Walking in the Spanish Pyrenees
Walking in the Spanish Pyrenees
From lazy walks through pretty mountain villages, to overnight refuge treks and serious scrambles to bag the wild 3000+ metre peaks, the Pyrenees offer something for everyone.
We have a range of walking holidays for you to choose from. Most of our walking holidays are based from the French mountain village of Barèges, but we also have some based in the Spanish Pyrenees, and the Cathar country of the eastern French Pyrenees. We also run Discoverer walks that involve a night in a refuge. If you want something more challenging, we’d recommend you visit our Trekking page to find out more about our hut to hut treks in the remote Pyreneees.
We’ve categorised our walks so that you can choose a Pyrenees walking holiday that is right for you.
Use the table below to pick the level of walking that best suits your group, or click the interactive map to choose your holiday by area.
| Taster |
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These accompanied holidays combine gentle mountain walking with leisurely breaks and some days sight-seeing.
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Pyrenees taster walking
Pyrenees taster walking
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| Explorer |
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These are the gentlest of our guided mountain walking holidays, with up to five hours of easy walking in stunning scenery, on defined mountain paths and tracks.
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Pyrenees explorer walking
Pyrenees explorer walking
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| Discoverer |
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Our Discoverer guided mountain walks involve up to eight hours walking a day and ascents of up to 1000m. You’ll be able to explore remote cirques, valleys and lakes and climb peaks for breathtaking views. Some of these holidays involve one or two nights in a refuge, so we can experience magnificent and remote Pyrenean sunrises and sunsets.
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Pyrenees discoverer walking
Pyrenees discoverer walking
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| Adventurer |
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With ascents averaging 1000m and approximately nine hours walking in a day, we’ll tackle some of the Pyrenees’ 3000m + peaks, walking along airy mountain ridges and slim tracks. Often these holidays involve a night in a mountain refuge.
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Pyrenees adventurer walking
Pyrenees adventurer walking
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| Trekking |
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On these hut to hut holidays, we hike on some of the famous long-distance Pyrenean routes for an average of eight hours a day, enjoying the remoteness and wildness as we criss-cross between the French and Spanish frontiers.
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Pyrenees trekking
Pyrenees trekking
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Walking in the Spanish Pyrenees
Walking in the Spanish Pyrenees
Many of our Pyrenees walking holidays are based in the traditional French mountain village of Barèges, where we offer chalet or hotel accommodation. We also offer hotel-based walking holidays in the Sierra de Guara and Monte Perdido regions of the Spanish Pyrenees. New for summer 2013 we are also running Cathar country walking holidays. On our adventurous mountain walking, we spend a night in a refuge.
For those who prefer an independent Pyrenees walking holiday, we offer catered accommodation in our 3-star chalet or different board options in our 3-star hotel, both in the heart of the traditional mountain village of Barèges. Please contact us for more information.
Please visit our Summer 2012 Walking Holidays calendar to see when each type of holiday is scheduled. We can be flexible and change holidays and dates if there are enough people who want to do this, so please ask. We can also organise totally bespoke trips.
A note about guided walks
All of our mountain walking holidays are led by fully qualified International Mountain Leaders (Accompagnateurs en Montagne), who tailor each walk to your interests and abilities.
We believe that the French have got it right when it comes to guided walking. There are over 3000 "accompagnateurs en montagne" in France. If you are looking elsewhere for guided walking be sure your guide is an IML or Guide de Haute Montagne as these are the ONLY legal qualifications for leading mountain walks in Europe.
The French use Mountain Guides because it’s the best way to get the most from your mountain walking holiday. Your qualified guide will point out flora and fauna that you might otherwise miss, and give you information about local history, language and cultures. You’ll be discovering things first hand that no guide book could ever tell you.
Walking in the Oulettes de Gaube
Walking in the Oulettes de Gaube
Mountain Leaders also pick the best routes for your group’s ability and interests. You won't need to worry about an uncrossable river, or doing unnecessary walks through ugly ski-lift areas.
Mountain Leaders are also trained in first aid, how to deal with emergencies on the mountains, and they carry emergency gear such as ropes, group shelters and group first aid kits.
For mountain walking we only use qualified, experienced International Mountain Leaders so you can have a safe and thoroughly enjoyable mountain walking holiday.
Rocky perch beneath the Balaitous
Rocky perch beneath the Balaitous
Why choose MountainBug for your walking holiday?
All-inclusive holidays
Our holidays really are all-inclusive. There are no hidden extras. We make sure you know what you are paying for before you arrive.
Qualified leaders
All our guided trips are led by guides who are qualified in their activity. Visit our About Us page to find out more.
We take care of the details
Our holidays mean that you will experience the Pyrenees in a relaxed, enjoyable manner. We take care of your accommodation, meals, transfers to and from walks or trips, and all the logistics of organising them. You just need to make the most of your time in this beautiful area.
Local knowledge
We live in the Pyrenees year-round. We’re a French company, support the local economy and know the area intimately, guaranteeing you the best routes, activities and a seamless holiday.
Quality accommodation
MountainBug uses a chalet and hotel in Barèges, owned and run by our founding directors, Robert and Emma Mason. They provide high quality, 3-star accommodation, with the needs of mountain visitors always in mind.
Great food
The chalet serves delicious home-cooked food, using local ingredients. The hotel also uses local ingredients and its resident French chef prepares a range of regional dishes.
Transport
All local transport is included in the price of your holiday (this does not include transfers from airports, railway stations etc).
Walking in the Cirque d'espiaube
Walking in the Cirque d'espiaube
Personalised trips
Our trips are specifically tailored to your interests and abilities. Tell us what you want to see, and we'll take you there! We offer the personal care and attention that only a small company can give.
Responsible travel
Mountainbug operates a responsible travel policy, supporting the local community and economy, traditional methods, language and customs. We "tread lightly" in the mountains and leave no trace of our passing. We try our hardest to reduce our carbon footprint and our impact on the environment.
We take great pride in looking after our guests and helping them make the most of their mountain holiday. We have many guests return year after year and we want this to continue.
Please read our guests’ independent reviews either on our website, or on Trip Advisor (under Les Cailloux), Responsible Travel or Google reviews.
Now choose your walking level then select your ideal walking holiday. Contact us to book.
Pyrenees walking - based in our 3* chalet
Pyrenees walking - based in our 3* chalet
Pyrenees walking - lake traverse
Pyrenees walking - lake traverse
Pyrenees walking - based in our 3* hotel
Pyrenees walking - based in our 3* hotel
