After the transfer from Zaragoza, we ease into the week with a gentle hike near the mountain village of Cerler. The trail winds through quiet mountain scenery to the waterfalls of Cerler, where the cascades give you a first taste of what the Benasque Valley is all about. It’s a short day by design, just enough to stretch your legs, shake off the travel, and get used to the Pyrenean air before we head down to the hotel in Benasque. Settle in, enjoy the spa, and sit down to dinner together while your guide runs through the plan for the days ahead.

Meals: Dinner
Distance: 6 km (3.7 mi)
Elevation: +250 m (+820 ft)
Accommodation: 4-star spa hotel in Benasque

Today we head into the Valle de Estós, one of the loveliest valleys in the central Pyrenees. The trail climbs steadily through forest and alpine meadows with big peaks on every side, and we keep going until the ground opens up at Ibón de Escarpinosa. This mountain lake, hemmed in by rugged cliffs and woodland, is one of the real treasures of the area and a fine spot to stop, eat, and take it all in. Then we turn around and walk back down the valley, which looks completely different in the afternoon light. Dinner and the spa are waiting in Benasque.

Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Distance: 14 km (8.7 mi)
Elevation: +730 m (+2,395 ft)
Accommodation: 4-star spa hotel in Benasque

We start from La Besurta, right under the big walls of the Maladeta massif, and walk to the Forau de Aigualluts, where a whole river vanishes into a hole in the ground and reappears on the other side of the mountains. From there we carry on to the Renclusa hut, the historic base camp for climbers heading up Aneto, the highest peak in the Pyrenees. A short detour takes us to Renclusa Lake for one more alpine view before we drop back down. Geology, mountain history, and some of the best scenery of the week, all in one day. Back in Benasque for dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Distance: 10 km (6.2 mi)
Elevation: +475 m (+1,558 ft)
Accommodation: 4-star spa hotel in Benasque

Today is the big one. We set off from Hospital de Benasque and climb steadily through rugged terrain towards Puerto de Benasque, the historic high pass that links Spain and France. At the top, the views open up across peak after Pyrenean peak, and you’ll feel like you’ve earned every metre of it. If the group is feeling strong, we carry on with a detour to Boum du Port on the French side, a short cross-border bonus that drops us into proper wild high-mountain country. Back in Benasque, the spa is waiting, and so is dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Distance: 12 km (7.5 mi)
Elevation: +800 m (+2,625 ft)
Accommodation: 4-star spa hotel in Benasque

After yesterday’s effort, we head into the Vallibierna area for a shorter but still rewarding day. Rocky trails lead us up through steep mountain slopes, with the surrounding peaks shifting in and out of view the higher we go. Our goal is the Ibones de Vallibierna, a cluster of clear alpine lakes tucked beneath the high summits of the massif. It’s a quiet, remote corner of the natural park, perfect for a long lunch stop by the water before we make our way back down. Another evening in Benasque rounds things off nicely.

Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Distance: 9.6 km (6 mi)
Elevation: +570 m (+1,870 ft)
Accommodation: 4-star spa hotel in Benasque

We save one of the Benasque Valley’s hidden gems for last. A rugged trail takes us into Valle de Remuñe, a dramatic glacial valley hemmed in by towering rock walls and big peaks. This is the wilder side of the Pyrenees, with one fine viewpoint after another and a real sense of being far from everything. It’s a fitting finale to the week, and back at the hotel there’s a spa waiting, plus a last dinner together to toast six days in the mountains.

Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Distance: 10 km (6.2 mi)
Elevation: +550 m (+1,804 ft)
Accommodation: SOMMOS Hotel Benasque Spa

Take your time over a final breakfast at the hotel, then check out and hop on the transfer back to Zaragoza. From there, high-speed trains run to Madrid, Barcelona, and beyond, so you can carry on wherever you’re headed next. A comfortable end to a week of mountain days.

Meals: Breakfast