
Self guided
hiking

7 nights

Grade 2/3: Two hiking options daily

Single centre
The Catalan Pyrenees
7 night self guided walking holiday
- 7 night self guided walking holiday
- EcoResort hotel with spa and pool
- two route options each day
- hiking maps, route directions and GPS tracks provided

Estany de Malniu
Explore the Catalan Pyrenees with this self guided route in Cerdanya. The trip is based at the Cerdanya EcoResort, where you’ll stay at the lovely Hotel Muntayna with it’s spa and pool.
The hikes explore both the northern and southern sides of Cerdanya. To the north you hike close to the Andorran border and cross into France for one night. The hikes in the south are under the high cliffs of the Sierra de Cadi and along the ridge of the Sierra de Cadi Moixeró.
There is a choice of a shorter or longer option each day. You’ll cover a reasonable distance each day – between 11 km (7 miles) and up to 19 km (12 miles) on the longer options. Paths are quite kind underfoot with lots of grassy meadows and not too many rocky sections.
The Cerdanya EcoResort is an ecologically friendly hotel, with its own extensive vegetable gardens and greenhouses which you can take a guided tour of during your stay. It has a pool, spa, sauna and jacuzzi (with wonderful views!) and a visit to the spa is included each night during your stay there.

Looking towards the Sierra de Cadi
The itinerary is based at the Cerdanya EcoResort with short transfers each day to the hikes. The transfers to the hikes are included in the price. The EcoResort makes a perfect base for exploring the area being close to the best hikes and having great facilities such as a spa and pool. A visit each day to the hotel’s lovely spa is included in the price of the holiday.
You can arrive on either a Sunday or a Thursday and the itinerary is 7 nights with 6 days of hiking.
The itinerary has plenty of flexibility with each day offering two walking options of differing difficulty. With several nights spent at the EcoResort, you also have the option of taking a rest day and resting any tired muscles in the jacuzzi!
For those that like long hikes the harder options are fairly strenuous with some of the days covering over 20km (12.5 miles) and getting into steep high mountain terrain.
Although some of the distances and ascents/descents may seem quite long, the terrain and paths are good underfoot. There are lots of grassy paths, some but not many rocky sections which allow for fairly quick progress.
The holiday starts and ends in the village of Prullans. You can either drive there (2 hrs from Barcelona airport) or take a direct bus to the nearby town of Puigcerda where we can arrange for you to get picked up.
Day 1 – Arrive Cerdanya EcoResort
Arrive in Cerdanya where you stay at Hotel Muntayna which is part of the Cerdanya EcoResort. Briefing in the evening about the week ahead, going over the route and giving you a chance to ask any questions. Evening meal at the hotels restaurant, many dishes are made with ingredients grown in the hotel’s own extensive vegetable garden and greenhouses.
Day 2 – Lago de l’Orri and the waterfall of Molà de Salt
Today, both routes start with a lift and then you hike back to the hotel. The longer option starts at the hut of Cap del Rec, from where you hike up to the pretty lake of l’Orri, lying only a few kilometres from the Andorran border. The route then descends through the valley of La Llosa, past the lovely waterfall of Molà de Salt before continuing on back to Prullans and the hotel.
the shorter route stays a bit lower, starting at the pretty village of Viliella in the valley La Llosa. The route passes the waterfall of Molà de Salt before heading back to Hotel Muntanya. Lovely views across the Cerdanya valley the whole way.
Night at Hotel Muntanya at the Cerdanya EcoResort.
Shorter option: distance: 14.6 km (9 miles), ascent: 210 m (700ft), descent 390 m (1280ft)
Longer option: distance: 18.2 km (11.3 miles), ascent: 370 m (1210ft), descent 1220 m (4000ft).
Day 3 – Bor – Mirador de Cap del Ras – Talló

Relax your tired legs in a jacuzzi with a view!
The objective for both of today’s routes is the viewpoint of Cap del Ras. From here you get panoramic views over the whole of the Cerdayna valley, looking north to the border peaks and south to the cliffs of the Sierra de Cadi and Sierra de Moixeró. It’s a great way to end your weeks hiking and you can see all of the areas that you’ve hiked in from here.
At the end of the day, you get a short lift back to Hotel Muntanya at the Cerdanya EcoResort where we recommend a soak in the jacuzzi and a sauna to relax any tired muscles!
Shorter option: distance: 13 km (8 miles), ascent 640 m (2100 ft), descent 640 m (2100 ft)
Longer option: distance: 16 km (10 miles), ascent: 700 m (2300 ft), descent 815 m (2670 ft)
Day 4 – Circular route to Prat de Cadi

Prat de Cadi
Short lift in the morning to the tiny village of Estana. From here you climb through beautiful pine woods to the flower-filled meadows of Prat de Cadi that lie beneath the high cliffs of the Sierra de Cadi. Heading back down via an alternative route, you then head to a viewpoint with great views north to the high peaks that line the border between Spain and both France and Andorra. The shorter route loops back to Estana where you’ll be picked up, while the longer route continues down to the village of Martinet where you get a short lift back to Hotel Muntanya where you spend the night.
Short option: Estana – Prat de Cadi – viewpoint – Estana: 14.5 km (9 miles), ascent/descent: 380 m (1800ft).
Long option: Estana – Prat de Cadi – viewpoint – Martinet: 15.9 km (10 miles), ascent 560 m (1800ft), descent 1120 m (3700ft).
Day 5 – Das – Peak of La Tosa (2537 m) – Riu de Cerdayna
A short transfer in the morning from Latour de Carol to the village of Das, or for the shorter route the road head of Coma Oriola which reduces the ascent. Both routes then head up to the spectacular peak of La Tosa (2537 metres) for wonderful views both to the north and the south.
From the summit, you follow the summit ridge of the Sierra de Moixeró before descending through woodland back to the valley floor where you’ll be picked up and given a lift back to the Hotel Muntanya at the Cerdanya EcoResort where you spend the night.
Shorter option: distance: 11 km (6.8 miles), ascent 570 m (1260 ft), descent 990 m (3250 ft)
Longer option: distance: 19 km (11.8 miles), ascent: 1410 m (4620 ft), descent 1480 m (4850 ft)
Day 6 – Perafita (2753 metres)

Hotel Can Borrell
Today, you explore the area of Perafita, a high mountain that sits on the Spanish/Andorran border. The easier option visits the lakes that sit below the summit, while the longer option heads up to the col on the border or up to the 2753m summit of Perafita.
Short option: The Pera lakes
Starting in beautiful pine woods, the route gently heads up through meadows and into more open rugged land. Here we find the beautiful lakes of Pera. These two lovely lakes sit right under the face of the rugged peak of Perafita. Option of a coffee at the refugio that’s nearby.
Short option: 6.5 km, ascent/descent: 225 m
Long option: Col of Perafita or the summit of Perafita (2753m)
Again staring in pine woods, you head up to the lakes of Pera. From here, the steeper climbing begins as you head up to the Pass of Perafita, a traditional crossing point for smugglers between Andorra and Spain. If people are up for it, we can continue up the ridgeline that marks the border, up to the summit for magnificent views over both Andorra and Spain.
Long option: to col: 9 km, ascent 450 m (the peak adds 2.5 km and 200 metres ascent)
Day 7 – Refuge and lake Malniu
The starting point for today’s routes is the hut of Refugi de Malniu at 2130 metres, in a delightful setting with a beautiful lake alongside. The short route explores the meadows and and nearby lakes, while the longer route follows a section of the famous GR11 path to a rugged alpine area with lakes set in high mountain scenery.
Short option: Estany de Malniu
We first explore the small but very pretty lake next to the refuge, before heading through meadows where horses graze to the larger lake of Estany de Malniu. We head up to another smaller lake before returning to the Malniu hut.
Short option: 8 km, ascent 300m
Long option: Estany Llarg
Heading out from Refuge Malniu, we hike along a section of the GR11, the famous trans-Pyrenean path that runs the length of the range. We hike up to and into a wonderful cirque, filled with lakes and surrounded by high rocky peaks. We make a circuit of the lakes, before heading back down the GR11.
Distance 14 km, ascent 700 m
Day 8 – Depart
Breakfast at the hotel before departing for your homeward journey.
The Catalan Pyrenees
2024 Prices & Dates
The Catalan Pyrenees holiday is available all summer from early May to mid-October (apart from August).
You can arrive on either a Sunday or a Thursday, with your first days hiking starting the morning after.
PRICES | 2 – 3 people | 4 or more people |
14 May – 2 July | 1349 € | 1299 € |
3 July – 31 July | 1399 € | 1349 € |
31 July – 2 Sep | not available | |
3 Sep – 18 Sep | 1399 € | 1349 € |
18 Sep – 12 Oct | 1349 € | 1299 € |
Prices are per person and based on two sharing.
Minimum party size: 2 people
189 € single room supplement
Picnics can be ordered from the hotel and will be organised on arrival. 6 picnics are 60€ per person. You can order for just a few days, or share one picnic between two if you prefer.
Included
7 nights accommodation at Hotel Muntanya (Cerdanya EcoResort)
7 x breakfasts (every morning)
7 x three course evening meals (each night)
Transfers to/from all routes that require lifts
Detailed maps, route cards and GPS tracks
Not included
Flights, insurance, drinks with evening meal.
Picnics.
Transfers from Barcelona or Puigcerdá (can be arranged at additional cost).
Getting to the Catalan Pyrenees
Barcelona is the best city to access the Cerdanya area from. There are both buses and trains to the town of Puigcerdá where we can arrange a taxi for you for the final leg of the journey.
If you are arriving on a Sunday, there is a limited bus service and it is best to take the train. It’s a local train, line R3, and takes just over 3 hours. The price is approximately 12 € each way.
For arrival the best trains are:
Depart Barcelona 11:36, arrive Puigcerdá 14:44 or
depart Barcelona 14:36, arrive Puigcerdá 17:44
There are later trains too if you prefer.
For the return you can get the train straight from Latour de Carol where you spend the final night. The station is about 1.5km from the town centre so we’ll book you a taxi to get there.The best train times are as follows (although there are later trains if you prefer):
Depart Latour de Carol 8:25, arrive Barcelona 11:45 or
depart Latour de Carol 10:25, arrive Barcelona 13:40
Taxi transfer from Puigcerdá train or bus station to hotel Muntanya: 50 €
Taxi transfer from hotel in Latour de Carol to train station: 15 €
It’s an easy 2-hour drive from Barcelona airport if you’re hiring a car.
If you have any questions about getting here or would like any advice then please drop us an email.
You’ll stay at Hotel Muntanya in the Cerdanya EcoResort. Breakfast and evening meals are included and taken at the hotel, and picnic lunches can be ordered and paid for locally.
All hotels have en-suite bathrooms and have wi-fi. If you’ve driven to Cerdanya, Hotel Muntanya has free safe parking where you can leave your car during the week.
Hotel Muntanya – Cerdanya EcoResort (Prullans)
A lovely ecologically friendly hotel in the village of Prullans. Rooms have beautiful views of the valley and over to the Sierra de Cadi which you can enjoy from your balcony (most but not all rooms have balconies). All bedrooms are en-suite.
The hotel’s pool has a sliding roof so is either indoor or outdoor depending on the weather, and meaning that it can be used year-round. The spa is lovely, with a tranquil adults-only pool, sauna, cold plunge pools, and a jacuzzi with superb views. A spa circuit is included for each night that you’re in the EcoResort during your stay.
The hotel bar has a large terrace and garden outside, all with great views over the mountains.
During the summer, the hotel grows the majority of its own vegetables in its extensive gardens and greenhouses. A guided tour of the vegetable gardens is included during your stay.
Evening meals and breakfasts are taken at the hotel’s restaurant. Meals are three courses with choices for each course. They serve many local Catalan dishes. Breakfasts are buffet-style.
Frequently asked questions
Which meals are included in the price?
When is the best time to hike the Catalan Pyrenees itinerary?
Do I need a car?
Are the routes easy to follow?
Do the routes get into the high mountains or do the trails stay in the valley floor?
If we come by car is there somewhere to leave the car while we are hiking?
The Catalan Pyrenees
Self guided walking holiday
2024 Dates:
The Catalan Pyrenees itinerary is available all summer (apart from August) – from 14 May to 12 October. Arrive and depart on any day you wish.
from 1299 € per person
Photos from the Catalan Pyrenees itinerary
Check availability or book your holiday:
Location:
Hotel Muntanya, Cerdayna EcoResort
Ecologically friendly hotel with pool and spa facilities.

Relax your tired legs in a jacuzzi with a view!
Hotel Can Borrell
Beautiful rustic country hotel.
Auberge Catalane
Stay one night on the French side of the border