Hut to Hut Hiking in the Pyrenees Mountains

This is a fantastic trek and is suitable for a first multi-day trek. However, you do need a good base level of fitness and to be prepared for challenging terrain. A typical day in the mountains can be trekking for 6-8 hours with a rucksack. It's very important that you are able to keep up with the group, don't worry, we will be hiking at a gentle pace with lots of breaks. Although no technical mountaineering skills are required, the trails do have "technical" sections, including high steps and boulder sections... (it's not a wide, flat trail around the lake). It is a demanding hike, but definitely worth the effort. We recommend training regularly with any sport that you enjoy (e.g. running, swimming, tennis). Training hikes will also help, ideally for a full day with a 5kg rucksack.

Documents: • Passport • Travel insurance details • Boarding passes for flights • Cash – Euro’s • Credit/Debit Card Sleeping: • Sleeping bag liner Footwear: • Trekking boots: 3 or 4-season lightweight • Lightweight shoes for the evenings (such as house shoes, flip flops, sandals etc.) The huts provide "crocs," but keep in mind that these are used by other people if hygiene is a concern for you. Clothing: Please make sure that you have non-cotton, fast-drying clothing for trekking. • 1 x pair of synthetic under-top and bottom (Long johns or similar) • 2 x t-shirts for the hike • 1 x comfortable shirt for the evening • 4 x socks for hiking • 3 - 4 x pairs of underwear • 1 x fleece • Light down or Primaloft jacket • Rain and windproof jacket with hood • Rain and windproof trousers • 1 x pair of hiking trousers: We recommend a pair that zip off into shorts. • Comfortable trousers for the evening • Hat and gloves • Buff or scarf • Swimming shorts/costume (it is not allowed to swim in the national park lakes, but some of the huts have shared showers) Other: • A daysack: 35-45 litres. All your kit should fit in this bag • Travel towel • Dry Liner or Dry Bag • Water bottle: At least 2L. Nalgene bottles best. • Sunglasses • Suncream and additional sun protection such as a baseball cap or similar • Personal medication – inhaler, blister pads, etc. • General toiletries, contact lenses, glasses (if needed) • Electronics - Head torch, travel adaptor, phone & charger • Lipsil • Hand sanitiser, wet wipes Your rug sack should not weight more than 10kg (water included) ideally around 7-8kg. This is not only for your comfort, but as well for the safety of the entire group. Walking poles are available for rent. The cost is 10 euros, and these must be requested on your registration form, at least 1 week before departure. These are highly recommended, and all your guides use them.

Yes. Our local guides are fluent in English and have experience working internationally.

Absolutely! We get lots of solo travellers - it's a great way to meet like-minded people.

We collect you from Barcelona airport at 9:30 am (can be moved a little up and down depending on flights) or from Sants Estació train station half an hour later. Drop-off is in Barcelona around 2 pm. We recommend you book return flights after 6 pm. If the only flight and the only way for you to get back home that day is a little earlier, let us know. We can try to push the whole day a little bit earlier to get you there on time for your flight. N.B. THERE IS ONLY ONE TRANSFER UP AND ONE DOWN PER HIKE. If you want to come earlier or leave later, it will be at your own expense. The hike is circular, so we start and finish at the same point - the little town of Espot. From here we take a 4WD taxi that will drive us into the National Park. Drop off and pick up points are the same: Estany de Sant Maurici, at 1,900 meters of elevation.

It’s highly recommended you take out personal travel insurance. Travel cover protects you in the case of unforeseen circumstances including cancellations, injuries, equipment loss, flight changes and other events that could negatively impact your trip. We suggest specialist adventure travel insurers, [Rise & Shield](https://riseandshield.com/). They cover 100s of activities and are easy to deal with if you need to make a claim. They also cover unique scenarios, like trekking at altitude or emergency evacuation in hard-to-reach places, that ordinary travel insurance doesn’t cover. We do have accident insurance that will cover some medical expenses IF THEY ARE THE RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT. Any other medical condition won't be covered by it. Same as if you have problems with your luggage on your way in or any other issues.

During the hike we stay in mountain refuges (huts) which are quite basic/dormitory-style with shared bathrooms. Electricity, warm showers, snacks are available. There is no phone signal in the National Park, but most accommodations do generally have wifi. Bedding will be provided for you in each hut - you just need to bring a sleeping bag liner. Night 1: Amitges Refuge - Moutain views, 4wd accessible, showers, dorm room. Night 2: Estany Llong Refuge - Moutain views, 4wd accessible, showers, dorm room. Night 3: Colomina Refuge -Remote (they helicopter in supplies) Moutain views, next to a lake shore, showers, dorm room. Night 4: J.M. Blanc Refuge - Moutain views, almost inside of a lake, 4wd accessible, showers, dorm room. Night 5: Hotel in Espot town, depending on availability, but generally a 3-star hotel.

You can leave a small bag behind, either in the van that will be parked at the starting/finishing point, or at the guide office (there are no lockers but is safe). Alternatively, depending on the hotel you stay the night before, they can keep it there.

The trek involves a fair bit of ascent and descent on a mix of trails. This includes rocky terrain, forest trails, and sometimes gravel tracks. It is important that you are steady on your feet and have experience walking on mountain paths. Do try and get some practice in before you come. We go at a slow, steady pace that everyone can keep up with. Even if sometimes the height between the point you might be and the valley bottom can be great, there is no "next to the cliff" walking, so no worries if you have vertigo, this hike is still for you.

Water: During the summer, it can be quite warm in the Pyrenees. So it is important to carry enough water. We strongly recommend taking two litres of water per day. The tap water at the accommodations you stay in is usually drinkable. But, there are limited resources along the way to fill up your bottle. Your guide can give you advice on this for each day. If this is a concern for you, please pack iodine tablets or other water purification methods. Food: While trekking, you will have the chance to taste a great variety of local specialities. The breakfast is continental, often with a variety of juices, tea and coffee. The three-course dinner in the evening is hearty, and the plates are quite big. During the day, you will be given a packed lunch from the hut. Your guide will arrange that, and the cost is included. If you have any food requirements or allergies (vegetarian, vegan, gluten intolerance, etc), please make us aware of this when completing your registration form, found on your Skyhook dashboard.

Day 1: Sant Maurici lake (1912m) to Amitges hut (2365m) Distance: 4.1 km Elevation gain: 500m Elevation loss: 50m Estimated hiking time: 3h Max height: 2365 Day 2: Amitges hut (2365m) to Llong hut (1994m) Distance: 8.4km Elevation gain: 487m Elevation loss: 842m Estimated hiking time: 4-6h Max height: 2423m Day 3: Llong hut (1994m) to Colomina hut (2400m) Distance: 11.2 km Elevation gain: 930m Elevation loss: 540m Estimated hiking time: 7h Max height: 2560m Day 4: Colomina hut (2400m) to J.M. Blanc hut (2315m) Distance: 6.7 km Elevation gain: 453m Elevation loss: 545m Estimated hiking time: 4.5h Max height: 2648m Day 5: J.M. Blanc hut(2315m) to St Maurici lake(1938m) Distance: 9.3 km Elevation gain: 490m Elevation loss: 858m Estimated hiking time: 6h Max height: 2678m

It is not mandatory to tip in the Pyrenees/Spain, but always appreciated by the hard-working guides.

All "Riskø Guides" have certified first AID training. The guide will as well carrie an inReach device for contact during emergency situations. Most of the trails are a long way from roads and emergency evacuation, in case of injuries, rescues are normally carried out by helicopter. Estany Hut (Night 3) is reachable by 4x4 vehicle.

Yes, the huts do have plug points in the common areas, often they are in use, but the option is there.

It depends on what you want. From May to early June, there will be more snow - which often means we may need to adapt the route slightly or occasionally use snowshoes for part of the trek (which are provided free of charge). From late June to August it's peak season in the area. It's when the mountain passes are clear of snow, and more people come to the area to hike. It's also warmest during these months. In September it's cooler again, and the trail is quieter - this can be a very peaceful time to come.

Despite being in Spain, never underestimate mountain weather where we can experience sudden temperature changes and drops at night. In general, in summer the days are quite hot and the nights nice and cool. Some seasons have afternoon storms.

Unfortunately, there is no single bedroom option in these mountain huts.

Due to the distances and ascents covered on this trip, it is geared towards adults. Therefore, the minimum age for this trek is 18 years. However, those aged 16-18 years are welcome to attend in the company of a responsible adult.

Yes, you can. The cost of the airport transfer is included in the price you pay, even if you don't use this service. The meeting point will be in Espot parking lot.