Hut to Hut Hiking in Tena Valley (Spain) and Pyrenees National Park (France), 4 days 3 nights
Hut to Hut Hiking Pyrenees, Tena Valley (Spain) and Pyrenees National Park (France)
Hut to hut hiking Pyrenees, Tena Valley and Pyrenees National Park. The Tena Valley in the Spanish Pyrenees is a privileged area of natural beauty. This region is home to several 3000m peaks, glacially carved alpine lakes, and receding glaciers. The valley begins from the high peaks of the Pyrenees that make up the international border with France and runs south as the mountains turn into lower elevation valleys. To the north in France, Pyrenees National Park, the largest national park in the Pyrenees, borders Tena Valley.
These two beautiful adjacent areas on each side of the international border are full of excellent well-marked trail systems. There are also innumerable non-marked trails that summit peaks and visit hidden passes through the mountains. The rocky ridges in this area are numerous and spectacular. There is a prevalent hut system in this region as well, both in Spain and France. This allows us to hike just about anywhere with a light backpack and cover a lot of ground while enjoying some of the finest scenery in the Pyrenees.
Hut to Hut Hiking Pyrenees, The Trip
This 4-day 3-night excursion is a real doozy. Like all of the hut to hut hiking Pyrenees trips with Bigtime Aventura, we like to get off the beaten track and explore the mountains.
Each night we will sleep in a different hut. All are fully serviced mountain huts with food and hot showers. We will take advantage of this commodity while enjoying full days of walking and being in a pure state of nature. During the four days we will make a big loop so each day we cover different ground with changing views throughout the trip. We will start and finish in the same spot in Spain, making a wonderful loop during our four day adventure. Our journey crosses the international border several times as we spend approximately equal amount of time in Spain and France.
Day 1
We start in Spain and immediately gain elevation until reaching a saddle. After a downhill, we make our way up to the international border. After entering into France we drop down to our French hut with views of one of the most enigmatic big walls in the high Pyrenees, replete with glaciers.
Day 2
We leave France momentarily, as the border weaves it's way through the jagged peaks, only to enter again soon thereafter. Most of the day is spent in France and we sleep in another French hut.
Day 3
We spend about half the day in France before entering into Spain. We have the option of summiting a peak that is nearly 3000m. Tonight, we eat and sleep at a Spanish hut.
Day 4
We spend the whole day in Spain and make our way back towards the start/finish, but not after crossing two incredible mountain passes and several high alpine lakes.
Since we start and finish in the same spot there is no need for car shuttles or complicated transport before or after the trip. Bring your camera and get ready for a Bigtime Aventura! Contact us today to get started on this incredible trip!
Summary
Duration: 4 days, 3 nights
Next Dates: June 1 - October 31 (dates may vary depending on conditions and availability)
Day 1
Parking (Spain, 09:00) - Hut 1 (France)
Distance: 16km (10 miles)
Elevation gain: 1530m (5020 ft)
Elevation loss: 1030m (3380 ft)
Time: 9-10 hr
Technical Difficulty: ⊗⊗⊗⊗⊗
Aerobic Difficulty: ⊗⊗⊗⊗⊗
Day 2
Hut 1 (France) - Spain - Hut 2 (France)
Distance: 10km (6 miles)
Elevation gain: 600m (1970 ft)
Elevation loss: 900m (2950 ft)
Time: 6-7hr
Technical difficulty: ⊗⊗⊗⊗⊗
Aerobic difficulty: ⊗⊗⊗⊗⊗
Day 3
Hut 2 (France) - Hut 3 (Spain)
Distance: 13km (8 miles)
Elevation gain: 1100m (3600 ft)
Elevation loss: 800m (2625 ft)
Time: 9-10 hr
Technical difficulty: ⊗⊗⊗⊗⊗
Aerobic difficulty: ⊗⊗⊗⊗⊗
Day 4
Hut 3 (Spain) - Parking (Spain)
Distance: 14km (8.7 miles)
Elevation gain: 600m (1970 ft)
Elevation loss: 1120m (3675 ft)
Time: 7-8hr
Technical difficulty: ⊗⊗⊗⊗⊗
Aerobic difficulty: ⊗⊗⊗⊗⊗
Services Included
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Certified Guide
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Planning and logistics
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Accommodation
- 3 nights accommodation in mountain huts (Day 1-3). We will stay at a different hut each night.
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Food
- 3 dinners (Day 1-3)
- 3 breakfasts (Day 2-4)
- 3 picnic lunches (Day 2-4)
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Permits, access, and entrance fees to the national park and UNESCO Biosphere
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Liability Insurance during the activity
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Accident Insurance during the activity
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Basic First Aid Kit
Services NOT Included?
- Transportation to and from the start/finish point
- Breakfast and lunch on Day 1 and dinner and lodging on Day 4
- Drinks in the huts (beer, wine, soda)
- International Travel Insurance (highly recommended). See links below for more information.
Prerequisites
- A positive attitude and desire to hike in the mountains! This is an active vacation so be ready to move your body, feel the excitement, and visit some extraordinary places!
- Each person must be capable of hiking for extended periods (8-10hr per day) and be accustomed to spending extended time (4 days) in mountainous alpine terrain. This means that we will be hiking over varied terrain during four consecutive days in the mountains and possibly in varying weather conditions. One day may be sunny and hot but the next day could be cold and wet. It is possible that this type of scenario could occur on the same day.
- Each participant must be prepared for changing weather conditions and variations in terrain.
- A medium to high level of physical and mental fitness is necessary for this trip.
Your Guide on this Trip
Hello, my name is Rich Griffeth and I will be your guide on this Pyrenees hut to hut hiking adventure. I am a certified UIMLA guide. I have been sharing incredible outdoor adventures in the mountains with people just like you since 2016. I am from the USA but I've lived in Spain since 2009. My native language is English and I'm fluent in Spanish. My goal for a trip like this is to engage you in a once in a lifetime adventure. I'll manage the safety and logistics during the trip. You just have to arrive and enjoy the experience. I hope to see you soon so we can make a memorable vacation together.
Customize Your Trip
- Do you want more adventure in the Tena Valley? The Tena Valley has some spectacular canyoning. A great combination with this trip is to add on 1-2 days of canyoning after or before hut to hut hiking. Another exciting activity in the Tena Valley is rock climbing. There is a lot of rock here, both single pitch and multi-pitch. Why not try some rock climbing after hiking for four days? There are also several via ferrata nearby that are some of the top via ferratas in Spain. Build your own multi-adventure vacation package in this amazing area of the central high Pyrenees! Contact us to get started today!
- This Hut to Hut Trip is customizable to fit your schedule, energy, fitness, or desire. That means that we can shorten or lengthen it depending on what you want.
- Lengthen your trip! Can't get enough of the beautiful Pyrenees and want more days of hiking? Add them on! Tell us how many days you'd like to hike and we can design a trip to your desires.
- Shorten your trip! Not up for four days of hiking? No problem, we can design your trip for 3 days and 2 nights. Or even 2 days and 1 night. Let us know what you want and we will make it happen.
- Backcountry hiking with bivouacs! Would you rather rough it in the mountains? Find your own secluded place to sleep in the mountains, prepare your own meals with basic utensils, and make a bivouac? We also do these types of backcountry hiking trips in the Pyrenees. Contact us for more information and we will design a trip for you!