During the week we visit several of the most beautiful areas in the region, each with their own charm. This is a sample itinerary – the exact routes will depend on the weather and what the group would like to achieve. We keep the itinerary flexible and alter things during the week to suit the fitness of the group and the conditions.

Each day we will offer a choice of two or three guided hikes depending on the group size (normally the Loddon Valley Ramblers groups are sufficiently big that we offer three hiking options). The various hikes have different lengths and ascents so you can choose the route to suit your level of fitness. Each day you can decide which walk to join and it’s no problem to switch between the options during the week.

The shorter hikes are at a relaxed pace, with plenty of time to stop and take in the views, take photographs and enjoy the nature. Expect to hike between 8 to 14 km (5 to 8.5 miles) and climb 300 to 500 metres (1000 – 1600 ft) during the day. Paths are generally good underfoot with only a few short steeper sections.

The longer hikes are on steeper rougher paths and venture into more high mountain, alpine terrain. Hikes are between 13 to 20 km (8 to 13.5 miles) with between 700 to 1200 metres (2300 to 3900 ft) of ascent each day.

Sunday – Arrival in Biescas

Arrive in Biescas from either Barcelona or Zaragoza – location of pick-up is tbc. Short briefing at hotel to talk through the week and answer any questions you have, followed by your evening meal in a village restaurant.

Monday

Low level: Ibon de Piedrafita
Starting at the high village of Piedrafita, we get superb views right from the start. We climb through woodland, alongside mountain streams, until we come out into alpine meadows filled with flowers. The kilometre-high cliffs of the Sierra de Partacua tower above us. Here we find the little lake of Ibon de Piedrafita, nestled under the cliffs. Fantastic spot for raptors with Griffon vultures, Egyptian vultures, short-toed eagles, and kestrels regularly sighted. We hike through the meadows, under the cliffs before descending through the woods, completing a lovely circuit and first days hike.

Mid-level: Ibon de Piedrafita + Natural Rock Arch
This hike also hikes up to the lake of Ibon de Piedrafita through pretty woodland. However, after passing the lake, you continue to head up to a wonderful natural rock arch

High level: Punta del Pacino
A beautiful ascent through woodland and meadows to the peak of Punta del Pacino. You do almost a complete circuit of the mountain before ascending to the summit. Its position at the centre of the valley gives fabulous panoramic views of the Valle De Tena – from here we can point out nearly all of the areas you’ll be hiking in for the rest of your holiday. View photo’s, a video and trip report of the Punta del Pacino hike. A fantastic route for orchids in early summer when we’ll see hundreds along the path.

Tuesday

Today we head to the French side of the range to hike in the Lacs Ayous region in the French Pyrenees National Park.

Low level: Lacs Ayous
Starting in lovely beech woods following the famous GR10 trans-Pyrenean path. The route gradually climbs until we leave the woods, entering the alpine meadows above. Here we find the Lacs Ayous – a lovely set of lakes with fantastic views towards the famous peak of Pic du Midi d’Ossau.

Mid-level: Refuge Ayous and the upper lakes
This route follows the same route as the shorter walk but continues on past the lower lakes, continuing up to Refuge Ayous on the shores of the highest of the lakes.

High Level: Pic d’Ayous (2288 metres)
The longer route also starts in the woods and follows the GR10 up to the Lacs Ayous. From the lakes, we keep heading up, passing the refuge of Ayous and continuing up to the peak of Ayous above. From here we get fantastic views down on the the lakes of Ayous, across to Pic du Midi d’Ossau and dozens of other peaks

Wednesday

Low level: Valle de Aguas Limpias
Starting at the pretty village of Sallent de Gallego we follow the Rio de Aguas Limpias – the river of clean water – up through a wonderful valley past meadows, woods and waterfalls. The path is the famous GR11 trans-Pyrenean path and is a lovely route full of butterflies and wildflowers.

Mid level: Again following the GR11 alongside the Rio Aguas Limpias, we climb up to the Embalse de Respomuso for fantastic views of the Cirque de Piedrafita.

High level: Ibones de Arriel
This route also begins by following the GR11 alongside the Rioa Aguas Limpias. However, you turn off the main path and head uphill steeply to the Ibones de Arriel where you find some of the most beautiful lake landscapes in the Pyrenees. The four lakes, lying at different heights, are surrounded by steep granite peaks with Pico Palas taking pride of place. From the lakes, we take a contouring path with stunning views around to the Embalse de Respomuso and then head back along the GR11 – a long but fantastic day hiking!

Thursday: Rest day

Today we rest our legs and spend some time learning about the fascinating history of the area. After a relaxed start, we’ll first visit the 10th-century Romanesque church of San Juan de la Busa. Then we’ll head to Jaca, which was the first capital of Aragon when it was formed in 1035. We’ll have a guided walking tour of the old town, visiting the 11th-century cathedral and the 16th-century pentagonal citadel – the first castle constructed in Spain to defend against cannon fire. Our visit to Jaca will finish with a tapas lunch before returning to Biescas where you can have a swim in the hotel’s pool, relax in the sauna or explore the village.

In the evening we are offering an optional vineyard visit and wine tasting. There is an additional cost of approx. 30€ for the visit, wine-tasting and pairing menu. Please see the vineyard tab for more details. This is an optional visit and it’s no problem if only some of the group would like to go. Those not going on the vineyard tour, can dine in one of the village restaurants or at the hotel. This meal isn’t included, but no one is ever very hungry after a large tapas lunch in Jaca!

Friday – The Ordesa National Park

Today we’ll take a short drive to the Ordesa NP where we will hike in the spectacular kilometre-deep Ordesa Canyon.

Low level: The waterfalls of Ordesa
Hike along the beautiful beech woods on the valley floor, passing a series of fantastic waterfalls. As you reach the head of the valley, the trees make way to alpine meadows and we get fantastic views of the cliffs above. At the end of the end of the valley we’ll find the famous ‘Cola de Caballo’ or horse-tail waterfall. This is a there-and-back route, so if the distance to the end of the valley is too far, the group can turn around beforehand. The path is very good so you cover the distance reasonably quickly.
Distance 17 km, ascent 450 metres.

Mid level: Faja Racon
A wonderful path that follows the bottom of the northern cliffs of the valley. For me, the route that shows the scale of the valley the best as you are hiking directly underneath the huge cliffs. The route goes up to the beautiful Circque of Carriata, then traverses under the cliffs, before descending via the Cirque of Cotatuero. Excellent flowers and views throughout the hike.
Distance 12 km, ascent 600 metres

High level: Faja de Pelay
A balcony path, high on the southern cliffs of Ordesa that has simply spectacular views. The day starts with a 600-metre steep climb up the ‘senda de la cazadores’, the hunter’s path. The effort is made worthwhile when you reach the viewpoint at the top. The reward for your effort continues as you a wonderful path contours high around the cliffs with views down into the valley, across to all of the three thousand metre peaks of the national park and the famous Brecha de Roland. Finally, Monte Perdido at the head of the valley comes into view and you descend down to the Cola de Caballo waterfall and hike back along the valley floor.
Distance 22 km, ascent 850 metres

Saturday

Low level: Rincon de Verde
Starting at the village of Panticosa, we follow a mountain stream along a lovely gorge and head into the Valle de La Ripera. It’s a great place to see marmots, birds of prey and the local Hispanica-Breton horses which roam the mountains during the summer. At the head of the valley lies the Rincon del Verde where sheer 700m cliffs rise above you.

Mid level: Refugio Bachimaña
The roadhead of Balneario de Panticosa lies at 1600 metres and allows us to get into the high mountains quickly. Our circular route climbs up to two small mountain lakes before traversing across to the hut of Refugio Bachimaña. Here we can have lunch and enjoy a cold dring before heading back down following another stretch of the GR11 back to the Balnearion de Panticosa.

High level: Ibones Azules
A fitting finale to a great week of hiking. Today our route starts from the high road head at the spa of Balneario de Panticosa. We’ll ascend steeply up to a couple of small mountain lakes before traversing around to the larger reservoir of Bachimaña and continuing heading up to the lovely Ibones de Azules – two beautiful lakes with a distinctive blue colour. We return by a different route, following the GR11 path once again. This area is rugged, alpine, and beautiful!

Sunday

Free morning in Biescas before leaving to catch the flight from Zaragoza or Barcelona.

Loddon Valley Ramblers

Sunday 22 – 29 June 2025

Included

7 nights accommodation:
7 x 4* Hotel Tierra de Biescas
Breakfast each morning
Picnic lunches each walking day
Tapas lunch in Jaca on rest day and guided walking tour of town
6 x 3-course evening meals (each night apart from the rest day)
Meals taken at different local restaurants in Biescas with one night dining at the hotel’s restaurant
Transfers to and from either Zaragoza airport or train station (Barcelona transfers also available).
Transport to the walks each day.

Not included

Flights, insurance, drinks with evening meal, evening meal on the rest day.

Getting to the Pyrenees

From the UK

There are direct flights from London Stansted to Zaragoza. 2024 Sunday flight times are as follows but these may change for 2025:
Depart Stansted 13:50, arrive Zaragoza 17:05
Depart Zaragoza 17:40, arrive Stansted 18:45

You can also fly to Barcelona or Madrid and can catch the AVE fast train to Zaragoza and we can pick you up from Zaragoza train station. Zaragoza has regular direct trains from both Barcelona and Madrid. Trains are roughly every hour and the journey takes 1 hour 30 minutes from either.

See more travel options and details on our getting here page.

4* Hotel Tierra de Biescas

The four star Hotel Tierra de Biescas is in the heart of the old village, set in lovely grounds with an indoor and outdoor pool.

Each of it’s 51 stylishly furnished rooms have an en-suite bathroom. It has a bar, lounge area with sofa’s, a restaurant and gardens with loungers and tables.

Each morning a breakfast buffet is served with cooked and continental options. Three course evening meals are taken at local restaurants in Biescas each night with a choice of starters, main courses and dessert. Please note wine is not included.

Guests can relax in the the hotel’s spa facilities which include a small indoor swimming pool and sauna. A full range of massage treatments are available. From mid-June, the outdoor swimming pool is open.

Read more about Hotel Tierra de Biescas.

Rooms and upgrades

The hotel has three types of rooms: standard, premium and junior suite. The holiday price include a standard room but you can upgrade to a premium or a junior suite, if you wish.

For people who require a single room, the single room supplement is 150 € for the 7 nights.

Standard room

• 21m²
• Double or single room
• En-suite bathroom with hairdryer
• Double bed or twin beds
• Mountain views
• A/C
• Safe
• TV
• Wi-fi

Premium Room

• 25m²
• En-suite bathroom with hairdryer
• Double bed or twin beds
• Private terrace
• A/C
• Safe
• TV
• Wi-fi
• Upgrade price: 100 € per person for 7 nights, assuming two sharing

Junior Suite Room

• 30m²
• En-suite bathroom with whirlpool bath
• King size bed (2m x 2m)
• Larger room with sofa
• Private balcony with mountain views
• A/C
• Safe
• TV
• Wi-fi
• Upgrade price: 175 € per person for 7 nights, assuming two people sharing.

Hotel Tierra de Biescas - Garden

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If the group chooses transfers from Zaragoza, we can offer a two-night city break either before or after your hiking trip. This is optional and it is fine if only some of the group would like to stay extra nights in Zaragoza.

Zaragoza is the capital of northeastern Spain’s Aragon region, and there are plenty of things to do for a few days in the city. It has a lot of nice plazas and is known for its excellent tapas bars. Originally founded as a Roman city over two thousand years ago by Emperor Augustus, who gave it his name (Caesaraugusta) and it was the Roman capital of northern Spain. Its importance in these times is evident in the remains of the walls, baths and of the immense amphitheatre, one of the largest in Roman Hispania. There are 5 museums with Roman remains and you can buy a pass that allows entry to all five of the sites.

In Moorish times Zaragoza became the capital of one of the most powerful Taifas in al-Andalus. Its importance can be seen first-hand on a visit to the palace of La Aljaferia, whose spectacular courtyards and chambers make it one of the glories of al-Andalus art and one of the best examples of the Mudejar style in Spain.

Christian Zaragoza boasts two beautiful cathedrals. The best known is the Basilica del Pilar built to house the jade pillar that Mary came down from heaven on to tell St James to continue with God’s work while he was having a moment of doubt while in the city. The basilica is a wonderful building and a symbol of Aragón, it is also a veritable museum full of religious work, including the fabulous frescoes Goya painted on two of its vaults.

The other cathedral is El Salvador, better known as La Seo. This features a variety of artistic styles ranging from Romanesque to neoclassical, through the Gothic-Mudejar, Renaissance and Baroque. Its most eye-catching exterior features are the Wall of La Parroquieta, a masterpiece of Zaragoza Mudejar, designated UNESCO World Heritage status, and its slender Baroque tower.

There are several interesting museums in the city including a Goya museum (Goya from a village on the outskirts of Zaragoza) and the museum of Zaragoza. There is an open-top bus tour that gives a great overview of the city and its history. There is a fantastic ambience in the city on a summer’s evening with people taking an evening stroll, trying tapas and passing the time in one of the city’s many plazas.

It’s a great place to spend a few days!!!

Hotel Sauce

Hotel Sauce is a great value hotel in a fantastic location in the historic centre of the city. Only 100 metres from the hotel is the Plaza del Pilar, which is the heart of the city. Here you will find two of the main landmarks of Zaragoza: The Cathedral of La Seo and the Basilica del Pilar. In addition, the hotel is near the Goya Museum, the Roman remains and the main restaurant, tapas bar and shopping areas of the city. Being so central makes it easy to stroll around the city and discover its many fascinating plazas and corners.

Each one of the 40 rooms available in Hotel Sauce is different and has been individually decorated. All of the rooms are en-suite and there are a mix of double, twin and superior rooms. The hotel is in a quiet location and not right above any noisy bars! They offer a buffet breakfast with a wide range of options. They use lots of natural ingredients with home-baked rolls and pastries, fresh fruit of the season, high-quality coffee, a good variety of tea and their star dish: recently made Spanish potatoes omelette.

Their new cafeteria is a charming place where you can read, chat or surf the internet while having a tea or coffee with a piece of cake.

Guided walking and tapas tour of the old town

If there is a group of you staying in Zaragoza we can organise a private three-hour walking tour of the old town with an English-speaking guide. You’ll visit all of the main sites in the city including the Plaza del Pilar, the Pilar Basílica, its Roman walls, see beautiful Mudejar architecture and medieval squares, as well as the lively Alfonso street. The tour ends at the food market where you have a tapa and vino.

The price depends on the group size. For a group of eight or more, the price is 30€ per person which includes the three-hour tour, a tapa and a glass of wine.

Here’s feedback from the June 2023 Loddon Valley Ramblers trip to the Cerdanya area of the Catalan Pyrenees.

First trip to the Pyrenees and was wowed! Would thoroughly recommend Hike Pyrenees who organised a great holiday with varied walking and knowledgeable guides.
Louise

A great week for a large group, very well organised by Hike Pyrenees with varied walks, excellent guides, nice hotel and wonderful scenery!
Paul

Dealt very well with a large group of very varied abilities, providing a large range of walks and amendments during the route
Duncan

They provided a flexible walk itinerary matched to the weather and capabilities of the guests.
Peter

I would like to thank Juanma for taking care of me. Marti was great with our cultural trips. Disappointed about my knee but I truely enjoyed the trip. Ace guides!
Jo-Ann

All was way better than expected. Highly recommend.
Julie

This is my third holiday with Hike Pyrenees and all have been most enjoyable.
John

I had a fabulous time. The Pyrenees are beautiful and the guided walks outstanding.
Mary

Hike Pyrenees cater for all abilities of walkers and provide friendly and knowledgeable guides.
Mary

Hike Pyrenees have worked tirelessly to provide so many options on our holiday so that everyone was amply catered for.
Lynda

A very enjoyable holiday with excellent guides in a beautiful area.
John & Sally

Phil and team are first rate – experienced, kind, supportive, always helpful and fun! Thanks for a great week.
Jane and Jim

The beautiful and varied scenery in this area with knowledgeable and helpful guides made this holiday great fun and enjoyed everything that was on offer.
Sue

Thanks you for a wonderful week with challenging walks and interesting guides.
Sue

Hike Pyrenees provided a superb holiday in stimulating and varied environments and catered for a group with a wide range of hiking abilities with remarkable skill and consideration.
Richard

An enjoyable holiday with Hike Pyrenes in a new location (returning client).
Jenny

Great guides with a good variety of lovely walks.
Linda

Hike Pyrenees worked hard to satisfy the needs of 40 group members. Walks were interesting and varied and there was an interesting cultural programme for non-walkers.
Patricia

In the mountains above Biescas, lies the bodega of Bal Minuta, a small independent vineyard run by Ernesto and Pilar. They were the original pioneers of producing wine at high altitudes and for a time, their vines which grow at 1350 metres, were the highest in Spain. The bodega is a beautiful, ecologically friendly building in a lovely location.

As an optional extra on the rest day, there will be a vineyard visit late afternoon/evening. We’ll have a tour of the bodega and Pilar will explain their wine-making philosophy and the advantages and challenges of making wine at this altitude. This will be followed by a wine-tasting and pairing menu – not a huge dinner as we will have had a large tapas lunch in Jaca, but three or four small courses, each paired with a different wine.

Price: approx. 30€ per person. Each person can sign up individually, and it’s no problem for only some of the group to do the visit.

Please note this visit is not guaranteed to run as it a small bodega just run by one couple and they can’t commit to dates so far in advance. I fully expect the visit to run, but there is a chance that they may not be able to make this day.