
Enjoying the views from Punta Del Pacino
This weekend saw the end of a fantastic bespoke trip for Elaine and friends from California and Hawaii. We often get groups who are keen for longer trips with us and for Elaine we put together a 10 day itinerary which took in 3 contrasting places in the Pyrenees; the Valle de Tena, Bestue to the west of Ordesa and Torla situated at the mouth of the Ordesa Canyon we also included a night in a refugio high in the mountains.
Starting in the Valle de Tena we first hiked up Punta Del Pacino 1965m which had great views in all directions whilst the ground was carpeted with wild flowers. Next we walked into the valley of La Ripera and under the impressive cliffs of the Sierra de Tendenera.

Cloudless skies whilst hiking along the La Ripera valley

Refugio Respomuso situated in the scenic Circo de Piedrafita
Next came our refugio trip. We set off from La Sarra and followed the GR11 arriving at Refugio Respomuso, our home for the night. with snowy views, great company and some good beer and wine available to all, the evening flew by in a cloud of laughter! The following day saw the team split, with one group heading off towards Collado de la Fecha on the French /Spanish border equipped with axe and crampons and the other half heading back down to the valley to rest their tired legs. Continue reading →
La Cuniacha – the wild animal park in Piedrafita – yesterday announced that they will be opening a vulture feeding station next spring. This is fantastic news and will give Hike Pyrenees guests even more opportunities to see Lammergeier, griffon vultures, egyptian vultures and other birds of prey.
Aragon has 50 vulture feeding stations but this will be the first in this area. I’ve visited the station in the Garganta de Escuain (which is the other side of the Ordesa National Park) several times and always get superb views of Lammergeiers. The station attracts all types of birds of prey and one time I counted 6 different types of raptor in view at the same time!

Griffon Vulture
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Walking in the Valle de Ordiso
The walking season is in full swing here in the Pyrenees and we’ve had a couple of great walking holidays already this June with a Lakes & Valleys and a Discover Ordesa walking holidays. We’ve had some fantastic hikes visiting high alpine pastures, abandoned villages, the Ordesa and Anisclo canyons and some superb summits. Continue reading →

Len and the Bath boys
Thanks to Len, Phil, Julian, Peter, Alan and Trevor – our first guests of the summer. They walked a new village to village itinerary staying each night in different villages in the Valle de Tena. Hope you had a great week guys. Continue reading →
Hiking, cycling, nature and life in the Pyrenees