Guided hiking
7 nights
Grade 2: Mid to strenous
Two centre
Snowshoeing
7 night guided snowshoeing holiday
- 7 night guided snowshoeing holiday
- Grade 2: Mid to strenuous
- 2 centre itinerary – 4 nights in Hotel Almud, 3 nights in Hotel Villa de Anayet
- Explore two different valleys – the Valle de Tena and the Valle de Aragon
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 two different valleys and both the Spanish and French Pyrenees, snowshoeing on both sides of the border.
We’ll stay in two different locations giving us a great choice of routes. First, we’ll explore the Valle de Tena where the area of Portalet at the border is a perfect winter playground. The second half of the week is in the Valle de Aragon where we stay right next to Canfranc Station – we’ll have a guided walking tour and learn about the history of this famous and fascinating building.
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!
A two-centre itinerary exploring both the Valle de Tena and Valle de Aragon. First, we’ll stay in the pretty village of Sallent de Gallego where snowy peaks rise above the stone houses. Our second base will be Canfranc Estación, at the head of the Valle de Aragon, where we’ll find the famous train station of Canfranc.
The snowshoeing routes will be on both the French and Spanish sides of the border. One day we’ll take a chairlift in the ski resort of Astun for a wonderful high-level snowshoe amongst the peaks.
This is a sample itinerary – the exact routes will depend on the snow conditions and the weather. Although the Pyrenees often has sunny weather in winter, conditions can be variable so you need to be prepared for anything weather-wise.
Sunday – arrive in Sallent de Gállego
Hotel Almud
Arrive in Sallent de Gállego from Zaragoza. We’ll pick up at both Zaragoza train station and Zaragoza airport for the Ryan Air flight from Stansted. Transfer to Hotel Almud in Sallent where your guide will give you a briefing about your week ahead and fit your snowshoes (hire of snowshoes, poles and gaiters included). Evening meal in a village restaurant.
Monday – Portalet and Foratata
Our first day 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.
Tuesday – Cuyaralet
We’ll snowshoe right along the border, crossing from the Spanish side of the range into France. We head up a magical snow-filled valley, following ice-covered streams, under the steep peak of Cuyaralet. Lunch is taken with one foot in France and the other in Spain!
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 and pointy peak.
Thursday – Rest day
Today is a well-earned rest day! You’ll have a free morning to explore the village of Sallent before your transfer to the Aragón Valley, where you stay in Hotel Villa de Anayet for the second part of your adventure. We’ll take a walking tour of the village, learning about the fascinating history of the train station, before an optional visit to the hotel’s spa.
Canfranc train station
Friday – Ibón de Escalar
Today we’ll start from Astún ski resort, taking the chairlift up to begin our snowshoe high in the mountains. First, we’ll hike to the frozen Ibón de Escalar, the source of the Aragón River (which gave the name to the region) and then head up to the French border.
Saturday – Ibón de Estanés (France)
Today we’ll cross over the Somport pass 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.
Ibón de Estanés
Sunday
Breakfast and then transfer to Zaragoza for the train or flight from Zaragoza.
Snowshoeing guided holiday
2025 Dates
Sunday 2 – 9 February
Price
1699 € per person (based on two sharing a double or twin room).
175 € single room supplement
Included
7 nights accommodation: 4 x Hotel Almud, 3 x Hotel Villa de Anayet
Breakfast each morning
Picnic lunches each snowshoeing day
3 course evening meals each night
1 spa circuit at Hotel Villa de Anayet
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 9:35 am, arrive Zaragoza 12:50
Depart Zaragoza 13:15, arrive London Stansted 14:25
Pickups from Zaragoza train station will be at 12:30, and the following Sunday the drop off at the train station will be at 11:15.
Trains from Barcelona that link up well with our transfer times are:
Depart Barcelona 11:00, arrive Zaragoza 12:23
and for the return
Depart Zaragoza 11:45, arrive Zaragoza 13:15
From Madrid the best train times are:
Depart Madrid 10:30, arrive Zaragoza 11:44
and for the return
Depart Zaragoza 11:45, arrive Madrid 13:17
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 snowshoeing holiday. From either city there are excellent rail links to Zaragoza.
See more travel options and details on our getting here page.
Hotel Almud
The first part of the week, 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.
Hotel Villa de Anayet
On Thursday you will change to Hote Real Villa de Anayet, a 4* hotel with spa located in Canfranc station. The hotel has comfortable rooms, a bar, cafe, lounge and games room.
Three-course evening meals will be taken at the hotel’s excellent restaurant.
Frequently asked questions
Where do you pick up from?
Which meals are included in the price?
Is snow shoe rental included?
Do I need winter hiking or snowshoeing experience
Do I need special clothing, boots or skiwear?
Snowshoeing
Guided walking holiday
2 – 9 February 2025
1699 € per person
Check availability or book your holiday:
Location:
Hotel Almud
4* Hotel Villa de Anayet
Contact Hike Pyrenees
Phone:
UK: +44 (0)208 123 5049
Spain: +34 974 495 401
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