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Guided snowshoeing holiday

Charming hotel

Discover the magic of the Pyrenees in winter

Guided snowshoeing holiday

Charming hotel

Discover the magic of the Pyrenees in winter

Guided hiking

7 nights

Grade 2: Mid to strenous

Single centre

Snowshoeing

7 night guided snowshoeing holiday

  • 7 night guided snowshoeing holiday
  • Grade 2: Mid to strenuous
  • 2 centre itinerary – 3 nights in Hotel Almud, 4 nights in Hotel Villa de Anayet

Winter is a magical time in the mountains. The scenery looks spectacular under a blanket of snow and you are surrounded by silence and tranquillity. Snowshoeing is a fantastic way to discover this magical landscape. Snowshoeing is brilliant fun and requires no previous experience or technical skills – if you can hike you can snowshoe! We’ll teach you all the techniques you need to know during your stay.

On this guided snowshoeing holiday we’ll show you some of the best winter routes in the Pyrenees. We’ll explore both the Spanish and French Pyrenees, snowshoeing on both sides of the border.

No previous snowshoeing experience is required for this holiday, just a reasonable level of hiking fitness and a desire to enjoy the mountains in winter!

New itinerary for 2024 – itinerary below to be updated shortly

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 snow conditions and the weather. Although the Pyrenees usually has sunny weather, it is winter and you need to be prepared for anything weather-wise.

 

Sunday – Sallent de Gállego

Arrive in Sallent de Gállego from Zaragoza late evening. We’ll pick up at both Zaragoza train station (3 pm) and Zaragoza airport for the Ryan Air flight from Stansted (depart Stansted 12:15, arrive Zaragoza 15:25).

Monday – Portalet and Foratata

Our first days snowshoeing starts from the French/Spanish border pass of Portalet from where we snowshoe on the rolling terrain on the Spanish side of the border, heading under the Foratata peak. We’ll have great views to the south over the whole of the Valle de Tena and also across to the three thousand metre peaks of Balaitous and Los Infiernos. If we are lucky we’ll see a few chamois perched on the ridge above us, watching our every move.

During the day we’ll do a demonstartion of avalanche transceivers and practise search and rescue techniques (this is for interest only – the routes do not pass through dangerous avalanche terrain).

Tuesday – Ibón de Estanés

Today we’ll drive around to the Valle de Aragon north of Jaca and crosse through the Somport tunnel into France. The views onto the north faces of the Aspe peaks covered in ice and snow are absolutely fantastic. We’ll climb up through beech woods before breaking out into the open valley that leads up to the lake of Ibon de Estanes (which is actually back on the Spanish side of the border!). Covered in snow and ice, with high cliffs towering above it the lake is a beautiful spot in winter.

Wednesday – Pico de Canal Roya (2231m)

Today we tackle our first summit of the trip – the lovely peak of Canal Roya that sits on the French/Spanish border. A lovely snowshoe in before a final steeper climb to reach the summit which has spectacular vistas across a huge area of the Pyrenees. The famous Pic de Midi d/Ossau is next to us and we get great views of this iconic peak.

Pyrenees snowshoeing vacation

Ibón de Estanés

Thursday – Rest day

Spend a relaxing day in Sallent de Gállego, go for a relaxing spa, or if you’d like to stay active we can do a cross country or alpine ski day (extra charge for skiing paid locally).

Friday – Ordesa National Park

The sheer cliffs of the Valle de Ordesa are an undisputable highlight of the Pyrenees. If you’ve been here in summer you’ll know how spectacular it is and to see it in winter with the waterfalls all frozen is fantastic. Our route follows the Río Arazas passing waterfalls and rock pools before the woodland gives way to spectacular views of the surrounding cliffs and the 3000m peak of Monte Perdido towering above you.

Snowshoeing vacation in the Pyrenees

Gradas de Soaso in Ordesa National Park

Saturday – Cuyaralet peak (2285m)

The final snowshoe of the trip and we’ve saved the best to last. We’ll snowshoe up the French side of the range to this wonderful summit for more great views. We then pass across to the Spanish side of the border for the descent – there are not many routes where you go up in one country and come down in another.

Sunday

Free morning in Sallent de Gállego before leaving mid-day to catch the afternoon train or flight from Zaragoza (depart 15:50, arrive Stansted 16:55).

Snowshoeing guided holiday

2024 Dates

Sunday 4 – 11 February

Price

1599 € per person (based on two sharing a double or twin room).
175 €
single room supplement

Included

7 nights accommodation: 3 x Hotel Almud, 4 x Hotel Villa de Anayet
Breakfast each morning
Picnic lunches each snowshoeing day
3 course evening meals each night
Transfers to and from either Zaragoza airport or train station
Transport to the routes each day
Snowshoes, poles and gaiters

Not included

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

Getting to the Pyrenees

From the UK

There are direct flights from London Stansted to Zaragoza. You can also fly to Barcelona or Madrid and can catch the AVE fast train to Zaragoza. We pick up at both the train station and the airport.

Please note that the winter flight times are different from the summer flight times listed in our ‘Getting Here’ pages. For the snowshoeing holidays the flight times that we meet are:

Depart London Stansted 12:15, arrive Zaragoza 15:25
Depart Zaragoza 15:50, arrive London Stansted 16:55

Pickups from the train station will be at 15:00, just before the flight arrives.

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 links to Zaragoza.

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

Hotel Almud

You will stay in the family-run Hotel Almud in Sallent de Gállego – an ideal base from which to reach the higher reaches of the Valle de Tena. A small hotel with just 11 rooms all beautifully converted with en-suite bathrooms.

Three course evening meals are taken at village restaurants. Read more about Hotel Almud.

Frequently asked questions

Where do you pick up from?

Pick ups are from either Zaragoza train station or airport. See our getting here page for more details.

Which meals are included in the price?

Breakfasts and evening meals are included every day (including breakfast on the final Saturday). Picnic lunches are provided each hiking day. The only meals that aren’t included is the lunch on the rest/transfer day and on the final Saturday.

Is snow shoe rental included?

No, but we will arrange rental for you if you don’t have you’re own. Price is approx 35€ for the week.

Do I need winter hiking or snowshoeing experience

No, you don’t need to have done snowshowing before to enjoy this holiday. We’ll teach you all of the techniques during the week and the routes on the first day will be on rolling terrain to give you time to get used to snowshoeing on easy ground.

Do I need special clothing, boots or skiwear?

Ski jackets and trousers are too warm for snowshoeing and not required. However, we are out in the mountains in winter so winter walking trousers, good gloves, thermal top and bottoms are all needed. Gaiters are highly recommended to keep snow out of your boots and the bottom of your trousers dry. You don’t need stiff winter boots but a warmish boot is needed – very light summer fabric boots don’t keep your feet warm enough.
 

 

 

 

Here’s feedback from guests on our Snowshoeing guided walking holiday. Thanks to everyone that has sent feedback – if you’ve not mailed us any comments yet please do and we’ll add them.


Phil is an excellent guide – knowledgeable, enthusiastic, takes good care of the group! The snowshoeing was a superb way to enjoy the high Pyrenees in winter.
Anne & Daniel, Snowshoeing Holiday, February 2019.

Great hiking + fantastic information about fauna, flora and history.
Peter, Snowshoeing Holiday, February 2019.

Phil is a fabulous guide in all ways – helpful, extremely informative, caring and great fun to be with. Loved all the routes, their variety, the convenience of the van and all-round fabulous holiday.
Kryssy, Snowshoeing Holiday, February 2019.

Phil is a great guide – always ready to adapt to the group’s needs. Imparts a fantastic amount of information both on the trail and on the local culture and history.
Sally, Snowshoeing Holiday, February 2019.

Snowshoeing
Guided walking holiday

4 – 11 February 2024

1599 € per person

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Location:

Hotel Almud