Discover Ordesa

7 night guided walking holiday

2 guided walks to choose from each day

The spectacular Ordesa National Park is one of the highlights of the Pyrenees. This guided walking holiday explores the incredible diversity of the park, from it’s deep canyons to it’s high alpine meadows.

We offer two guided walking options each day -a lower level and a higher level walk. Perfect if you fancy doing a couple of longer walks but don’t want to commit to a whole week of long hikes or for couples where one partner likes to walk much farther than the other.

Take a look at our walking holiday gallery or read previous guests comments about our holidays.

Guided walking - two options each day

The week includes 5 days fully guided walking. Two guides will be working during the week and two different walks will be offered each day.

One option will be a grade 1 or 2 walk at a fairly relaxed pace with plenty of time to soak up the views. These walks will be on good well graded paths and visit the alpine meadows and valleys of the park. Walks will be between four to six hours with three or four hundred metres of ascent.

The second option will be a grade 3 or 4 hike on one of the spectacular high level paths the park is famous for. A good head for heights will be needed for some routes and there will be steep sections on most days. These hikes will be six to nine hours each day with six hundred to a thousand metres of ascent so a good level of fitness is required for these walks.

Accommodation

Holidays are based in the four star Hotel Ordesa just outside the village of Torla. With views of the Ordesa valley the hotel has excellent facilities including an outdoor pool, bar, restaurant, lounge and spa with steam room and jacuzzi.

The hotel is perfectly placed for walkers and there are several great walks that start straight from the hotel door.

Three course evening meals are served in the restaurant each evening (apart from the rest day when we’ll visit the nearby town of Ainsa).

The pretty village of Torla has a range of shops, bars and all of the amenities you’ll need and is less than 15 minutes walk away.

Itinerary

These walks explore the Ordesa National Park and it’s immediate surroundings. This is a sample itinerary and the exact routes will depend on conditions and the kind of walks the group would like to do.

Sunday -Torla

Arrive in Torla from Zaragoza in the evening. On arrival we’ll have a short briefing over a snack.

Monday
Low level: Camino de Turieto

A superb introduction to the area along a quiet, ancient path from straight from the hotel into the Ordesa Valley passing through beautiful beech woods with excellent views of the cliffs of Ordesa.
High level: Plana Cuasta
From the hotel we climb through woods and alpine meadows to a peak with superb views into the Ordesa valley and over the string of 3000m peaks on the French border.

Tuesday
Low level: Hotel Ordesa to Refugio Bujaruelo

A walk through the waterfall lined Valle de Bujaruelo to a beautifully situated Refugio. It’s a beautiful spot for lunch (and they serve fabulous cold beer!) before returning to the hotel.
High level: Escartin
The medieval village of Escartin was abandoned in the sixties. The empty church, houses and barns - several of which you can still go inside - stand atmospherically on the hillside just waiting to be explored.

Wednesday
Low level: The Ordesa Valley

A walk along the floor of the Ordesa Valley. We pass through ancient beech and silver pine woods, past several waterfalls, with the sheer cliffs of Ordesa rising above us on both sides. The woodland gives way to give fantastic views of the 3000m Monte Perdido at the head of the valley.
High level: Ordesa - Faja de las Flores
One of the most spectacular paths in Europe is the Faja de las Flores, where a narrow balcony is cut into the sheer cliffs of the Ordesa valley, offering breathtaking views of Mount Perdido and the valley floor a dizzying kilometre below.

Thursday - Rest Day

Free day to explore the village of Torla, take a short walk or relax and enjoy the hotel’s pool or spa facilities (additional fees apply for the spa). In the evening we’ll visit the medieval walled town of Ainsa for a stroll around it’s pretty streets and some tapas.

Friday:
Low level: The Añisclo Canyon

Another of the parks spectacular valleys. Waterfalls cascade down the steep cliffs that rise on each side of the canyon. We walk through woodland alongside the Rio Bellós watching overhead for griffon vultures and perhaps a lammergeier circling on the thermals.
High level: Mondoto
The peak of Mondoto stands high over the Añisclo Canyon. From the summit you get fantastic views down into the canyon and across to Monte Perdido.

Saturday
Low level: Valle de Otal

Starting at Bujaruelo we turn into a hanging valley to discover a beautiful high alpine meadow where we find fields of alpine forget-me-nots and some of the rarer orchids and fritillaries.
High level: Ordiso/Otal circuit
This wonderful circular walk takes in two hanging valleys linked by a high pass. Great views north to Vignemale and east to the peaks of Gabieto.

Sunday - Torla

Free day in Torla leaving mid-afternoon for your transfer back to Zaragoza airport.

If you have any questions about our walking holidays please give us a call on +44 (0)208 123 5049 or drop us an email.

Factfile: Discover Ordesa
View our printable holiday factsheet
2012 Dates & Prices
Sun 24 June - 1 July	£799
Sun 9 - 16 September	£799
Single supplement	£89
Accommodation 7 nights in 4* Hotel Ordesa
Meals 3 course evening meal (excluding rest day) Cooked and continental breakfast buffet each day Picnic lunches on walking days
Guided Walking 5 days fully guided walking: two options each day Small groups of 8 maximum
Walking Grade Two options: low level route of grade 1 or 2 high level route of grade 3 or 4 Walks: low level 4 to 6 hours high level 6 to 9 hours Ascent: low level 300m to 600m high level 600m to 1200m Paths: low level - good paths, ascents not steep high level - walks on paths but with steep and exposed sections
Included Transfers To and from Zaragoza on Sunday evenings to meet Ryan Air flight from Stansted or train from Barcelona or Madrid. Call us for more details on getting here.
Not included Flights Insurance Drinks with evening meal Lunch and evening meal on rest day