m) with its unrivaled mountain views. On clear days you can even see the blue waters of the Mediterranean from here. We also have route notes for a beautiful walk up into the hills/mountains that day. 13.7 km (8.5 miles) 4 hrs 30 mins walking time
Day 5
A thoroughly enjoyable route leads high above the valley, with sweeping panoramic views in clear weather. You will pass the astonishing village of La Roca, which seemingly clings to the rock on which it is built, then onward to Camprodon. 13.6 km (8.5 miles) 4 hrs 30 mins walking time
Day 6
Today you will have a short transfer (20 minutes) , you will then have a spectacular gradual ascent through a wild valley up the Collada Verda Pass (1.606m) from where you descend along undulating paths and tracks to Ribes de Freser. 16.8 km (10.4 miles), 6 hrs 30 mins walking time, of course if you prefer not walk that day you can travel with the luggage)
Day 7
Free day to enjoy this lovely village or to take the rack and rail train up to Núria (1000m ascent on the train to 2000m). There is time to climb above the monastery to admire the breathtaking views surrounded by 3000m peaks, and to do some circular routes which are marked. There is an optional walk down through the valley (route notes provided) to Queralbs. (8.3 km (5.2 miles) 3 hrs 30 mins walking time)
Day 8 (Departure)
You can either take a train from Ribes de Freser to Barcelona or if you are travelling to Girona you can take the bus from Ripoll. (Optional transfer from Ribes de Freser to Ripoll bus station, €28 or £25)
What your holiday includes:
- Seven nights’ B&B accommodation
- Private transfer from Ripoll to Camprodon
- Transfer to Abella on “day 6”
- Welcome meeting with a local English speaking guide
- 24/7 support
- Moving of luggage between accommodations
- Detailed route notes and route maps
- GPS files
- Personal information pack including information about local history, culture, traditions, restaurants, shops and local attractions etc
Optional Extras:
- Transfer from Ribes to Ripoll for bus back to Girona
- Half Board
- Supplement single room
Prices 2023
| Dates | Price (2 people sharing a twin/double room) | Single supplement | Single supplement (2 + people) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 Mar to 3 April | €782 | N/A | €264 |
| 4 April to 10 April | €856 | N/A | €288 |
| 11 April to 8 July | €822 | N/A | €271 |
| 9 July to 28 Aug | €856 | N/A | €288 |
| 29 Aug to 2 Oct | €822 | N/A | €271 |
| 3 Oct to 21 Oct | €782 | N/A | €264 |
Optional Extras
- Transfer from your last accommodation in Ribes de Freser to Ripoll for bus back to Girona: €75 (up to 6 people)
- Transfer from your last accommodation in Ribes de Freser to Girona Centre/Airport: €275 (up to 6 people)
- Transfer from your last accommodation in Ribes de Freser to Barcelona Centre/Airport: €300 (up to 6 people)
- Half Board, nights 2, 3, 4, 6 & 7 only: €150 per person
- Third person sharing a triple room: €712
What your holiday includes
- Seven nights’ B&B accommodation
- Private transfer from Ripoll to Camprodon
- Transfer to Abella on “day 6”
- Welcome meeting with a local English speaking guide
- 24/7 support
- Moving of luggage between accommodations
- Detailed route notes and route maps
- GPS files
- Personal information pack including information about local history, culture, traditions, restaurants, shops and local attractions etc
The simplest way to get here is to fly to Barcelona.
Once you arrive at Barcelona airport you would need to take the shuttle train to Barcelona Sants train station (approx 20 mins), then change trains and take a train (approx 2hrs) to Ripoll. You can find the train times here
If travelling from Girona you can take a bus from Girona to Ripoll, you can access the bus times here
At the end of the holiday you can take the train from Ribes de Freser back to Barcelona or take the optional transfer (€60) to Ripoll to take the bus back to Girona.
Travelling via Barcelona will give you the opportunity to explore this exciting city, perhaps you could spend a couple of nights there before or after the holiday.
Other information (what to bring etc):
What to bring:
With regards to equipment to bring, your most important item is of course a pair of comfortable walking boots with ankle supports if possible and soles that grip, as some of the terrain can be rugged at times. And, just in case . . . a waterproof, we hope you won’t need it, mostly you will be walking in dry warm weather, so casual, comfortable walking clothes will generally suffice. A hat and sun protection cream is essential and a small rucksack for carrying lunch and water is also recommended, and you might consider a walking stick, as some of the ground is a little rough.
This holiday is Grade 2:
Grade 1
Walks: 3-6 hours
Ascent: 50-600m
Paths: Good paths, not too steep.
Walks have a relaxed pace with time to take in the views and surroundings. If you’re a fit and active person these walks will be perfect for you.
Grade 2
Walks: 5-8 hours
Ascent: 450-750m
Paths: Good with some steeper sections
Slightly longer walks than grade 1 with routes still on good paths and at a relaxed pace although there are a couple of steeper sections.
Grade 3
Walks: 5-10 hours
Ascent: 700-1200m
Paths: Rockier, steeper paths
For those that like longer days in the higher mountains. Routes are steep in places and a good standard of fitness is required.
Grade 4
Walks: 6-10hours
Ascent: 700-1400m
Paths: Steep!
High mountain paths that may require the use of crampons during certain months of the year. Previous hiking experience in the mountains and a very good level of fitness essential.
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