Active Pyrenees Family Holiday - Andorra
Itinerary
DAY 1 - DEPART LONDON
After your flight to
Barcelona, you transfer to your first night’s accommodation
(approx. 4 hours), journeying north by chartered bus to Soldeu in
Andorra.
Situated on the southern slopes of the Pyrenees, squashed
between France and Spain, the principality of Andorra measures a
mere 25km by 30km. Andorra’s independence can be traced back to
Charlemagne, who captured the region from the Muslims in 803 AD but
it was only in 1993 that the Andorran people voted to establish the
country as an independent and democratic state. Although small,
Andorra is blessed with some of the finest scenery in the Pyrenees
and is a great place for an active week in the mountains. Hotel - 7
nights (D)
DAY 2 – SISCARO RESERVE
This morning you will take your first excursion out into the
impressive mountains of this tiny country. The drive to Port
Envalira takes approximately 30 minutes and is boasted as being the
highest road pass in Europe.
Starting at 2,500m you have a short 100m climb to the summit of
Pic Maia. At this height there are spectacular views across the
Andorran mountains. From here the rest of the day is a ridge walk.
Being mostly flat or downhill, this is a great introduction to the
Pyrenees, and a chance to stretch your legs and acclimatize to the
altitude. The scenery is stunning and the walk will hopefully give
you the chance to see some of Andorra’s flora and fauna. It is
always worth keeping an eye out for the griffon vultures which are
often seen circling high overhead. On the way you will pass the
Siscaro Lakes which on hotter days, are a pleasant place to have a
swim. From here the descent is more rapid and the path brings you
out right opposite the hotel. You will arrive back at the hotel
between 3pm and 4pm giving you a chance to either relax in the sun,
take the bikes out for a ride, or visit one of the neighbouring
hotel’s spa centres. (BD)
DAY 3 –THE IRON ROUTE
Setting of in the vehicles and with the bikes, you head off to the
Ordino Valley, one of the most picturesque valleys in
Andorra. Starting at the top end of the valley at 2000m you
get fitted with a bike and helmet and then explore with a guide the
old iron route of Andorra. Iron was Andorra’s first industry
which brought the first real settlements to the area.
Easy going off road tracks take you along the valley past the
old iron mines, mills, and forges finishing in the village of
Ordino. The tracks are mostly wide 4x4 dirt surfaces, no cars take
these routes, and though the ground might be a bit rough in places,
no technical mountain biking skills are needed, just a good
knowledge of normal bike riding.
After a rest and refreshment in the village you are back in the
vehicles and up to the col de beixalls at 1800m where you are back
on the bikes for a thrilling 8km off road descent
into Encamp. Throughout the day there will be full vehicle
support so that if people prefer not to bike it is possible to walk
and/or ride in the 4x4.
From Encamp it is just a short 15 min drive back to the hotel
arriving between 5pm and 6pm. (BD)
DAY 4 – SOLDEU – FREE DAY
Today has been left free for you to choose from the many activities
that are on offer in Andorra. You may decide to go horse riding,
quad biking or visit the thermal baths of La Caldea. Take to the
trees for tree-top zip-lining or go canyoning. If you have a head
for heights you can try your hand at Via Ferrata climbing. There
are of course plenty more opportunities for walking and mountain
biking or you could simply choose to relax enjoy the sunshine or go
duty free shopping. (BD)
DAY 5 – THE OLD SMUGGLERS ROUTE &
RAFTING
There has been a long tradition of trade in Andorra due to its
unique location between France and Spain. However the most profits
have always been available to those willing to smuggle contraband
goods. The mountainous nature of Andorra and the border meant that
the smugglers had numerous routes they could take. The Spanish
Civil War gave the smugglers the chance to make large profits as
French goods were taken into Spain. As the war drew to a close and
the market seemed to be drying up, the Second World War started and
the trade reversed as Spanish goods were now needed in France.
Heading off road in your 4WD vehicle gives you the chance to get
away from the developed valleys and see some of the little visited
and interesting places in and around Andorra. You drive out of
Andorra to the Port de Cabus on the Spanish border; where the
tarmac ends so does Andorra. En route there are some spectacular
views along valleys to distant peaks, the odd shallow stream to go
through and the chance to stop in a typical mountain hamlet. The
end of the smuggler’s route finds you at the put-in point for your
exhilarating white water rafting. Here you kit up with paddles,
helmets, buoyancy aids, wetsuits and of course join your rafts and
guides. (BD)
DAY 6 – CORTALS VALLEY BIKING & BBQ
Today’s full day of activities take place in the stunningly
beautiful Cortals Valley, about a 30 minute drive away. Half-way up
the valley you jump on the bikes for a ride along a flat track to
the Engolasters Lake giving you the opportunity to enjoy the
scenery. Around the lake there are plenty of fun tracks to be taken
and you normally have the choice between an easy flat track and a
more exciting path through the woods. For those slightly less
energetic there is also a lakeside bar. Retracing your route you
return to the vehicles. You have the option to ride the demanding
3km tarmac road ascent to the barbeque area – a climb that follows
part of the Tour of Spain route. However, the vehicles are
available for anyone not fancying this. For lunch you will stop in
a Pyrenean meadow and enjoy a traditional Catalan barbeque.
After lunch you mount your bikes once more for the last part of
the day’s cycling as you head for the top of the valley. From here
you cross a rope-suspended bridge and take an off-road descent
followed by an on-road exhilarating switch-back descent to Encamp –
a total descent of over 800m. For anyone not wishing to cycle the
routes they can be done on
foot and there is a possibility of taking the longest gondola (ski
lift) ride in Europe. At the end of the day you return by vehicle
to Soldeu. (BLD)
DAY 7 – INCLES VALLEY
A short drive takes you into the Incles Valley, where you start
today’s walk. Initially you’ll walk up along the forested mountain
slopes. This part of the walk is along a single track through the
woods where there are many examples of pine forest plants, lots of
beautiful flowers, rhododendrons in June, wild fruit mid summer and
wild mushrooms in September. Arriving on a plateau just above the
tree line at 2000m, the gradient lessens as you reach the beautiful
Querol and Salamander Lakes. It is common to see groups of thickset
mountain horses grazing on these high slopes. The horses are
allowed to roam free and normally have large bells strapped around
their necks to allow the owners to find them.
Contouring along the valley you come to the Cabana Sorda Lake
sitting below an impressive semi-circular amphitheatre of rock - an
ideal spot to stop for lunch. From the lake, eager walkers can
continue the hike up to the peak at around 2600m giving you an
amazing bird’s eye view of the valley. For the people staying at
the lake there is the chance to have a swim, a refreshing dip in a
waterfall or watch the fishermen - there are plenty of mountain
trout. After lunch you’ll descend off the grassy higher slopes
through thick woodland to the top of the valley where you can
either take transport back to the hotel or, for those with more
energy, you can continue back on foot. (BD)
DAY 8 – TRIP ENDS: FLY TO LONDON
This morning, you transfer by bus to the airport in Barcelona where
the trip ends for Land Only clients. Clients taking our group
flights proceed to London. (B)
Quick links:
active pyrenees family holiday -
introduction
active pyrenees family holiday -
factfile
active pyrenees family holiday -
map
active pyrenees family holiday - dates
& prices
active pyrenees family holiday - booking
enquiry
active pyrenees family holiday - before
you go
REF: Andorra - Active Pyrenees FPS - AC0003
