Guided hiking
7 nights
Dual level
Two centre
Picos de Europa
Guided walking holiday
Picos de Europa guided hiking holiday
- Dual level – two guided walks offered each day
- Two centres to explore the northern and southern sides of park
- Two lovely hotels – one 3* with pool
- Hike the Cares Gorge and visit the Fuente De cable car
With high limestone peaks, alpine meadows and the deep and famous Cares gorge, the Picos de Europa has a superb range of hikes.
Choose between two hikes each day – a higher harder and lower easier hike. It’s a great way for you to set your own pace for the week.
The holiday is based at two pretty villages – Arenas de Cabrales and Cosgaya. This allows us to explore both the northern and southern sides of the park.
The 1.5 kilometre deep Cares gorge, high limestone peaks and rolling scenic meadows make the Picos de Europa a walkers paradise with lots of fantastic routes.
The Picos de Europa National Park
The Picos de Europa initially became a National Park in 1918, however it wasn’t until as recently as 1995 that its area was expanded and it became the National Park we know and love today. Alongside it´s National Park status the Picos was also recognised in 2003 by UNESCO to have world wide importance as a biosphere reserve.
Whilst in the area two gastronomical musts are the Cabrales cheese and the Asturias’ cider. Cabrales is a famous blue cheese made from a blend of cow, goat and sheep milk and left to mature in caves with 90% humidity.
The cider or, in Spanish ´sidra´ is produced throughout the region and is not carbonated. Due to this fact there is a special way in which the drink is poured and trained ´escanciadors´ or cider severs ser
ve this drink to you with a flourish!
The National Park is also steeped in history, no where so much as Covadonga with it´s striking basilica built from pink limestone.
Here a battle between the Iberian Christians and the Moors is said to have taken place in 722 AD. This battle is regarded as the beginning of the Reconcquista.
We’ve included the distances, ascents and highest altitude reached for each hike. On some routes, there is a range of distances due to there being different options – usually the guides will decide during the week which option the group will take. Please take note of the distances and ascents and make sure that you are fit enough to do the routes.
Saturday
Pick-up from Bilbao. We pick up from either the Abando train station (in the city centre) or at Bilbao airport. Transfer to Arenas de Cabrales. On arrival there will be a briefing about the week. Evening meal at hotel.
Sunday – Cares Gorge
Low and high level: Cares gorge
Today both hiking options will explore the famous 1.5 kilometre deep Cares gorge. Hike along a spectacular path which contours around the valley, 200 metres above the river bed. The gorge is quite long, so the shorter hike will walk roughly two thirds of the gorge before turning back while the longer option will hike all of the way to Cain at the end of the gorge.
Low level: distance 11km (6.8 miles). Ascent: +/- 300m (984 feet)
High level: distance 22 km (3.4 miles). Ascent: +/- 400m (1312 feet)
Monday – Sotres
Low level: Casetón de Andara
We start in alpine meadows and hike up to an old mining area and the hut of Casetón de Andara, which is the old miners accommodation, converted into a mountain hut. From here, we can see the sea in the distance and if we’re lucky, we might enjoy the typical “mar de nubes”, sea of clouds, in the area. From the hut, we have two options, and we’ll either do a circuit around Pico Mancondiú or a shorter route up to the small lake of Pozo de Andara.
Shorter Distance: 9.6 km (6 miles). Ascent: +/- 570 (1870 feet)
Longer Distance: 11.8 km (7.3 miles). Ascent: +/- 750 (2460 feet)
High level: Refugio Naranjo de Bulnes
A beautiful hike starting at the high col of Pandébaño. We take a tough, but excellent path with fantastic views of the high rocky peaks of the region, until we get to see the most famous summit of the Picos, Naranjo de Bulnes. We arrive at the refugio of Naranjo de Bulnes, which sits right at the base of the iconic peaks vertical walls. We can watch climbers tackling this peaks impossibly steep walls, while having our lunch, before heading back down. Not a long day in distance, but over one thouand metres of ascent.
Distance: 13 km (8 miles). Ascent: +/- 1050 (3445 feet)
Tuesday – Covadonga lakes
Low level: Majada de Belbín
The hike starts on the high lake and during the during the hike you’ll walk through meadows and discover two “majadas”, alpine pastures, where the shepherds are still live in the summer, using traditional farming methods for their livestock. If time allows, we can visit the famous basilica and cave of Covadonga. This is where the first victory for the Christians over the Moors took place in the 8th century and is a very religious site for the Spanish.
Distance: 10 km (6.21 miles). Ascent: +/- 390 (1280 feet)
High level: Refugio Vega de Ario
Starting at the beautiful Covadonga lakes, we pass through the traditional pastures of Belbín, before continuing through the high plateaux wind fairly steeply uphill through the alpine pastures and into the hills above to reach Refugio de Ario.
Distance: 16.6 km (10.3 miles). Ascent: +/- 860m (2820 feet)
Wednesday
Rest/cultural/transfer day
In the morning, we’ll have a guided tour of one of the famous Cabrales cheese caves, where they mature the famous, strong flavoured Cabrales blue cheese. It’s a fascintaing visit that finishes with a cheese and cider tasting. We’ll then make the very scenic drive round to Cosgaya, stopping off in the medieval town of Potes on the way, before arriving at the lovely Hotel del Oso, our base for the second hald of the week.
Thursday – Fuente Dé
Today, both routes take the Fuente De cable car, which climbs 753 metres and gives us easy access to spectacular high mountain scenery.
Low level: Fuente De & Refugio Aliva
After an exhilarating cable car journey, our circular hike takes us gradually through alpine meadows, with high peaks towering above us and views over the a huge area below, passing by Refugio de Aliva, and returning to the cable car station to descend.
Distance: 9km (5.6 miles). Ascent: +/- 500m (1640 feet)
High level: Torre de los Horcados Rojos (2562m)
From the cable car we continue to head up to the col of Horcados Rojos which has spectacular views. We have the option of doing the peak of the same name, which is a short, but steep and airy climb. We then pass by the tiny Refuge Cabaña Veronica, which was originally a gun turret off an old battle ship.
Distance: 12km (7.5 miles). Ascent: +/- 800m (2625 feet)
Friday – Mogrovejo
Low level: Bajo Picos
This route will bring us to the foot of the great limestone wall of the eastern massif of the Picos de Europa, crossing beech and mixed forests and give us the oportunity to discover three of the most original and beautiful villages of the Picos de Europa.
Distance: 8.5 km (5.3 miles). Ascent: +/- 400 m (1312 feet)
High level: Peña Oviedo
This route starts at Mogrevo, climbing to the viewpoint of Peña Oviedo for views of the cliffs of the eastern massiff. Passing through several wonderful villages, the route takes us right back to the hotel, where we can finish the week with a cold drink on the hotels lovely terrace.
Distance: 12.60 km (7.8 miles). Ascent: +/-400 m (1312 feet)
Saturday
Depart
Transfer back to Bilbao. It’s a three hour drive back to Bilbao, so the earliest we can drop off is at 12 midday in Bilbao. Please do not book a flight before 2 pm.
Picos de Europa
2025 Dates
Saturday 7 – 14 June (fully booked)
Saturday 13 -20 September
Price
1699 € per person (based on two sharing a double or twin room).
180 € single room supplement
Included
7 nights accommodation:
4 x Hotel Torrecerredo (Arenas de Cabrales)
3 x Hotel del Oso (Cosgaya)
Breakfast each morning
Picnic lunches each walking day
7 x 3 course evening meals each night (wine included with meal at Hotel del Oso)
Transfers to and from either Bilbao airport or train station.
Transport to the walks each day and between the two villages.
Not included
Flights, insurance, lunch on the rest day, additional drinks with evening meal (wine included).
Transfers from Bilbao
Transfers from/to Bilbao are included in the price. We pick up from either Bilbao airport or Bilbao Abando train station (which is in the city centre).
The pick up from the train station/city centre is at approx. 2 pm. For the airport, we coordinate the pickup time with people’s flights. Normally we pick up at the airport mid-afternoon.
For the return journey, again we either drop off at the city centre train station or the airport. It’s a three-hour drive from the hotel to Bilbao, so the earliest we can drop off at the airport is 12 midday – please do not book a flight before 2 pm.
Getting to Bilbao
From the UK
There are flights from several UK airports (inc. Stansted and Manchester) on Ryan Air and EasyJet.
Brittany Ferries have one route from the Portsmouth to Bilbao. The ferries are a great way to travel and have private cabins, restaurants, bars and viewing decks. All of the routes allow you to take your own car and crossing take around 24 hours. Visit www.brittany-ferries.co.uk for time tables and prices.
From outside Europe
Most of our guests from outside of Europe fly via Barcelona or Madrid, combing a stay in one of these two excellent cities with their walking holiday. From either city there are excellent rail or bus links to Bilbao.
See more travel options and details on our getting here page.
Hotel Torrecerredo (Arenas de Cabrales)
The first 4 nights will be in Hotel Torrecerredo, in a beautiful rural location on the edge of the village of Arenas de Cabrales on the Northern side of the Picos. A lovely place to relax after your hikes with a lovely bar and garden with great views of the mountains. Breakfast and a delicious three-course evening meal will be served at the hotel. On one night we’ll eat out in one of the local restaurants which will be within easy walking distance.
3* Hotel del Oso (Cosgaya)
The final hotel is a short drive from Fuente De in the pretty village of Cosgaya on the Southern side of the Picos. With an outdoor swimming pool, beautiful grounds, and scenery it is a lovely place to enjoy the final few days of your holiday. Breakfasts and evening meals are taken at the hotel and are simply superb! The hotel is part of the Cantabria ‘Club de Calidad’ which is in recognition of it’s excellent local dishes.
Frequently asked questions
Where do you pick up from?
For the return journey, again we either drop off at the city centre train station or the airport. It’s a three-hour drive from the hotel to Bilbao, so the earliest we can drop off at the airport is 12 midday – please do not book a flight before 2 pm.
Which meals are included in the price?
Can you change between the easy and hard walks during the week
What level is each hike?
A lovely holiday. Well looked after by Phil, David and Pablo. Very patient with me as I was a slow walker and not very fit. Thank you!
Kathy, Picos de Europa, July 2019
My 2nd trip with HP and I look forward to a 3rd. Relaxed from day 1 and with only 6 guests, we had personal service and the attention to welfare and details of each walk/area was excellent. The benefits of a smaller family run business were obvious to me and I will recommend the co. to friends. Thank you.
Con, Picos de Europa, July 2019
This was our first experience of a guided walking holiday and it will not be our last. Everything was excellent, hotels, transport, walking and local information. Despite a week of unsettled weather predictions, our guides took time and care to plan our routes so we didn’t have raincoats on all week.
David & Jennifer, Picos de Europa, July 2018.
A wonderful holiday – Good walking options – Great variety of challenging hikes, spectacular scenery. Great company, super food and wine.
Martin, Helen & James, Picos de Europa, July 2018.
The walks were well planned and the guides took a lot of care to fit in with the abilities of the group and with the weather.
Anthony, Picos de Europa, July 2018.
An excellent walking holiday in the Picos – the knowledge and support of Phil enabled us to do more than we had thought we could.
Jane & Peter, Picos de Europa, July 2018.
Picos de Europa
Guided walking holiday
2025 Dates:
7 – 14 June (fully booked)
13 – 20 September
1699 € per person
To check availability and for more information complete the form below:
A very good trip with both guides flexible and very sensitive to the needs of individuals and the group. Thanks!
Overall an excellent holiday. Stunning locations, great walks, and excellent guiding. A very well thought out itinerary with walks to suit the ever-changing weather. The whole trip was well organised and relaxed. It’s only a shame we couldn’t make it longer. Looking forward to the next time! Thank you all.
Check availability or book your holiday:
Location:
Hotel Picos de Europa
Hotel Picos de Europa
Hotel del Oso
Hotel del Oso