Ever been to the Spanish Pyrenees? The Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park in Spain is a dream come true for any trekker. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, Monte Perdido is Europe’s highest limestone massif, reaching 11,000 ft. The “Lost Mountain” lives up to its romantic name by revealing one secret after another. The trail will take us through all sorts of landscapes: rugged cliffs, flowery meadows, beech forests, canyons and waterfalls, making every step an adventure. This is a challenging hike, but so worth it, because the sheer beauty we’ll get to see and enjoy will stay with you forever. The Lost Mountain is waiting for you!
Explore the enduring ruggedness of Monte Perdido formed 65 million years ago
The area has more than 1,500 species of flowers, 171 species of birds, 32 different mammals
A variety of terrain includes rugged cliffs, ridges, forests, meadows and canyons
Head to Spain for a wild and demanding Monte Perdido trek in the Pyrenees. The 4-day tour is both humbling and exhilarating, and will let you explore the range's impressive natural beauty. Traverse ridges, forests, meadows, and get a privileged glimpse into the Pyrenees' enduring ruggedness formed 65 million years ago.
As an introduction, we’ll meet up at the Village of Torla (Aragon, Spain), the starting point of our trek, sometime in the afternoon. We’ll go over our plans for the coming days, so you can get an idea about what lies ahead.
Our adventure starts from Bujaruelo. Once we cross a Roman bridge we will start our ascent, following the red and white marks indicating the GR 11 trail to Puerto de Bujaruelo. When we get to Puerto de Bujaruelo, we will follow the signs towards the Brecha de Rolando Refuge. From there, we will continue toward the plain to reach the Góriz Refuge.
Hiking: 15 km (9 miles)
Elevation: +1600m / -800m (+5200 ft / – 2600 ft)
Leaving Góriz, we will follow the GR 11 trail markers and gradually ascend to the Collado Superior de Góriz. From there, we will follow the cairns northeast, along Faja de las Olas to Collado de Añisclo. There, we will encounter a demanding section, with chains to assist us. To bypass this technical part, we can descend to Fuen Blanca and then ascend to Collado de Añisclo. After that, we are going to carefully descend the long and challenging slope from Collado de Añisclo to Pineta Refuge.
Hiking: 13 km (8 miles)
Elevation: + 600m / -1600 m (+2000 ft / – 5200 ft)
From Pineta, we are going to follow the National Park signs and hike towards Puerto Nuevo de Pineta. At that point we will head up to Horquette d’Alans and then descend to Espuguettes Refuge, enjoying stunning views.
Hiking: 15 km (9 miles)
Elevation: + 1500m / – 750 m (+5000 ft / – 2500 ft)
From Espuguettes Refuge we will move towards Gavarnie, encountering a steep descent, passing close to the imposing Circo de Gavarnie. From Hotellerie du Cirque, we will hike towards Gavarnie, and then towards Cabanne de Pouey d’Aspé. After that we will ascend towards Cabanne de Soldats and Port de Boucharo (Bujaruelo Pass). From the pass, we’ll go back down, returning to our starting point, Bujaruelo Refuge.
Hiking: 18 km (11 miles)
Elevation: + 1000m / – 1600 m (+3300 ft / – 5200 ft)
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
This is a demanding hiking tour, best suited for intermediate and advanced hikers with excellent fitness levels.
You will cover a total of 63,7 km (39,5 mi) and +/- 5,000 m (16,400 ft) of elevation change, trekking for 12-17 km (8-11 mi) a day. On Days 1 and 3, the elevation gain will be more than 1,500 m (4,920 ft), and during the second and fifth stages, the elevation loss will be over 1,600 m (5,250 ft). You will also be carrying a backpack weighing around 8-10 kg (17-22 lbs) throughout the hike. Experience hiking in high elevations and on rocky terrain is a must.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
Group sizes and pricing
Hiking in the Pyrenees can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to the village of Torla-Ordesa, the starting point of the tour, most people fly into Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport serving Barcelona, Spain, 4 hours away. From there, you can rent a car and drive there. Alternatively, you can take a bus to Barbastro, and a connecting bus to Torla-Ordesa.
Alternatively, you can fly into Pamplona, rent a car, and take a 2-hour drive there, or take a bus to Sabiñánigo and a connecting bus to Torla-Ordesa.
Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, whether that’s at the guide shop or a predetermined location. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ability of the group.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance.
With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more. Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters, and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.
We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to. For more information on travel recommendations and restrictions in the Spanish Pyrenees please refer to the official conditions for entry into Spain.
If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!
A 30% deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid 3 months (90 days) prior to departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies.
