Keeping our guests safe in the mountains
When you’re walking in the Pyrenees, a sense of freedom and remoteness is part of the experience. Wide valleys, high passes and quiet trails are what draw people here. At the same time, these are serious mountains, where the weather can change quickly and mobile phone coverage is not always reliable.
Using Garmin inReach satellite devices is just one part of how we look after our guests. It sits alongside careful route selection, daily weather checks, flexible itineraries and honest advice about conditions.
For us, good safety is not about taking away the adventure. It’s about making sure the adventure is well supported, allowing you to walk with confidence and enjoy the Pyrenees at their best.
Whether you join one of our guided holidays or choose the independence of a self-guided trip, you can be assured that we take your safety seriously—and that we are always quietly keeping an eye on things, even when you’re far from the nearest phone signal.
What is Garmin inReach?
Garmin inReach is a satellite communication and tracking system designed for use in remote areas where normal mobile networks do not work. Unlike a phone, it connects directly to the Iridium satellite network which has worldwide 24hr coverage, allowing location tracking and two-way messaging almost anywhere in the mountains.
The InReach sends your location to us every ten minutes, so from the office we can track where all of our guided and self guided groups are and if anyone is having any problems or will be late back.
Most importantly, it includes an SOS emergency function, which can alert international rescue services if help is needed. This technology is widely used by mountain professionals around the world and has become a key tool for modern mountain safety.
Peace of mind on our self-guided walking holidays
I first used an InReach during the pandemic when I did several long multi-day hikes in remote areas with no mobile coverage. I was hiking solo – well, with my dog Ruby but she wasn’t going to be much help in an emergency! I found the InReach resasured me that if anything went wrong I’d be able to raise the alarm and it also gave Anna peace of mind allowing her to see where I was each day – although I think she was more worried about Ruby than me! When travel opened up again, I started using it when guiding groups and quickly decided it was an essential part of a guides safety kit and now all of our guides carry one.
We believe that self-guided walking should offer independence without sacrificing safety. That’s why, on our Village to Village self-guided walking itinerary, we provide you with a Garmin inReach device, along with detailed maps, route cards and GPS tracks.
This allows us to monitor your progress during the week, ensuring that we always know where you are on the mountain. If you have a question, encounter unexpected conditions, or need advice, you can contact us even when there is no mobile reception.
Equally, if you want peace of mind for yourself or for family back home, the InReach provides reassurance that you are never truly out of contact.
Ordesa National Park
Self guided holiday
Available all summer
Village to Village
Hotel to hotel self guided hiking in the high Pyrenees
Arrive and depart on any day
31 May - 8 October 2026
What happens in an emergency?
In the unlikely event of a serious incident, the SOS function connects directly to a 24/7 international emergency coordination centre. They immediately receive your exact GPS location and liaise directly with local mountain rescue services to organise a rescue.
For guided groups, the guide manages all communication. For self-guided walkers, we ensure you are fully briefed on how the device works before you head out, including when and how to use the SOS function.
It’s important to say that this system is there as a backup, not a replacement for good judgement, careful planning and sensible route choices—but it is a powerful tool when it is needed.
Garmin inReach on our guided walking holidays
On all our guided walking holidays, our guides carry a Garmin inReach device as standard. This allows us to:
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Track the group’s location in real time
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Communicate with our office or local contacts if needed
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Call for emergency assistance if a situation requires it
While emergencies are extremely rare, having this system in place adds an important extra layer of security—particularly in areas where phone signal may be limited or non-existent. It also allows guides to make informed decisions if weather conditions change or if a route needs to be adapted.
For our guests, this means you can relax and focus on enjoying the walking, knowing that professional safety systems are quietly working in the background.
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