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Picos de Europa walking trip
- Idyllic countrysides, mysterious woods, glacier valleys and capricious limestone formations
- The famous peak "Picu Urriellu"
- Lodging in pleasant family-run hotels, nice terraces and even one swimming pool
- Tasty regional food, with local ingredients
- Delicious Cabrales blue cheese and sparkling Asturian apple cider
- A flexible programme with many choices, suitable for families
- Easy to combine with a stay at the beautiful beaches of Asturias or a city trip to Bilbao, Oviedo or Gijon
From: 415 €
Tripcode: ESSW096
3 Comfort
Level 1 - EN:
Simple accommodation, often with multiple rooms like huts, cottages or guesthouses. Sometimes with bunk beds and often with shared bathrooms. All camping trips fall into this category.
Level 1 - EN:
Simple accommodation, often with multiple rooms like huts, cottages or guesthouses. Sometimes with bunk beds and often with shared bathrooms. All camping trips fall into this category.
Level 2:
Simple to good inns, small family hotels, B&Bs and agriturismo (farmsteads), generaly with private bathroom. Often chosen for their excellent location in relation to the itinerary.
Level 2:
Simple to good inns, small family hotels, B&Bs and agriturismo (farmsteads), generaly with private bathroom. Often chosen for their excellent location in relation to the itinerary.
Level 2:
Simple to good inns, small family hotels, B&Bs and agriturismo (farmsteads), generaly with private bathroom. Often chosen for their excellent location in relation to the itinerary.
Level 3:
Good hotels, inns, B&B, agriturismo (farmstead) with ensuite private bathroom, often wel located and serving good meals
Level 3:
Good hotels, inns, B&B, agriturismo (farmstead) with ensuite private bathroom, often wel located and serving good meals
Level 3:
Good hotels, inns, B&B, agriturismo (farmstead) with ensuite private bathroom, often wel located and serving good meals
Level 4:
Special hotel with excellent food, ambiance and service. Accommodations with a special touch.
Level 4:
Special hotel with excellent food, ambiance and service. Accommodations with a special touch.
Level 4:
Special hotel with excellent food, ambiance and service. Accommodations with a special touch.
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3 Difficulty
Level 1:
Walking levels:
Trips with short walks of generally three to four hours (excluding breaks) and/or optional day excursions; flat or slightly hilly terrain using well kept paths.
Cycling levels:
Easy biking in nearly flat landscape; also possible for people with little or no bicycle experience. The daily distances are approximately 30-50 km in general. Bicycles with up to 3 gears can do the job. All our adult rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 1:
Walking levels:
Trips with short walks of generally three to four hours (excluding breaks) and/or optional day excursions; flat or slightly hilly terrain using well kept paths.
Cycling levels:
Easy biking in nearly flat landscape; also possible for people with little or no bicycle experience. The daily distances are approximately 30-50 km in general. Bicycles with up to 3 gears can do the job. All our adult rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 2:
Walking levels:
Moderate day walks, 4-5 hours per day (excluding breaks) on hilly to mountainous areas using well kept, sometimes stony paths.
Cycling levels:
Biking on gently undulating terrain, you may encounter short climbs from time to time. The daily distances vary between 30 and 65 km. A bicycle with minimum 7 gears will do. All our rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 2:
Walking levels:
Moderate day walks, 4-5 hours per day (excluding breaks) on hilly to mountainous areas using well kept, sometimes stony paths.
Cycling levels:
Biking on gently undulating terrain, you may encounter short climbs from time to time. The daily distances vary between 30 and 65 km. A bicycle with minimum 7 gears will do. All our rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 2:
Walking levels:
Moderate day walks, 4-5 hours per day (excluding breaks) on hilly to mountainous areas using well kept, sometimes stony paths.
Cycling levels:
Biking on gently undulating terrain, you may encounter short climbs from time to time. The daily distances vary between 30 and 65 km. A bicycle with minimum 7 gears will do. All our rental bikes have at least 21 gears.
Level 3:
Walking levels:
Trips with strenuous day walks or trekking in mountainous areas. 5 to 7 hours walking maximum per day, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for one night; height differences between 500 & 1000 m. per day
Cycling levels:
Strenuous biking trips in areas where you cannot avoid steep slopes. Some bicycle experience in short trips is needed. The daily distances range from 30 up to 75 km.
Level 3:
Walking levels:
Trips with strenuous day walks or trekking in mountainous areas. 5 to 7 hours walking maximum per day, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for one night; height differences between 500 & 1000 m. per day
Cycling levels:
Strenuous biking trips in areas where you cannot avoid steep slopes. Some bicycle experience in short trips is needed. The daily distances range from 30 up to 75 km.
Level 3:
Walking levels:
Trips with strenuous day walks or trekking in mountainous areas. 5 to 7 hours walking maximum per day, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for one night; height differences between 500 & 1000 m. per day
Cycling levels:
Strenuous biking trips in areas where you cannot avoid steep slopes. Some bicycle experience in short trips is needed. The daily distances range from 30 up to 75 km.
Level 4:
Walking levels:
Trips with heavy excursions in high mountains, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for several nights. 6 to 8 hours maximum per day; height differences up to 1200 meters per day; only for participants with an excellent condition and without fear of heights.
Cycling levels:
Serious and strenuous biking trips in mountainous area, the slopes are longer and/or steeper than at the previous category. Requires a good physical condition, a broad cycling experience and adequate mountain climbing bicycle. The daily distances range between 30 and 80 km.
Level 4:
Walking levels:
Trips with heavy excursions in high mountains, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for several nights. 6 to 8 hours maximum per day; height differences up to 1200 meters per day; only for participants with an excellent condition and without fear of heights.
Cycling levels:
Serious and strenuous biking trips in mountainous area, the slopes are longer and/or steeper than at the previous category. Requires a good physical condition, a broad cycling experience and adequate mountain climbing bicycle. The daily distances range between 30 and 80 km.
Level 4:
Walking levels:
Trips with heavy excursions in high mountains, sometimes carrying backpacks with stuff for several nights. 6 to 8 hours maximum per day; height differences up to 1200 meters per day; only for participants with an excellent condition and without fear of heights.
Cycling levels:
Serious and strenuous biking trips in mountainous area, the slopes are longer and/or steeper than at the previous category. Requires a good physical condition, a broad cycling experience and adequate mountain climbing bicycle. The daily distances range between 30 and 80 km.
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Duration: 8 days
Details
Walking in the Picos de Europa
The Picos de Europa, without a doubt the most impressive mountains in all of Spain, emerge dramatically from the coastal landscape as a natural frontier between the green north coast and the more arid Castille.
The heart of the Picos is made up of three capricious limestone massifs, not easily crossed by car or on foot. Thus we offer you two different Picos walking trips. An 8-day trip on the north side, through the green province of Asturias, designed to be an enjoyable and relaxing walking holiday.
This program offers a variety of landscapes to explore in the Eastern and Central Massifs, with easy or optionally more difficult daywalks, which include an ascent to the mountain hut at the foot of the famous Picu Urriellu.
If you are looking for a more challenging hiking trip, a real trek, you might consider our 12-day trip which traverses the Picos de Europa National Park.
Itinerary
Expand itinerary Collapse itineraryDay 1: Arrival in Arenas de Cabrales
Settle into your comfortable hotel located in the centre of the village. Time to try the local cider on one of the terraces, or to visit Santa Maria de Llas Church of Romanesque origin. For walking gear or special food items, Arenas is an excellent place to do your shopping.
Challenge: Travel to Arenas de Cabrales
Villages along the way: Arenas de Cabrales
Day 2: Circular walk from Arenas
Ascent to the summer meadows of Nava, situated 500m above the Cares River with excellent views of the Picos. A strenuous but very rewarding walk, especially in early summer when the meadows display a multitude of brightly coloured flowers. Option of doing an alternative shorter walk through shady countryside at a lower elevation.
Challenge: 9,5km. 750m ascent & descent. 5,5 hrs. / 9,5km. 380m ascent & descent. 4 hrs.
Villages along the way: Arenas de Cabrales, Poo de Cabrales
Day 3: From Arenas to Sotres de Cabrales
Short transfer to Tielve, one of the most authentic villages in this part of the Picos. Walk to Valfríu, where residents still produce the famous local blue cheese, Queso de Cabrales. Gradual ascent through a fairy-tale landscape of heather, old beech woods and streams to a pass at 1240m, then down to Sotres (1050m), one of the highest villages in the Picos de Europa.
Challenge: 9 km. 575m ascent, 250 descent. 4 hrs.
Villages along the way: Tielve and Sotres
Day 4: Walk from Sotres through the Andara Massif
Circular walk through the Eastern Massif of Picos, an area exploited by mining industries in the 19th century. A limestone landscape of sharp ridges, deep depressions and bottomless shafts. Brightly coloured alpine flora among the rocks. Good chance of seeing chamoix, vultures and different types of eagles. Several options to shorten or extend your walk.
Challenge: 12,5km. 550m ascent, 900m descent. 5 hours.
Villages along the way: Sotres
Day 5-6: Several walks from Sotres
Choose from among 4 different walks to do from Sotres, depending on the weather or your personal conditions and preferences. To the Vega de Urriellu mountain refuge and back, reaching an elevation of 2000m at the foot of the imposing Picu Urriellu. Through meadows and woods of the neighbouring village of Tresviso, where the very rare Urugallo, or local Capercaille, lives. Up to 1650m through an interesting glacier valley surrounded by sheep, horses and cattle, all closely watched by vultures. Or a quiet stroll along farming tracks near the hotel.
Challenge: 6-18,5km. 325m to 875m in ascent. 2,5-7 hours.
Villages along the way: Sotres
Day 7: From Sotres back to Arenas
Along farming tracks up to Pandebano Pass (at 1245m), leaving Sotres behind. Descent along an ancient footpath through natural meadows and low vegetation to Bulnes, a truly authentic mountain village accessible only on foot or by funicular railway (since 2001). Ride the train down through a tunnel to Poncebos or extend the walk through an impressive gorge where vultures nest. Taxi transfer from Poncebos to your hotel in Arenas. If the weather is not the best or you wish to rest your knees, taxi transfer to Poncebos in the morning to walk into the famous Cares Gorge. Return to Arenas by public bus or taxi.
Challenge: 11,5km. 335m ascent, 950m descent. 5,5 hrs.
Villages along the way: Sotres, Poncebos and Arenas de Cabrales
Day 8: End of programme
After breakfast your arrangement ends.
Challenge: Travel from Cabrales
Practical info
Included:
- 7 nights accommodation, on half board basis
- A nice terrace and swimming pool at one of the hotels
- Luggage transport on days 3 and 7
- Transfers from day 3 to day 7 according to programme (except optional funicular railway on day 7)
- 24-hour telephone assistance, just a phone call away
- Detailed route notes and maps in English
Not Included:
- Lunches: pack lunches can be ordered at the accommodations or bought directly in village shops
- Flights and public transportation
- Admissions and entrance fees of any kind
- Personal expenses such as drinks, phone calls, extra transfers, etc.
- Any items that have not been specifically mentioned in the program
Optional Services:
- Transfers from/to the airport on arrival/departure
- This program may be booked on bed and breakfast basis during 4 nights in a family hotel without terrace and swimming pool.
Extra Overnight:
Additional night/s can be booked at any of the accommodations along the way, at any other nearby destination, such as the cities of Oviedo, Gijón or Bilbao or at charming rural accommodations along the Asturian coast.
Reviews
Start: Arenas de Cabrales
Finish: Arenas de Cabrales
Dates & prices
Trip availability: Early May to late October
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| in triple room: | 415 €/person |
| in double room: | 465 €/person |
| in single room: | 605 €/person |
| solo traveller: | 665 €/person |
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| in triple room: | 475 €/person |
| in double room: | 535 €/person |
| in single room: | 675 €/person |
| solo traveller: | 735 €/person |
| Dates of the trip | Price |
|---|---|
| in triple room: | 415 €/person |
| in double room: | 465 €/person |
| in single room: | 605 €/person |
| solo traveller: | 665 €/person |