FRANCE & SPAIN
From the mediterranean to the Atlantic

This is one of our favourite walks. It combines the beautiful Mediterranean coastline with ancient villages, breathtaking views in the Pyrenees and a rich array of flora and fauna. The Pyrenees stretch for 430km from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. Our walk begins in Cadaqués, a small fishing village on the Costa Brava. The Bougainville draped, white washed houses lining narrow, cobbled streets and craggy headlands to either side of a picturesque harbour, make it truly irresistible.

Onto Figueres for lunch and a visit of Dali’s “Teatre – Museu”. From here we travel North away from the coast and into the high Pyrenees. This is lush dairying country and from our tiny village we have magnificent views across to the Cadi Moixero N.P. The next day we are walking in the fertile valley of Cerdanya discovering ancient villages and hamlets and picnicking in magnificent alpine countryside.

Detouring via Andorra for a short duty free shopping spree and lunch, we continue to one of the most beautiful National Parks in the Pyrenees - the Aigues Tortes and Lake St Maurici National Park. There are over 50 lakes and the most characteristic features of the Pyrenees are represented in this park. Here we base ourselves in the tiny village of Tavascan at the end of a beautiful valley.

A new addition to our itinerary is the Ordesa National Park in the Aragon region of Spain. This marvellous mountain range is the natural border between Spain and France.

The Ordesa valley is a tongue of green vegetation running for 15 kilometres between two imposing walls of bleached, calcareous rock. Right at the end is our Parador with its unique location right below the imposing Monte Perdido. The walk into the spectacular Circo de Pineta starts directly at our hotel and takes us into some magnificent mountain scenery. Pyrenean chamois are plentiful and the lammergeyer has one of its major European strongholds in these mountains.

After a day of mountain passes and spectacular scenery, we traverse back into France where we stay in the small town of Gavarnie in the Pyrenees National Park. In our small friendly hotel we enjoy the typical cuisine of the region which our host, Bernard, prepares to perfection. Gavarnie is an ideal location for a walk into the surrounding mountains and of course to discover the amazing amphitheatre of the Cirque de Gavarnie. It can only be described as one of nature’s wonders.

There are over 1500 species of wildflowers native to the Pyrenees and wildlife is abundant i.e. Lynx, lizard, marmot, ptarmigan, bearded vultures, and golden eagles - there are even approximately 15 Brown bears in the National Park. Our final day takes us to Biarritz on the Atlantic coast. With its colourful shops, picturesque restaurants and delightful old fashioned tea rooms, it is a great place to finish this tour.

Our Hotels & Cuisine

Our hotel in Cadaqués is located on the Cap de Creus Penninsula and facing the sea at the head of a deep bay. It is surrounded by an extraordinary landscape of grey slate and olive groves and has a truly unique beauty. The hotel has indoor and outdoor swimming pools and also a tennis court. In the Cerdanya Valley we stay in a tiny, remote village with an important historical background.

Our friendly family-run hotel has a beautiful garden and swimming pool with grand views to the Cadi - Moixero N.P. At night we experience truly homemade Catalonian cooking. In Tavascan, near the Aigues Tortes National Park, we stay in an extremely cosy and friendly family-run hotel. It is set in a wonderful mountain landscape and the hotel restaurant offers delicious mountain cuisine.

From our hotel in Gavarnie we have magnificent views towards the most famous section of the Pyrenees, the Cirque de Gavarnie. In the cosy dining room we enjoy our tasty dinners each evening.