DATES
Sat 8th June 2024
-
Sat 15th June 2024
7 nights
This year we are spending two weeks in Ordino to give our guests the option of having a 2 week holiday in this beautiful area. It is before the summer season and trails will be quiet for us to explore the fantastic Andorran Pyrenees and even swim in mountain lakes. Do book on for a weeks holiday or let us know if you would like to stay for two - we hope you will.
SUMMARY
Date: Saturday June 8th to Saturday June 15th
Guide: Nicola Archer our local guide
Walking Grade: 2 Goats. There will be options to do more stretching walks.
Base: Hotel Coma an old favourite of WalkingWomen, Ordino in the heart of the Pyrenees. It is a walk into the small town where there are lots of cafes and restaurants. The hotel has an outdoor swimming pool and gardens for sitting and looking at the mountains.
Arrivals: Fly to Barcelona to arrive for a group transfer leaving approx 3pm. The journey is approx 3 hours to our hotel in Ordino. We arrive for a welcome briefing and dinner together at the hotel.
Departures: For the return journey we will leave the hotel after breakfast so return flights best after 3pm on Sat June 10th. The journey is approximately 3 hours from the aiport to Ordino and a group airport transfer is included in the price.
If you need help with flights , trains or adds on in Barcelona please get in touch with our travel concierge service to discuss your plans – helen.wheatley@travelcounsellors.com
Call – 01522 716180/07775 927746
Price: £1100 per person for this holiday to include:
If you are sharing a room the price will be £950 per person
- Ensuite accommodation with breakfast and dinner each night
- Lunches on 5 walking days
- Group airport Transfer to and from Barcelona
- Tourist Tax
- Experienced local english speaking guiding
- Local transport required for walks
- One day excursion
Not included:
- Travel to Barcelona
- Additional drinks
- One lunch on free day
DETAILS
This holiday is located in the picturesque town of Ordino which is home to museums and the starting point of many varied walks to explore the Andorra side of the Pyrenees and surrounding area. Our walks will give you a spectacular introduction to Andorra,or if you have been before, a chance to rediscover the beautiful country.
In June there maybe opportunities to swim in the many lakes.
Our hotel is known for charming Andorran hospitality and traditional cuisine. It has a swimming pool , tennis courts and has a restaurant and beautiful terrace with views of the mountains.
ITINERARY
The itinerary may change depending on the weather and at the discretion of our guide.
The walks give you an opportunity to explore this wonderful area and will be a variation of the first weeks walks. There will be a free day and options for excursions to explore more of the area.
Day 1 Saturday :Arrival in Andorra – settle in to your hotel, meet the guide and have a pre dinner briefing about the week. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 2: Tristaina lakes Height from 2200 meters to 2500 m an ascent of 300m DISTANCE: 5 km. To ease into the week.
These are of the prettiest lakes in Andorra, 3 in total, at 2300 meters and of glacial origin set amongst high peaks. They are in the far north west side of Andorra where they get the most amount of snow in the winter. This is one of the few places in Andorra where you can see perpetual snow. We will walk between the lakes up to the perpetual snow at the end of the valley.
There is a Tristaina lakes legend from when Charlemagne the conqueror passed through Andorra and some of the men from some families in the valley of Ordino went with Charlemagne to fight the Moors. One of these men came from a family in Llorts and his wife, called Aina, was very sad and every day went up to the lakes to cry and she cried so much that she produced the three lakes of Tristaina. Trista in Catalan means sad and Aina is the name of the wife who cried so much.
Day 3: Llacs and Bassiets peaks 400m ascent to 2692m 3.6km . There is an option to walk higher ascending 700m and longer to 2777 m 8km.
We walk on the Spanish border. The bus leaves us on the Cabus Pass right on the frontier. We walk to the Llacs peak with an option to follow the ridge to Bassiets into Spain.
This area has a lot of wildlife because not many people walk in this area. Animals likely to see are Isards, Muflons, Vultures, Eagles, Ptarmigans.
Day 4: Esbalçat Lake and Peak Ascent 200m to the lake at 2300m 3.5km and on to the peak at 2683m and another 3km
We walk to a Glacial lake with high mountain flora, views of the valley and a very pretty lake. It is an easy walk to the lake following the side of the mountain but there is a steep walk down to the road at the bottom of the valley.
Day 5: rest day with an offer of an excursion or day to relax at the hotel
Day 6: Serrera Peak 550m ascent 6km. There may be an option to do a longer walk.
The Serrera peak is 2913 meters high and is one of the 5 over 2900 meter-mountains in Andorra. it is on the French Andorran frontier in the north of Andorra.
The walk starts at the end of Ransol valley, the path follows the stream with its water falls to the lakes of els Meners. Meners means mines because this was where the most important iron mines were in Andorra. The first mine started in 1604 and the last mine closed in 1891. These mines could only be mined in summer because in winter it was impossible due to the snow. The mines are situated around the collada dels Meners at 2700 meters and on our way to the peak, we pass this col and can see a miners hut which has been restored and can see where the mine entrances are but have been covered over after all these years. From the col we have 200 meters to the top of peak de la Serrera (meaning saw, the peak is a long ridge looking like a saw). From the peak on a clear day we can see Toulouse or Carcassonne and towards Spain to the pre Pyrenean hills, as well as down into the beautiful Sorteny Natural Park.
Day 7: Final walk day Pessons lakes 740m ascent 9km
A string of 7 lakes nestling amongst the granite boulders and surrounded by majestic jagged peaks. The walk starts in the ski resort of Grau Roig and winds up through the woods before coming out at the first of the seven lakes. Here there is a mountain hut which serves food and drinks on a large terrace overlooking the lake. The path continues over boulders and streams, past interesting flora and marmots can often be heard and spotted. All the small glacial lakes are quite close to each other and the path takes a route around them.This is a great walk for mountain flowers and high mountain birds. We do a round trip.
CALL 01784 664063 – EMAIL CONTACTUS@WALKINGWOMEN.COM
