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.

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.

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

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.