Ordesa never disappoints
Our Discover Ordesa holiday is a guided walking week based in the Spanish Pyrenees, exploring Ordesa National Park and the surrounding valleys. Each day there are two guided walking options, so guests can choose the level that suits them while still enjoying the same wonderful landscapes, villages and local atmosphere.
Mondarruego (“the reddish mountain”) and the mighty valley that gave birth to this National Park are always impressive. Turieto and the floor of the Ordesa Valley offer gentler walks, but they are no less rewarding. The ledges of Racón and Pelay never cease to amaze us, with their sweeping views and their seemingly level paths tracing the upper treeline.
The Bujaruelo Valley, part of the park’s protected surroundings and included within the Ordesa-Viñamala Biosphere Reserve, is another place not to be missed.
Ainsa, main town in this county (Sobrarbe, all of its nooks and crannies being part of a UNESCO International Geopark), offers a great deal for a rest day: the EcoMuseum in the oldest tower of the castle, the tapas in the shade by the medieval main square, and one of Spain’s most beautiful villages.
Our Discover Ordesa trip is rated 5 stars by our guests
Since you cannot have everything in a single day, we had to choose between climbing the panoramic summit of Pelopín or exploring the Añisclo Canyon, a deep scar carved into this limestone landscape and another jewel of Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park.
And then comes the always spectacular farewell from the viewpoints above Ordesa, contemplating millions of years of sediments once deposited on the floor of an ancient sea and later sculpted by glaciers, rivers and rockfalls.
This week, Chema and I have once again enjoyed a wonderful stay in the magnificent Sobrarbe region, which, as always, has delighted both us and our guests. Sharing our knowledge and love of these mountains with them has been a pleasure.
There is always something new to discover, and this time it has to be the new ice cream shop in the centre of Torla. Their artisan ice creams are absolutely delicious—a welcome reward after a long, hot day. I have no doubt they will become a regular feature of our trips.
Flowers, griffon vultures, bearded vultures, canyons, meadows, forests, sunshine, rivers, villages, birdsongs, a gentle breeze, and even a passing shower in the middle of the longest hike of the week. Memories. New friends whom we hope to see again, from the bottom of our hearts.
What more could one ask for?
First declared a National Park in 1918, Ordesa was expanded in 1982 to include Monte Perdido and the surrounding valleys. Home to the highest limestone massif in Europe (3,355 m / 11,007 ft), it revealed itself in all its splendour throughout the week. Thank you, dear friends, for making it possible.
Our Discover Ordesa guided holiday explores Ordesa National Park and the surrounding valleys with two guided walking options each day. It’s a wonderful week for walkers who want dramatic scenery, wildlife, culture and local knowledge along the way.
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